Cavan stun holders Tyrone in Ulster U20FC opener

March 26, 2026

Cavan's Ben Tully ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Cavan got their Ulster U20 football championship campaign off to a flying start by edging out holders Tyrone on a 1-14 to 0-15 scoreline at Kingspan Breffni on Wednesday night.

After having fallen 0-6 to 0-3 behind, the Breffni lads drew level with a Shane McCabe goal in the 24th minute and backed it up with a Jack Dobson two-pointer to go on and lead by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break.

The superb Shane McDermott sailed over a two-point free for the Red Hands six minutes into the restart, but it’d be cancelled out by Cavan ‘keeper Cian McConnell and two points apiece from McCabe and Nathan Quigley proved huge for the hosts as they held on for an excellent opening win over the All-Ireland champions.

In Castleblayney, Donegal recorded a 1-9 to 0-8 win against Monaghan to get off to a winning start in their pursuit of the Irish News Cup.

Kevin Muldoon struck an early 1-2 for the visitors that helped them go on and lead by 1-3 to 0-4 at the half and senior star Finbarr Roarty would put a goal between the sides two minutes into the restart.

Tom Doherty (free) and Sean O’Connell pulled back scores for Monaghan, but the Tir Chonaill response would see a Thomas Lenehan free backed up by Kalvin McLaughlin’s two-pointer as they went on to record a four-point victory.

Meanwhile, Armagh saw off Down by 0-19 to 1-12 in Newry, where Eoin Duffy and Liam McGeary combined for 0-9 of the visitors’ tally, while goals from Mattie McDermott and Daire Chapman helped Fermanagh to a 2-11 to 2-7 win against Antrim in Tempo.


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