A DOUR battle for survival in vile conditions truly represented the tough end of the business. An unpredictable, and at times gale force wind, intermittent driving rain and a sodden pitch combined to sabotage an uncompromising National Football League lottery type relegation tie for a crowd of 6,000 in Dungannon.

The happy ending for Cavan conformed with the uncertainty of it all. Few would have gambled on the Cavan attack finally producing a hero such was the quite dismal and unco-ordinated performance by their front division for almost the entire game.

Dermot McCabe's reliable left foot, however, enabled him to fit the bill, to the delight of the Cavan followers, with two huge match deciding points inside the last five minutes.

McCabe's scores moulded a momentous Cavan win. It had been 11 years since the home county had been beaten, by anyone, at the Dungannon ground.

But more importantly from a Cavan perspective, McCabe's second point with less than two minutes remaining had given Cavan the lead for the first time in the match. Victory puts his county into a three-way relegation playoff series against Meath and Tyrone.

Peter Canavan was introduced into the Tyrone attack 11 minutes into the second half for the sole purpose of boosting their forward strength and help retain the lead against the wind. But the move did not work.

The Tyrone star was playing in the county colours for the first time since that fateful All-Ireland semi-final last August against Meath. He was well policed by the star of the Cavan defence Ciaran Brady.

The Tyrone manager, Danny Ball, was of the same opinion. He felt that Cavan were hungrier and more committed than his team.

Martin McHugh, the Cavan manager, said: "We deserved to win."

Cavan began to acquire more possession in the second half from midfield where Stephen King and Philip Smith started to improve in" the second half. Patrick Shiels was proving a menacing attacking wing back for the Tyrone defence and Aidan Connolly who moved back from midfield to centre back in a reshuffle at the start was also seen to good effect in laying on an improved service.

Generally though, Cavan forwards were too prone to over play the ball in conditions that called for the more direct approach.

Tyrone came close to a goal early in the second half. Gerard Cavlan found Ciaran McBride with a 40-yard pinpoint delivery. But, the corner forward's shot came back off the crossbar but only for Matt McGleenan's effort was smothered and cleared away not surprisingly by Ciaran Brady.

Cavan showed admirable spirit in not letting a shock Tyrone goal, scored after only 20 seconds by Brian Gormley deflate morale. There was, however, no excuse for a sluggishly slow scoring rate.

It took Cavan almost 20 minutes to add a second score to Ray Cunningham's opening response to Gormley's early Tyrone goal.

It was never a case of limited chances for the Cavan men. Yet, they were only three points adrift at the interval 1-3 to 0-3.

Peter Canavan got his first kick of the ball when Tyrone's lead had dwindled to one point nearing the end of the third quarter. His wide was demoralising for anxious Tyrone supporters.

A Patrick Shiels shot was deflected out for a 45. Peter O'Reilly played the resultant kick short to McCabe who pumped over a great rangy point for the equaliser. Even after McCabe hit the big winner, from play, from out on the left wing Cavan squandered chances through substitute Ronan Carolan (with a 20 yards free in front of the posts) and King.