Tyrone ACFL Division One
Moy 1-10 Derrylaughan 1-16
A powerful second half showing from Derrylaughan gave them a deserved six-point win over the Moy on Sunday, but the Loughshore men still finished bottom of Division One with results elsewhere going against them.
Clonoe earned a share of the spoils in their home game against Trilick with a late Lee Brennan free being awarded after some confusion.
That result, coupled with Moortown’s point at home to Errigal Ciaran, sees Kevin Barry’s finish bottom on seven points.
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Moy (nine points) will have home advantage in their play-off game against Clonoe, who finished on eight points.
Derrylaughan edged a tense, nervy first half in the Moy and were 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
The hosts enjoyed more possession and had the better of the chances, but Derrylaughan were more clinical with their chances.
James Donnelly (two), Ciaran Gervin and Conor Hughes were all on target early on as the visitors got off to a strong start with a Ryan Coleman free and a point from midfielder Steve Donaghy getting the hosts off the mark.
Patrick Laverty and Thomas Carney exchanged excellent points from play and Kevin Murray’s side briefly drew level approaching half-time as Coleman converted another.
However, the impressive Donnelly landed a score from play to nudge his side ahead at the break.
The second half was barely 15 seconds old when Ciaran Gervin landed another from play and Derrylaughan plundered the game’s first goal to take control of proceedings.
A slip from corner-back Eunan Deeney led to Fergal McAliskey rifling the ball into the net to put his side 1-8 to 0-7 ahead after 34 minutes.
Derrylaughan really kicked for home in the third quarter of the game as they outscored the Moy 1-4 to 0-2 in that period.
Coleman kept the hosts in touch with two points, but All-Star midfielder Brian Kennedy was in superb form, winning possession, setting up scores and getting on the scoresheet himself.
Kennedy set up his midfield colleague Gervin for another well-taken point before landing a point of his own. He then delivered a stunning long-range pass for Thomas Carney to take a mark.
At this stage, the Moy needed something special to force their way back into the contest and Tyrone panellist Michael Conroy duly delivered.
He evaded a number of challenges before drilling a low shot into the far corner of the net and beyond the reach of James Kennedy to cut the deficit back to four points.
Crucially, though, the home side couldn’t tag on another couple of points after the goal and had to wait another 10 minutes to land their next point.
By then, Derrylaughan had put the game beyond doubt with Gervin bringing his tally to four from play while substitute Stevie McGrath landed a mark before setting up Kennedy for the game’s last point.
Unfortunately for Derrylaughan, their efforts were in vain as Clonoe’s draw against Trillick means they will be relegated to the Intermediate ranks unless they can go all the way in the Senior Championship.
Kevin Barry’s face Loughmacrory in Edendork on Sunday, September 25 with the Moy taking on Errigal Ciaran in Galbally on Saturday, September 24.
Elsewhere, Carrickmore’s narrow 0-10 to 0-9 win over Greencastle was enough to secure the defending league champions a place in the semi-finals.
Carmen will travel to Trillick while Killyclogher will have home advantage against Errigal Ciaran with both games taking place on Saturday. No date has been set for the relegation play-off between the Moy and Clonoe.
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