Tyrone scored a first ever senior championship win over Cavan on Cavan soil but it took a mammoth effort.
Six points separated the sides at half-time after Cavan had roared out of the traps. Cian Madden putting Cavan ahead with a 10th minute goal. Madden opened the scoring with a sixth minute point.
Points from Darren McCurry and Michael McKernan were cancelled out by Madden’s goal. Cavan leading 1-1 to two points on 10 minutes.
Tyrone were level within three minutes. McKernan and Darragh Canavan with points. McCurry put Tyrone ahead on 16 minutes. Two minutes later Liam Gray found the Cavan net. Tyrone 1-5 to 1-1 ahead.
Luke Fortune responded with a Cavan point. Their first score for nine minutes. Brian Kennedy and Killian Brady exchanged points as did Ruairi Canavan and Brian O’Connell.
Two Darragh Canavan points and one from Ciaran Daly had Tyrone six clear at half-time; 1-10 to 1-4.
McKernan put Tyrone seven clear two minutes after the restart as Cavan seemed to have a mountain to climb. Paddy Lynch and Oisin Brady sent over need Cavan points. However, Darragh Canavan restored Tyrone’s six point lead on 41 minutes.
Paddy Lynch and Mattie Donnelly exchanged scores as did Gerard Smith and Ruairi Canavan. Padraig Hampsey received a black card with 21 minutes remaining, giving the Breffni side hope.
However, Niall Morgan didn’t read the script. His 50th minute free making it 1-15 to 1-8. A Darren McCurry free made it an eight point game.
The big Cavan comeback
Then, however, came the Cavan comeback. Padraigh Faulkner fired to the net on 53 minutes. Oisin Brady added a point and Jason McLoughlin smashed home Cavna’s third goal of the game.
It's anybody's game now!
Ladies and gentlemen...the Ulster Championship! 🍿🤯
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) April 21, 2024
Tyrone’s lead was cut to one point with 12 minutes remaining. 3-9 to 1-16. Oisin Brady equalised with eight minutes remaining.
The sides went cat and mouse to the conclusion. Oisin Brady levelling, Ben Cullen edge Tyrone back in-front. Tiarnan Madded equalising for Cavan again with four minutes remaining.
Two Darragh Canavan points in a minute didn’t finish off the Breffni. A Paddy Lynch free cut it to one, only for McCurry to extend the lead back to two.
However another Lynch free in injury time and a Brian O’Connell point saw the game finish 3-14 to 1-20 at the end of normal time.
Extra-time was just as edgy in the opening stages. Darragh Canavan and Niall Devlin moved Tyrone two points ahead before Tiarnan Madden made a one point game at half-time in extra-time.
Tiernan Quinn moved Tyrone two clear with three minutes remaining. Paddy Lynch converted a third free of the day but it wasn’t enough.
Tyrone won out 1-23 to 3-16 to setup an Ulster semi-final meeting with Donegal next weekend. Cavan are set to play in the All-Ireland championship, awaiting other results.
