Kevin Tierney’s brace helps ensure a winning start for Cavan

Antrim 0-12 Cavan 3-12

Two second-half goals ensured Cavan enjoyed a winning start to 2014 as they eased past Antrim by nine points in yesterday's McKenna Cup Group C clash at a windswept Creggan.

Kevin Tierney ended the game with a brace of goals to his name with David Givney supplying Cavan's third in a game in which five of the six Breffni starting forwards got on the scoresheet.

Tierney struck for his first goal after just two minutes following a slick five-man move.

Two CJ McGourty frees made it a one-point game after 12 minutes but Cavan extended their lead through a Eugene Keating free.

The Breffni men racked up six wides by the interval and also lost Killian Brady to a black card. McGourty converted the resultant free but Cavan' reply was immediate, with Givney slotting over a fine point from play.

McGourty raised the final flag of the opening half to leave his side trailing by two, 1-3 to 0-4, at the break.

On 47 minutes Givney punched Niall Murray's through-ball over the head of Kerr to make it 2-7 to 0-6. Antrim replied with three McGourty frees but Tierney's second goal 10 minutes from time ended their hopes.
ANTRIM: C Kerr; K O'Boyle, R Johnston, N Delargy; T Scullion; M Sweeney, J Crozier; M McCann (0-1), S McVeigh; C Murray, M Pollock (0-2), T McCann; CJ McGourty (0-7, 6f), O Gallagher, A Taylor. Subs: P Gallagher for K O'Boyle, P Kelly for T McCann, B Neeson (0-1) for O Gallagher, P Cunningham for A Taylor, P McGuire for C Murray.
CAVAN: C Gilsenan; J Hayes, R Dunne, K Brady; N Murray, A Clarke, N Smith; D McKiernan, P Leddy; M Reilly (0-2, 1f), N McDermott (0-2, 1f), T Mooney; K Tierney (2-0), D Givney (1-2), E Keating (0-5, 4f). Subs: D Barkley for K Brady (black card), M Leddy for P Leddy, D O'Reilly for N Murray, D Hyland (0-1) for D McKiernan, P Tinnelly for N Smith.
Referee: C O'Hagan (Tyrone).