Dr McKenna Cup 2019: Round Three Round-Up

From Odhrán Crumley

Then there was four…Tyrone, Derry, Donegal and Armagh are all that remain in this year’s Dr McKenna Cup after a dramatic final round of games.

Section A

Donegal 1-20 Cavan 1-12

Donegal secured the top spot in Section A with an eight point win over Cavan in MacCumhaill Park, the nature of the loss dealt a hammer blow to the Breffni Blues hopes of advancing.

Cavan played the majority of the game with 14 men as David Philips seeing red inside the first eight minutes. Michael Langan dominated proceedings with nine points while Jamie Brennan kicked 1-4.

Substitute Kevin Tierney got the Cavan goal, but it could not spur the necessary requirements as his side crashed out.

Declan Bonner’s men will now meet Armagh in the last four on Sunday in Healy Park.

Down 4-18 QUB 1-5

The game was a mere dead-rubber but Down picked up their first win of 2019 with a comprehensive win over Queen’s University.

Man of the match, Pat Havern hit two Mourne majors while Declan McClements an Shane Annett got the other goals.

Colm O’Neill was on hand to palm home the students first half goal as their attentions turn to Maynooth and the Sigerson Cup.

Section B

Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 1-9

Over 3,500 people watched Armagh beat Monaghan to claim top spot in Section B and set-up a semi-final clash with Donegal.

Jack McCarron gave Monaghan a first half lead from the penalty spot as the Farney men raced into an early lead.

Stefan Campbell on his return to the inter-county fold kicked the match winning score before Jamie Clarke was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Antrim 1-14 St.Mary’s 0-9

In another of the dead-rubber clashes Antrim withstood a late St.Mary’s surge to pick up their first win of 2019 at the Woodlands 4G.

The Saffron’s only managed one second half score after leading 1-13 to 0-3 at the break courtesy of a Ryan Murray goal.

Gavin McGilly sprung both the Derry duo of Shane McGuigan and Conall White almost spurring a Ranch revival.

Section C

Tyrone 0-10 Fermanagh 0-4

Tyrone’s qualification was secured, and Fermanagh had already clashed out in what was a niggly final round game in Healy Park.

Peter Harte pointed five frees in what was the opposite of a game for the purists with the half-time scoreline reading 0-2 apiece.

In the end the introduction of Kyle Coney proved the difference as the Red Hands claimed a six point victory.

Derry 1-20 Ulster University 0-7

The margin of victory and results going their way has seen the Oakleaf County set up a semi-final meeting with Tyrone.

Damian McErlain’s men kept the students scoreless in the first half as Emmett Bradley turned in a man of the match performance finishing with a personal haul of 1-6.

Tyrone’s Lee Brennan made a substitute appearance adding five points which was matched by Derry forward, Enda Lynn.