THE nullification of Tyrone’s main transition players was key to a sensational result for the Derry footballers.

While Ardboe coach Brian Lavery was disappointed by the outcome – even the most optimistic Derry fan couldn’t have predicted an 11-point victory – he was hugely complimentary of a job well done by Rory Gallagher and his players.

Kieran McGeary, Peter Harte, Niall Sludden and to a lesser extent Conor Meyler, were nowhere near as impactful as they were during last year’s run to the All-Ireland, and that was always going to make it difficult for Tyrone to plunder a positive result in last Sunday’s Ulster Championship clash.

Lavery said: “Derry pulled Meyler, McGeary, Harte and Sludden far away from the play, so even if Tyrone did manufacture a turnover, their most effective transition players were out of the game. Because of the way Derry had set-up, those really effective Tyrone players were rendered anonymous.

“I can only really remember one Tyrone incision and that was Meyler’s goal chance – and it came from a kick-out, not from open play.

“They definitely targeted taking Tyrone’s transition players out of the game by playing high and wide, that was really good by Derry.”

Lavery was particularly impressed with how effective Derry were in possession. He knew the Oakleafers would turn the game into a claustrophobic affair for the Red Hands, but he wasn’t expecting them to be quite so ‘adventurous’ in attack.

“Derry got their set-up spot on right from the opening whistle. Derry did to Tyrone what I expected Tyrone to do to Derry.

“Out of possession, they were extremely well organised defensively and made the pitch as small as possible, but in possession they were more adventurous than I thought they would be.

“As soon as Derry got the ball, they had at least three players sprinting up the pitch, and Niall Loughlin, Niall Toner and Benny Heron were particularly selfless in that regard. Ethan Doherty and Conor Doherty were excellent as well, the angles and timing of their runs into the open ground were brilliant.

“There was a lot of space for them but that’s because Tyrone were taking on Derry man-for-man and as soon as Derry saw that, they stuck even more firmly to their plan to keep the space open in the middle of the pitch. Derry played the conditions of the game extremely well.”

The turnover stats also made for grim reading from a Tyrone perspective with Derry more than winning the battle on that front as well.

“From my memory I can only remember one significant Tyrone turnover and that was on Chrissy McKaigue in the first half. It was McGeary and Meyler and you sensed that was a big statement, especially turning over someone as important as McKaigue, but Derry recovered from that and it didn’t faze them.”

Even though Derry cruised over the finish line, Lavery points out that the game was finely balanced until Brian Kennedy was sent off in the 26th minute.

“Derry started really well, they’d set their stall out, but after 25 minutes, it was only 0-6 to 0-4. Tyrone went for a turnover and Brian Kennedy was very unfortunate to foul the ball on the ground, and Derry went three up from the free.

“He was very frustrated at that and from the next kick-out, he lashed out at Gareth McKinless and in the next play Derry got a penalty, so in the space of two or three minutes, the game had changed entirely.

“I know Brian Kennedy because he was on the Tyrone minors in 2014 and 2015 and he’s one of the most unlikely people to lose his cool, but I think he was frustrated that he was put on the backfoot by Gareth McKinless. McKinless was excellent for Derry, he’s a very good player. I’ve seen him numerous times for Ballinderry and he’s very good.”

Tyrone fans have been left wondering what happened to the dynamic, energetic team that won last year’s All-Ireland. Lavery thinks all isn’t lost.

“I watched the Tyrone warm-up and they warmed up very deliberately and did a lot of work on one-v-one defending and carrying the ball almost from their own box to the 50 yard line, being aggressive and taking their man on. But they didn’t do that at all in the match. They were also trying to run very aggressively from the sideline and make a very incisive run, and they didn’t do that at all in the match either. Tyrone probably planned to do these things but sometimes matches just don’t go to plan.

“One thing about this panel of players is that they’re well-attuned to the Qualifiers, it’s not new ground for them. Football is funny, momentum can go for or against you very quickly at times. That was also a huge game for Derry and the Gallagher project, it was make or break in many ways.”