Tyrone got the Malachy O'Rourke era off to a winning start with an impressive Allianz Football League Division 2 win over Ulster rivals Derry at O’Neill's Healy Park, finishing strongly to see off their neighbours.
The Oak Leafers had gone into the closing stages on level terms, but the home side pulled away, bagging a goal through full-back Peter Teague to seal the win.
It was an encouraging afternoon for the new rules, with more space for attackers to operate in, and little controversy over their application by referee David Coldrick, who had an accomplished day in charge.
But surprisingly, the sides managed just one two-pointer apiece, long range shooting at a premium at the Omagh venue.
Brendan Rogers landed the first two-pointer of the game to ease the Oak Leafers into a three points lead, but that proved to be the sole score from outside the 40 metre arc in the first half.
That early press from the visitors gave way to a half bossed by a lively Red Hand side that made little of the strong wind blowing in their faces.
They bossed the opposition kick-out, with Brian Kennedy seizing on to Odhran Lynch’s long restarts, and with Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan pressing into Derry territory almost constantly, they stretched a defence that was cominbg under increasing pressure.
Wing back Michael McKernan was a perpetual attacking force, kicking his side’s opening point, before two stars of last year’s All-Ireland Under-20-winning side, Ronan Cassidy and Shea O’Hare, also hit the target.
Derry’s indiscipline saw them suffer a 50-metre free kick penalty on three occasions, one of which Darren McCurry converted from 13 metres for a 0-04 to 0-03 lead by the 23rd minute.
And they crafted a couple of goal chances, McCurry rifling a shot into the side netting, before a Kennedy effort was deflected over for a point by 'keeper Lynch.
Tyrone did hit the net in the 31st minute, McKernan’s polished finish capping another surging run, and now they led by four.
McGuigan and Conor Glass were at the heart of the Dery response which led to scores from Shane McGuigan and Ciaran McFaul, but Tyrone’s strong finish to the half saw Niall Devlin ease them into a 1-07 to 0-06 interval lead.
But Conor Glass set the game alight with a superb goal inside 90 seconds of the restart, smashing his shot to the roof of the net from Antron Tohill’s assist.
Rogers was the beating heart of Derry’s strong resurgence, and it was looking positive for them when Shane McGuigan brought the sides level.
Tyrone were struggling to contain the runners from deep, but some strong defending quelled the revival, and Mattie Donnelly fisted them back into the lead on 50 minutes.
Derry responded strongly, with a McGuigan brace regaining the lead, which they held going into the final ten minutes.
But a turbo-charged Red Hand finish saw them hit 1-04 without reply to send their neighbours from across the Sperrins home empty-handed.
Morgan’s delightful pass sent Ciaran Daly away, and his cross to the far post was scrambled over the line by Peter Teague.
Substitute Eoin McElholm chipped in with a couple of scores, with McCurry hitting a two-pointer late on to make it a positive management debut for new boss O’Rourke.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Tyrone: N Morgan; A Clarke, P Teague (1-00), N Devlin (0-01); M McKernan (1-02), F Burns, S O’Hare (0-01); B Kennedy (0-01), L Gray; S O’Donnell, K McGeary, C Daly; D McCurry (0-03, 1tp), M Donnelly (0-02, 1f), R Cassidy (0-01, f).
Subs: C Kilpatrick for Gray (47) E McElholm (0-02) for Cassidy (47), R Brennan for Burns (58), B Cullen for O’Hare (66), M Bradley for Donnelly (70)
Derry: O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, D Gilmore; C Doherty, B Rogers (0-02 (1tp), D Cassidy; C Glass (1-00), A Tohill; E Doherty (0-01), C McFaul (0-01), P Cassidy (0-01); N Toner, S McGuigan (0-04, 2f), L Murray.
Subs: B McCarron for McFaul (43), C Murphy for Toner (53), C McGrogan for P Cassidy (66), M Doherty for D Cassidy (66)
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
