Tyrone too strong for Fermanagh in McKenna Cup semi-final

Tyrone set up a Dr McKenna Cup final against Monaghan next Saturday as they defeated Fermanagh 2-9 to 0-7 in Sunday's second semi-final at Armagh.

Daryl Keenan's scored all Fermanagh's early points as they restricted Tyrone to a 0-4 to 0-3 lead but a Plunkett Kane goal put the Red Hands in control.

Tyrone extended their lead to 1-8 to 0-4 early in the second half before the Ernemen hit three unanswered points.

However, a Sean Cavanagh point was followed by Mark Donnelly's late goal.

Tyrone led twice early on thanks to points from Martin Penrose and Cavanagh only for Keenan to level on both occasions from placed balls.

Points from Kevin Gallagher and Stephen O'Neill put Tyrone two ahead and while Keenan replied, the Red Hands were in control at the break as Kane netted in first-half injury-time after a Cavanagh score moments earlier.

Paul Ward opened the scoring after the break with a Fermanagh point but Tyrone looked in firm control after Conor McAliskey, Peter Harte and Cavanagh responded with unanswered scores to put them seven ahead.

To their credit, Fermanagh fought back with three straight points courtesy of Keenan (two) and Sean Quigley, but any prospect of an unlikely Erne fightback was ended by Cavanagh's fourth point and Donnelly's goal in the third minute of injury-time.

A concern for Tyrone was news that Conor Gormley had to be taken to hospital after suffering an eye injury in the second half of the contest.

A crowd of 4,155 watched Sunday's semi-final double header and Saturday's decider at the Athletic Grounds (19:30 GMT) is likely to attract another healthy attendance.