TYRONE attacker Ronan O’Neill is adamant they didn’t switch off when three points up to allow Cavan to snatch a dramatic equalising goal in injury-time at Clones last Sunday.
Having come from three points down to lead by the same margin, the Red Hands looked set to book their place in a first Ulster final since 2010, only to be hit by a late sucker punch from David Givney: “Cavan were threatening all day and they worked their last goal very well when bringing our defenders out,” said O'Neill.
“You just have to deal with it and get on with it and I think that it was very important that we got the next ball after that goal. We could have won it and we could have lost it, but we are still in the Ulster Championship and that’s the main thing.
"I think that we responded well every time that they got a goal. Yes, they were sucker punches at the time but, as a team, it was vital that we responded straight away after it and that we didn’t get too hung up about it and I think that the boys did that.
"Sometimes, we got the next score or the next ball and that was vitally important to gain control of things again. Yes, it was unlike us to concede three goals, but it was a learning curve for us and we will go back to training on Tuesday night and look at the strengths and weaknesses of our performance.”
The Omagh attacker once again carried his good form into a tough encounter in difficult conditions, weighing in with five points, including two from play, despite not enjoying the space that was evident in their opening round win over Derry.
“The first day against Derry, there was a lot of space, but I knew that wouldn’t be the case today,” said O’Neill.
“At times, they had three or four sweepers in front of me and Sean [Cavanagh] and you have to have great patience. We were lucky we got a few scores off balls that came in and, on other occasions, we didn’t, but that’s what happens and you just have to keep plugging away and take what you get.
"I suppose we played in bits and starts. We played for five or 10 minutes and then Cavan had their purple patches, but that’s what we expected in an Ulster semi-final. Both sides were chomping at the bit to get to an Ulster final and it was just one of those days.”
Tyrone may not have been at their fluent best on the day, but credit for that has to go to Cavan. With normal-time almost up, O’Neill played a superb crossfield pass into the path of Padraig McNulty but, with a goal on the cards, the substitute was denied by Cavan 'keeper Raymond Galligan.
“Paudie is very good in those situations,” said O'Neill.
“He tried to drill it as hard as he could and the keeper made a good save and, maybe on another day, it would have went in and hopefully, if we get a chance like that the next day, it goes to the back of the net.
"At the end of the day, I suppose it was a kick up the backside for us and we are lucky to be still in an Ulster semi-final and we are looking forward to getting back on the training pitch and rectifying the mistakes that we made here today.
"The next day that we go out, we will have to improve individually and collectively on today’s performance.”
