TYRONE IFC: Moortown comeback stuns Dungannon

Moortown staged a magnificent second half recovery to stun Dungannon in Saturday’s Intermediate Championship first round encounter at Carrickmore

Twice in the game Dungannon looked to have the measure of Moortown as they established five point leads but the St Malachy’s displayed their battling traits and, having levelled the issue, they created the opening for Karl Hagan to guide over an injury time winner.

Dungannon stormed out of the traps with Tyrone ace Padraig McNulty handing them a lead they held until that last gasp winning score. Ciaran Barker, Kiefer Morgan and McNulty followed up with points and as Moortown struggled to get going, they slipped further behind when a surging Matthew Walsh run saw him splitting the posts for a 0-5 to no score lead.

The Loughshore men belatedly opened their account on 19 minutes when Conan McLernon knocked over a free but it was Dungannon who were dictating the pace throughout the field. McNulty registered a third score before Moortown goalkeeper Mark Ryan produced a decent save to thwart Patrick Molloy a goal.

That save ignited the Moortown challenge with Hagan and McLernon weighing in with points ahead of a Dalaigh Jones point as Dungannon moved 0-8 to 0-3 ahead. Conor Heron closed the gap by the break and when Moortown hit three points in the opening four minutes of the restart through McLernon, Herron and Hagan the comeback was on.

Lorcan Mallon lifted the siege for Dungannon with a timely point and they received another fillip on 38 minutes with a goal. Patrick Quinn punishing keeper Mark Ryan’s poor kick-0ut in style for a 1-9 to 0-7 lead. Morgan landed another free on 42 minutes but that was their lot as Moortown stormed back.

Stephen Spiers, Hagan, substitute Daniel Kelly (twice) and Ryan Kelly supplied points as Moortown levelled the contest for the first and only time entering injury time.

Moments later Kelly was black carded for a foul on McNulty but just when thoughts of a replay were looming, up stepped Hagan to send Moortown through to a quarter final meeting with Aghaloo.

SCORERS

Moortown – Karl Hagan 0-4, Conor Heron 0-3, Conan McLernon 0-2, Daniel Kelly 0-2, Ryan Kelly 0-2, Stephen Spiers 0-1

Dungannon – Padraig McNulty 0-3, Patrick Quinn 1-0, Kiefer Morgan 0-2, Dalaigh Jones 0-1, Ciaran Barker 0-1, Matthew Walsh 0-1, Lorcan Mallon 0-1, Patrick Molloy 0-1

Referee – Stephen Campbell, Stewartstown