BBC SPORT | Northern Ireland | The Championship (original) (raw)
Gerard Cavlan hit Tyrone's match-winning score at Clones
Gerard Cavlan's injury-time point helped Tyrone squeeze past Fermanagh in the Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC clash.
Mark Murphy's stunning goal gave Fermanagh an early lead but three Tommy McGuigan points helped Tyrone fight back to lead 0-6 to 1-2 at half-time.
Tyrone then forged a 0-11 to 1-5 lead with 15 minutes left only for Fermanagh to reply with the next three scores.
The Red Hands went ahead again before Tom Brewster levelled but Cavlan's huge injury-time free settled the outcome.
Tyrone, beset by injury problems in the run-up to the game, made a further change to their line-up before the throw-in with prospective debutant Justin McMahon replaced by experienced man Philip Jordan.
Tommy McGuigan fired over the opening score of the match after 13 seconds but the Ernemen replied in dramatic fashion four minutes later when Murphy hammered in a glorious goal from 20 yards.
By the 15th minute, Fermanagh had increased their lead to three points (1-2 to 0-2) and it could have been even bigger as Martin McGrath had seen a great goal chance saved by John Devine while Ciaran O'Reilly had missed a straight forward free.
Tyrone punished the misses by registering four unanswered scores before the break as the Ernemen began to struggle.
Sean Cavanagh was dominating in midfield and he helped himself to a point during this period while Tommy McGuigan brought up his first-half tally to three.
Tyrone could have been further ahead at the break as Niall Gormley's fisted effort skimmed over the crossbar in injury-time after Sean Cavanagh's pass.
Fermanagh's Martin McGrath looks dejected after the game
Seven minutes of injury-time were necessary after Colm Cavanagh had sustained a worrying injury in the neck and shoulder region which caused play to be held up.
The Red Hands also started the second half without Ryan McMenamin who had been replaced by Damien McCaul moments before the interval.
Tyrone boss Mickey Harte had apparently judged that McMenamin was in danger of being sent off after getting a yellow card and another tick.
Fermanagh regrouped after the break and points from Ciaran O'Reilly and Mark Murphy edged the Ernemen ahead again by the 42nd minute.
However, Tyrone hit back by notching five of the next six scores to take a three-point lead by the 55th minute.
At that stage, Tyrone looked set for a comfortable win but to their immense credit, Fermanagh fought back to hit the next three scores.
Ciaran O'Reilly's levelling free from 35 yards had a degree of controversy with Philip Jordan adjudged to have handled on the ground and then seeing the ball brought forward after his protests.
There was Erne anger at the other end moments later when substitute Owen Mulligan won a free which Niall Gormley pointed for his fourth score.
But the sides were level again in the first minute of injury-time when Tom Brewster slotted a high-pressure free.
At that stage, a replay looked on the cards but in the remaining minute of action, Gormley earned a free and Cavlan stroked the ball over the bar with the outside of his right boot from some 55 metres.
Tyrone: J Devine; R McMenamin, C McGinley, D Carlin; D Harte 0-1 , C Gormley , P Jordan; K Hughes 0-1 , S Cavanagh 0-1; B Dooher , T McGuigan 0-3 , R Mellon 0-1 ; N Gormley 0-4 , C Cavanagh, C McCullagh.
Subs: G Cavlan 0-2 for C Cavanagh, D McCaul for McMenamin , O Mulligan for McCullagh, E McGinley.
Fermanagh: C Breen; N Bogue, S McDermott, S Goan; S Lyons, B Owens, T McElroy; T Brewster 0-2, M Murphy 1-1; M Little 0-1, C O'Reilly 0-5, C McElroy; C Bradley, M McGrath, E Maguire.
Subs: S Doherty for Bradley.