Tyrone 0-10

Cavan 0-8

Mickey Harte's 100th league game in charge of Tyrone yielded a narrow victory over Cavan at a rain-soaked Healy Park.

The favourites for promotion from Division 2 needed late points from Conor McAliskey and full back Justin McMahon to wear down their Ulster rivals in front of a crowd of 5,100. In a poor game, there was little to choose between the sides until the Red Hands found an extra gear when they needed to.

Late call-up Mark Bradley and Niall McDermott (free) traded early points before Martin Reilly nailed a '45' to give the visitor the lead. McAliskey levelled and two Lee Brennan points had the hosts 0-5 to 0-3 in front before late points from Reilly and Gearoid McKiernan ensured Cavan of parity at the break.

McKiernan edged the Breffnimen back in front on the resumption, but then Tyrone hit three-in-a-row per Mattie Donnelly, Brennan and substitute Darren McCurry to move into a 0-8 to 0-6 lead. A Cian Mackey free had the margin down to the minimum again before McMahon found the range and another from McAliskey made it 0-10 0-7.

Killian Clarke got one back for Cavan late on, but the home side weren't to be denied in dreadful conditions.

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

Cavan - R Galligan; P Faulkner, K Clarke (0-1), K Brady; C Brady, C Moynagh, F Flanagan; D Givney, G McKiernan (0-2, 1f); M Reilly (0-2, 1'45), N McDermott (0-1f), D McVeety; C Mackey (0-1), E Keating (0-1), J Brady. Subs: P O'Connor for N McDermott, E Henry for J Brady, S Johnston for E Keating, M Argue for D Givney, B Sankey for K Brady.

Referee - D Coldrick.

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