Sean Cavanagh says the one-on-one battle between Tyrone's Darragh Canavan and Cork's Daniel O'Mahony 'was worth the watch alone' on Saturday in Tullamore.
Canavan ultimately won out kicking 0-5 (0-1f) in Tyrone's 1-18 to 0-17 triumph but both players had their moments in an entertaining affair where Chris Óg Jones' black card was decisive.
The victory helped Tyrone finish ahead of Cork in second place in the group, guaranteeing them a home tie in their preliminary quarter final next weekend while Cork will be on the road.
The draw for those games will take place on Monday morning.
As he described the battle between O'Mahony and Canavan on The Saturday Game, Cavanagh hailed the Cork man as 'one of the best full backs in the game.'
"In a world where you've football review committees looking to bring back (one-to-one) contests and battles," said Cavanagh, "these two guys went at it all day."
15 June 2024; Darragh Canavan of Tyrone in action against Daniel O' Mahony of Cork. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Cavanagh said that Cork's 'man-to-man' nature of defending lent to the battle, as the pair were regularly isolated inside.
"Tyrone had ten different scorers, it was a brilliant attacking performance, probably allowing for the man-to-man nature that Cork back themselves with.
Niall Morgan was another who impressed for Tyrone as did goalscorer Ben Cullen but Canavan was again the focal point and the main man, despite O'Mahony's gallant efforts.
"You've two of the best players...This battle went on all day," said Cavanagh.
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"As the game went on, Darragh came onto it. He started to turn the screw as it went into the melting pot, and finished with five points.
"But O'Mahony finished with four turn-overs in the first half. It's one of these ones, these two guys are tearing strips off one another, both having good games. Ultimately, Darragh probably won out in the end...just about," he concluded.
20 April 2024; Daniel O'Mahony of Cork arrives before the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Kerry and Cork at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Cavanagh said that Tyrone's ability to curtail Cork's runners from deep was a key factor in the victory while acknowledging that the black card picked up by Chris Óg Jones also played its part. Tyrone outscored their opponents by four points in the third quarter period where he was off the field.
Conn Kilpatrick was sent off for Tyrone with seven minutes to play but they absorbed that blow and kicked on.
"The other big point about the game was Tyrone nullifying Cork's runners from deep," said the 2008 Footballer of the year.
"Cork got half their scores from their midfield and defence against Donegal.
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"Tyrone took that out of the equation, Cork got no scores from deep at all.
"When you take that goalscoring threat from deep off Cork, you take a lot away from their game."
