Tyrone surprise Cork at Healy Park 13/03/2010 - 21:46:26
Tyrone 3-9 Cork 0-16
Tyrone’s battle against relegation finally got off the ground in a gripping contest this evening, which Mickey Harte’s men won by grabbing goals at crucial stages.
Colm Cavanagh and Tommy McGuigan hit the net in the dying moments of the first half, and after Cork had roared back into the lead, substitute Ryan Mellon grabbed a third 10 minutes from the end of a memorable tie at Healy Park.
The return of Sean Cavanagh, who came in as second half sub for his first appearance in seven months, was another big plus for the Red Hands, who still face a massive task as they set about dragging themselves off the bottom of the Division One table.
After Tyrone had bossed the opening quarter, going 0-4 to 0-2 ahead with a couple of Owen Mulligan scores, Cork took control, and landed six points in as many minutes.
Two each from Paul Kerrigan and Colm O’Neill saw them go 0-9 to 0-5 ahead.
Colm Cavanagh superbly lobbed goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran, and moments later, Tommy McGuigan poked home a second goal.
Tyrone led by 2-5 to 0-9 at half-time.
Another Cork blitz saw them go back in front within five minutes of the restart, Colm O’Neill, Kerrigan and Goulding were also on target as Tyrone were forced back on the defensive.
The introduction of Sean Cavanagh on 41 minutes for his first appearance in seven months raised the spirits of Tyrone supporters among the 5,000-strong crowd, and signalled the start of another revival.
Mulligan’s third point brought the Ulster men level at the beginning of the final quarter, and they struck for a third goal 10 minutes from the end.
Aidan Cassidy’s shot was saved by O’Halloran, and sub Ryan Mellon slotted the rebound home.
Cork finished with 14 men, after Donncha O’Connor picked up a straight red card in the dying moments.
Tyrone scorers: T McGuigan 1-1, C Cavanagh, R Mellon 1-0 each. O Mulligan 0-3, M Penrose 0-2 (2f), D Harte, C Gormely 0-1, S O’Neill 0-1 each.
Cork scorers: C O’Neill 0-5 (3f), D Goulding, P Kerrigan 0-3 each, P O’Neill 0-2, P Kissane, D O’Connor, J Hayes 0-1 each.
