TYRONE held their nerve to lift their 11th Ulster Under-21 football title in a thrilling decider at Ballybofey yesterday.

The fact that Armagh referee Padraig Hughes flashed 13 yellow cards and three reds reflected the intense and competitive nature of a decider which was never ugly or cynical.

All three dismissals were for second bookable offences, but it was the loss of key Derry attacker James Bateson 11 minutes from the end which had the most profound effect on the game.

Tyrone's whirlwind start had them six points ahead within 10 minutes through Justin McMahon, Finbar Magill, Colm Cavanagh and Raymond Mulgrew.

Derry finally opened their account in the 10th minute through James Bateson, and with the help of two Cathal O'Kane scores, they had clawed the deficit back to three by the halfway stage.

Derry were level within two minutes of the restart when Bateson sent full forward Barry McGoldrick through for a goal, and it was Bateson who gave them the lead for the first time with a superbly stuck free.

John Gilmore ended a 20minute barren spell for Tyrone with a long range score, and Derry's challenge was effectively ended when Bateson picked up a second yellow card 11 minutes from the end. Derry never recovered, and Tyrone capitalised as McCreesh capped an excellent performance with two thumping points.

TYRONE J Curran; P J Quinn, S McNulty, D Burke; B Boggs, J McMahon (0-2, 2 frees), J Gilmore (0-1); R Mulgrew (0-1), S O'Hagan; M Cunningham, M McCreesh (0-2), F Magill (03, 2 frees); C Tierney, C Cavanagh (0-1), D McDermott (0-2, 1 free).

Subs: S O'Neill for Burke, M Murray for Boggs, N Kerr for O'Hagan DERRY E McNicholl; R Dillon, M Drumm, K Gallagher; M McIver, J O'Kane, C Doyle; C Brown, M Friel; C O'Kane (0-2), M Lynch, A McAlynn; J Bateson (0-3, 3 frees), B McGoldrick (1-1), S L McGoldrick (0-1).

Subs: R Kealey for McAlynn, A McCartney for SL McGoldrick, C McCallion for McCartney, J Keenan for McIver Referee P Hughes (Armagh)