GAA: Tohill crucial to Derry success

Derry 1-14 Cavan 2-7

Anthony Tohill rediscovered his legendary hunger to inspire Derry to a place in the All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals at Clones.

Tohill laid on a midfield master-class, hitting a goal and three points as the Oak Leaf side breezed through their Round Four Qualifer.

On a day when Derry re-emerged as genuine All-Ireland contenders, they had

immense contributions from defenders Ciaran McNally and Gareth Doherty, as

well as the versatile Paul McFlynn, who excelled first in attack, and later in a defensive role.

Derry got off to a flyer, racing into a six points lead with scores from Anthony Tohill, Johnny McBride, Gary Coleman, Enda Muldoon, Paul McFlynn and Gavin Diamond.

Dermot McCabe got Cavan off the mark in the 22nd minute, and four minutes

later Paul Galligan sent centre back Anthony Forde through for a superb goal.

Converted defender McFlynn continued to impress up front with his second point, but when Finbar O'Reilly hit the target at the other end, Cavan were still just two points adrift.

Anthony Tohill powered through the middle for a trademark score to give Derry

a 0-8 to 1-2 interval advantage.

They stretched the lead to six points within 20 seconds of the restart when Tohill danced through for a wonderful solo goal.

Cavan responded with a three-point salvo, Finbar O'Reilly (2) and Peter Reilly converting frees, but Derry were just getting into their stride, Paddy Bradley scoring twice and the imposing Tohill adding to his tally from a free.

And McFlynn, despite having moved back to his normal defensive role, managed to press forward for his third point of the contest.

Cavan hit back for Peter Reilly to flick home a goal four minutes from the end, but they were never going to break Derry's overall dominance.