Tyrone ease past Cavan in Omagh

Tyrone 1-16
Cavan 0-13

Paul Fitzpatrick
at Healy Park

Cavan slipped to another defeat against Tyrone at a gloomy Healy Park as the Red Hands swatted them aside in an impressive third quarter showing.
Coming off the back of a loss to Armagh, Cavan boss Mickey Graham played what looked like his strongest side and with a number of rookies on show for the hosts, there was a sense that the Breffni men could compete strongly.
That they did but when Tyrone upped their game, Cavan had no answers.
At half-time, having played with a strong breeze at their backs, Tyrone were in front by two, 0-8 to 0-6.
The Red Hands started with a lot of new faces, one of whom, debutant Conn Kilpatrick, was arguably the most influential player on show in the opening 35 minutes.
Cavan started very well and eased into a two-point lead. Conor Madden created both, finding clubmate Oisin Pierson with kick passes. Pierson laid on the first for Martin Reilly and was fouled for the second, with Gearoid McKiernan converting the resulting free.
Kilpatrick barrelled his way through for Tyrone’s opener and the lively Darren McCurry soon sent over a 45-metre free. This nip and tuck pattern continued throughout the half – the sides were level five times before the break – with Kilpatrick adding another after Cavan failed to clear their lines and then Madden slotting over well from a tight angle.
A lovely handpassing move from Tyrone was finished by half-back Conall Grimes but again Cavan got back on level terms, 0-4 apiece, when McKiernan won a loose kick-out and Reilly split the posts off the outside of that trusty left boot.
Moments later, the Killygarry man had a similar chance but his effort struck the upright. Cavan were on the front foot, though, and Madden set up his third score of the game when he found Niall Murray, who cut in from the left and swung over a point in trademark fashion.
Tiernan McCann, who was otherwise quiet, sent over a huge point from 45 metres to level matters at 0-5 each on 25 minutes and the trend continued when McCurry and the impressive Madden traded well-taken scores.
But Mickey Harte’s men finished the half the stronger, stringing together four promising attacks which resulted in two wides and two points for McCurry (both frees), with a McKiernan wide from a free all that the Blues could muster in response before the short whistle.
Trailing by two, Cavan would have been quite content given the strength of the breeze, although their cause wasn’t helped when corner-forward Conor Smith left the field clutching his hamstring.
He was replaced by Ryan Connolly, who would go on to land two left-footed points in the second half, but it was all cosmetic as Tyrone moved through the gears and, against the breeze, looked a cut above the visitors.
Cavan needed a fast start but it was Tyrone who got it. Conall McCann grabbed an attacking mark and converted and then Daniel Kerr slotted over.
Then, after a good move (although it looked like a throw-ball infringement), full-forward McCann found the Cavan net and suddenly, from a reasonably promising half-time position, Cavan were in trouble.
As they do, Tyrone piled on the misery. Further points from Kerr and David Mulgrew made it 1-12 to 0-6 before Cavan responded with a point from Connolly after a great run from Madden.
Mulgrew and Connolly exchanged points to make it double scores, 1-13 to 0-8, with 17 minutes on the clock but to their credit, Cavan – who gained some joy from a high press on the Tyrone kick-out – finished well.
Niall Murray (mark) and McCurry each scored before Cavan strung three points together for the first time through Oisin Kiernan, Murray and Madden (a huge effort from long range).
Sub Niall Sludden and Tiernan McCann each raised white flags on the home stretch before Cavan had the final say when Niall Murray, who battled hard all afternoon, sent over a terrific free from the sideline to round off proceedings.

Cavan: Raymond Galligan, Paddy Meade, Padraig Faulkner, Stephen Murray, Ciaran Brady, Niall Murray (0-4, 1f, 1m), Oisin Kiernan (0-1), Evaan Fortune, Gearoid McKiernan (0-1f), Martin Reilly (0-2), Bryan Magee, Stephen Smith, Oisin Pierson, Conor Madden (0-3), Conor Smith
Subs: Luke Fortune for Brady (temp, 19 mins), Brady for Fortune (28), Ryan Connolly (0-2) for C Smith (ht, inj.), L Fortune for Magee, Kian Monahan for McKiernan (both 51), Paul Gilchreest for S Murray (57), Cormac O’Reilly for Pierson (65)

Tyrone: Benny Gallen, Conor Quinn, Aidan McCrory, Brendan Burns, Liam Rafferty, Rory Brennan, Conall Grimes (0-1), Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick (0-2), Tiernan McCann (0-2), Kyle Coney, Darren McCurry (0-5, 4f), David Mulgrew (0-2), Conall McCann (1-1, 1m), Daniel Kerr (0-2)
Subs: Niall Sludden (0-1) for Coney (49 mins), Niall Kelly for Quinn (50), Conan Grugan for Kilpatrick (52), Ciaran McLaughlin for Grimes (58), Ben McDonnell for Kennedy (65)
Ref: Paul Faloon (Down)