Derry advance courtesy of last-gasp draw against Tyrone

Lachlan Murray rescued Derry with a 77th minute equaliser at Owenbeg as they fought back to draw with Tyrone and secure a place in the Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals.

The Red Hand also went through to set up a last four meeting with Cavan this weekend, while the Oak Leafers will face Down.

Tyrone led by five points going into the final 15 minutes, but were unable to hold on for the win, as the home side switched the emphasis to attack in their time of need.

In front of a crowd of 3,327, Derry started with ten of the side that lined out against Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, with Tyrone also fielding an experienced outfit.

Derry set up with their tried and tested defensive formation, frustrating their opponents by weight of numbers at the back and breaking through pacey wing-backs Conor Doherty and Padraig McGrogan.

Niall Loughlin sent Shane McGuigan in for their opening score, and it took Tyrone 14 minutes to find a way to break down the cordons of resistance.

It was full-back Cormac Munroe who floated over a long range effort, and when Peter Harte pinged an inch-perfect delivery to Niall Sludden, the Dromore man converted from the mark to give the Red Hands the lead.

Moving the ball to the flanks, they found further openings for Conor Meyler and Cathal McShane to make it 0-4 to 0-1 by the 23rd minute.

And while McGuigan narrowed the gap to one, it was the Red Hand side which finished the half strongly, McShane firing over a couple of points, along with Richie Donnelly's fine effort.

Murray’s lively movement in the Derry attack posed problems, but a couple of Padraig Hampsey turnovers denied the home side, which went in at the break trailing by 0-7 to 0-3.

Strong running, particularly from Conn Kilpatrick, and willing support