Derry 1-15
Tyrone 2-12
AN IMPRESSIVE DERRY comeback saw them earn a draw in tonight’s thrilling encounter, as both sides got their NFL campaigns underway.
There wasn’t much between the sides in the first half, with Tyrone holding a narrow 1-6 to 0-7 lead at the break.
However, after Darren McCurry scored his side’s second goal, Tyrone looked set to pull away from their rivals.
Nevertheless, a Caolan O’Boyle goal and some laudable resilience saw Derry snatch a draw ultimately.
Mickey Harte’s side got off to the best possible start, as Conan Grugan found the net on three minutes.
But James Kielt, Mark Lynch, Enda Lynn and Ciaran McFaul were subsequently all among the scorers, as Derry established a 0-6 to 1-0 lead, before four consecutive points got Tyrone back in the game.
A Niall Morgan free and a point from McCurry then gave the Red Hand a slender advantage going in at the break.
Tyrone, however, put themselves well in control early in the second half, as McCurry scored a scrappy goal to give his side a seemingly insurmountable seven-point lead.
Derry, however, fought strongly to the end — Kielt, Emmet McGuckin and Gerard O’Kane all claimed points, while O’Boyle’s goal ensured a tense finish.
Ronan O’Neill kept Tyrone in the game, scoring two frees, but late points from Lynch and Fergal Doherty meant the contest ended all square.
