BREFFNI KO'D BUT LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

Red Hands top group as Cavan finish third & hit road next week

- PADDY TIERNEY

TYRONE returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 13-point defeat of Cavan to top Group One and progress to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.

The Breffnimen have the consolation of a place in the preliminary quarter-finals after Donegal’s last-gasp win over Mayo in Dr Hyde Park.

The group was finely poised ahead of yesterday's final round of games with all four teams locked on two points after two games.

Tyrone were handed a boost before throw-in with their skipper Brian Kennedy passed fit to start in place of Ben McDonnell while All-Ireland winning captain Padraig Hampsey was drafted in for Mark Bradley.

However, Tyrone lost another of their most influential players just four minutes into the contest with Michael McKernan forced off with a shoulder injury (bottom right).