TYRONE TALISMAN CAVANAGH IS IDEAL MAN TO HALT FENTON
COLM CAVANAGH is one of the key reasons Tyrone have managed to reach an All-Ireland final for the first time in ten years.
His miraculous, clinical tackling and on-field leadership helped deny Monaghan in those closing minutes of their semi-final meeting, and perfectly illustrated how much he was missed in the second half of the Ulster quarterfinal between the same two sides, when Malachy O’Rourke’s men hit them for the match-winning scores late on in Healy Park.
And yet, his biggest challenge awaits next Sunday if, as expected, Mickey Harte hands Cavanagh the task of curtailing Brian Fenton’s influence in the All-Ireland final.
Fenton has been the country’s number one midfielder since making his debut for Dublin back in 2015. He is the Rolls-Royce of the middle third — supreme in the air, capable of ghosting forward for crucial scores, being the outlet for Dublin defenders at all times and running off the shoulder when needed.
He has the full toolbox when it comes to skills and ability, but equally important is his mental strength. He is never ruffled, he never panics and is always able to think on his feet.
Much of that mental strength comes from the fact that the 25year-old has yet to taste defeat in Championship football with Dublin. The Raheny man hadn’t arrived on the inter-county scene when Dublin lost to Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final. That is some record for a player who never made a minor panel for Dublin, and a tribute to Jim Gavin for the way he has nurtured and developed his midfielder.
Fenton’s role has been overshadowed at times by the spectacular parts played by the other stars in his team, such as Ciarán Kilkenny, Cian O’Sullivan, Jack McCaffrey et al. But that doesn’t seem to bother Fenton at all.
After Cavanagh’s masterful display against Monaghan — when he played the Fenton-type role for Harte — we now have the immovable object coming up against the unstoppable force next Sunday in Croke Park, as Cavanagh and Fenton go head to head.
If either of these two win that battle decisively, it will probably determine the destination of Sam Maguire and even the Player of the Year accolade. The stakes are that high.
It has been a rollercoaster year for Cavanagh so far. Because of his quad injury and lack of football in the lead-up to the Ulster opener against Monaghan, it was surprising that he played at all. Then it became a talking point when he was substituted at halftime, and this debate was led by his own brother, Sean. It would all have been to the annoyance of Mickey Harte, no doubt.
However, Colm’s role as Tyrone’s leader and playmaker has been crucial as they negotiated the All Ireland qualifiers’ scenic route, surviving by the skin of their teeth on a few occasions, particularly against Meath in Navan after extra-time. He was also to the fore when the Red Hands came from behind against Donegal in the crucial last round of the Super 8s in Ballybofey, where they overturned Donegal’s unbeaten record against Tyrone which had lasted since 1973 at that venue.
Cavanagh walked a tightrope in that encounter, when he was first booked following a tackle on Odhrán Mac Niallais in the second half, and then escaped ultimate sanction when he caught Ryan McHugh with a high challenge shortly afterwards.
If referee Joe McQuillan had made a different call on the latter, Monaghan could be the Ulster side plotting to take down the Dubs tomorrow week. That’s how important Cavanagh is to Tyrone’s cause. He, like all of Tyrone’s key men, will need to ensure that indiscipline is not an issue against the All-Ireland champions.
Cavanagh also stated during the SPORTSFILE week that, based on their past encounters with Gavin’s men, certain tweaks are needed if Dublin are to be overturned on this occasion. His role, no doubt, will be central to that tweaking. When the two teams met a few weeks ago in the Super 8s, it was a much improved performance from the Ulster side — particularly when held up against the flat All-Ireland semi-final defeat in last year’s Championship — but, ultimately, they came up short again.
Fenton was involved in the match-winning score — James McCarthy’s decisive goal at the end of the first half. Can his influence be curtailed sufficiently to tilt the balance? Next Sunday will provide the answer.
The reality is that despite all Cavanagh’s heroics up to this point, his legacy and Tyrone’s fate are dependent on his battle with Fenton next week.
We wait with bated breath.
Fenton is the Rolls-Royce of midfield