Cavanagh the ace for Tyrone

Tyrone 1-9 Mayo 0-9

Tyrone’s footballing revolution continued apace at Markevicz Park, where a Mayo’s challlege was dealt with in a confidentand sometimes spectacular fashion.

Much more important to Red Hand fans was the survival of senior star Sean Cavanagh, who came through without picking up any injuries, despite a full-blooded, whole-hearted contribution which saw him turn in a man of the match performance.

Cavanagh grabbed the only goal of the game seven minutes into the second half, a score which separated the sides at the end and saw Peter Doherty’s side through to the October 5 final against either Dublin or Waterford.

Senior goalkeeper John Devine and defender Dermot Carlin also came through safely, playing significant roles in Tyrone’s success.

There were some anxious moments when Mayo fought back from six points down to narrow the gap to three in the final five minutes, but some solid defending from Kieran McCrory, who had an outstanding game at full back, and Shane Sweeney kept them at bay.

Peter Donnelly blasted over a wonderful long range opener, before Conor Mortimer responded with Mayo’s first score in the sixth minute.

Sean Cavanagh, lining out at left half forward, was kept well in check by Conor Moran before moving to full forward, while corner backs Liam O’Malley and Dermot Geraghty were always tenacious and quick to seize the loose ball in wet and slippery conditions.

Mayo took the lead for the fist time in the 20th minute when Paul Doherty floated over an excellent score via a post. That proved to be their last score of the halffor Tyrone, with Kieran McCrory and Michael Garry solid at the heart of their defence and Kelvin Hughes showing prime ball-winning qualities, swept forward.

McMahon thumped over a long range effort and injury-time points from Ronan Ward and Hughes made it 0-5 to 0-3 in the Ulster champions’ favour.

And when Cavanagh collected a Leo Meenan line ball to blast low to the net seven minutes into the second half, Tyrone led by 1-6 to 0-4.

Cavanagh was now operating in his customary midfield role, with Kelvin Hughes’ ball-winning qualities beginning to emerge at full-forward.

He fielded high to hook over his third point and as Mayo countered, they found it almost impossible to break down their opponents well organised defensive system, but intense pressure finally began to pay off in the final five minutes of the game.

Mortimer chipped over a couple of points and Damien Munnelly converted a free, but Tyrone, as ever, were resilient and well organised.

TYRONE: J Devine, S Sweeney, K McCrory, D Carlin, O Devine, M Garry, P O’Farrell, P Donnelly (0-1), J McMahon (0-1), S Cavanagh (-1, 1f), L Meenan (0-1f) K Hughes (0-3), R Ward (0-1), A McCarron, R McCann (0-1).

Subs: M Penrose for Ward, D McDermott for Meenan.

MAYO: F Ruddy, L O’Malley, R Walsh, D Geraghty, C Moran, E Devenney, D Costello, P Harte, P Nevin, B Regan, P Doherty (0-1), A Moran, C Mortimer (0-4, 3f), A Dillon, D Munnelly (0-1, f).

Subs: D Clarke for Ruddy, P Carey for Regan, J

Prenty for Doherty.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath)