Tyrone go into overdrive after helping hand from Canavan

Tyrone 1-16 Galway 0-11

Marking his return after a ten months absence through injury with a magnificent point shortly after his late second-half substitution, it inspired the All-Ireland champions to overwhelm inconsistent Galway in Croke Park on Saturday and earn them a place in the fourth round of qualifiers.

Canavan’s introduction came at the stage when the game was delicately balanced, timed for maximum effect. And, just like in the All-Ireland final when he was brought back on near the end after playing for just the first half, it achieved its objective handsomely.

“With 15 minutes to go, we had it back to a point and it was there at that stage,” an emotional John O’Mahony commented afterwards. “We were back in the game but Tyrone had that little bit more ammunition than we had... and Canavan got that crucial inspirational point for them,” he added.

While Tyrone manager Mickey Harte wasn’t too impressed with the overall display, he recognised the role Canavan played in the short time he was on the field. “It was a big boost to get Peter on. We have been waiting a long time and it gave a great lift to the team and the supporters,” he said.

O’Mahony readily admitted that his team had passed up a number of goal chances (four, including a missed penalty), but, insisted that no blame was attached to anyone. Harte, likewise conceded there were faults on his team’s side. But, in regard to what was essentially the key factor in the game, and which ultimately proved decisive, the Tyrone manager praised his team for creating more chances.

“We did not even create chances against Donegal. That we were missing several of them is another business. But I would rather be creating them and missing them rather than not creating them at all.”

Galway led 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes, but fell behind to a splendidly worked Brian McGuigan goal three minutes later. After that, the best they could do was to draw level in the 17th minute, following which they trailed all the way to the finish.

While ’keeper Brian O’Donoghue rescued Galway with a good stop from Sean Kavanagh earlier, they were to rule a missed goal opportunity by Matthew Clancy in the 22nd minute and a feeble attempt at a penalty by Derek Savage four minutes later. There was little enough between the teams, but it was notable that Galway found it harder to penetrate at times even though Padraic Joyce was prominent at full-forward.

That situation was to deteriorate in the ten minutes before half-time after Sean Cavanagh found his form at midfield for the champions, and McGuigan, Stephen O’Neill and Eoin Mulligan saw more of the ball. Galway were always comfortable in defence, and Joe Bergin did well at midfield until picking up a leg injury, but at stages the quality of ball going into Joyce and Savage was poor enough. At the break, it was 1-5 to 0-6 for Tyrone.

The second half was to produce mixed form for both teams, with Tyrone going through something of a bad patch - hitting six wides in 15 minutes - before they settled. For their part, Galway passed up two more goal chances in the same period. “If Galway had taken a few of their goal chances it would have put a different complexion on the game,” said Harte.

It was Padraic Joyce who had both goal chances for Galway, being very unlucky with the first when a shot off the ground hit the butt of the far upright. The second came when he gained possession from a poor kick-out, but was crowded out by full-back Conor Gormley and unable to get in a shot.

Nevertheless, the portents looked brighter for Galway when they kicked three points without reply to be only a point in arrears at the three-quarter stage. Enter Canavan and the complexion of the game changed dramatically. He was hardly on the field when an improved Mulligan kicked a very important score for Tyrone before he himself kicked over a superb point from near the corner.

It wasn’t vintage Tyrone, but with newcomer Joe McMahon one of their stars at right half-back, Cavanagh very effective, Brian Dooher more prominent and the forwards working better as a unit, their over play was superior.

*Michael Monahan may have been a controversial choice as referee, but after a hesitant start, he settled down to give a very good performance. I liked the way he allowed play develop and then went back to penalise players for messing off the ball.

Scorers: Tyrone - E. Mulligan 0-5 (0-2 frees); S. O’Neill 0-4 (0-2 frees); B. McGuigan 1-0; S. Cavanagh 0-3; P. Jordan, P. Canavan, B. Dooher and S. Sweeney 0-1 each. Galway: P. Joyce 0-4 (0-3 frees); M. Donnellan 0-2 (0-1 free); T. Meehan, D. Savage, J. Devane, S. O Domhnaill and T. Joyce 0-1 each.

TYRONE: P. McConnell; R. McMenamin, C. Gormley, G. Gourley; J. McMahon, S. Sweeney, P. Jordan; K. Hughes, S. Cavanagh; B. Dooher (capt.), B. McGuigan, G. Cavlan; M. Coleman; O. Mulligan, S. O’Neill.

Subs: P. Canavan for Coleman (55th minute); L. Meenan for Mulligan (injured, 69th); B. Collins for Dooher (70th).

GALWAY: B. O’Donoghue; K. Fitzgerald, G. Fahey, T. Meehan; D. Burke, P. Clancy, D. Meehan (capt.); J. Bergin, S. O Domhnaill; M. Meehan, M. Donnellan, M. Clancy; D. Savage, P. Joyce, J. Devane.

Subs: T. Joyce for M. Clancy (injured, 30th minute); N. Meehan for M. Meehan (58th); N. Joyce for Savage and D. Mullahy for Bergin (67th).

Referee: M. Monahan (Kildare).

Attendance: 28,712.