Minors come up short against impressive Tyrone side

Ulster Minor Football Championship final

Tyrone 2-11

Cavan 1-8

Paul Fitzpatrick at Brewster Park

Cavan minors came up short against an impressive Tyrone side in the Ulster Minor Championship final this evening.

Ed O’Hanlon’s lads led at the interval but a powerful and hard-working Tyrone side with more than a sprinkling of class dominated the second half and were deserving winners.

In the early exchanges, it appeared Cavan may have been over-matched against a physically imposing Tyrone side. The Blues found themselves four points in arrears in as many minutes and of the first 11 shots in the game, Tyrone got 10 off – but Cavan grew into the contest and a goal from Nathan Quigley in first-half injury time saw them go in two points up, 1-7 to 0-8, at the break.

As can happen in the grade, Cavan appeared almost paralysed by nerves in the early running and repeatedly gave the ball away against a Tyrone side who had beaten them twice this season and started with a real swagger.

But Tyrone’s radar was off – they registered five wides in the first 20 minutes – and Cavan hung in there. The towering James Mulgrew opened the scoring and an easy point for wing-back Thomas Meenan doubled Tyrone’s lead.

Cavan were losing the kick-out battle and when Peter Colton curled in Tyrone’s third and, again off the Cavan kick-out, Eoin Long added another, the underdogs seemed to be in trouble.

But Cavan managed to get off the mark with their first attack of substance when Quigley gathered smartly and found Mark Reilly, who was in on goal only to be denied by superb defending. It was brought back for a free which Faolán Graham converted and Cavan quickly added another when Quigley laid off for Jake Brady, who beat a defender and drove over.

Tyrone had the next two points, one for Colton and a Long free after a Cavan breach, but Cavan, while still making the odd mistake, would win the remainder of the half by 1-5 to 0-2 thanks to a handful of huge plays.

Cavan had another goal chance after a Sam Maguire shot fell short but goalkeeper Ronan Donnelly saved spectacularly after a wicked deflection.

Cavan moved back within two points when wing-back John Donohoe sent over a sweetly-struck two-pointer while being shadowed closely and although Tyrone captain Padraig Donaghy clipped over after a lovely move, Cavan landed an excellent counter-punch when Maguire forced a turnover and Quigley played a one-two with sub Dylan Brouder and curled in from a tight angle.

Six minutes before half-time, the sides were level when Faolán Graham sent over a huge effort from outside the 45. Tyrone breached the three-up rule; Cavan opted to go for two, perhaps unwisely, and Cian McConnell was off target, as he was shortly afterwards with another long-range free, and Tyrone punished them with a brilliant run and point from Mulgrew.

Cavan, though, came up with a perfectly-timed goal just before the break. Michael Smith won a kick-out and Donohoe and Reilly did well to find Quigley, who swivelled and tucked away low to the net. It was a fantastic boost going in at half-time but Cavan were unable to push on after the break.

Tyrone would kick another five wides in the second half and drop three good chances short while Cavan only got off two shots from play in the second stanza as Tyrone, hunting in packs, worked relentlessly and eventually, in truth, broke the Breffni challenge.

By the closing stages, Cavan were ragged and conceded some cheap scores but that was as a result of Tyrone’s very impressive tackling and constant pressure.

Cavan’s only score in the second half was a Quigley free 10 minutes in as Tyrone added on 2-3, 1-3 of that coming in the final 10 minutes.

Tyrone’s first score after the restart was a goal; the elusive Joel Kerr carried the ball from deep with a terrific run and nobody spotted Cathal Farley, who ghosted inside and rolled home an easy goal.

With 10 minutes to go, Tyrone grabbed another major when Kerr cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot which deceived sub goalkeeper Kevin Heery – Cavan had brought Cian McConnell to midfield – and put three between them.

From there, Tyrone pushed on, Eoin Long (free) and a brace from the outstanding Kerr sealing a merited win.

While the defeat was a disappointment, Cavan had earned impressive wins over Down, Donegal and Derry to reach this stage and their campaign is not over yet – they will play Munster champions Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Cavan: Cian McConnell (Butlersbridge), Danny Brady (Laragh), Shea Brady (Arva), Andrew Smart (Ramor United), Michael Smith (Crosserlough), Harry McMullen (Cootehill Celtic), John Donohoe (Mullahoran, 0-2, tp), Sam Maguire (Templeport), Faolán Graham (Butlersbridge, 0-3, 1f, tp), Mark Reilly (Denn), Jake Brady (Gowna, 0-1), Cathal Smith (Lavey), Donagh Lynch (Cuchulainns), Nathan Quigley (Denn, 1-2, 1f), Matthew Duffy (Butlersbridge)

Subs: Dylan Brouder (Castlerahan) for M Duffy (11), Jay Graham (Lavey) for M Reilly, Senan Smith (Denn) for J Donohoe (both 40), Kevin Heery (Templeport) for C Smith (49), Christopher Bough (Munterconnaught) for S Brady (50)

Tyrone: Ronan Donnelly, Elliott Kerr, Padraig Goodman, Ciaran McCrystal, Aodhán Quinn, James Daly, Thomas Meenan, James Mulgrew (0-2), Padraig Donaghy (0-1), Darren McAnespie, Peter Colton (0-2), Cathal Farley (1-0), Joel Kerr (1-2), Eoin Long (0-2f), Peter Garrity (0-2)

Subs: Vincent Gormley for P Garrity (46), Matthew F Daly for C Farley (49), Michel Mullin for T Meenan (55), Pearse McDonald for D McAnespie (60), Mark Kennedy for E Long (60)

Ref: Conall Roberts (Antrim)