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Saturday, 13 March 2010

Tyrone get first league win

Cork’s Paudie Kissane with Tyrone’s Colm Cavanagh

Sean Cavanagh made his eagerly awaited return to Tyrone colours in Saturday's epic National League Division One win over Cork at Healy Park which ended a three game losing run for Mickey Harte's side.

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Highlights: Tyrone v Cork
'Tough encounter' - Harte

Tyrone 3-9 0-16 Cork

The former GAA player of the year was introduced as a second half sub after returning to the squad following a seven month lay-off with an ankle injury.

Cavanagh's last game had been in the All Ireland semi-final defeat by Cork last year.

But it was his younger brother Colm who grabbed the limelight with a spectacular first half goal which signalled Tyrone's revival after Cork had threatened to condemn the Red Hands to a fourth successive defeat in the competition.

Cavanagh junior scored the opening goal of the night with a superb long range effort which flew into the roof of the net.

"The lads were determined to stay in Division One and it showed out there tonight although there were some heart stopping moments in a game which had a lot of twists and turns," said Harte afterwards.

Tyrone made the better start and they led 0-4 to 0-1 after 13 minutes before the Rebels hit a purple patch as they punished some slack defensive play.

Cork hit eight unanswered points to lead 0-9 to 0-4 after 33 minutes but Cavanagh then scored his wonder goal 60 seconds later which was quickly followed by a second from Tommy McGuigan.

He pounced on the rebound after his first effort had been blocked as Tyrone went into the break with a psychological advantage and a 2-5 to 0-9 lead.

The tables were turned again though as the visitors, who went into the game on the back of three consecutive wins, responded by hitting the first five points of the second half.

But a Sean O'Neill point - an exquisite 40 yard effort - and two excellent scores from Davy Harte and Owen Mulligan enabled Tyrone to draw level by the 52nd minute.

John Hayes and Dan Goulding replied to put Cork two points up going into the final 10 minutes of an absorbing contest.

But within a minute Ryan Mellon hit Tyrone's third goal after great work by the impressive Aidan Cassidy whose first attempt had been saved by the Cork keeper.

Martin Penrose added the insurance point from a free although Cork finished the game strongly despite having Donncha O'Connor sent off for an off the ball incident in stoppage time.