USFC: Down comeback seals Draw
Ulster SFC Quarter-Final:
Tyrone 2-8 Down 2-8
Down came from seven points behind to force a replay with Tyrone in an Ulster SFC thriller at Omagh.
And the Mourne men will have home advantage for the Pairc Esler rematch next Saturday at 7pm.
The Mourne men could easily have won this remarkable game, but in the end they needed a late equaliser from a free by substitute Paul McComiskey, but it was no more than they deserved.
Colm McCullagh blasted home Tyrone’s first goal in the eighth minute, and Sean Cavanagh added another in the 17th minute.
The Down defence was ripped apart in the opening 20 minutes, as Tyrone started with a vengeance.
Sean Cavanagh, lining out at full forward in a departure from the selected line-up, caused major problems inside, and Colm McCullagh was buzzing, ready to take up any offer of possession.
The return of Brian McGuigan and Brian Dooher had an immediate impact, and they, along with Martin Penrose, were involved in the move which finished with McCullagh smashing the ball to the roof of the net in the eighth minute.
The goalscorer swept over a couple of points, with Colm Cavanagh converting a 13 metre free, and by the 14th minute, the Red Hands were 1-3 to 0-1 ahead.
Dan Gordon added to Ronan Sexton’s opening Down point, but Tyrone turned the screw again in the 17th minute when Sean Cavanagh rescued a ball from the end line and cut inside to slide the ball past Brendan McVeigh.
They could have had a couple more goals, but Penrose was denied by McVeigh and substitute Kevin Hughes smashed a shot into the crossbar.
But the loss of midfielder Enda McGinley due to injury after 15 minutes coincided with a Down revival.
The home side scored just once in the second quarter, while Down began find some self-belief.
Gordon’s punched goal was disallowed for a square ball infringement, but they did get a goal in the 34th minute when Gordon and Paul Murphy combined for Benny Coulter to net with the help of a deflection.
Tyrone led by 2-4 to 1-3 at the break, but Down reorganised their defence and took a grip on midfield through the excellent Dan Gordon and substitute Ambrose Rodgers.
The strength of their bench was evident in the effectiveness of Paul Murphy and Paul McCumiskey, while Coulter always carried a threat.
That threat was never more evident than when he broke away on the right to cross for Rodgers to punch to the net in the 50th minute.
Tyrone struggled to rediscover their early momentum, but Dooher and Kevin Hughes did get them back in front, but there was still time for McCumiskey to convert an equalising free in stoppage time
TYRONE: P McConnell, R McMenamin, Justin McMahon, D McCaul, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, C Holmes, S Cavanagh (1-2), B Dooher (0-1), B McGuigan, E McGinley, M Penrose (0-1), C Cavanagh (0-1, free), C McCullagh (1-2).
Subs: K Hughes (0-1) for McGinley, D Carlin for Harte, M McGee for McCaul, T McGuigan for C Cavanagh, N Gormley for B McGuigan, Joe McMahon for Homles
DOWN: B McVeigh, L Howard, M Cole, C Murney, A Carr, L Doyle (0-2, 2 frees), D Rafferty, D Gordon (0-2), J Lynch, J Fegan, R Murtagh, D Hughes, J Clarke, R Sexton (0-1), B Coulter (1-0).
Subs: P Murphy (0-1) for Murney, K McKernan for Fegan, A Rodgers (1-1) for Lynch, P McCumiskey (0-1, free) for Clarke
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)
Wides: Tyrone 9, Down 9
Yellow cards:
Tyrone: C Cavanagh
Down: M Cole, P Murphy, A Rodgers, A Carr
Red cards: None
Attendance: 18,000 (approx)
