Ruthless Red Hands beat Breffni boys to progress in Ulster

Tyrone 1-24  Cavan 0-20

A STRAIGHTFORWARD enough day at the office, this. Tyrone maintained their unbeaten run of Senior Championship matches against Cavan stretching back a full 42 years with a fairly comfortable win in Sunday’s provincial quarter-final meeting at Omagh.

Cavan fans must be sick of the sight of us at this stage; by half-time Tyrone had sauntered into a 0-14 to 0-4 lead, the game was as good as over, and we were already day-dreaming about our battle royale against All-Ireland holders Armagh in a fortnight’s time.

Cavan to their credit kept on plugging away and their ability to shoot two-pointers caused a little unease, at least until Conn Kilpatrick buried a late goal.

Before throw-in, the news filtered through that Darragh Canavan was unavailable to play any part whatsoever due to a hamstring injury, though Tyrone still had a productive day out in front of the posts, racking up an impressive tally with 13 players getting their names on the scoresheet.

The first of those 13 players was a corner-back. Niall Devlin ghosted forward and opened the scoring with two minutes on the clock after a period of keep-ball from Tyrone, after which a couple of attacks broke down at both ends of the pitch.

Cavan had a few moments of ill-discipline at this early stage – including a breach of the 4v3 rule which saw Darren McCurry pop over the resulting free – though they got their account up and running when Sean McEvoy steered over a fine score in the 10th minute.

Tyrone were in the midst of a lean spell with a string of attacking moves coming to nought even though they had the wind at their backs, though they ended their mini-drought when McCurry, who looked lively, teed up the on-running Kieran McGeary who duly split the posts as we entered the second quarter.

As the heavens opened in Omagh, the home side opened up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with quickfire scores from Ruairi Canavan (free) and Aodhan Donaghy. Again, McCurry was in the thick of things, playing a neat one-two with the Loughmacrory lad, who was also having an excellent outing.

Cavan retorted with a Dara McVeety score but scorer turned provider in the next play as Donaghy assisted McCurry for a trademark point from Tyrone’s second highest scorer of all time.

It was fairly open stuff and Cavan reduced the deficit via Oisin Kiernan before another Tyrone point, a lightning fast attack polished off by Cathal McShane, a late inclusion, who palmed the ball over the bar. From that point on, it was nearly all one-way traffic for the remainder of the half, Cavan looking increasingly bereft of ideas against a disciplined Tyrone rearguard action.

Niall Morgan stroked over a ’45’ as cool as you like and a theme was starting to emerge – Cavan goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke was having an awful time of it from his restarts with the likes of Brian Kennedy and Conn Kilpatrick their know-how in the middle of the park to great effect.

Ruairi Canavan popped over a free after another Cavan restart was unceremoniously gobbled up by Tyrone, who now led by 0-8 to 0-3 on the scoreboard.

The Red Hands pieced together their latest score, Peter Teague getting his name on the scoresheet after good work from Niall Morgan and Peter Harte, the very same man who added Tyrone’s 11th of the day with a spectacular effort from the right-hand flank.

Kieran McGeary, who was covering serious ground, added yet another point for a free-scoring Tyrone team, who were utterly dominant in every sector at this stage of proceedings.

Cavan got one back – Cian Madden clipping over – but it had no discernible effect on their fortunes.

Instead, Tyrone finished the half with a flourish, McCurry so cleverly working his way into a scoreable position before splitting the posts before Cathal McShane added his second from the day, ensuring a 0-14 to 0-3 lead at the break: not quite insurmountable, but not far off it either.

The Red Hands kept the pressure on at the start of the second-half, Ruairi Canavan scoring two more frees while Michael McKernan burst forward for his first of the day.

In between times, Cian Madden scored a two-pointer from a free, but they were still a long way back and flung over a scattering of wides.

Tyrone kept on coming forward and Ciarán Daly and Kieran McGeary (under so little pressure) stretched their lead to a full 14 points. As an aside, McGeary had a hugely influential game and this was his third from play.

Cavan sub Ryan Donohoe kept their account just about ticking along but Tyrone responded with McCurry scoring his fourth.

Oisin Kiernan and Dara McVeety landed two pointers in quick succession to leave Cavan with a 0-20 to 0-11 deficit to account for with 20 minutes remaining

McCurry curled over his latest point – you knew where it was going as soon as he lined up his shot – while Cavan’s Sean McEvoy scored a free in the next attack.

Brian Kennedy became Tyrone’s 12th player to score, but Cavan were finding joy with efforts beyond the two-point arc, McVeety scoring a brace in the space of a couple of minutes to leave it 0-23 to 0-16 on the scoresheet with 10 minutes to go.

Another Cavan score – this time from Ryan O’Neill – and it wasn’t quite over yet. McCurry was having a fine game, however, doing the business again in front of the posts after a smart assist from McKernan.

Then a goal made in Edendork. Niall Morgan prevented a certain point with a high catch and seconds later, McCurry played in Conn Kilpatrick who picked his spot superbly to open up a 1-24 to 0-17 lead.

McEvoy and McVeety tagged on a couple of Cavan frees as full-time approached but it was immaterial. Tyrone were through – and Armagh await in the Ulster Championship semi-final. Bring it on.

Scorers

Tyrone: Darren McCurry (0-7, 0-2f), Ruairi Canavan (0-4, 0-4f), Kieran McGeary (0-3), Conn Kilpatrick (1-0) Cathal McShane (0-2), Niall Devlin, Aodhan Donaghy, Peter Harte, Peter Teague, Ciaran Daly, Michael McKernan, and Brian Kennedy (0-1 each), Niall Morgan (0-1 ’45’)

Cavan: Dara McVeety (0-8, 2 2pt, 1 2ptf), Oisin Kiernan (0-3,1 2pt), Sean McEvoy (0-4, 0-2f), Cian Madden (0-3, 2ptf), Ryan Donohoe and Ryan O’Neill (0-1 each)

Teams

Tyrone: Niall Morgan, Aidan Clarke, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin, Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan, Kieran McGeary, Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick, Aodhan Donaghy, Cathal McShane, Ciarán Daly, Darren McCurry, Peter Harte, Ruairi Canavan. Subs used: Seanie O’Donnell for Harte, Joe Oguz for Donaghy, Mattie Donnelly for McShane, Eoin McElholm for Kennedy

Cavan: Gary O’Rourke, Cian Reilly, Brian O’Connell, Jason McLoughlin, Padraig Faulkner, Ciarán Brady, Niall Carolan, Killian Clarke, Gerard Smith, Gearoid McKiernan, Oisin Kiernan, Dara McVeety, Barry Donnelly, Cian Madden, Sean McEvoy. Subs used: Ryan Donohoe for McKiernan, Ryan O’Neill for Madden, Killian Brady for Clarke, Peter Devine for Faulkner

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)