Derry & Tyrone to meet in Final

Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Semi Final:
Derry 0-11 Down 0-9

Defending champions Derry are through to the final of the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup after a 0-11 to 0-9 defeat of Down at the Morgan Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

Derry were trailing by 0-4 to 0-3 at the break but John Brennan’s side came back strongly in the second half as Mark Lynch, Conleith Gilligan, Cailean O’Boyle and Paddy Bradley all kicked crucial points.

Aidan Carr kept Down in touch from placed balls, but the Mourne men were in trouble defensively throughout.

Derry moved 0-7 to 0-6 ahead 20 minutes into second half, as Barry McGoldrick and Gilligan nudged them ahead.

Arthur McConville pulled two points back for James McCartan’s side in the closing stages, but it was too little too late and their afternoon went from bad to worse when midfielder Kalum King was shown a straight red card almost at full time.

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Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Semi Final:
Tyrone 2-14 Fermanagh 1-4

In the afternoon’s second game, also played at the Morgan Athletic Grounds, Tyrone secured their place in the final against Derry with a second win in four days over Fermanagh.

Mickey Harte once again got the better of his former star player, Fermanagh manager Peter Canavan, with Tyrone running out comfortable 2-14 to 1-4 winners thanks to a strong second half performance.

The in-form Seamus Quigley gave the Erne men the perfect start with an early goal, which put Canavan’s men 1-2 to 0-1 ahead, and they still had their noses in front at the break, leading by 1-2 to 0-3.

However, the Red Hands took complete control after the break, hitting five of the next six scores, including an Owen Mulligan goal in the 57th minute.

Ronan O’Neill, who finished with 1-4, wrapped matters up with his side’s second goal, finishing coolly after taking a pass from Stephen O’Neill.

Conor Quigley and Paul Ward were the only Fermanagh names on the score sheet in the second half.

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The final of the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup between Derry and Tyrone will take place on Saturday 28th January at 7.30pm in the Morgan Athletic Grounds, Armagh.