Impressive Cavan U20s record outstanding win over Tyrone

Ulster U20 FC R1

Cavan 1-14

Tyrone 0-15

Paul Fitzpatrick

Cavan U20s produced a sensational upset as they stunned defending Minor and U20 All-Ireland champions Tyrone in their opening-round Ulster Championship clash at Kingspan Breffni.

Cavan were slow to get going but a fortuitous 26th-minute goal from Shane McCabe followed immediately by a Jack Dobson two-pointer moments later gave the hosts confidence. They went in leading 1-5 to 0-7 and would dominate the second half, stretching their advantage to six entering the closing stages.

Tyrone were reliant on the outstanding Shea McDermott, about whom there were shades of Peter Canavan in 1995 at times, for all bar two of their scores as Cavan made it hard for them to get shots off.

The win didn't look likely well into the first half as Tyrone looked the more economical and slicker side - but when Cavan hit their stride, they pushed on impressively.

Cavan were ponderous in the first 20 minutes or so. An early patient move saw them retain possession for two minutes only for Joshua Shehu to pull his shot wide - but they responded immediately when Joe Dugdale claimed the resulting kick-out and Ben Tully curled over a composed opener in the fifth minute.

McDermott replied straight away with a neat score off his left boot and he followed that with a well-struck free to edge Tyrone in front as the rain continued to fall in cold, testing conditions.

Cavan were finding their rhythm only in flashes at that stage. Aaron Shekleton’s ambitious two-point attempt drifted narrowly wide while Darragh Noonan also missed after good approach work involving Odhran Madden.

Cavan’s tactic of pushing goalkeeper Cian McConnell into midfield contests was paying dividends at times and Dugdale capitalised on that platform to land an excellent equaliser from the right wing after 13 minutes.

Tully, influential around the middle third throughout, helped engineer another attack which ended with Noonan pointing well from the left to restore Cavan’s lead.

Tyrone, though, were always dangerous when McDermott got involved. He stepped up to strike a superb two-pointer from the ground into the breeze to swing the momentum back their way approaching the end of the first quarter.

Conor Doyle and Jensen Tynan were defending strongly in the full-back line and helping to limit Tyrone’s goal threat but McDermott continued to punish every infringement. Another placed ball pushed Tyrone three clear before Dylan Edwards was just off target with an effort which at least some of the home crowd thought was over.

The turning point arrived midway through the half. Edwards struck a speculative effort that dropped short but Shane McCabe, a noted goal poacher, reacted sharply to pressure Tyrone goalkeeper Oisin Watson, who spilled the ball, allowing the Cootehill Celtic man to tap into the empty net. Within seconds, Jack Dobson added a superb two-pointer off the left from the top of the arc and suddenly Cavan had turned a three-point deficit into a two-point lead.

That double blow visibly lifted the hosts. Tyrone struggled to inject pace into their attacks for the remainder of the half and although Liam Lawn combined well with McDermott to tee up another excellent score before the interval, Cavan’s defensive structure held firm as they carried a 1-5 to 0-7 advantage into the break.

The second half began with renewed purpose from Cavan, who were now playing against a slight breeze. Tully continued to see plenty of possession and Edwards combined neatly with him to curl over an excellent score from the left to stretch the lead.

Tyrone responded when McDermott converted a two-point free after Shekleton, who made errors but was a commanding presence too, impeded a quick tap-and-go but the home side were beginning to impose themselves physically around the middle third, with Jamie Clarke coming into it strongly.

A Tyrone attack almost yielded a crucial score when Peter Colton’s point effort bounced off the face of the crossbar but Cavan countered impressively. A sweeping move involving Noonan and Jamie Clarke released substitute Nathan Quigley for what looked like a goal chance. Although the shot was saved, play was brought back for a free and the assured McConnell stepped up to land a confident two-pointer from just outside the arc.

That score energised the Breffni crowd and Cavan followed it with another excellent passage of play. Dugdale produced a towering catch from the kick-out and Edwards drove forward with authority before pointing smartly to push the margin out to three.

Moments later, McConnell again broke Tyrone possession around midfield and Edwards fed the lively Quigley, who finished neatly off his left to make it 1-10 to 0-9.

By this stage Cavan were dictating the tempo. Their defensive press forced turnovers and they stretched Tyrone across the width of the pitch with patient possession. McDermott continued to keep the visitors in touch with another excellent individual score but Cavan responded through Shane McCabe after good work from Dobson and Madden to maintain control.

McCabe followed that with another superb point from a tight angle after wriggling free near the end line, drawing a huge roar from the home support as Cavan’s advantage grew to five.

Jamie Clarke then produced a massive turnover which sparked another attack, Tully found Edwards and when the impressive Templeport man was fouled, Madden tapped over the resulting free to leave six between the sides entering the closing stages.

Tyrone were not finished yet. A two-pointer from distance from Jamie Concannon reduced the gap before Quigley replied with a well-taken effort after a strong driving run from Edwards. Conor O’Neill then struck an excellent individual point for the visitors and moments later saw a half-chance blocked as Tyrone attempted to force a late breakthrough.

Cavan, however, retained their composure impressively. Their defensive unit, marshalled by Doyle and Tynan, continued to crowd the scoring zone and restrict Tyrone’s shooting opportunities. When McDermott landed a magnificent late two-pointer and cut the gap to two, there were still anxious moments to negotiate but Cavan closed the game out intelligently to secure a deserved victory.

It was a disciplined, energetic and tactically astute performance from the Breffni side, with Dugdale’s fielding along with strong individual performances from the likes of the classy Tully, Jensen Tynan, Edwards and McCabe among others sealing a memorable win. It will give the whole scene a shot in the arm, especially Cavan teams’ well-publicised poor record against the Red Hands and the strength of the Tyrone side, who were marginally second favourites for Ulster behind Derry before throw-in.

Cavan scorers: Shane McCabe (1-2), Jack Dobson (0-2, 2pt), Dylan Edwards (0-2), Cian McConnell (0-2, 1 two-pointer), Nathan Quigley (0-2), Ben Tully (0-1), Joe Dugdale (0-1), Darragh Noonan (0-1), Odhran Madden (0-1f).

Tyrone scorers: Shea McDermott (0-11, 2 2pt, 3f), Jamie Concannon (0-2, 2pt)Conor O’Neill (0-1), Liam Lawn (0-1).

Cavan: Cian McConnell (Butlersbridge), Philip Shannon (Butlersbridge), Jensen Tynan (Ramor United), Conor Doyle (Cavan Gaels), Aaron Shekleton (Kingscourt Stars), Harry McMullen (Cootehill Celtic), Ben Tully (Cavan Gaels), Joe Dugdale (Butlersbridge), Jamie Clarke (Castlerahan), Dylan Edwards (Templeport), Shane McCabe (Cootehill Celtic), Odhran Madden (Gowna), Joshua Shehu (Cavan Gaels), Jack Dobson (Arva), Darragh Noonan (Killygarry).

Subs: Nathan Quigley for J Shehu (36), Luke Mulvaney for D Noonan (50), Cormac McAviney for S McCabe (63), Conor Sharpe for O Madden (63).

Tyrone: Oisín Watson, Sean Broderick, James Rafferty, Luke Neeson, Jamie Concannon, Conor Devlin, Brian Gallagher, Ronan O’Sullivan, Conor O’Neill, Conall Sheehy, Turlough Muldoon, Peter Colton, Liam Lawn, Dara Delvin, Shea McDermott.

Subs: Leo Hughes for P Colton (44), Adrian McGurren for C Devlin (44), James Mulgrew for R O’Sullivan (50), Conor Holmes for Liam Lawn (55), Aidan Colton for C Devlin (57).