Tyrone 0-16

Cavan 3-7

The 2016 Ulster SFC finally came alive at a rain-soaked Clones today when David Givney's injury-time goal earned Cavan a replay with Tyrone.

This was just what the Ulster championship needed after an unusually high number of one-sided games to date. Making light of their underdogs' tag, Cavan took a riveting provincial semi-final to Mickey Harte's men early on to lead by 2-3 to 0-8 at half-time. Tyrone fought back to lead by three points with the 70 minutes elapsed, but the Breffnimen refused to yield and their bravery was rewarded when corner forward Givney rose highest to fist home the equalising goal from sub Ciaran Brady's centre in the 72^nd minute.

Tyrone had two late chances to win it, but as was the case 11 years ago, a replay will be needed to separate the teams. The replay has been confirmed for Clones on Sunday, July 3.

After the throw-in was delayed by 10 minutes due to extra-time in the minor game between Derry and Armagh, Cavan took the early initiative and made a dream start when David Givney scored a fifth-minute goal. Martin Reilly cut through the Tyrone defence, only for goalkeeper Michael O'Neill to block his shot. However, the ball broke to Givney who executed a lovely pick-up before firing through a sea of bodies and into the net.

Fergal Flanagan followed up with a fine point to make it 1-1 to 0-0 as Terry Hyland's men threw down the gauntlet to the favourites. Tyrone eventually opened their account in the eighth minute when Cathal McShane split the posts after a patient build-up. Connor McAliskey was also on target before Cavan restored their four-point advantage thanks to long-range efforts from Tomas Corr (via the inside of the post) and the ever-industrious Cian Mackey.

However, Tyrone started to get a foothold on the game at the start of the second quarter and between the 18^th and 34^th minutes, reeled off six unanswered points to move into a 0-8 to 1-3 lead. The scoring sequence began with Ronan O'Neill capitalising on a misplaced pass out of defence by Conor Moynagh to slot over. The Omagh sharpshooter added two more points from frees before Peter Harte showed great perseverance to kick a brilliant equalising point in the 29^th minute.

A wonderful team move culminated in Colm Cavanagh giving the Red Hands the lead for the first time three minutes later before O'Neill held off Fergal Flanagan to land his fourth point.

Having gone 23 minutes without a score and racked up seven wides, Cavan got their noses back in front on the stroke of half-time thanks to a second goal. Goalkeeper Raymond Galligan launched a huge free into the Tyrone goalmouth which broke kindly to Conor Moynagh who stuck out a leg and squeezed the ball in at the near post.

There was some confusion over whether Colm Cavanagh had managed to stop the ball from crossing the line, but TV replays showed that referee David Gough was correct in awarding the goal after consulting with his umpires.

Points from Richard and Mattie Donnelly had Tyrone back in front shortly after the restart, but Cavan then enjoyed a dominant spell that yielded four points in-a-row from Seanie Johnston (free), Galligan ('45'), wing back Niall Murray and the pacey Dara McVitty to lead by 2-7 to 0-10 after 49 minutes.

Never ones to panic, Tyrone wrested back control by grabbing the next six points which looked like put them through to the final. Scores from O'Neill, Sean Cavanagh and McAliskey had them back on level terms by the 56^th minute. A minute later, centre back Niall Sludden came through the middle to slot over his first ever championship point and edge the favourites into a 0-14 to 2-7 lead.

The Red Hands were purring now as further scores from Mattie Donnelly and sub Darren McCurry ('45') put them three up after Raymond Galligan had denied another sub, Padraig McNulty, with a brilliant save.

But Cavan weren't finished as Brady fisted across the goalmouth for Givney to flick home his second goal. Amid unbearable tension, Niall Sludden's late point attempt at the other end was deflected out for a '45' which McCurry sent wide to the relief of the blue and white hordes.

Roll on the replay…

Tyrone - M O'Neill; A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, N Sludden (0-1), P Harte (0-1); C Cavanagh (0-1), M Donnelly (0-2); C McShane (0-1), M Bradley, R Donnelly (0-1); C McAliskey (0-2), S Cavanagh (0-1), R O'Neill (0-5, 3f). Subs: R Brennan for M Bradley, C Meyler for C McShane, D McCurry (0-1'45) for R Donnelly, P McNulty for C McAliskey.

Cavan - R Galligan (0-1'45); K Brady, K Clarke, R Dunne; F Flanagan (0-1), C Moynagh (1-0), N Murray (0-1); T Corr (0-1), J McEnroe; D McVeety (0-1), G McKiernan, M Reilly; D Givney (2-0), C Mackey (0-1), S Johnston (0-1f). Subs: E Keating for S Johnston, C Brady for K Brady, P Faulkner for K Clarke, J Brady for C Moynagh, G Smith for J McEnroe.

Referee - D Gough.

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