Division One: Tyrone draw with Roscommon as Monaghan lose to Galway
- Published
Tyrone recovered from seven points down to salvage a draw against Roscommon and move off the foot of the Division One table in the Football League.
Goalkeeper Niall Morgan scored a huge point from play to clinch a 1-10 to 1-10 draw at Dr Hyde Park.
But Monaghan have been dragged into the relegation battle following a second straight loss to a Connacht side.
Malachy O'Rourke's team wilted in the second half at Inniskeen as Galway held on for a 1-9 to 0-11 success.
The Farneymen, who lost to Roscommon in round two, led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half time but a brilliantly-taken goal by Johnny Heaney helped Galway to open-up a five-point cushion in the 59th minute and the Tribesmen held off the inevitable Monaghan response.
Tyrone managed to avoid a third defeat in-a-row as they recovered from 0-10 to 0-3 behind late in the first half with Cathal McShane's goal and Morgan's long-range accuracy rescuing a point for the visitors.
Roscommon thought they had earned a last-minute free to snatch a win but referee Noel Mooney instead opted for a throw ball that allowed Mickey Harte's side to escape with their first point of the league campaign.
The draw lifts Tyrone above Cavan at the foot of the Division One table after the Breffni men lost to Mayo in Castlebar on Saturday.
Red Hands battle back
Facing into a stiff breeze in the first half, Tyrone had to rely on the free-taking ability of Peter Harte in the opening quarter to keep them in contention as the excellent Conor Cox and Conor Daly helped the home side into an early lead.
Ronan McNamee's point in the 18th minute was Tyrone's only score from play in the opening half and drew the sides level on three apiece.
But Roscommon, buoyed by their success over Monaghan last week, responded with seven unanswered points to build a commanding lead approaching the break before Peter Harte landed a late free to make it 0-10 to 0-4 at half time.
The Red Hands cut the deficit to four points at the start of the second half before Roscommon grabbed the opening goal when Cox's effort fell short of the posts and Ultan Harney was perfectly placed to palm the ball past Morgan and into the goal.
The Tyrone goalkeeper scored a long-range free in response before McShane got a fist on Kyle Coney's hopeful shot to flick the ball into the Roscommon net.
Having regained the momentum, last year's All-Ireland finalists forced their way to within a point before Morgan's audacious score from play levelled the match with four minutes remaining.
Tyrone's Mattie Donnelly was shown a black card for an off the ball foul as his side poured forward seeking a winner but an injury-time counter attack by Roscommon appeared to have earned a free in front of the posts before referee Mooney changed his decision to the disappointment of the home crowd.
Farney fall short
Monaghan handed a first start of the campaign to forward Conor McManus but the three-time All-Star missed a last-gasp chance to salvage a draw for his side.
McManus and Jack McCarron were both on target from dead balls in the opening exchanges as Galway had to wait until the 20th minute for their first score at Inniskeen.
Both sides had goal chances in the opening period as an off-balance Padraic Cunningham failed to hit the target for the Tribesmen before goalkeeper Ruairi Lavelle got a foot to Dessie Ward's low shot at the other end.
A typical rampaging run by Vinny Corey resulted in Monaghan leading by 0-4 to 0-1 but Galway's Shane Walsh responded with three points before the break to leave just one point between the sides.
Antoine O Laoi and McManus traded scores at the start of the second period before Walsh converted a pair of frees as Galway took the lead for the first time.
Heaney's goal pushed the Connacht side further ahead before Monaghan rediscovered their scoring range with goalkeeper Rory Beggan getting two long-range frees to draw his side to within a point.
Monaghan pushed for an equaliser but could not break through a resolute Galway defence with McManus forced into a hopeful snapshot in the dying seconds that drifted harmlessly wide.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday, 9 February
Division One | |||
---|---|---|---|
Kerry | 1-18 | Dublin | 2-14 |
Mayo | 1-13 | Cavan | 0-11 |
Division Two | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fermanagh | 0-8 | Kildare | 0-6 |
Division Three | |||
---|---|---|---|
Down | 0-10 | Westmeath | 0-9 |
Sunday, 10 February
Division One | |||
---|---|---|---|
Roscommon | 1-10 | Tyrone | 1-10 |
Monaghan | 0-11 | Galway | 1-09 |
Division Two | |||
---|---|---|---|
Clare | 3-13 | Cork | 1-10 |
Meath | 2-13 | Armagh | 0-13 |
Tipperary | 3-09 | Donegal | 0-13 |
Division Three | |||
---|---|---|---|
Carlow | 0-9 | Longford | 1-11 |
Offaly | 2-08 | Louth | 2-10 |
Laois | 2-18 | Sligo | 2-10 |
Division Four | |||
---|---|---|---|
Leitrim | 0-14 | Antrim | 1-10 |
London | 2-11 | Wexford | 0-8 |
Waterford | 1-8 | Derry | 2-13 |
Wicklow | 2-9 | Limerick | 1-6 |