McKenna Cup: Peter Harte double as Tyrone beat Antrim

Tyrone's Peter McCann in action against Sean McVeigh of Antrim

Two Peter Harte goals and five points from Darren McCurry helped Tyrone make it two McKenna Cup wins from two with a 2-13 to 1-10 success over Antrim.

Harte bagged his first goal after six minutes, finishing with conviction when the ball broke to him.

The Saffrons hit back with 1-1 in the space of a minute, Kevin Niblock netting an eighth-minute penalty.

But Tyrone got a second goal on 26 minutes, as Harte followed up to net after his first effort had been saved.

The Red Hands would have won by more than the six-point margin at Casement Park but for a series of super saves from Saffrons goalkeeper Chris Kerr,

Kerr, though, was partly at fault for the first Tyrone goal. He gifted the ball to Darren McCurry, before pulling off an excellent save from Conor McAliskey.

However, the ball broke to Harte who finished from close-range for a four-point advantage.

Niblock's penalty boosted Antrim's hopes but Tyrone stunned their hosts with a second goal.

When Harte had his initial shot saved by Kerr, he picked up the rebound to hit the net for the second time.

And late in the half, Daren McCurry hit two points and Plunkett Kane grabbed his second for a 2-6 to 1-4 interval lead.

Tyrone tightened their grip in the second half, with McCurry bringing his tally to five from play.

Stephen O'Neill, Ronan McNamee and Johnny Lafferty were also on target, with Colm Fleming and Justin Crozier (2) responding for the home side.

Paddy Cunningham came off the bench to slot over two late points for Antrim, but there was to be no stopping Mickey Harte's side.

Antrim scorers: Kevin Niblock 1-0 (pen), Colm Fleming 0-3 (3 frees), Paddy Cunningham, Justin Crozier 0-2, Michael McCann, Sean McVeigh, Conor Murrray 0-1 each.

Tyrone scorers: Peter Harte 2-0, Darren McCurry 0-5, Plunkett Kane, Ronan McNamee, Stephen O'Neill (1 free) 0-2 each, Johnny Lafferty, Niall Morgan ('45) 0-1 each.

Antrim: Chris Kerr, Kevin O'Boyle, Paul Doherty, Sean Finch, Tony Scullion, Dermot McCann, Justin Crozier, Sean McVeigh, Sean McCarron, Conor Murray, Kevin Niblock, Colm Fleming, Michael McCann, Michael Herron, Michael Pollock.

Subs: James Laverty for D McCann, Brendan Herron for Fleming, Ryan Murray for Pollock, Paddy Cunningham for Niblock, Peter McNicholl for Doherty

Tyrone: Niall Morgan, Aidan McCrory, Cathal McCarron, Dean McNally, Ronan McNamee, Conor Gormley, Sean Warnock, Plunkett Kane, Sean Cavanagh, Tiarnan McCann, Peter Harte, Paddy McNeice, Darren McCurry, Stephen O'Neill, Conor McAliskey.

Subs: Mattie Donnelly for McNeice, Johnny Lafferty for Harte, Joe McMahon for O'Neill, Mark Donnelly for Carlin

Referee: C Branagan (Down).

Power NI Dr McKenna Cup results

Saturday 12 January

Section B

Armagh 1-11 3-09 Cavan

Section C

Derry 1-13 0-6 UUJ

Sunday 13 January

Section A

St Mary's University College 1-5 2-15 Fermanagh

Donegal 1-05 3-16 Monaghan

Section C

Antrim 1-10 2-13 Tyrone