Tyrone regained some confidence from their Ulster Final defeat, as they overcame Wicklow by six points in Dunleer this afternoon, winning their first tie in Group 2.

Having dropped down a grade, beaten last month by Antrim in the Ulster Final, Tyrone needed a win in this opening Group 2 tie, to give them hope of making the Quarter Finals, they will have Clare and Offaly to test them even more, Wicklow battled hard but fell short.

Maria Canavan was a strong forward for Tyrone, while Marie Kealy kicked nine points in the defeat, Aoibhinn McHugh, Emma Hegarty and Caitlin Campbell all scored goals for the Red Hand County on their way to victory.

Tyrone were on top early through a Maria Canavan free in the opening seconds, but quickly found themselves three points behind, Marie Kealy levelled from a free, before Sarah Jane Winters scored a cracker of a goal just a minute later to give Wicklow the lead.

The Ulster side were quick in their response, Canavan and Aoife Horisk both pointed to cut the gap to one, before Aoibhinn McHigh restored the Tyrone lead in the tenth minute, putting them ahead 1-3 to 1-1.

Kealy replied with a free but four quick points had Tyrone starting to pull away, their lead quickly moving out to five points by the 20th minute. Wicklow’s main scoring output was their full-forward, she added five points for the Leinster side, but Emma Hegarty finished the net in stoppage time, the goal the difference at the break, despite Wicklow’s late surge, 2-7 to 1-7.

We waited 14 minutes into the second half for a score, again it was the boot of Canavan, with the aid of the crossbar, but it was enough to give them some confidence as they struggled in front of goal before that, the same could be said for Wicklow and Kealy kicked two more points, the margin three points.

Caitlin Campbell looked to have sealed the contest putting the third goal into the Wicklow net after 51 minutes, Wicklow kept fighting and went in search of scores, they only managed a sole point from Sarah Evans, as Tyrone finished well, Sasha Byrne and Canavan who kicked her fifth point of the afternoon, wrapped up a strong performance.