1.Rob Hennelly
An early wide a morale-drainer, excellent stop from Darren McCurry in the first half, another from Darragh Canavan in the second, left helpless however for Tyrone’s two critical second half goals. Contributed one free in the second half.
Player rating: 7
2. Pádraig O’Hora
A debut final to quickly forget. Struggled badly to match the pace and ferocity in the first half of man-of-the-match Darren McCurry, preferring a physical battle no doubt, replaced six minutes into the second half, confidence broken.
Player rating: 5
3. Lee Keegan
Seventh All-Ireland final, seventh loss. Took on Conor McKenna and did well in the half. Never gave up the chase and kicked a trademark score from deep late in the second half, frustration spilled over when booked on 50 minutes.
Player rating: 7
4. Michael Plunkett
Stuck to his task hardily but like O’Hora simply struggled with the pace and versatility and tackling of the Tyrone forwards, failing to stick to his man as he likes, frequently caught on the counter, replaced at half-time by Enda Hession.
Player rating: 6
5. Paddy Durcan
Closed out of his usual driving force by Conor Meyler. Couldn’t put his pace or physicality to use, the rare exception being his bursting run and point late in the first half. The big game he and Mayo needed passed by.
Player rating: 6
6. Stephen Coen
Took on Mattie Donnelly to good effect and held firm in defence for large parts, his point late in the first half coming at a crucial time. Also struggled with the Tyrone counter-attack, ran out of steam in the end.
Player rating: 7
19. Oisín Mullin
Passed match fit and started in place of Enda Hession, caught wrong-footed for first Tyrone goal, simply wrong placed for the second, didn’t fancy the pace of Tyrone forwards when then pressed on him.
Player rating: 6
8. Matthew Ruane
Endured a rough evening, Tyrone’s long kick outs frequently passing him by, Conn Kilpatrick killing him softly as the game went on, before he hit out ridiculously at him and got himself a red card in the last minute of normal time.
Player rating: 5
9. Conor Loftus
Guilty of a couple of poor and wrong scoring options when the old rule of the better placed man passed him by. Struggled to get his dynamic going with Ruane and was replaced on 65 minutes by Aidan Orme.
Player rating: 6
10. Diarmuid O’Connor
Never gave up the chase but couldn’t find his scoring rage and got sloppy in his defending as the game progressed, out-witted by the likes of Peter Harte and Frank Burns, his tackling slack in parts.
Player rating: 7
11. Aidan O’Shea
Where to begin? Made himself plenty available in the first half only couldn’t find his scoring range, including his one chance in front of goal. His retreat was deep as the game progressed with Ronan McNamee ultimately winning the battle and the war. Another final to haunt him.
Player rating: 6
12. Bryan Walsh
Another debut final to soon forget. Took several wrong scoring options and lost the battle of the turnovers too often. Replaced on 57 minutes by Darren Coen.
Player rating: 5
13. Kevin McLoughlin
Well marshalled by Frank Burns. Too slow on the ball in the first half, just like he was against Dublin, kicked a neat point in the second only too much of the game passed him by.
Player rating: 6
14. Tommy Conroy
Exciting in spurts and kicked two big points, one beauty just after the starting gun and another in the second half. Will unquestionably rue his clear cut goal chance early in the second half, shooting wide in one of the defining misses of the game.
Player rating: 6
15. Ryan O’Donoghue
Did plenty right, even with Pádraig Hampsey for close company, finishing with 0-8, seven solid frees and one from play, his penalty miss in the second will haunt him for some time. He simply had to find the target, not slice chips off the post.
Player rating: 7
Substitutions
7. Enda Hession for Plunkett (half-time), 21. Jordan Flynn for O’Hora (52 mins), 24. Darren Coen for Walsh (58 mins), 25. Aidan Orme for Loftus (66 mins), 26. James Carr for McLoughlin (74 mins). No real joy for anyone here. Hession settled well, considering, but none managed to score.
Rating: 4
Management: James Horan
Where to start? His team took the game to Tyrone early in the first half and again in the second, their lack of accuracy and execution ultimately cost them dearly, as did Tyrone’s superior tactics.
Rating: 5
