Dr McKENNA CUP: Tyrone 1-12 Antrim 0-10:IT TOOK a fighting finish from Tyrone and the experience of Stephen O'Neill to shake off Antrim in yesterday's Dr McKenna Cup clash at Casement Park before the Red Hands went home with a five-point victory.

Tyrone won their second game in the competition thanks to a wily display from first-half sub O’Neill. He finished with a game high 1-3, his goal in the 67th minute bolting the door firmly on the home side.

“We didn’t have to wait until today to learn how good a player Stephen is,” said Tyrone manager Mickey Harte afterwards.

Antrim ended the first half 0-5 to 0-3 ahead. After 23 minutes Antrim led 0-4 to 0-1 but a double Peter Hughes strike narrowed the margin to two points at the break.

On the resumption Tyrone fired over six unanswered points in 12 minutes to lead by 0-9 to 0-5. Only twice did Antrim manage to cross midfield in that period.

However, the home side then managed to hold Tyrone scoreless for 15 minutes as they scored three points to leave the minimum between the sides with six minutes left on the clock.

It was then that O’Neill struck the telling blows.

TYRONE:J Devine; A McCrory; C Clarke; PJ Quinn; C McCarron (0-1); D Carlin; S McNulty (0-1); A Cassidy; C Cavanagh; P Harte (0-2, 0-1 free); P Hughes (0-3); M Donnelly (0-1); C Gervin; N McKenna; R O'Neill (0-1). Subs: Stephen O'Neill (1-3) for Cassidy (28 mins), M Penrose for Gervin (56 mins), Seán O'Neill for McNulty (59 mins).

ANTRIM:C Kerr; J Crozier; R Johnston; M Johnston; S Finch; D O'Hagan, J Loughrey; C Kelly (0-2); S McDonagh; C Murray (0-1); P Cunningham (0-4, 0-3 frees); M Armstrong; B Neeson (0-2); M Dougan; K Brady. Subs: C Duffin for Armstrong (23 mins), P Gallagher for R Johnston (44 mins), A Gallagher for McDonagh (49 mins), T McCann (0-1) for Brady (51 mins), M McAleese for Finch (66 mins).

Referee:C Brannigan (Down).