Tyrone Minors beat Breffni boys to make Ulster semi-final

Tyrone 0-19  Cavan 0-13

TYRONE minors booked their spot in the Ulster Championship semi-finals with a fairly commanding performance against Cavan on Saturday afternoon at O’Neill’s Healy Park.

It wasn’t flawless stuff from the Red Hands, and they took some time to grow into the contest, but their attacking nous when playing into a stiff breeze in the second half was impressive and they deservedly march on to the last four of the competition.

Visitors Cavan had their moments and could yet have a say in this year’s championship (they take on Down in a de facto backdoor clash next weekend), but they trailed by seven at the half-time whistle and could only muster a single point from play after the break, even with a considerable wind advantage.

They did knock over some eye-catching two-pointers from frees to keep Tyrone on their toes, but they really didn’t do enough over the hour to warrant an upset.

Tyrone, meanwhile, remain unbeaten through league and championship and have the benefit of an extra week off to prepare for their semi-final clash on the weekend of May 17/18 against an as-yet-undetermined opponent.

They’re motoring along nicely, have a strong spine to the team, and among those who really stood out on Saturday were midfielder James Mulgrew, who kicked three classy points from play, full-forward Eoin Long, centre-half forward Peter Colton and their sticky corner-backs Elliott Kerr and Ciaran McCrystal.

It’s all about the next game up but they’ve certainly picked up momentum and are big contenders for the provincial prize.

They took some time to settle on Saturday with some wayward efforts in the first 10 minutes, though they did get the game’s opening score when James Daly spotted the gap and took hs point after five minutes.

Cavan looked handy though – they played some neat kickpasses, didn’t do anything rash in possession, at least at this stage, and moved into the lead following back-to-back scores from Nathan Quigley, one from play, one from a free.

The Red Hands looked out-of-sorts but enjoyed a much better second quarter, Eoin Long kickstarting things with a superb two-pointer from way out the park. while Peter Garrity did likewise not
long after.

Cavan were still on their coat-tails and conjured up points from Donagh Lynch and Jake Brady, but Tyrone were starting to come to grips with their opponents in every sector and rattled off five points in succession before the half-time whistle, including two wonderful efforts from Peter Colton, Long’s latest score and a free from the industrious Joel Kerr.

The Breffni County trailed by 0-11 to 0-4 at the break but they weren’t quite out of it, especially as they had the wind advantage after the break. Within a matter of minutes, the gap was reduced to three points following two-point frees from Nathan Quigley, who has a lovely strike of the ball, and Faolan Graham.

Tyrone issued their reposte with midfielder James Mulgrew scoring two fine points into the breeze, while credit also has to go to defenders Elliott Kerr and Padraig Good-man who played their part in those scores with expertly timed attackles down the other end of the pitch.

Cavan tagged on a point from play from corner-back Danny Brady, after a rare lapse of concentration at the back from Tyrone, but the final 20 minutes were close enough to being a procession, the home side absolutely dominating possession and cleverly playing the ball around the arc before going for the score at the opportune moment.

Eoin Long moved Tyrone into a 0-14 to 0-9 lead and the very same man got their next score of the afternoon, a well-worked effort where both flanks were utilised to perfection.

The Breffni County went for a rather novel change, bringing in their sub goalie and moving Cian McConnell field, but it made little difference as Mulgrew and Padraig Donaghy were having a strong game in the middle and that very much remained the case in the final quarter of proceedings.

And it was Mulgrew who extended Tyrone’s advantage even further with a cracking effort from way out on the wing, though Cavan momentarily opened the door again, converting two two-point frees in quick succession with just over five minutes remaining.

Tyrone weren’t unsettled, however, and lorded matters on the home straight, sub Matthew F Daly getting his name on the scoresheet after a good assist from Cathal Farley, before Long’s latest score in a productive showing from the Cookstown youngster.

We were now in injury-time and the game was as good as over. Cavan hadn’t thrown in the towel, but big gaps were starting to appear in their defence and Tyrone took advantage with the final score of the afternoon, sub Diarmuid Martin playing in Cathal Farley who set the seal on an impressive six-point victory.

Scorers

Tyrone: Eoin Long (0-6, 0-1tp, 0-1f), Peter Colton (0-4, 0-1tp), James Mulgrew (0-3), Peter Garrity (0-2, 0-1tp), James Daly, Cathal Farley, Joel Kerr and Matthew F Daly (0-1
each)

Cavan: Nathan Quigley (0-6, 0-2tp), Faolan Graham (0-4, 0-2tpf), Danny Brady, Donagh Lynch and Jake Brady (0-1 each)

Teams

Tyrone: Ronan Donnelly, Elliott Kerr, Padraig Goodman, Ciaran McCrystal, Aodhan Quinn, James Daly, Cathal Farley, James Mulgrew, Padraig Goodman, Darren McAnespie, Peter Colton, Thomas Meenan, Joel Kerr, Eoin Long, Peter Garrity. Subs: Matthew F Daly for Garrity, Diarmuid Martin for Quinn, Michael Hughes for Farley

Cavan: Cian McConnell, Danny Brady, John Donohoe, Andrew Smart, Michael Smith, Harry McMullen, Shea Brady, Sam Maguire, Faolan Graham, Mark Reilly, Jake Brady, Cathal Smith, Donagh Lynch, Nathan Quigley, Dylan Brouder. Subs: Gary McCabe for Brouder, Damien Hughes for Reilly, Kevin Heery for Smith