Ulster U17 Football Championship final: Cavan 0-16 Tyrone 3-14
TYRONE swept to victory in the Ulster U17 Football Championship final at Kingspan Breffni, where they dominated an out-classed Cavan side from start to finish.
Now the Red Hands move on to the All-Ireland semi-final against the Leinster champions, and on the evidence of this disciplined display, they will take some beating.
First half goals from Cormac Donaghy and Thomas Hoy had them well in control, and they pushed on with the wind in their backs in the second period, adding a third major through Michael Conroy.
Tyrone manager Colin Holmes revealed that he chose to play against the wind in the event of winning the toss, and it was a key decision that gave his side an early impetus that they never lost.
“We got here early, saw the wind and won the toss, that was the best thing that happened for us. That was a crucial thing, to play against the wind, then you know what you have to do.
“The stewards were telling us that the wind never changes in Cavan, so we took them at their word,” he said.
“We wanted to try and break them down, slow them, and to get in there or thereabouts at half-time.”
And two first half goals gave the Red Hands an unassailable lead as they turned around to play with wind advantage.
After opening the scoring after just 10 seconds through Dylan Molloy, the home side was soon on the back foot.
Tyrone, playing into the wind, worked the ball through the hands to exploit gaps in the Cavan defence, and scores from Darragh Canavan and Thomas Hoy had them ahead by the fourth minute.
They struck for their first goal in the 12th minute, Thomas Hoy taking on a couple of defenders out wide before crossing to the far post, where Donaghy palmed home.
Goalkeeper Lorcan Quinn kicked a terrific 45 metre free into the wind and rain, and there were scores from Hoy and Ethan Jordan.
Cavan lost one of their key players, centre forward Shane Hanley, to a black card after 17 minutes, and they failed to score in the second quarter, while the Red Hands grabbed a second goal in stoppage time.
It was Daniel Miller who supplied the incisive pass for Hoy to finish low and accurate to the bottom corner of the net.
It was 2-5 to 0-3 at the interval, and there wasn’t much joy for Cavan in the second half either, despite the promptings of the industrious Cian McGovern.
Patrick Lynch converted a couple of frees, but Tyrone were always in control, with the excellent Antoin Fox inspiring a disciplined defence.
Donaghy turned on the style to kick three wonderful points, and in the 52nd minute, Canavan sent substitute Michael Conroy in to hit the roof of the net with his first touch.
Canavan, Conroy and Nathan Connolly were on target with points as the Red Hands coasted home with 17 points to spare.
Cavan manager John Brady had no excuses, admitting his side never got close to Tyrone’s levels of organisation.
“Tyrone were very impressive, they’re a very well drilled team, by far the better team on the day, so we’ve no excuses,” he said.
Cavan: S Lovett; K Smyth, P Nulty, K Brady; DJ Cassidy, K Fadoju, G Brady; B Smith (0-1), D Molloy (0-1); C McGovern, S Hanley, C Lynch; S Martin, P Lynch (0-3, 3F), S Keogan (0-1); Subs: G Mannion for G Brady,
P Smith for Hanley (BC), K Tyler for Keogan, Keogan for McGovern, C Sheckleton for P Smith, K Curtis for Molloy
Tyrone: L Quinn (0-1, f); A Fox (0-1), M McCusker, C Ward; T Quinn, C Munroe, R Slane; M Murnaghan (0-1), J Oguz; C Donaghy (1-3), D Canavan (0-2), D Miller; E Jordan (0-1, f), C Donnelly, T Hoy (1-2)
Subs: M Hayes for Donnelly, N Connolly (0-1) for Jordan, M Conroy (1-2, 0-1f) for Hoy, C Slevin for Miller, O McHugh for Ward, K Barker for Murnaghan
Referee: C Mooney (Down)
