Supersub Cavlan takes win for Tyrone

Tyrone 0-13 Fermanagh 1-9

Gerard Cavlan came off the bench to rescue Tyrone with a stoppage time free at Clones today.

A scrappy clash with Fermanagh had looked as if it was destined to go to a replay, but it is the Red Hands who go through to meet Donegal or Armagh, while the Lakelanders must wait seven weeks before they get back into action in the qualifiers.

Fermanagh stunned Tyrone with a fourth-minute goal, blasted to the roof of the net by midfielder Mark Murphy.

Newcomer Tommy McGuigan hit a couple of Tyrone scores, but by the midway stage of the first half, Fermanagh they led by 1-2 to 0-2.

Sean Cavanagh’s direct style was causing problems, and he inspired his colleague with a typical surging point.

McGuigan, after scoring his third, started the move that set up a golden goal chance, but Niall Gormley palmed Cavanagh’s cross over the bar with the net at his mercy.

Despite a wasteful half which saw them shoot nine wides, Tyrone led by 0-6 to 1-2 at the break, and while they fell two points behind to scores from O’Reilly and Murphy early in the second period, it was soon clear that the creativity and vision of Gerard Cavlan would play a big part.

He was at the centre of virtually all the moves which saw the Hands claw their way back to go three ahead by the 56th minute.

Niall Gormley squeezed a couple of gems over from tight angles, but Fermanagh were far from finished.

They showed great character to win the frees which O’Reilly and Brewster converted to bring the sides level for the fifth time in the final minute and set up a gripping finish.

But it was the experienced Cavlan who held his nerve to slice a 45 metre free sweetly between the posts deep into stoppage time and break Erne hearts.

Tyrone: J Devine, R McMenamin, C McGinley, D Carlin, D Harte (0-1), C Gormley, P Jordan, K Hughes (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-1), B Dooher, T McGuigan (0-3), R Mellon (0-1), N Gormley (0-4, 1 free), C Cavanagh, C McCullagh.

Subs: G Cavlan (0-2, 2 frees) for C Cavanagh, D McCaul for McMenamin, O Mulligan for McCullagh, E McGinley for Mellon.

Fermanagh: C Breen, S Goan, B Owens, N Bogue, S Lyons, S McDermott, T McElroy, M McGrath, M Murphy (1-1), M Little (0-1), T Brewster (0-2, 2 frees), E Maguire, C McElroy, C O’Reilly (0-5, 4 frees, 1 ‘45’), C Bradley.

Subs: S Doherty for Bradley.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo)