McKENNA CUP Tyrone 2-11 Cavan 0-14:TYRONE WILL play Derry in Saturday's final of the Dr McKenna Cup in Armagh after claiming a three-point victory over Cavan at Brewster Park last night.

An entertaining contest looked to be going the way of Cavan in the first half as they built a four-point half-time lead, but goals from Martin Penrose and Patrick McNeice helped Tyrone to regain control.

Seanie Johnston was in fine form for Cavan, landing six first-half points, four from frees, although Tyrone made the more positive start with three early unanswered points from midfielder Aidan Cassidy and Martin Penrose (two).

Tyrone led 0-4 to 0-2 by the 12th minute, but with Ronan Flanagan an influential figure, Cavan began to take control and they fired over six points in a row.

Johnston notched three during this period, while Flanagan, Ger Pierson and Ray Cullivan also contributed scores as Mickey Harte called on the experienced Stephen O’Neill and Ryan McMenamin to breathe some life into his side.

Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly twice pulled off super saves to deny Brian McGuigan and Penrose and Cavan remained in control to the break.

That lead was increased to five on the restart as Pierson kicked an excellent point, but then came Tyrone’s double goal blast.

Penrose slotted a penalty to the net after Mark Donnelly was fouled by Stephen Jordan, which saw the Cavan player dismissed for a second yellow card.

Then O’Neill burst through the Cavan defence to set up Patrick McNeice to net their second.

With Cavanagh and O’Neill firing over points Tyrone took control, and although Cavan did respond to leave two between them with five minutes to go, O’Neill rattled over two late points to make sure for Mickey Harte’s side.

CAVAN: J Reilly; A Clarke, P Carroll, S Jordan; M McKeever, J McCutcheon, D OReilly; R Cullivan (0-2), P OReilly; K Fannin (0-1), N Murray, R Flanagan (0-2, 1f); S Johnston (0-8, 6f), G Pierson (0-2), B Fitzpatrick. Subs: E McGuigan for Cullivan (blood), O Minagh for Clarke, B Reilly for Murray, Cullivan for McGuigan, D Sheridan for Fitzpatrick, M Cahill for Pierson.

TYRONE: J Curran; A McCrory, D McCaul, PJ Quinn; R McNabb, D Carlin, S McNally; K Hughes (0-1), A Cassidy (0-1); S Cavanagh (0-1), B McGuigan (0-1), P McNeice (1-0); C Girvan, M Penrose (1-4, 1-0 pen, 3f), M Donnelly Subs: S O'Neill (0-3, 2f)for Girvan, R McMenamin for McNabb, M Swift for McNally, C McCarron for McCaul, C Gormley for Cassidy