IT'S a sight all Tyrone fans have been waiting for – to see Brian McGuigan back in action – following his 10-month lay off with a fractured leg.
The Red Hands midfield genius came off the bench in Arboe's Ulster Senior Club League victory over Clontibret at the weekend, an appearance that seems all the more timely given the county's dismal showing in Cork.
And McGuigan came through unscathed having weighed in with a point for good measure.
All in all it was a productive weekend for Tyrone sides with seven of the ten clubs picking up victories.
It was top versus bottom in group "A" as unbeaten Buncranna visited Gortin but the St.Patricks didn't read the script as they won their first game of the competition on a convincing 2-10 to 0-7 score line.
Kevin Kearney and Barry McCrory got their goals with McCrory, Kevin McCullagh, Ruairi Keenan, Paddy Northern, Kevin Mossey and David Kearney all featuring among the points.
In Group "B" Aghyaran made the trip to Derry to play Loup knowing that they had to win to keep alive their qualification hopes but the Oak Leaf representatives came out on top on a 1-11 to 1-5 score line to book their quarter final place. Richard Gallen scored the St.Davogs goal with Anthony Devine and Johnny McMenamin weighing in with points.
That result knocked Ardboe out of the running as well despite a superb win over Clontibret under lights on Friday night. Frank McGuigan and Mickey Coleman led the way in the scoring stakes but the big news was the return to action of Brian McGuigan, who marked his return with a point, good news for all football fans indeed.
Dromore finally seen some action in the competition when they beat Castledawson 1-10 to 0-5. Barry Collins long range effort went all the way to the Castledawson net with Sean McDonnell, Shaun O'Neill and Eoin McCusker all getting their names on the score sheet as well.
The St.Dympna's neighbours Trillick also faced Derry opposition in the form of Slaughtneil but they didn't fair as well as they went down 1-10 to 0-4. Two Malachy McElholm frees enabled the St.Macartans to only trail by three points at the interval but in the second half the visitors could only muster scores from Damian Gormley and Paddy Corry as they ended up well beaten.
In group "E" holders Carrickmore made it back to back wins when they shaded the issue against Lavey, 2-6 to 1-7 the final score line. Benny Martin and Michael Gallagher got the St.Colmcilles' goals with Kevin McNally and Neil McElduff adding points as well.
Donaghmore kept alive their qualification chances in group "F" when they travelled to Belfast and defeated St.Johns 2-12 to 0-10.
Richard Hetherington top scored for the St.Patricks with five points, midfielder Gary Hetherington contributed three with Conor McGinn and Niall McCaul grabbing the majors. Moy became the first, and so far only, Tyrone team to reach the quarter finals after they beat Cargin and Derrylaughan defeated Ballinascreen. The Tir Na Ogs were drawing 0-3 apiece at the break but Cargin only managed another point in the second half while Moy tagged on 2-6. Neil Donaghy [3], Karol McQuade [2], Brendan O'Neill and centre half back Mark Currie all found the range with Ciaran Conroy coming on as a substitute and scoring 2-1.
Ballinascreen went into their game with Derrylaughan unbeaten while the Kevin Barrys hadn't a point but all that changed after sixty odd minutes.
Brendan Quinn led the scoring stakes for the Loughshore men with four points with Gerard McAliskey, Fergal McAliskey, Paddy Quinn, Seamus Carron and Martin McStravog all on the mark as well in the 0-13 to 0-9 win.
In the final group Coalisland made the trip to Bryansford requiring only a draw to secure a quarter final slot but the Fianna lost their first game in the competition despite points from Gerard Toner, Plunkett Kane, Sean Hampsey and Stephen McNally.
That result means this group will now be determined by score difference after Coalisland, Loughmacrory and Bryansford all finished with four points from their three outings.
