Football

Tyrone and Cavan tactical takes

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte got his match-ups right on Saturday. Picture by Philip Walsh.
Tyrone manager Mickey Harte got his match-ups right on Saturday. Picture by Philip Walsh. Tyrone manager Mickey Harte got his match-ups right on Saturday. Picture by Philip Walsh.

Tyrone

THE Red Hands left Cathal McShane up front with Darren McCurry giving support from the deep and packed their own half in familiar style to smother the Cavan forwards and then break with pace on the counterattack.

Their speed and conditioning meant it was men against boys for the entire game and the supporting running and fitness of the Tyrone players augurs well for the rest of their campaign.

Mickey Harte got his match-ups right once again and Martin Reilly, Dara McVeety, Cian Mackey and Conor Moynagh were all blotted out of the game. Tyrone had nine scorers on the day including both midfielders who were able to get forward at will.

The Red Hands pressed high on the Cavan kickouts and Cavan attempted to do the same on theirs but goalkeeper Niall Morgan is in a rich vein of form and his restarts were excellent throughout the game. With a steady supply of primary possession at midfield, Tyrone were able to cut the Cavan defence to shreds with 21 excellent scores and only a handful of wides.

Cavan

THE Breffnimen once again sacrificed attacking options for what they hoped would be tight defensive stitching but Tyrone simply swatted them out of their way on Saturday.

By clogging up their own half of the field, Mickey Graham hoped to frustrate Tyrone but the Cavan players couldn’t match Tyrone’s energy or intent.

Kick-outs went short and wide and Cavan looked to run the ball with width across the field as they attacked but they do not have the forwards to hurt Tyrone and the Red Hands’ system forced them down the centre where the man in possession was swarmed by defenders and dispossessed.

Cavan dropped too deep in defence and without enough pressure on the ball the Red Hands simply picked them off with 12 points in the first half and 1-8 in the second.