Sport

Murray's early goal proves the difference

ULSTER UNDER-21 FC FINAL: Cavan 1-10 Tyrone 0-10: NEWLY-CROWNED Ulster Under-21 champions Cavan have just two days to recover…

Thu Apr 14 2011 - 01:00

ULSTER UNDER-21 FC FINAL: Cavan 1-10 Tyrone 0-10:NEWLY-CROWNED Ulster Under-21 champions Cavan have just two days to recover before they face Wexford in Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final. The Breffni men lifted their third provincial title at Brewster Park last night with a shock win over Tyrone.

The Breffni side fought a backs against the wall battle to hold out with just a goal to spare.

They defended in numbers, but managed to pick off enough scores on the breakaway to win a tense decider, with skipper Gearóid McKiernan playing a starring role.

Cavan struck gold with the fastest goal of the campaign, Niall Murray nipping in to net after just 10 seconds when the Tyrone defence had failed to clear McKiernan’s delivery.

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Tyrone responded with scores from Mattie Donnelly and Ronan O’Neill, but Cavan restored their three-point advantage in the ninth minute when Jack Brady swung over a point to add to Barry Reilly’s converted free.

Tyrone struggled to get any attacking momentum going, but they did craft a goal chance when Donnelly released O’Neill, but his shot lacked conviction and was comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Alan O’Mara.

But Tyrone continued to press, with Peter Harte and Shea McGuigan beginning to make some headway. O’Neill stroked over a free, and skipper Harte added a point to narrow the gap to a point. Cavan recovered from a difficult spell to finish the half with three points, two of them booming efforts from skipper McKiernan, to go in at the break with a 1-5 to 0-4 advantage.

Tyrone had two points on the board within two minutes of the restart, through Niall McKenna and O’Neill. Once again, Terry Hyland’s side soaked up the pressure and built from the back to set up telling attacks. And they made it a four-point game once again when Barry Reilly and Brady both knocked over frees.

Tyrone work extremely hard to narrow the gap but Cavan held on for their first title since 1996.

TYRONE:N Morgan; R Pickering, R McNamee, F McQuaid; N Sludden, R McNabb, T McCann; N McKenna (0-2), R Donnelly (0-1); P McNeice, P Harte (0-1), S McGuigan; K Coney, M Donnelly (0-1), R O'Neill (0-4, 0-2 frees). Subs:C Girvan (0-1) for McGuigan (34 mins), K Mossey for McNabb (49 mins), D McNulty for McNeice (55 mins), J McCullagh for McNulty (59 mins).

CAVAN:A O'Mara; F Flanagan, O Minagh, D Tighe; K Meehan, D Barkey, M Brady; G McKiernan (0-2), M Leddy; N Smith, N Murray (1-0), B Reilly (0-2, frees); J Brady (0-4, 0-2 frees), N McDermott, P Leddy. Subs:T Mooney for Tighe (36 mins), P King (0-2) for M Leddy (47 mins), C McClarey for Smith (52 mins), S Smith for McDermott (55 mins), D Flanagan for Reilly (60 mins).

Referee:S McLaughlin (Donegal).