Tyrone are into the last four of the Ulster Championship but they were taken to the pin of their collars by a Cavan side who refused to accept defeat at Breffni Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was a contest that required extra time to decide and in the end it looked certain that we were heading for a penalty shoot. You would never have thought that would have been the case at halftime with the Red Hands holding a comfortable 1-10 to 1-4 advantage. In the third quarter Tyrone lost Paudie Hampsey to a harsh black card and while they managed to stretch their advantage to eight by the time the Fianna man rejoined the action the gap was down to the minimum after Cavan hit 2-1 without reply.

The home side drew level on a few occasions but they could never get their noses in front although to their credit they twice came from two down to force extra time. It was survival of the fittest in extra time as Tyrone again moved two clear twice but while Cavan played to the final whistle they could only trim the deficit to the minimum this time. A hard earned win for Tyrone but there will be plenty of tired bodies as we prepare for a semi Final with Donegal next Sunday at Celtic Park.

A brilliant block from Mattie Donnelly prevented Ciaran Brady from getting an early Cavan and after Cian Madden and Darren McCurry had exchanged points Michael McKernan edged Tyrone in front. In the 10th minute though Madden kept his cool to rifle the ball to the Tyrone net. The visitors responded well to that setback with points from McKernan, Darragh Canavan and McCurry before great work from Captain Brian Kennedy saw him set up championship debutant Liam Gray for a goal.

Kennedy then landed a brilliant point and while defenders Killan Brady and Brian O’ Connell both responded for the hosts it was Tyrone who had the upper hand. The Canavan brothers and Ciaran Daly registered while McKernan got his second of the half to leave Tyrone in a good position.

McKernan opened the second half scoring and after Oisin Brady and Darragh Canavan had traded points Cavan full forward Paddy Lynch landed his first of the afternoon. Donnelly then landed a beauty before Tyrone lost Hampsey for ten minutes. In the first four of those ten minutes they managed to increase their advantage to 1-16 to 1-8 with efforts from Ruairi Canavan and Niall Morgan before Cavan came roaring back.

Padraig Faulkner bagged a goal and after Oisin Brady had pointed Niall Carolan hot goal number three just five minutes after their second major. Oisin Brady then levelled matters but on the next attack Ben Cullen kicked a quality score. Tiarnan Madden and Darragh Canavan exchanged points as did Canavan and Lynch before McCurry left two between the sides again going into injury time. Lynch knocked over a free before O ‘Connell fisted a point to force extra time, 3-14 to 1-20.

Darragh Canavan converted a free to open the scoring in extra time before Niall Devlin put two between the sides. Tiaran Madden and Tiaran Quinn had points either side of the break and while Lynch had the final say from a placed ball a relieved Tyrone held on.