Tyrone produced a comprehensive victory over Cavan, driven by a rejuvenated Conn Kilpatrick and effective pressure on opposition kickouts, even as concerns about their own restart consistency and key absences remain.
Tyrone left Healy Park with a 2-23 to 1-14 win over Cavan — a game that felt like two stories in one: encouraging attacking form for the visitors, but nagging weaknesses that still need fixing.
What worked
– Conn Kilpatrick reasserted himself.
Running through the middle, winning aerials and hitting scores, he changed Tyrone’s tempo and relieved pressure on the other forwards. When Kilpatrick found space, Tyrone looked quicker and more direct.
– The forwards converted chances. Darragh Canavan finished as Tyrone’s top scorer, and Mattie Donnelly’s composed goal just before half-time helped swing the momentum.
– Bench contributions mattered. Substitutes added fresh legs and tactical edge in the second half — Ethan Jordan and Michael McKernan helped steady the middle, while late introductions like Eoin McElholm and Ben Cullen kept the pressure on Cavan.
Turning points
Cavan opened strongly: Tiarnan Madden’s early goal stunned the home crowd and showed Cavan could threaten.
But Tyrone’s two goals before half-time, the second a well-worked move finished by Donnelly, gave them the breathing space they needed. After the break Tyrone controlled territory, turned pressure on Cavan kickouts into scores and extended their lead.
Where both sides struggled
Kickouts were the defining chess match all afternoon. Tyrone won several crucial restarts and forced turnovers, but their own kickout management was patchy — Niall Morgan miscued a few deliveries and the absence of an organiser in midfield nudged Tyrone into longer, more contestable restarts. Cavan, for their part, produced promising spells but couldn’t sustain pressure inside Tyrone’s scoring zone, and missing personnel from last season’s panel left holes in continuity and ball supply.
Notable individual contributions
– Conn Kilpatrick: reclaimed form with influential runs, strong aerial work and accurate finishes — a key reason Tyrone dominated midfield.
– Darragh Canavan: translated possession into points and finished as top scorer for the winners.
– Brian Kennedy: provided physical presence and disrupted Cavan’s rotations.
– Paddy Lynch (Cavan): introduced in the second half and netted 0-5, including a superb angled point that tightened the contest briefly.
Tactical lessons
– Restart strategy: Both teams must tidy their kickout structure. Clean restarts produced sharp transitions; errant ones handed the opposition easy routes into attack. Expect coaches to revisit receiver positioning and shorter, safer distribution options.
– Midfield balance: Tyrone’s performance improved when Kilpatrick had license to drive through the centre. Without Kieran McGeary available, Tyrone resorted to longer kickouts at times, inviting more contestable situations.
– Use of the bench: Substitutions were decisive in shaping the closing stages. Managers leaned on their squads to protect leads and tilt midfield battles.
What comes next
Tyrone leave with a healthy scoring return and clear positives to build on, particularly if Kilpatrick keeps this form. But the restart inconsistency needs addressing before tougher fixtures arrive. Cavan showed fighting spirit late and attacking promise from their substitutes, yet they must rebuild continuity and squad depth to turn regained possession into points more regularly.
Coaching staffs from both sides will be reworking restart routines, drill cover plans for absences and prioritising transitional possession in training. Fitness checks and selection decisions over the coming days will determine how each team responds — and our reporters at Healy Park will be watching those developments closely.
