County Tyrone took on County Armagh in the first local derby of the 2016 Supercup Ni at a rain soaked Anderson Park. Tyrone lined up in their traditional white kit while Armagh were kitted out in black . County Armagh created the first chance of the match on three minutes as Tom Barret met a cross from the left but his strike was well saved by Finton Coney in the County Tyrone goal. County Tyrone knew this was a let off and they started to dictate the match as Marcel Marito picked out Eoin Gallagher with a delightful pass but his shot was well kept out by Adam McGilpine.
It was Marito who threatened again shortly afterwards as from a swift Tyrone counter-attack he shot inches over the bar from just outside the area. County Tyrone did however take the lead through a Daniel Neil own goal as after a long range free-kick, he attempted to find his goalkeeper McGipine but only succeeded in heading it into his own net on fifteen minutes. This goal gave County Tyrone a new breath of life and they had a goal ruled out a minute later as Sam Robbs shot from just outside the box which was expertly saved by McGilpinethe ball falling to the feet of Adam Young who made no mistake in firing it into the net only for his celebrations to be cut short due to the offside flag .
Marito was putting in an excellent shift for County Tyrone and it was he who had the latest chance for his side when he struck the base of the post from an acute angle after Adam Young played him in . The men from County Tyrone were playing some fantastic football and had another great opportunity through Sam Robb but he shot just wide from eight yards out .
On the stroke of half-time County Armagh were gifted a route back into the match as they were awarded a penalty after a clumsy foul in the box. Chris Hutchinson took full responsibly in taking it and he coolly slotted the ball home sending Coney the wrong way, in the process, to take his scoring tally to two goals from two matches .
County Tyrone created the first chance of the second half as George Current met a corner at the back post but he miscued his effort volleying wide of the target . County Armagh then went two-one in front as Alberto Balde got on the end of a long ball. He controlled it well on his chest to get through on goal and hammer it low into the net leaving Coney with no chance of saving . The game then started to die down as County Armagh were in full control at this point .
However County Armagh did score a third as Tyler Marsden hit a thumping strike from range, floating the ball high into the roof of the net. County Tyrone’s heads were down at this point as their opponents went on the rampage, creating chance after chance and they nearly had a fourth as Barret got through on goal only to be well tackled by Gavin O’Kane. County Armagh then had a further chance as Balde crossed into the middle of the box to Barret but he just couldn’t get a connection to the ball .
County Tyrone never gave up to their credit and they created a good chance to pull another goal back as the impressive Morito played in Young, who skipped around the defender before his shot was well blocked by Lee Upton. County Armagh, however, did grab a fourth as the fantastic Balde held off a challenge to sail through on goal and slam the ball into the net past the onrushing Coney . Four then became Five as Balde completed a fine hat-trick as he took a superb touch from a long ball to get one on one with Coney again and keep his composure to hit it across the keeper.
In the last minute of the game Coney denied County Armagh a sixth as he made a fine reflex save from Barret this was the last action of the game as County Armagh took the spoils and the bragging rights in this local derby .
Report by
Josh Bunting