Sport

Cavan crowned Ulster champions as Tipperary end 85-year wait in Munster

Cavan captain Raymond Galligan lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup after Sunday's Ulster final victory over Donegal Picture by Séamus Loughran
Cavan captain Raymond Galligan lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup after Sunday's Ulster final victory over Donegal Picture by Séamus Loughran Cavan captain Raymond Galligan lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup after Sunday's Ulster final victory over Donegal Picture by Séamus Loughran

CAVAN were crowned Ulster senior football champions for the first time since 1997 this evening on a day when Tipperary also won a first Munster football title in 85 years.

Donegal went into the Ulster final at the Athletic Grounds as hot favourites following their demolition of Armagh at the last four stage, but Cavan had other ideas. The Breffni men were clinging onto a 0-13 to 0-12 lead late on when Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton could only parry a high ball into the path of substitute Conor Madden, who rifled home to bring his personal haul to 1-2.

The crucial major came after Raymond Galligan had produced two tremendous saves at the other end, while the Cavan victory was made all the more noteworthy for the fact they had played 20 minutes with 14 men after picking up two black cards. Dublin lie in wait for Cavan in the All-Ireland semi-finals after Dessie Farrell’s men humiliated Meath at Croke Park in Saturday night’s Leinster final.

On the other side of the draw, Tipperary will take on Mayo after the Premier county marked the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday with a stunning Munster final victory over Cork. Only once in the game did David Power's side trail, when Luke Connolly put Cork 0-5 to 0-4 in front in the 16th minute. Aside from that, Tipp were on top throughout, with Conor Sweeney and Michael Quinlivan combining for 12 points between them to record a first Munster final win since 1935.

Tipperary went on to win the delayed 1920 All-Ireland final, eventually played in June 1922, after defeating Mayo at the last-four stage.  It was Dublin who the Premier county beat in that final after the Dubs had defeated Ulster champions Cavan.