Canavan strikes late to rescue draw for Gerry Moane's Tyrone on their visit to Cavan

Cavan 0-13
Tyrone 0-4

From Aideen Coyle at Terry Coyle Park 

A new look Cavan team took on reigning TG4 All Ireland Intermediate champions Tyrone in difficult weather conditions in the opening game of the division 2 LIDL National league.

Cavan were slow to start and the travelling side capitalised on this registering an unanswered 1-1 within the first 12 minutes.

Cavan got off to the worst possible start as within 2 minutes they were down to 14 players after Andrea O’Reilly was shown a yellow card for what was deemed a high tackle. Tyrone registered their first point in the 4th minute through corner forward Maria Canavan. Ashling Sheridan had an opportunity to score a goal in the 7th minute but shot wide. Tyrone then had their own goal opportunity in the 10th minute when midfielder Emma Jane Gervin ran through the Cavan defense but fortunately for Cavan shot low and wide. However it didn’t take Gervin long to make up for this miss when she found herself in front of goal again and set up full forward Niamh O’Neill who raised her first green flag of the day.

 

With O’Reilly back on the field she registered Cavan’s first point of the game from a free in the 15th minute. Cavan began to find their feet and added a further 3 points to the board without reply. Another free from O’Reilly, one from Donna English and the first of the game for Aishling Sheridan. Having taken control of the game Cavan were shocked when Meabh Mallon found herself unmarked in the Cavan danger area and hit the net for the second goal of the game.

 

Andrea O’Reilly hit her 3rd free of the game in the 29th minute before Aishling Sheridan registered another point and the final score of the half leaving Tyrone with a one point advantage at the break. Half time score Cavan 0:06 to 2:01

 

It was all to play for in the second half and it was the home side who got of to the quickest starts with Andrea O’Reilly scoring 3 unanswered frees within a minute of play scoring the first in the fourth minute. Cavan pressed the Tyrone kick out forcing goalkeeper Shannon Lynch to kick the ball short and O’Reilly slotted over the subsequent free. Debutant Shanise Fitzsimons who worked tirelessly throughout the game won a vital free for Cavan and O’Reilly made no mistake again raising a white flag. In the 8th minute Fitzsimons drove at Tyrone again and won another free for O’Reilly to put over the bar.

 

Tyrone needed a quick response and they found one through full forward Niamh O’Neill who showed her strength and quick burst of pace winning the ball at the Cavan 45 with a goal on her mind. O’Neill forced a save from Evelyn Baugh in goal however the rebound landed favorable into her hands and she made no mistake registering her second goal of the game.

 

In the 12th minute Sinead McGovern found herself in loads of room on the edge of the Tyrone box. A long ball over the Tyrone defense found the Templeport girl who palmed the ball wide. Cavan again found themselves on top of the Tyrone defense with Ciara Finnegan slotting over for her first point of the game in the 13 minute. O’Reilly who was superb on the dead ball all day for Cavan scored another free in the 17th minute. Cavan had plenty of the possession and put plenty of pressure on the Tyrone defense throughout. This pressure reaped it’s rewards in the 23rd minute when Ashling Sheridan intercepted a ball out at the sideline and drove at the Tyrone defense and opted to fist the ball over the bar to put Cavan 3 points ahead.

 

The Tyrone players never gave up and began to pile the pressure on Cavan who began to drop deep in their half. Canavan scored a free in the 26th minute to leave the gap to 2 and had another chance to reduce the margin in the 30th minute but shot wide. Niamh Hughes reduced the gap to 1 point and in the 35th minute Tyrone were awarded a controversial free with Canavan making no mistake this time and took the teams level. This was to be the last action of the game with the teams sharing the points. Full time score Cavan 0:13 to Tyrone 3:04.

 

Next up for Cavan is an away match to Armagh next Sunday 10th at 2pm venue TBC. Armagh will be looking for their second win of the campaign after recording a comfortable win over Laois. However Cavan will have revenge on their minds following last years Ulster championship loss to Armagh. This is going to be a cracker of a game.

 

Cavan scorers: Andrea O’Reilly 0:08 (8f). Ashling Sheridan 0:03. Donna English 0:01. Ciara Finnegan 0:01

 

Tyrone scorers: Niamh O’Neill 2:00. Maria Canavan 0:03. Meabh Mallan 1:00. Niamh Hughes 0:01.

 

Cavan team: Evelyn Baugh (Lurgan), Kate McIntyre (St. Finbarrs), Laura Fitzpatrick (St. Finbarrs), Sheila Reilly (Mullahoran), Sinead Greene Capt. (Templeport), Shauna Lynch (Crosserlough), Neasa Byrd (Crosserlough), Mona Sheridan (Mullahoran), Donna English (Arva/Killeshandra), Ciara Finnegan (Crosserlough), Ashling Sheridan (Mullahoran), Shanise Fitzsimons (Castlerahan/Denn), Andrea O’Reilly (Baileiboro), Geraldine Sheridan (Mullahoran), Sinead McGovern (Templeport).

 

Subs used: Aggie Clarke Cullivan for McGovern (2nd half 16), Michaela Fitzpatrick for G. Sheridan (2nd half 28).

 

Tyrone: Shannon Lynch, Aileen Tuohy, Christine Hunter, Aimee Daly, Caoileann Conway, Neamh Woods, Emma Brennan, Emma Jane Gervin, Aoibheann McHugh, Niamh Hughes, Colleen McQuaid, Meabh Mallan, Maria Canavan, Niamh O’Neill, Emma Smyth.

 

Referee: Paul Burke, Louth