Goal misses costly for Galway as Tyrone made them pay the penalty

By BILLY COSS Tyrone 1-14   Galway 0-13 The second half was far more entertaining. Conroy came away empty-handed from two gilt-edged goal chances in as many minutes that, if converted, could well have been the catalyst for Galway to kick on. Nicky Joyce struck a brilliant score off his left to cut the margin to one but matters soon took a decisive turn in Tyrone's favour. A lack of kick-out possession was hurting Galway's chances as the visitors took control of the midfield sector during the third quarter and the key score arrived when Peter Harte finished a 42nd minute penalty, despite Adrian Faherty's best efforts, that was awarded after he was taken down by Keith Kelly. Three sublime scores on the trot from Kyle Coney followed as Tyrone moved further ahead, 1-10 to 0-7, but Galway did respond with a Nicky Joyce free and two quickfire scores from the excellent Gary Sice, their best player on the day. Hopes of a comeback grew when Tyrone were reduced to fourteen men with less than a quarter of an hour remaining after referee Eddie Kinsella acted on the advice of his umpires to issue a straight red to corner-back PJ Quinn following an off-the-ball incident with Padraic Joyce. That was as close as it got, however, and Tyrone composed themselves to close out the match impressively and the late goal chance that Galway so desperately craved never arrived as the winners defended stoutly in numbers. Adrian Faherty (from a 45), Paul Conroy and Padraic Joyce struck late scores for Galway but Tyrone managed to keep them at arm's length. Stephen O'Neill, a late first-half sub, popped over a trademark left-footed score from a narrow angle, Seán Cavanagh also got on the scoresheet in his first start of 2012 while the star of the show, Coney, brought his personal tally to five points. On a day when they came off second best, Galway were best served by Adrian Faherty, Finian Hanley, Ciarán McGrath, the half-back trio of Gareth Bradshaw, Diarmaid Blake and Gary O'Donnell as well as Nicky Joyce and Gary Sice, in particular, in attack.   Attention now turns to Monaghan, who have reacted positively to each of their setbacks so far, in a weekend of fixtures likely to have a major bearing on which division Galway will be playing their football in 2013. Tyrone: J. Curran; A. McCrory, Justin McMahon, P. J. Quinn; C. McCarron (0-1), P. Harte (1-0, penalty), D. McCaul; M. Murphy, S. Cavanagh (0-1); R. McNabb, Mark Donnelly (0-1), Matthew Donnelly (0-1); K. Coney (0-5, one free), M. Penrose (0-1, free), O. Mulligan (0-3, all frees). Subs: S. O'Neill (0-1) for Penrose inj, 32 mins; A. Cassidy for Matthew Donnelly, half-time; C. Cavanagh for Mark Donnelly, 55 mins; N. McKenna for Murphy, 55 mins; C. Gormley for McCrory, 70 mins. Galway: A. Faherty (0-1, a 45); C. McGrath, F. Hanley, K. Kelly; G. Bradshaw, D. Blake, G. O'Donnell (0-2); G. Higgins, J. Bergin; G. Sice (0-4, two frees), D. Burke, N. Coleman; N. Joyce (0-3, two frees), P. Conroy (0-1), D. Cummins (0-1). Subs: T. Flynn for Coleman, 40 mins; M. Boyle for Bergin, 46 mins; P. Joyce (0-1, free) for Cummins, 51 mins; J. Duane for Blake, 58 mins; C. Bane for Burke, 68 mins. Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Kyle Coney (Tyrone).