Cavanagh explains semi-final absence

SEÁN CAVANAGH has rubbished suggestions that the pressures of being Footballer of the Year caused him to withdraw from the Tyrone team on the morning of their All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.

The Moy clubman revealed he did not get “a single minute” of sleep the night before the game due to a ‘flu that left him “zombified”.

He informed manager Mickey Harte of his illness in the morning but says their meeting concluded without any decision being made on whether he would start the game or not.