Tyrone 1-24
Cavan 0-20
Paul Fitzpatrick reports from Healy Park, Omagh
NEW RULES BUT a familiar result as Tyrone put Cavan to the sword with ease at Healy Park.
A crowd of just 6,791 turned out for this one, a 20% reduction on the same fixture last year which was, at the time, considered a poor attendance. And those who did pay in didn’t get much bang for their buck as Tyrone controlled proceedings throughout, barring a spell towards the end when Cavan’s ability to kick two-pointers saw them cut the gap to six.
While Tyrone were very efficient, registering just four wides, on the balance of play, the scoreline probably flattered Cavan who landed five two-pointers to none from Malachy O’Rourke’s men.
Cavan came into this one as heavy underdogs; the Blues hadn’t beaten Tyrone in championship football since 1983 and started without key attackers Paddy Lynch, Cormac O’Reilly and Oisin Brady as well as midfielder James Smith.
Both sides were down several starting players, in fact, with Darragh Canavan and Mattie Donnelly replaced by Ruairi Canavan and Cathal McShane for Tyrone while, on the away side, Cian Madden and Killian Clarke came in for Cormac O’Reilly and James Smith.
Cavan’s cause wasn’t helped when talisman Gearóid McKiernan also went off at half-time but by then, it was clear that the Breffnimen’s dismal record against the Red Hands would continue as the hosts led by 10, 0-14 to 0-4, with Cavan struggling badly to win primary possession on either kick-out and Tyrone — with eight scorers in the opening half — looking on a different level.
Tyrone eased into a two-point lead with scores from Niall Devlin and a Darren McCurry free and, although championship debutant Sean McEvoy opened the Blues’ account, Tyrone would tack on three in succession from Kieran McGeary, Ruairi Canavan (free) and a fisted Aodhán Donaghy effort.
Dara McVeety, Cavan’s best player on the day, pulled one back but already, things were looking ominous for Ray Galligan’s side.
With Niall Morgan hogging the left flank on Cavan’s restarts, goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke’s options were limited and Tyrone dominated the breaking ball, ensuring a steady supply to the inside line.
McCurry and Oisin Kiernan traded scores but Tyrone put the game to bed with six white flags in succession from Cathal McShane (two), Morgan (45), Canavan (free) and McGeary.
After a slow build-up, Cavan registered again through Cian Madden but McCurry and McShane rounded off the first-half scoring.
Canavan (free) and Michael McKernan made it 0-16 to 0-4 on the resumption. Cian Madden landed a two-point free for Cavan but the favourites looked hungrier and devoured the breaking ball.
Canavan and Ciaran Daly made it 0-18 to 0-6 and when McGeary pounced on a misplaced McVeety pass and strolled through, it looked like it would get very ugly for Cavan.
Kiernan and McVeety sent over two-pointers but Tyrone kept the scoreboard ticking with singles, running hard lines from deep impressively.
A point from captain Brian Kennedy, who, worryingly for O’Rourke, went off injured, made it 0-23 to 0-12 with 16 minutes of normal time remaining. To their credit, Cavan dug in with a pair of two-pointers from McVeety and a one-pointer from sub Ryan O’Neill implausibly cutting the gap to six.
Tyrone had grown sloppy and looked a little vulnerable at this stage but wind-assisted Cavan didn’t have the legs to kick on, although they did have a shout for a penalty when Thomas Edward Donohoe was felled.
McCurry pointed on the loop to steady the ship and then came two important plays, Morgan spectacularly pulling down a Barry Donnelly shot which looked like it was sailing over for two and, at the other end, Conn Kilpatrick powering through and planting his finish in the bottom corner.
Cavan tacked on a couple of frees but, by then, many of their supporters were mirroring the team and heading for the exit.
Scorers for Tyrone: Darren McCurry 0-7 (1 free), Ruairi Canavan 0-4 (4 frees), Conn Kilpatrick 1-0, Kieran McGeary 0-3, Cathal McShane 0-3, Niall Morgan 0-1 (1 ’45), Peter Teague 0-1, Niall Devlin 0-1, Michael McKernan 0-1, Brian Kennedy 0-1, Aodhán Donaghy 0-1, Ciaran Daly 0-1.
Scorers for Cavan: Dara McVeety 0-8 (2 2pt scores, 1 2pt free), Sean McEvoy 0-4 (3 frees), Cian Madden 0-3 (1 2pt free), Oisin Kiernan 0-3 (1 2pt score)
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
2. Aidan Clarke (Omagh), 3. Peter Teague (Dromore), 4. Niall Devlin (Coalisland)
5. Michael McKernan (Coalisland), 6. Rory Brennan (Trillick), 7. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan), 9. Conn Kilpatrick (Edendork)
10. Aodhán Donaghy (Loughmacrory), 25. Cathal McShane (Owen Roes), 12. Ciaran Daly (Trillick)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork), 14. Peter Harte (Errigal Chiaráin), 26. Ruairi Canavan (Errigal Chiaráin)
Subs
- Seanie O’Donnell (Trillick) for P Harte (49)
- Joe Oguz (Errigal Chiaráin) for A Donaghy (49)
- Mattie Donnelly (Trillick) for C McShane (58)
- Eoin McElholm (Loughmacrory) for B Kennedy (64)
Cavan
1. Gary O’Rourke (Ballyhaise)
2. Cian Reilly (Killygarry), 3. Brían O’Connell (Ramor Utd), 4. Jason McLoughlin (Shannon Gaels)
5. Pádraig Faulkner (Kingscourt Stars), 6. Ciarán Brady (Arva), 7. Niall Carolan (Cuchulainns)
19. Killian Clarke (Shercock), 9. Gerard Smith (Lavey)
10. Gearóid McKiernan (Cavan Gaels), 11. Oisín Kiernan (Castlerahan), 12. Dara McVeety (Crosserlough)
13. Barry Donnelly (Arva), 23. Cian Madden (Gowna), 15. Sean McEvoy (Ramor Utd)
Subs
- Ryan Donohoe (Gowna) for B Donnelly (14, temp, reversed 18)
- Ryan Donohoe for G McKiernan (ht)
- Ryan O’Neill (Kildallan) for B Donnelly (45)
- Thomas Edward Donohoe (Denn) for C Madden
- Killian Brady (Mullahoran) for K Clarke (50)
- Peter Devine (Ballymachugh) for P Faulkner (temp, 64)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
Letting Lucas go to Napoli would be a huge mistake. Lucas has been a key player for Liverpool this season. He does the dirty work very well and yes he will get booked every 2nd game but he’s good at what he does. Liverpool have lost most of the games they’ve played without Lucas which is another key factor in him staying. Also replacing him with Delph? Another over rated English centre mid who produced a handful of decent appearances last season but nothing to capture the imagination.
Yep was just going to say it man. To be honest last summer I’d have let him go but he’s been the difference since coming back at the end of November. I think the only game we’ve lost since has been man utd and he wasn’t playing that day….
Letting him go now would be a mistake especially if they think they can replace him with Delph! Who’s more like for like with Joe Allen than Lucas anyway.
Which leads me to my next point… Sell Joe Allen
Who in their right mind would buy Joe Allen though? Unless Rodgers gets the sack and buys him for his next club..
Lol
In sure Swansea would take him off Liverpool’s hands for 5 million……
If someone pays 5 million for him I’d be amazed!
‘Müller to Manchester United’ anyone who believes this should read the book Pep: Confidential, and that’ll end all rumours. Guardiola holds Müller in the highest regard and has big plans for the future, over time he wants him to pay much deeper in midfield, doubt he’d sacrifice those plans to sell him to United
You’re probably right but we reds can dream! He looks enough like Lahm that we could stick him at right back and he’d still be exponentially better than Rafael…
United don’t need him anyway, they already have 4 players who play in largely the same position.
I wonder will sanogoal keep up his record at palace
Transfer window is already boring,pure fantasy to sell their crummy red tops.
If Rodgers sells Lucas to Napoli I think questions will have to be asked about this man. He’s already driven Suso out of the club, a player who deserves much more game time and would run circles around players like Borini who’ve started ahead of him. He also got rid of Agger, yet kept Kolo, and despite lots of investment in our back4 we’re actually worse than last season.
His persistent refusal to get a decent defensive coach in is costing our team valuable points because of his ignorance to the fact that he can’t organise a defence, never mind to the standards of other defense-organising managers like Simeone or Mourinho. If Lucas goes, we have little hope of top4 imo, he’s one of the only decent defensive mids we have and is much better than rodger’s favourite, Joe Allen.
Remember when Benitez took a huge gamble trying to sign Gareth Barry and disillusioned Xabi?!
Didn’t sign Barry and Xabi fooked off!!
Lucas is far more experienced than Delph, I’d sign him and hold onto Delph and let him gain experience while he is there for the rest of the season!
Despite the Champions League success, I still cannot find it in me to not hate Rafa over losing Xabi Alonso. He did his best to lose that final too by not starting Didi Hamann!
Heard a rumour that I’m going to sign for galway Utd….but fifa 15 denies it…
Delph…Jasus. Not impressed if this happens