Jake Brady, Cavan, and Peter Colton, Tyrone, in Electric Ireland Ulster MFC Final action. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Ulster MFC Final
Tyrone 2-11 (2-0-11) Cavan 1-8 (1-2-4)
By Francis Mooney at Brewster Park, Enniskillen
Tyrone grabbed two second half goals to get the better of Cavan and claim a first Ulster MFC title since 2022 at Brewster Park, Enniskillen.
Cathal Farley and Joel Kerr both hit the net as they came from behind to see off a Breffni side that had recovered from a slow start to lead at the interval.
The Red Hands made a flying start as they raced into a four points lead in the opening five minutes, with James Mulgrew, Thomas Meenan, Peter Colton and Eoin Long all firing over scores.
Once Cavan began to settle, they gave notice of the attacking threat they possessed, creating a goal chance for Mark Reilly, who latched on to a Nathan Quigley assist only to be denied by ‘keeper Ronan Donnelly.
They got off the mark through Faolan Graham, with Jake Brady also on target, but Tyrone held a four points lead going into the second quarter.
Despite struggling to retain possession off their own kick-out, Cavan were able to force turnovers to attack on the breakaway, and two-pointers from John Donohue and Graham had them level by the 24th minute.
Midfielder Mulgrew charged through to nudge Tyrone back in front, but a stoppage time goal from Quigley, finished low to the net off Mark Reilly’s pass, sent Cavan in with a 1-7 to 0-8 interval lead.
But the Red Hands went back in front seven minutes into the second half, Joel Kerr sending Cathal Farley in to finish low past Cian McConnell.
And they struck another major blow on 49 minutes when Joel Kerr collected Aodhan Quinn’s return pass to rifle home his side’s second goal.
Playing with the wind, Tyrone struggled to break down a well organised Cavan defence, and didn’t score their first point of the half until three minutes from the end, Long converting a free.
They needed a couple of vital turnovers from corner back Ciaran McCrystal to avert dangerous Cavan raids, conceding just a point after the break as they repeatedly frustrated the Blues.
The Red Hands capped a dogged display with a couple of late scores from Kerr to claim a 26th provincial title.
Scorers for Tyrone: J Kerr 1-2, C Farley 1-0, E Long 0-3 (2fs), J Mulgrew, P Colton 0-2 each, P Donaghy, T Meenan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cavan: N Quigley 1-3 (2fs), F Graham (tpf), J Donohue (tp) 0-2 each, J Brady 0-1.
Tyrone: R Donnelly; E Kerr, P Goodman, C McCrystal; A Quinn, J Daly, T Meenan; J Mulgrew, P Donaghy; D McAnespie, P Colton, C Farley; J Kerr, E Long, P Garrity.
Subs: V Gormley for Garrity (45), M Daly for Farley (48), M Mullin for Meenan (55), P McDonald for McAnespie (61), M Kennedy for Long (63).
Cavan: C McConnell; D Brady, S Brady, A Smart; M Smith, H McMullen, J Donohue; S Maguire, F Graham; M Reilly, J Brady, C Smith; D Lynch, N Quigley, M Duffy.
Subs: D Brouder for Duffy (10), J Graham for Reilly (39), S Smith for Donohue (39), K Henry for C Smith (47), C Brough for S Brady (49).
Referee: C Roberts (Antrim).
