Tyrone finished strongly to get the better of Cavan and progress to the fourth round of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers with a 0-18 to 1-12 win at Brewster Park.
The Red Hands had to dig deep in the searing Enniskillen heat to carve out a three points win that gets them into the pot for Monday’s draw, leaving them just one game from the Super 8s.
Martin Reilly’s second half goal gave Cavan what looked like a realistic chance of causing an upset in a fiercely contested Ulster derby, and with the brilliant Gearoid McKiernan driving their challenge, they gave it everything.
But Tyrone had that little bit extra in terms of class and depth as they pushed on in the latter stages with a couple of crucial scores from substitute Ronan O’Neill.
Mattie Donnelly shot the Red Hands ahead after just 20 seconds, and as they dominated possession with a refreshingly offensive approach, Peter Harte doubled the advantage from a free.
Check out the best of the action as @TyroneGAALive progress in the qualifiers at the expense of @CavanCoBoardGaa pic.twitter.com/GZa2Lq54vQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 30, 2018
And Tyrone restored the two points advantage after Ciaran Brady had got the Breffni men off the mark, Niall Sludden floating over a long range effort.
Cavan were forced to defend deep as Conor Meyler, Sludden and Harte probed for openings, and Tiernan McCann made it 0-4 to 0-1.
But Mattie McGleenan’s side began to find their feet, and confidence soared as they counter-attacked with pace and direction, with Dara McVeety involved in all their best work.
They rattled off three points on the spin to go level buy the 15th minute, McVeety, Killian Clarke, and the excellent Gearoid McKiernan all hitting the target.
McKiernan was making a huge impact in midfield, and with men in support they tested the Red Hand defence, with a couple of turnovers thwarting the Breffni men.
Now it was Tyrone who were making moves from deep, but they did so in a more controlled fashion than their opponents, and were able to pick off scores through Frank Burns and McCann to keep their noses in front.
Seanie Johnston, once an out-and-out score-taker, was often to be found on the edge of his own ‘D’ as Cavan channelled men back to meet the waves of white shirts sweeping forward.
Some excellent defending from Sludden, Padraig Hampsey and Frank Burns helped them get pacy attacks going, and McShane, McCann and Donnelly steered the scores between the posts as they garnered a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead.
As Sludden executed yet another turnover, Tyrone almost had a goal chance as they swept forward through Richie Donnelly, with Connor McAliskey getting in behind, but his shot was blocked by Killian Brady.
And as if stung into defiant action by the let-off, Cavan got in for a goal in the 43rd minute, Conor Bradley crossing from the right for Martin Reilly to palm home at the far post.
McKiernan’s spectacular fetch and booming point had the sides level, but Tyrone refused to panic and found an immediate response, with Ronan O’Neill (free) and Sludden getting them firmly back on track.
Oisin Kiernan and Conor Moynagh landed points as the defiant Breffni men fought desperately for their championship lives, but Tyrone had more in the tank, and they turned up the tempo despite the searing, draining heat.
O’Neill, Burns, Sludden and Harte all hit the target, with McKiernan responding with another couple of scores, as the Red Hands moved to within one game of the Super 8s.
Tyrone: M O’Neill; P Hampsey, R McNamee, M McKernan, T McCann (0-02), F Burns (0-02), C Meyler; C Cavanagh, D McClure; M Donnelly (0-02), N Sludden (0-03), P Harte (0-02, 2f); C McShane (0-02), R Donnelly (0-01), C McAliskey (0-01, f).
Subs: R O’Neill (0-03, 2f) for McAliskey (43), K McGeary for McShane (53), H Loughran for McClure (64), C McCarron for McKernan (65), C McCann for Meyler (71), R Brennan for Sludden (73)
Cavan: J Farrelly; E Flanagan, K Brady, F Reilly; C Brady (0-01), M Reilly (1-00), C Moynagh (0-01), K Clarke (0-01), G McKiernan (0-05, 2f); O Kiernan (0-01), D McVeety (0-02), N Murray; C Bradley, C Mackey, S Johnston (0-01).
Subs: S McCormack for Clarke (35+1), A Cole for Mackey (h-t), J McLoughlin for Flanagan (42), P Faulkner for Murray (42), Mackey for K Brady (62), C O’Reilly for Johnston (62)
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
