Tyrone Move To The Top of Division One.

Sunday 12.03.2017

County

Tyrone 0-19 Cavan 1-09

Tyrone went top of the Allianz League Division 1 table with a 0-19 to 1-09 win over Cavan at Healy Park on Sunday afternoon but only after a significant second half turn around.

Cavan were hugely impressive in the first period with Gearoid McKieranan hitting 1-04 and the industrious Martin Reilly landing three fine points as the Breffni men reached the break leading 1-08 to 0-07. Playing into a strong breeze Tyrone struggled to break down Cavan’s deep lying defensive set up and were very dependent on converted frees for their scores. Sean Cavanagh and Peter Harte were responsible for five of their team’s first half scores.

The Red Hands were a different team after the break however as they held Cavan to one score in the second thirty five minutes and scored twelve points of their own. Subs Mark Bradley and Ronan O’Neill led the way in the scoring stats but Tiernan Mc Cann, Colm Cavanagh and Johnny Munroe ensured that Tyrone’s forward momentum was maintained for the whole second half.

Mattie Donnelly and Sean Cavanagh came more into the game as the ball was worked forward quickly and the scoring chances created. Cavanagh missed a goal opportunity but Tyrone were now playing with a bit of a swagger.

Cavan were struggling to get the ball out of their defence and Tyrone looked capable of scoring at will. The introduction of Mark Bradley off the bench gave Tyrone the drive and impetus that was needed.

He shot three lovely scores and as Cavan wilted there was only going to be one winner.

Goalkeeper Niall Morgan thumped over a 50 metre free before Ronan O’Neill wrapped it up with a couple of late points as Tyrone eased to a seven-point win and deservedly moved to the top of the table.

Tyrone: N Morgan (0-01, f); P Hampsey, J McMahon, C McCarron; T McCann (0-01), R Brennan, A McCrory; C Cavanagh (0-01), P McNulty (0-01); C Meyler, K McGeary (0-01), P Harte (0-04, 4f); D McCurry (0-01), S Cavanagh (0-03, 3f), M Donnelly (0-01)

Subs: R McNamee for Brennan (h-t), M Bradley (0-03) for McNulty (44), J Munroe for McNamee (BC 45), F Burns for McMahon (50), R O’Neill (0-02) for McCurry (BC 52)