TYRONE 0-5 ARMAGH 0-7

This was the one that got away for Tyrone in the Suzuki national football league last Saturday at Beragh. Tyrone knew they had a realistic chance of reaching the last four of the league campaign but after squandering sixteen first half chances Armagh remained focused and took their place against Cork. They proved more resourceful in front of goals, they took their chances well and they sealed a two point win 0-7 to 0-5

Tyrone started brightly, Denise Hagan forced to make a good save from the lively Cathy Donnelly in the opening minutes and Tyrone’s full forward line were sharp in a spell that witnessed several goal chances as well as opening scores from both teams.

O’Hanlon and Matthews gave Armagh an early lead but McGahans twin strike in a minute levelled matters and the Galbally forward lashed over a third to give Tyrone the lead.

Some seventeen minutes elapsed before another score but it was Tyrone who had chances to be comfortably in control. Begley, Donnelly and McGahan all went close as Tyrone upped the anti, yet they failed to put dominance into scores and with two attacks Armagh went into the lead.

Matthews and Moriarty scored but it was level by halftime as Cathy Donnelly scored from distance. The wind had been with Tyrone in that first half but they were poor up front, they failed to capitalise on the chances they had as Armagh took the four points that were offered to them.

It was a battle of wills in the second half, points were hard to come by, Armagh went ahead though and by the end of the third quarter there was two points between the sides, Matthews and Moriarty again assured in front of goal as Tyrone again failed to raise a flag.

All indeed Tyrone managed in the second half was a Gemma Begley point as Aileen Matthews added to her tally to maintain a two point advantage. Tyrone pressed for further scores but it proved to be too much to ask, McAliskey and Poyntz were also introduced as Tyrone went for it but it just was beyond them on this occasion. Those first half wides coming back to haunt Tyrone.

So a wonderful league campaign has ended with disappointment, the improvement though has been evident throughout and the management will take plenty of positives from the opening months of 2008. The players have been committed to the Tyrone cause throughout and its likely the O’Neill county squad will be there or there abouts come the Ulster championship, before that though there’s still plenty of work still to be done.

The attention now switches to the minors who begin the defence of  their Ulster crown next month.

MATCH STATS

TYRONE :Sinead McVeigh, Sinead McLaughlin, Maura Kelly Marie Gallagher, Ashling O’Hagan, Neamh Woods, Grainne Kelly, Arlene McCloskey, Sarah Donnelly, Cathy Donnelly 0-1, Eilish Gormley, Anne Dooher, Catriona McGahan 0-3, GemmaBegley 0-1, Nina Murphy

SUBS USED  Connie Fox For G Kelly, Claire McAliskey for Dooher, Clodagh Poyntz For Murphy, Shannon Quinn For McCloskey

ARMAGH: Hagan, Marey, Toal, McCann, O ‘Mahoney, O’Donnell, Brown, McGuinness, O’Hanlon 0-1, Murtagh, Moriaty 0-2, O’Hagan, Finnegan, Matthews 0-4, McAlinden