- Written by John Hoey
- BBC Sport NI at Breffni Park
Tyrone qualified for next Sunday’s Ulster Football semi-final against Donegal after a tense 1-23 to 3-16 extra-time victory over a brave Cavan team.
The Red Hands appeared to be in control, leading 1-16 to 1-8 after 53 minutes.
However, Cavan scored goals from Padraig Faulkner and Niall Carolan to help the home side force extra-time, punishing Padraig Hampsey’s black card to make it 2-1.
Tyrone only managed three points in extra time, but that proved to be enough as Cavan were unable to take the match to penalties.
Cian Madden’s goal gave Cavan an early 1-1 to 0-2 lead, but an exchange of passes between Brian Kennedy and Darren McCurry led to debutant Liam Gray scoring in the 18th minute, giving the Red Hands a 1-1 to 0-2 lead. extended his advantage to 1-. By halftime it was 10-1-4.
Tyrone looked unthreatened as they increased their lead to eight points midway through the second half, but Cavan suddenly picked up the pace and the Red Hands lost their way considerably.
Physical fatigue was evident and the extra-time goal was valuable, even though the Red Hands lost key forwards Darragh Canavan and Darren McCurry to injury, which is a cause for concern for next week. They did well enough to set up a meeting at Celtic Park the following Sunday. Conqueror of Delhi.
McGuinness watches the action
Jim McGuinness was at Breffni Park to watch the game and could not have been more upset to see the exhaustion and energy drained by the Red Hands, who ultimately saw off the home team.
Indeed, compared to Saturday’s remarkable game at Celtic Park, the first 53 minutes of the game at Cavan Town were intense as Tyrone controlled the game. This was largely due to the efforts of Canavan, Brian Kennedy, Michael McKernan and Hampsey who dominated the duel in the first half against Cavan’s dangerous man Paddy Lynch.
Cavan twice took the lead early on with Cian Madden’s opener, but Oisin Brady’s pass beat Niall Morgan in the ninth minute.
But McKernan’s second goal, following a typical upfield lead, gave the Redhands an unresponsive 1-3 start that ended with a goal from debutant Gray.
Cavan cut Tyrone’s advantage to three by the 27th minute after corner-back Brian O’Connell’s first of two goals, but Darragh Canavan’s second successive goal from play and Ciaran Daly’s score The Red Hands led by six points at halftime.
McKernan’s third goal shortly after the restart further extended Tyrone’s advantage and Lynch eventually escaped the clutches of Hampsey and went unmarked, but Ruairi Canavan, goalkeeper Morgan and McCully scored to make it 1-1. 16, so there was no sign of any drama to come. By the 52nd minute it was 1-8.
However, Hampsey had received a black card four minutes earlier for an off-the-ball exchange with Lynch, and Cavan gave Cavan a lifeline with Faulkner’s goal from Conor Brady’s goal in the 53rd minute. , could utilize additional players during his absence. .
Oisin Brady’s goal was followed by Carolan’s goal in the 58th minute, picking up the ball and smashing it into the roof of the net after Morgan tried to clear Lynch’s loose fist with a punch.
Amazingly, Tyrone led 1-16 to 3-9 with just one point left. A third goal from the excellent Oisin Brady in the 63rd minute put Breffni’s side into shape after Faulkner missed a chance to score for Cavan.
Tyrone twice took the lead in the remaining regular time, but Cavan refused to relent through Lynch’s free, and with goal in sight a hard-fought effort from O’Connell secured extra-time.
Both teams were forced to make major changes in the face of heavy attrition, and although Canavan’s seventh goal and Niall Devlin’s goal made it a two-goal lead in extra time, only five points were scored in extra time, and the opening 10 Tiernan Madden’s goal in the minute left both teams with the lowest points. .
With McCurry and Canavan absent, substitute Tiernan Quinn played a free-taking role after Cavan keeper Gary O’Rourke exploded on an overcarry, scoring what would eventually become Tyrone’s deciding goal.
Paddy Lynch’s free shot proved to be the deciding goal of the match, but despite having possession they were unable to get the ball into scoring position in the closing stages, and David Coldrick blew the final whistle.
Cavan: Go Luke. C Riley, K Brady (0-1), B O’Connell (0-2). P Faulkner (1-0), N Carolan (1-0), Connor Brady. L. Fortune (0-1), Oisin Keenan (Den), Ciaran Brady, G. Smith (0-1), Oisin Keenan (Castlerahan). C Madden (1-1), P Lynch (0-5, 3f), O Brady (0-3)
sub: J Smith replaces O Keenan (Den) 33 minutes, T Madden (0-2) HT O Keenan (Castlerahan), J McLaughlin HT Fortune, C O’Reilly replaces Madden. 49 minutes for R. Donohoe for K. Brady, 66 minutes for C. Rehill for Carolan 78, R. Donohoe for Faulkner 79, TN Hoffman for Ciaran Brady 83.
Tyrone: N Morgan (0-1, f); C Devlin, P Hampsey, M McKernan (0-3). S. O’Donnell, M. Donnelly (0-1), N. Devlin (0-1). B Kennedy (0-1), A Donaghy; C Daly (0-1), K McGeary, L Gray (1-0). D McCurry (0-4, 2f), D Canavan (0-, 7 3f), R Canavan (0-2)
sub: B Cullen (0-1) McGeary 54, C McShane R Canavan 57, J Oguz Donaghy 60, M O’Neill Gray 65, L McGarrity Kennedy ET, T Quinn (0-1) McQuarrie 77, C Kush D Canavan 83, N – McCarron is C. Devlin 86.
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
