Mickey Harte says the introduction of Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly and Colm Cavanagh at half-time was key to Tyrone's McKenna Cup final victory over Cavan.

All three subs made big impacts as the Red Hands turned a four-point deficit into a six-point win at the Athletic Grounds.

"There was a lot more energy going into our tackling higher up the field, but then again, there was some good intervention at the back," the Tyrone manager told the Irish News.

"Mattie Donnelly was very good when he went in there, both with his physical presence and the blocks he put in, and the power that he came out with.

"And Justy (McMahon) became very much a better player in the second half. Cathal McCarron had a good game, Ronan McNabb. I could name a number of people who really excelled in the second half in their defensive duties, and carried the game out to other men, who then made more use of it than we were maybe doing in the first half."

Harte was especially pleased with the progress of newcomer Paudie McNulty.

"Paudie had a good McKenna Cup and a good first season with Tyrone seniors. He is playing very well and long may it continue. He's an improving player, every day he goes out you see something else about his skills that you hadn't seen before," he added.

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