Cavan 1-10 Tipperary 0-5: Five first-half points from corner forward Sean Johnston and a well taken goal by full forward Jason Reilly set up Cavan for a deserved victory over Tipperary in this one-sided game at Ardfinnan yesterday.

Tipperary had no answer to Cavan's whirlwind start and when Johnston and left wing forward Sean Brady hit the target in the opening five minutes the visitors were on their winning way.

Cavan, with Patrick Brady and Pierce McKenna dominating midfield, were four points clear when full forward Jason Reilly took a perfect pass from Anthony Forde to fire home a cracking goal in the 17th minute.

Indeed, it took Tipperary until the 26th minute to open their account, the point coming from Declan Browne. But a fightback never occurred and they went into the break 1-8 to 0-2 adrift.

Tipperary brought on former Kildare star Brian Lacey at midfield and showed a marked improvement, scoring three unanswered points from Browne, Glen Burke and Damian Byrne.

But Cavan were coasting and when Michael Lyng pointed a free in the 58th minute and Forde fired over again a minute later, the victory was sealed.

CAVAN: James Reilly; M Hannon, C Hannon, K Fannin; Paul Brady, P Reilly, A Gaynor; Patrick Brady, P McKenna; M McKeever (0-1), M Lyng (0-1), S Brady (0-1); S Johnston (0-5), Jason Reilly (1-1), A Forde (0-1). Subs: M Cahill for K Fannin (41 mins), M Graham for S Johnston (49 mins), L Reilly for S Brady (54 mins).

TIPPERARY: B Enright; D Byrne (0-1), N Curran, P King; P Morrissey, R Costigan, B Hahessy; K Mulryan E Hanrahan; A Fitzgerald, G Burke (0-1), P Cahill; D Browne (0-2, one free), J Shanahan, I Barnes (0-1). Subs: B Lacey for Mulryan (32 mins), L England for Shanahan (49 mins), T O'Flaherty for Morrissey (55 mins), N Kelly for Curran (57 mins).

YELLOW CARDS: Cavan: S Johnston (49 mins); Tipperary: P Morrissey (55 mins); N Curran (67 mins).

Referee: Eddie Whelan (Laois).