An Emotional Ulster minor championship campaign ended in victory for Tyrone at Clones yesterday where they battled their way from behind to beat an Antrim team that paid the price for a succession of defensive errors. Tyrone were under pressure from the outset with two goals in under two minutes putting the outsiders in the driving seat. But the team that suffered the tragic death of Paul McGirr during their meeting with Armagh got back on level terms just before the break and then turned in a proud second half display to ensure that the day was theirs.
In their earlier matches, particularly the meeting with Donegal when they found the net four times, Antrim have shown their ability to score and in the 90 seconds or so after yesterday's throw-in their midfield and forward division sprang into action once again.
Paul Close was the driving force behind their first goal when he retrieved what had looked to be a lost cause to set up Gary Flynn for the score before Dermot Niblock fired in a spectacular shot from 30 yards to double the early lead. From that point on, however, the match began to slip steadily away from Brian White's side. The Tyrone half-back line, led by team captain Declan McCrossan won the bulk of the loose ball starving Flynn and the rest of the Antrim full forwards of the possession required to keep their side in front.
At the other end confusion amongst the Antrim defence began to contribute to their problems towards the end of the half with a five-point lead five minutes from the break transformed into a single-point deficit. Stephen O'Neill should have scored Tyrone's first goal of the afternoon after beating a couple of defenders on a fine 30-yard run. He directed his shot straight at goalkeeper John Finnucane, quickly made amends by stealing possession just outside the square and fed Brian O'Neill who turned well and fired low into the bottom right hand corner.
Four minutes later O'Neill, despite being surrounded by defenders, supplied the pass to Mark Harte for the goal that edged Tyrone in front. When the two sides returned after the break Antrim's fading challenge received a further blow when Harte picked up three quick points, two of them from frees.
Antrim did rally briefly when substitute Rory O'Loan got a point with his first touch before Niblock added a superb score that followed a winding run. A goal from 20 yards by Darren O'Hanlon restored the upper hand to Tyrone. TYRONE: A O'Connor, K O'Brien, C Gourley, B Donnelly, A Ball, C McAnallen, D McCrossan (capt), K Hughes (0-1), C Martin, J Campbell (0-4, three frees), B O'Neill (1-0), S O'Neill, M Harte (1-6, four frees), R Thorntan, B McGuigan (0-2). Subs: D O'Hanlon (1-0) for K Hughes (42 minutes), C McGinley for D McCrossan (57 mins).
ANTRIM: J Finnucane, C Anderson (0-2), A Brennan, C Copeland, T Convery (capt), T Maguire, F Higgins, P Logan (0-1), D Niblock (1- 2), C Thornbury, A Dunlop, G Ward, L McGonagle, G Flynn (1-0), P Close (0-3, two frees). Subs: P McKeever for F Higgins (38 mins), R O'Loan (0-2) for G Ward (44 mins), B Grieve for C Thornbury (58 mins).
Referee: G Lynch (Fermanagh).
