Football

Kids stuff for Sean Cavanagh as Tyrone clinch back-to-back provincial titles

Sean and Colm Cavanagh lift the Anglo-Celt Cup, with Sean's daughters Eva and Clara
Sean and Colm Cavanagh lift the Anglo-Celt Cup, with Sean's daughters Eva and Clara Sean and Colm Cavanagh lift the Anglo-Celt Cup, with Sean's daughters Eva and Clara

Ulster Senior Football Championship final: Down 0-15 Tyrone 2-17 

SIX-YEAR-OLD Eva Cavanagh has got a little bigger from this time last year, while her younger sister Clara was in close proximity to her father as the stewards formed a human cordon at the foot of the Gerry Arthurs Stand so that the Tyrone players could enjoy the moment.

Perched in her father’s right arm, Eva listened intently to what the Tyrone captain had to say about claiming back-to-back Ulster titles in sun-drenched Clones.

“I remember Peter Canavan and his kids in ’03, lifting these trophies and now those kids are playing  for Tyrone and tearing things up,” said Cavanagh.

“That’s what the GAA is about – it’s about passing on your experiences to the next generation. So it’s lovely that the two girls have plenty of pictures and plenty of memories of days like this because they don’t come around too often.

“It’s always special when you win on a sunny day in Clones. I stood here probably 14 or 15 years ago against Down with Cormac McAnallen and Peter Canavan and your enjoyment and hunger doesn’t diminish. This day is as good as any.”

Beaten finalists Down put up a gallant effort in yesterday’s provincial decider but they were blown away at the start of the second half when the Red Hands hit seven unanswered points to seal their 15th Anglo-Celt Cup.

“When it came down to it we had been through days like this before,” said the big Moy man.

“No disrespect to Down but they maybe didn’t have the experience of what was going to come at the start of the second half.

“They came with fight and passion but we knew the game would open up at some point. Whenever the game would open up it was important we made hay.

“They talk about the third quarter being the Championship quarter. We talked at half-time that we wouldn’t panic, that we’d chip away at our scores, we got those scores and it was a nice position to be in. We knew the game was gone [from Down] after about 50 minutes.”

Unlike last year’s titanic struggle with Donegal, there was significantly less tension in the air.

There was an overwhelming sense that winning a provincial title was a means to an end again for Tyrone.

Last summer, Cavanagh was sent off in Tyrone’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Mayo at Croke Park.

“I suppose it’s a natural curve in any team’s progression that you want to go one better than last year.

“I just didn’t feel it would be a nice way to walk away from the game. I’ve been in the game a long time and it just didn’t sit well with me.

“It hurt me obviously more than it hurt anyone. I know it annoyed a lot of Tyrone people but it hurt me most. Look, now is the opportunity for this team. 

“Last year will have done us no harm – I think it has made us stronger and a bit wiser.

“You sort of hope if we’re put in that position again that we may be a better team; we might take better options, we might get a draw out of a tight game like that. The test is going to come very soon, but at least we’re there.

“The real hard work starts now. To win Ulster is really special to us and I think it shows when you see the crowd out here today and what it means to the people of Tyrone.

“It’s nice to have this one out of the road and we’re going to look forward to hitting Croke Park again.”

Beneath a blazing sun, Eva agreed with every single word her father uttered…