COUNTY| Tyrone Start With A Win.

Sunday 31.01.2016

Club

Tyrone 0-10 Cavan 0-8

Tyrone made a winning start to their National League Division Two campaign but they were made to battle for it against a very gritty and hardworking Cavan side at Healy  Park on Sunday afternoon.

Played in difficult conditions both sides struggled to make an impact against the respective defences. The game remained in the balance for long periods but lawas eventually decided by two fabulous long range points from Connor McAliskey and full back Justin McMahon. Those scores helped put Tyrone three clear but even then they were forced to endure a nervy finish as Cavan pushed forward in search of the goal that would have won the game.

Tyrone started without the injured Peter Harte and it was his replacement  Mark Bradley who opened the scoring for the Red Hands inside the first minute. However the home side were finding Cavan’s game plan difficult to cope with missing several chances for scores including a number of very scorable free kicks.

With the Cavan defence repeatedly turning over Tyrone in the tackle and hitting on the counter attack the Breffni men began to get on top. Wing half Cian Mackey worked his socks off carrying the ball from defence and was the best player on view. His low centre of gravity and ability to evade the tackle made him almost impossible to mark. In spite of a lesser level of possession their industry and endeavour meant they went in at the break level following two superb late scores from Mc Kiernan and Keating. Mind you they were helped by their opponents’ profligacy in the opening period as Tyrone shot six wides in the first half.

A Gearoid McKiernan free edged Cavan ahead just after the restart before Tyrone Captain Mattie Donnelly levelled with the score of the day. Rory Brennan then pushed forward from centre half back to land another fine point before a free from half time substitute Darren McCurry made it three in a row for Tyrone. With conditions worsening a lovely score from man of the match Mackey left a single point between the teams as the game entered the last fifteen minutes.

It was still anybody’s game at this stage but it was Tyrone who landed the next two scores and what a pair of beauties they were. Fullback Justin McMahon sent over a brilliant score from out on the right wing. Straight from the restart Tyrone turned over possession for  McAliskey to score from distance and all of a sudden three points separated the two sides.

Cavan threw caution to the wind in the closing three minutes and committed players to the attack. Their endeavour almost paid off as it took a last second interception from Rory Brennan to deny them a goal chance. Full back Killian Clarke did reduce the deficit but Tyrone held on for a narrow victory.

Tyrone – M O’Neill, A McCrory, J McMahon (0-1), C McCarron, N Sludden, R Brennan (0-1), T McCann, C Cavanagh, M Donnelly (0-1), C McShane, M Bradley (0-1), C Meyler, L Brennan (0-3, 2f), C McAliskey (0-2, 1 “45”), R O Neill. Subs – D McCurry (0-1,1f) for L Brennan, K McGeary for O’Neill, P Harte for McShane, C McCann for McCrory, P McNulty for Meyler, B Tierney for Bradley

Cavan – R Galligan, P Faulkner, K Clarke (0-1), K Brady, C Brady, C Moynagh, F Flanagan, D Givney, G McKiernan (0-2,1f), M Reilly (0-2, 1 “45”), N McDermott (0-1,1f), D McVeety, C Mackey (0-1), E Keating (0-1,1f), J Brady. Subs – P O’Connor for McDermott, M Argue for Keating, S Johnston for Givney, E Henry for J Brady, B Sankey for K Brady

Referee – D Coldrick, Meath