Dr McKenna Cup: Cavan 0-10 1-13 Tyrone

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Cavan players surround Tyrone's Mark Donnelly in the Athletic Grounds finalImage source, Inpho
Image caption,

Cavan players surround Tyrone's Mark Donnelly in the Athletic Grounds final

Tyrone made it four McKenna Cup titles in a row thanks to a 1-13 to 0-10 victory over Cavan in Saturday night's final at the Athletic Grounds.

Cavan led by 0-10 to 0-6 at the break but failed to score in the second half as Tyrone produced a quality display.

The Red Hands scored 1-7 without reply in the second period with Niall McKenna netting the only goal of the game after 57 minutes.

Half-time substitute Darren McCurry hit four points for Mickey Harte's team.

Media caption,

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte gives his reaction after his side beat Cavan in the McKenna Cup final.

Tyrone previously won a four in a row from 2004-2008, also under manager Harte.

In front of a 3,554 crowd in Armagh, Cavan bossed the first half and fully deserved their four-point lead at half-time.

Their direct running put the Tyrone defence on the back-foot and caused them huge problems.

Nine of Cavan's first-half points came from play, with six different players on the scoreboard.

Martin Dunne was dangerous and hit 0-4 in the first half, three of his scores coming from play.

In contrast, Tyrone only managed one point from play in the first half with the bulk of their scores coming from frees.

Cavan completely took over in the second quarter and outscored the Red Hands by 0-6 to 0-2 for the remainder of the half.

Cavan should have been further ahead but Dunne fluffed a brilliant goal chance in the 26th minute.

Image source, Inpho
Image caption,

Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh shows off the McKenna after the Red Hands triumphed once again

Niall Murray's crossfield ball was well won by Dunne, who turned Aidan McCrory and tried to chip Niall Morgan with the goal at his mercy, but his tame effort dropped wide.

Harte had seen enough and made three half-time substitutions with Colm Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly and Darren McCurry coming in to bolster the side.

It was vital for Tyrone that they got the first point of the second half - and they did just that after 43 minutes from midfielder Padraig McNulty, who took a few big hits as he rumbled through to score off his weaker left foot.

McCurry was full of confidence after hitting a great point from the wing and followed it up with even better points from distance as Tyrone pulled clear.

McKenna latched onto Sean Cavanagh's knocked down pass and steered the ball low into the right-hand corner of the net.

Cavan, who were without suspended midfielder Gearoid McKiernan, put a lot of energy into the first half and couldn't keep it going once Tyrone upped the ante.

Cavan: C Gilsenan; K Brady, R Dunne, J Hayes; N Murray (0-1), P Smith, M McKeever (0-1); D O'Reilly, K Clarke (0-1); M Reilly, M Lyng (0-1), D McVeety; R Flanagan, N McDermott (0-2), M Dunne (0-4, 1f) Subs: C Moynagh for Hayes (HT), J Brady for Lyng (44), E Hessin for Moynagh (55), T Corr for McKeever (59), P Tinnelly for O'Reilly (68)

Tyrone: N Morgan (0-1, f); A McCrory, Justin McMahon, C McCarron; R McNabb, Joe McMahon, B Tierney; P McNulty (0-2), C McCann (0-1); Mark Donnelly, R O'Neill, P Kane (0-1); K Coney (0-1, f), S Cavanagh (0-3, 3f), N McKenna (1-0) Subs: Mattie Donnelly for Joe McMahon (HT), C Cavanagh for Kane (HT), D McCurry (0-4, 1f) for Coney (HT), P Harte for Mark Donnelly (44), R McNamee for McCarron (62)

Referee: Ronan Barry (Down)

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