Gaelic Games

Tyrone show no mercy as Shay McGuigan calls the tune against Armagh

Red Hands hammer the Orchard side by 24 points to qualify for Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals

Tyrone’s Ronan McNabb manages to retain possession as he is tackled by Tony Kernan and Kyle Carragher of Armagh during last night’s McKenna Cup game in Healy Park, Omagh. Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Inpho
Tyrone’s Ronan McNabb manages to retain possession as he is tackled by Tony Kernan and Kyle Carragher of Armagh during last night’s McKenna Cup game in Healy Park, Omagh. Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Inpho
Wed Jan 15 2014 - 22:09

Tyrone 5-16, Armagh 0-7

Tyrone charged into the Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals with a runaway win over Armagh at Healy Park tonight.

The Red Hands showed no mercy as they tore a disappointing Orchard side apart in front of a crowd of 2,514.

Shay McGuigan was the man who conducted the orchestra, his vision and range of passing uncannily reminiscent of older brother Brian in his prime.

It was McGuigan’s defence-splitting pass that created the opening for Ciarán McGinley’s 16th-minute goal, the Errigal Ciarán man sending a bullet to the net from Mattie Donnelly’s popped pass.

READ MORE

Tyrone had a second goal eight minutes later. This time it was Donnelly who shuffled past Charlie Vernon out on the right to cut inside and beat Philip McEvoy with a low, precise finish to the corner of the net.

McGuigan became the ninth Tyrone player to score, giving his side a 2-10 to 0-4 interval lead. PJ Lavery slotted home a third goal within 30 seconds of the restart, and Harte punished Andy Mallon’s foul on Donnelly by slotting home a 44th-minute penalty.

The Red Hands completed a ruthless demolition job with a superb strike for Lavery's second goal three minutes from the end.

TYRONE: N Morgan (0-1, f), A McCrory, R McNamee, B Tierney, C McGinley (1-0), P Harte (1-2, 1-0 pen), R McNabb, D McBride (0-1), C Grugan (0-1), E McKenna (0-2), S McGuigan (0-1), PJ Lavery (2-1), P McNeice (0-2, 1f), M Donnelly (1-1), R O'Neill (0-4, 2f). Subs: C Clarke for Tierney (40), P Quinn for Donnelly (49), H Gallagher for McNabb (53), K Campbell for McNamee (56), K Gallagher for McGinley (59), T McCann for Grugan (61).
ARMAGH: P McEvoy, A Mallon, C Vernon, P Hughes, M Shields, S Campbell (0-1), C Rafferty, E Rafferty (0-1, f), J Lavery, E McVerry, K Carragher (0-2), T Kernan (0-1, f), R Tasker (0-1), J Clarke, N McConville. Subs: K O'Rourke for McVerry (8), B Mallon (0-1) for McConville (33), J Hanratty for Kernan (40), C MacIomhair for Carragher (47), C McCooey for Hughes (49).
Referee: C Branagan (Down).