Tyrone 2-15 Derry 0-12
Derry had no answer to Tyrone’s pace and finishing power at Healy Park, where a fourth straight win kept Mickey Harte’s side on course for promotion back to Division One at the first attempt.
Sean Cavanagh and Aidan McCrory scored the second half goals that keep the Red Hands on top of the Division Two table.
Derry’s second defeat in as many matches has derailed their bid to retain premier status, and now they need to find a way to get back on track.
In front of a crowd of 5,665, Richie Donnelly laid down a strong claim for a regular place in attack with four brilliant points from play, while Ronan O’Neill was unerring from placed balls, hitting five from five, as well as one from play.
It was Tyrone’s running game, particularly impressive given the heavy underfoot conditions, which proved the greatest problem for the Oak Leafers, who were also punished for their struggle to win possession from their own kick-outs.
Kieran McGeary marked his league debut with a point after just 22 seconds, but Derry were ahead by 0-3 to 0-2 by the tenth minute, full back Chrissy McKaigue popping up in an advanced position to score.
Ciaran McFaul, Emmet Bradley and James Kielt were also on target, but Tyrone wasted no time in turning the game to their advantage.
Sean Cavanagh sliced through the Oak Leaf defence to land a trademark score, and by the 26th minute, they had moved into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
Derry went 15 minutes without a score, before Ryan Bell converted a free, but they were soon under pressure again, and goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl saved superbly from Barry Tierney, who looked certain to net after Colm Cavanagh had found acres of space to drive through the middle.
McGeary and Richie Donnelly both brought their tallies to two for a 0-10 to 0-6 interval lead.
The younger Donnelly was on fire, and thumped over two more brilliant points at the start of the second half.
The introduction of Chrissy Bradley gave Derry more in terms of creativity and finishing, and he hit a couple of points to keep the visitors in contention.
But the game slipped away from Derry in the 50th minute when Tiernan McCann crated the opening and slipped the pass for Sean Cavanagh to fire his shot to the top corner of the net.
Conor Meyler and O’Neill added Tyrone points, which were cancelled out by Danny Heavron and Emmet McGuckin.
Derry finished with 14 men following Chrissy McKaigue’s second booking, and Tyrone finished the game off when corner back McCrory scored his first Tyrone goal in stoppage time.
Tyrone: N Morgan, A McCrory (1-0), R McNamee, C McCarron, B Tierney, R Brennan, T McCann, C Cavanagh, M Donnelly, K McGeary (0-2), P Harte (0-1), R Donnelly (0-4), C McAliskey, S Cavanagh (1-1), R O'Neill (0-6, 5f). Subs: C Meyler (0-1)for Brennan (h-t), J Munroe for Tierney (48), M Bradley for McGeary (48), D McCurry for McAliskey (62), J McMahon for McNamee (65), C McCann for Harte (69).
Derry: E McNicholl, O Duffy, C McKaigue (0-1), K McKaigue, G McKinless, B Rogers, M Craig, N Holly, E Bradley (0-1), D Heavron (0-1), C McFaul (0-1), SL McGoldrick, R Bell (0-2, 1f), E McGuckin (0-1), J Kielt (0-3, 2f). Subs: R Ferris for Craig (30), C Bradley (0-2, 1f) for Bell (44), C McAtamney for E Bradley (52), C O'Boyle for Kielt (55), S Heavron for K McKaigue (59, BC), B Heron for McGuckin (65)
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
