McKenna Cup: Wins for Down, Armagh and Tyrone on opening night

Tyrone's Darragh Canavan powers past Fermanagh's Luke Flanagan in Omagh last night
Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 5th Jan 2023

The opening round of Dr McKenna Cup matches played last night saw wins for Down, Armagh and Tyrone.

Down's Conor Laverty got one over Monaghan's Vinny Corey in the battle of the new managers in Castleblayney as the Mournemen beat the current holders 2-10 to 0-12. The goals came either side of the break from Andrew Gilmore and Odhran Murdock.

At the Athletic Grounds, it was all too easy for Armagh as Kieran McGeeney's men swept aside the challenge of Antrim - now under the stewardship of Andy McEntee.

The Orchard County won 2-20 to 2-8 with Conor Turbitt hitting the opening goal for the hosts before sub Joe Sheridan fired home the second. A double from Odhran Eastwood wasn't enough to prevent the Saffrons slipping to defeat in front of a crowd of over 4,500 in Armagh.

Tyrone saw off near neighbours Fermanagh in Healy Park, with a 0-17 to 1-7 victory.

While Ultan Kelm managed to find the net for the visitors, Tyrone racked up the points in Omagh to win by seven.