Sport

Harte delighted with young guns

Dr McKenna Cup: It may have been played in January's moody weather, but the commitment shown by both teams in this enjoyable…

Pat Roche at Healy Park
Mon Jan 15 2007 - 00:00

Dr McKenna Cup:It may have been played in January's moody weather, but the commitment shown by both teams in this enjoyable, if lopsided, tie was indisputable.

It's obvious from what a huge crowd witnessed at Healy Park that Mickey Harte's squad is laden down with special talent, notably shown by four of the eight university players he had at his disposal.

Cathal McCarron was one of the four academics in action yesterday and he helped kill off the Derry challenge as early as injury-time in the first half with a stunning goal. Aware of the dangers of giving the young player a swelled head, Harte stuck by his principle in these matters by not singling out any one player for special mention - though also deserving special mention were Michael Murphy and Tommy McGuigan.

The move for the goal that left Tyrone ahead 1-11 to 0-2 at the break was cheekily set up by Owen Mulligan. McCarron's first shot was parried brilliantly by Derry goalkeeper Shane O'Kane, but McCarron smashed home the rebound to the delight of the home followers.

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"We have young players in the squad that are sending out big messages to a number of players coming back from injury," said Harte.

"These established players will feel very pleased for the young team and in one way will feel threatened.

"This, of course, is a healthy position to be in. I am satisfied that many of these young players are being given a chance and I'm also convinced that they are there on merit."

Paddy Bradley - Derry's danger man up front - was very impressive, but he was sadly lacking the support usually afforded him by the absent Enda Muldoon.

Paddy Crozier rued the absence of a number of key players. "I am not putting up this as an excuse and can only say that the goal shortly before half-time killed off our challenge," said the Derry manager.

Derry were lacking in midfield power to get sufficient ball to the Bradley brothers. Nevertheless, their second-half performance was encouraging, although Tyrone seemed to take the foot off the pedal in the third quarter.

TYRONE: P McConnell; D McCaul, C McGinley, P Marlowe; D Harte, D Carlin, R Boggs; M Murphy (0-4), S Kavanagh; T McGuigan (0-3), O Mulligan (0-1), C Kavanagh (0-1); C McCarron (1-4, three frees), P Rouse, D McDermott (0-2). Subs: N Gormley for McDermott; E McGinley for Murphy.

DERRY: S O'Kane; K McGuckian, K McCann, J Keenan; P McAlynn, F Doherty, L Hinphey; Pat Bradley, J Conway; R McElhone (0-1), P McCartney, C Moran; C Gilligan (0-1), Paddy Bradley (0-6, two frees), E Bradley (0-1). Subs: K McCloy for Hinphey; J Kelly for C Moran; Paul Bradley for McCartney.

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).

Donegal 0-9 Antrim 0-8- It wasn't a classic by any means, but yesterday's tie gave the patrons value for money.

Jody Gormley's team fought bravely from the 21st minute with 14 players after Antrim defender Larry Higgins was surprisingly sent-off.

SCORERS: Donegal - R Bradley 0-3; M Murphy (one free), K McMenamin (two frees) 0-2 each; M McElhinney, B Roper 0-1 each. Antrim - C Close (two frees), P Logan (all frees) 0-3 each; M McCann 0-2 (one free).

Armagh 0-9 Fermanagh 1-5- Armagh just managed to fend off a late Fermanagh rally to pocket a further brace of points at Davitt Park, Lurgan, yesterday. Armagh's Paddy McKeever was red carded in injury-time.

SCORERS: Armagh - S McDonnell 0-4; P Toal 0-3 (two frees); M O'Rourke 0-2. Fermanagh - E Maguire 1-0; C McElroy 0-2; S O'Brien, M Murphy, M Little 0-1 each.

Monaghan 2-16 St Mary's 0-11 -Monaghan made it two wins from two outings at Clones yesterday.

Monaghan led at half-time by 1-9 to 0-4, but they had to withstand a spirited St Mary's fight back in the third quarter.

SCORERS: Monaghan - D Freeman 1-1; P Finlay, P Meegan, C Hanratty 0-3 each; D Clerkin 1-0; M Daly 0-2; E Duffy, T Freeman, S Fitzpatrick, N Corrigan 0-1 each. St Mary's - C McGourty 0-4; J McMahon 0-3; B McGoldrick 0-2; N McVeigh, R Keenan 0-1 each.

UUJ 1-19 Down 1-6- A woefully weak Down team was given a masterclass by the students of Jordanstown in front of a stunned crowd in Burren.

Jordanstown led by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time and, with James Colgan dictating the game from midfield, went on to win easily.

SCORERS: UUJ - M Lynch 1-5; J Boyle, P Downey 0-3 each; B O'Brien 0-2; R Mulgrew, R Murray 0-1 each. Down - C Gribben 1-2; A Carville 0-2; D Hughes, C Murtagh 0-1 each.

Cavan 1-13 QUB 1-11- Former Fermanagh footballer Rory Gallagher came off the bench for his Cavan debut as Donal Keoghan's men edged out Queen's University, Belfast, at Breffni Park on Saturday.