Tyrone 3-9 St Mary's 2-11:TYRONE, THE All-Ireland champions, revived their hopes of winning the Dr McKenna Cup with a first win of the season at Omagh last night when they just pipped St Mary's.

A strong second-half showing provided manager Mickey Harte with some serious new talent to consider, Omagh pair Jason McAnulla and Conor O’Donnell hitting a combined total of 2-3 on their debuts.

But they had just a point to spare, hanging on for a victory that revives their hopes of winning the competition, thanks to Down’s defeat to Monaghan.

Second-half goals from Owen Mulligan, McAnulla and O’Donnell swung it for Tyrone against a gutsy St Mary’s outfit.

St Mary’s led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break, but a Mulligan goal sparked the Tyrone challenge. Goals by the debutants pushed Tyrone further ahead, although Conor McGourty brought his tally to 2-5 with a goal in stoppage time.

TYRONE: J Curran; PJ Quinn, P Donnelly, N McGinn; D Harte (0-1), J McMahon, M Swift; C Holmes, P McGahan; C O’Donnell (1-1), T McGuigan (0-1, free), M Penrose (0-2, one free); McAnulla (1-3), R O’Neill (0-1), O Mulligan (1-0). Subs: S Cavanagh for McGahan (28 mins), M McGee for McGinn (48 mins), P Jordan for Donnelly (48 mins), S O’Neill for R O’Neill (50 mins), A Cassidy for Harte (62 mins).

ST MARY’S: B Mullan; M Digney, C McElholm, K O’Boyle; S O’Neill, J McMahon, B Óg Maguire (0-1); G O’Neill, M McKenna (0-1); N McSherry, K Niblock (0-2, one free), B McGoldrick; CJ McGourty (2-5, two frees), J Kelly (0-1), M Pollock (0-1). Subs: P Keenan for McSherry (19 mins), P Carvill for McGoldrick (half-time), M Murray for McElholm (48 mins), Joe Kelly for Niblock (62 mins).

Referee: R Doone (Antrim).