Tyrone progress to Ulster SFC Semi-Finals after edging extra-time thriller against Cavan
Cavan 3-16 Tyrone 1-23
Tyrone's Darragh Canavan celebrates a point against Cavan
Tyrone fell over the line in Breffni Park. For a game they looked to be in control of for long periods, David Coldrick’s final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough by the end.
At one stage in the second half they led by eight points, but Cavan were stubborn and produced big goals at the right time to swing the tide of the game and bring the 9,952 in Cavan to life.
And in extra-time if felt like the team who was least exhausted would win. Tyrone scored three points in the added periods while Cavan managed just two. They had a chance to force the issue to penalties at the end but couldn’t work a shooting opportunity. Their Ulster Championship ended with the ball in possession on the edge of the Tyrone 45.
The home side started with intent. Padraig Faulkner turned over Kieran McGeary and set in train a move that had Ciaran Brady bearing down on goal. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Mattie Donnelly appeared on the blindside with a perfectly timed block, a la Conor Gormley, to kill the chance.
On ten minutes they got through again. This time Oisin Brady danced along the endline and fed the lively Cian Madden, who kept his cool to finish high to the roof of the net.
But as the half wore on, Tyrone began to press home their superiority. Their response to the Cavan goal was to hit 1-3 without reply. Liam Gray grabbed the goal, getting on the end of a move started by Darren McCurry.
Cavan often gave up the Tyrone kick out and that possession helped the Red Hand get the full forward line of Darragh and Ruairi Canavan and Darren McCurry into the game. By half time, those three would have 0-6 between them as they took a deserved 1-10 to 1-4 lead in at the break. It felt like a long way back for Ray Galligan’s men.
And there wasn’t much in the early part of the second half to dispute that as Tyrone stretched their lead to eight points in the minutes after Paudie Hampsey picked up a black card for a tangle with Paddy Lynch.
But Cavan were emboldened when Padraig Faulkner grabbed a goal and a few minutes later Niall Carolan stole in for another after Tyrone didn’t deal with a dropping ball. Tyrone looked to have steadied the ship and led by two on 68 minutes before a nerveless Paddy Lynch free and a Brian O’Connell fisted effort ensured we’d have extra time.
The energy levels dropped from there but it was Tyrone who were still standing at the end as they move on to face Donegal in an Ulster Semi-Final next Sunday. Cavan await the All-Ireland series in May.
SCORERS – Tyrone: D Canavan 0-7 (3f), D McCurry 0-4 (2f), M McKernan 0-3, L Gray 1-0, R Canavan 0-2, N Morgan (1f), M Donnelly, N Devlin, B Kennedy, C Daly, B Cullen, T Quinn (1f) 0-1 each
Cavan: P Lynch 0-5 (3f), C Madden 1-1, O Brady 0-3, P Faulkner, N Carolan 1-0 each, B O’Connell, T Madden 0-2 each, K Brady, G Smith, L Fortune 0-1 each.
Tyrone: N Morgan; C Devlin, P Hampsey, M McKernan; S O’Donnell, M Donnelly, N Devlin; B Kennedy, A Donaghy; C Daly, K McGeary, L Gray; D McCurry, D Canavan, R Canavan. Subs: B Cullen for McGeary (53), C McShane for R Canavan (58), J Oguz for Donaghy (60), M O’Neill for Gray (65), L McGarrity for Kennedy (End of normal time), T Quinn for McCurry (77), C Cush for D Canavan (82), N McCarron for C Devlin (86).
Cavan: G O’Rourke; C Reilly, K Brady, B O’Connell; P Faulkner, N Carolan, Conor Brady; L Fotrune, O Kiernan (Denn); Ciaran Brady, G Smith, O Kiernan (Castlerahan); C Madden, P Lynch, O Brady.
Subs: J Smith for O Kiernan (Denn) (33), T Madden for O Kiernan (Castlerahan), J McLoughlin for Fortune (both HT), C O’Reilly for Madden (48), K Clarke for K Brady (65), C Rehill for Carolan (78), R Donohoe for Faulkner (79), T Noack Hofmann for C Brady (82).
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)
Relive all the action on our LIVE blog below!
Tyrone with two chances to extend their lead but Michael McKernan fires wide.
Oisin Brady angles one in from the right side but it stays out to the right and misses.
Ciaran Daly arrows one towards the posts but it goes wide.
There will be five minutes at the end of this tie.
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