Errigal Ciaran beat Mullahoran in Ulster Club Football opener

Ronan McRory of Errigal Ciaran is pulled back by Mullahoran opponent Norbert Smith

Errigal Ciaran powered to an emphatic 4-15 to 1-7 win over Cavan side Mullahoran in Sunday's Ulster Club Football preliminary round clash.

Goals by Damien McDermott and Peter Harte saw the Tyrone champions take a 2-7 to 1-3 interval advantage.

Just before the break the Cavan side had world handball champion Paul Brady sent-off for a striking offence.

Bryan Horisk and Tomas Canavan netted further goals for Errigal, the only Tyrone club to have won the Ulster.

Sunday's result leaves Errigal Ciaran manager Ronan McGuckin in line to face his home club Ballinderry in the Ulster quarter-finals although there are reports he has asked to be excused from duty for the 4 November clash because of a potential conflict of intest.

Having beaten Dromore impressively in the Tyrone decider, McGuckin's side look well placed to challenge for the provincial crown they last won 10 years ago.

They are bound to encounter stiffer challenges than the one they faced against Mullahoran at Breffni Park.

Mullahoran, who beat Kingscourt in a replay to win the Cavan title, took an early lead when Enda O'Reilly landed the first of his four frees.

But Ronan McRory levelled before McDermott netted his goal after the ball had come off keeper Eamonn Brady.

Errigal Ciaran stretched their advantage through Horisk and Damien McDermott before Mullahoran hit back with a goal by Fergal Brady which left then just 1-4 to 1-2 down.

However, the Tyrone champions got their second goal in a move started and finished by the impressive centre half-back Harte.

County star Harte took a return pass to bury his right-foot shot in the back of the net.

Brady, who just a few days earlier had clinched his fourth world handball title, was just on as a replacement when he got a red card for striking.

Errigal Ciaran tagged on further points in the second half and got their third goal when Harte drove forward and found Horisk on the egde of the square and the big full-forward hit the net.

Substitute Canavan reacted quickly to snap up a rebound for Errigal Ciaran's fourth goal.