Tyrone maintain their focus

McKenna Cup SF/Tyrone 0-14 Cavan 0-10:Tyrone manager Mickey Harte put all the controversy surrounding his four absent students behind him and put his faith in his extended panel and saw his team produce a strong second half to see off Cavan in the Dr McKenna Cup under lights at Breffni Park on Saturday.

Despite the heavy underfoot conditions the 1,500 fans were entertained to a close and interesting encounter. Referee Séamus McGonagle issued eight yellow cards, six to Cavan. Incidentally, former Fermanagh star Rory Gallagher made his first competitive outing for the Breffni side.

Tyrone enjoyed the best of the first half and after 11 minutes were 0-4 to 0-0 ahead, Seán Cavanagh (two), Aidan McCarron and Kelvin Hughes the marksmen. Cavan's opening score didn't come until the 17th minute, from a Gerald Pierson free. However, Tyrone continued to assert their authority and it was 0-6 to 0-1 by the 27th minute.

Cavan improved their position coming up half-time when Pierson and Dermot McCabe scored a point each. However, at the interval Tyrone deservedly led by 0-6 to 0-3.

Cavan's team manager Donal Keoghan made a number of switches during the break and his team made the better start to the second half when two frees from Pierson reduced the arrears to one point by the 38th minute.

Minutes later Cavanagh and Pierson exchanged points. However, that proved to be Cavan's last score for some 23 minutes as Tyrone gained a stranglehold on the exchanges. Points from Cavanagh, Ryan McMenamin, three from Paul Rouse and one each from Colm Donnelly and Christy Colhoun left the visitors well in control when leading by eight points, 0-14 to 0-6.

As Tyrone visibly relaxed, Cavan came with a late rally and scored four points in the last five minutes, which included three minutes of additional time. However, Tyrone stood firm and were comfortable winners.

TYRONE: J Devine; P McGurk, C McCrory, D Harte; R McMenamin (0-2), P Quinn, M Penrose; Kelvin Hughes (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-2); D Treanor (0-1), G Cavlan, A McCarron (0-2); N Gormley, P Rouse (0-3), C Colhoun (0-2). Subs: D Carlin for P McGurk, C McGinley for McCrory (both 33 mins), C Donnelly for Kelvin Hughes (37 mins), R Mullon (0-1) for McCarron (56 mins), Kevin Hughes for Penrose (62 mins).

CAVAN: E Elliott; A Forde, K Fannin, M Cahill; J Crowe (0-1), M McKeever, P Brady; L Mulvey, D McCabe (0-1); M Reilly, S Brady, M Cunningham; L Reilly, G Pierson (0-5), R Gallagher. Subs: E Reilly for Gallagher (half-time), N Walsh for S Brady (39 mins), J Reilly (0-2) for L Reilly (53 mins), C Mackey (0-1) for M Reilly (54 mins), M McDonald for Mulvey (68 mins).

Referee: S McGonagle (Donegal).