Dara McVeety, Cavan, scores a point in the Allianz Football League Division Two clash against Louth at Kingspan Breffni. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division Two
Cavan 3-15 (3-1-13) Louth 0-18 (0-3-12)
By Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni
A strong finish saw Cavan pick up a priceless home win over Louth, securing the Breffnimen’s first points of the league.
The visitors held a 0-12 to 1-7 lead after an interesting if, at times, error-strewn first half. Cavan probably should have been ahead at that juncture – poor passing cost them turnovers which led to scores while young corner-forward Darragh Lovett saw a weak 27th-minute penalty saved by Niall McDonnell – but they timed their run and two goals in as many minutes in the closing stages made the difference.
The Blues came out fired up in the second half and while it was far from a perfect performance, it was full of heart and featured plenty of smart play.
Cavan will feel they were the better side, although Louth will rue a succession of missed chances and the concession of those two soft goals on the home stretch. The first of those saw Conor Madden intercept a kick-out and finish superbly from the wing; for the second, a point attempt from Gearoid McKiernan dropped into the top corner of the net – and there was no way back for the visitors after that.
Ryan Burns – who was very dangerous early on, getting four shots off in the first nine minutes – opened the scoring with a well-taken two-pointer before Cavan’s outstanding player on the day, Dara McVeety, bravely slid in to toe-poke an equaliser.
Both sides, coming off losses, looked to keep it tight at the back and break out; Louth were able to do this at a greater pace than Cavan were but the Blues improved as the half wore on, cutting out some of the unforced errors.
Burns kicked Louth’s second and squandered a goal chance when he shot straight at Gary O’Rourke. Ciaran Downey skipped through for an easy point and, from another goal chance, Liam Jackson sent his shot over the bar as Cavan lived dangerously.
Then came the crucial opening goal; McVeety did well and released corner-back Jason McLoughlin, who finished coolly to the bottom corner.
James Smith and Tommy Durnin (two-pointer) traded scores; Sam Mulroy added a free but McVeety cancelled it out with a terrific score from a tight angle. Ciaran Downey kept the scoreboard ticking for Louth before Cavan missed the penalty, which Lovett won himself, again after good work from McVeety.
Louth cleared their lines and lost the ball and McVeety punished them again and when the recalled Oisin Brady beat his man and scored, the sides were level with half an hour played.
Mulroy landed a super individual effort and Andy McDonnell knocked over a two-pointer, either side of an Evan Crowe point, to leave two between them at the break.
Cavan were a different side on the resumption, noticeably more aggressive in the tackle. This was typified by a diving block from McLoughlin which led to a break and an excellent point from Padraig Faulkner, who ran himself into the ground before going off with 20 minutes left.
Ger Brennan’s men managed to keep their noses in front for most of the second half – Cavan wouldn’t lead until Madden’s goal in the 64th minute – but the visitors hit the panic button in the closing stages and it was Cavan who raised their game.
Mulroy and McVeety exchanged scores from play; Luke Fortune, who had a fine game, scored but Mulroy soon replied as the sides continued to cancel each other out.
Mulroy converted a free; in response, Gary O’Rourke nailed a 45. Jackson was next to register from another goal chance as the away side’s mistakes mounted.
Something had to give and it was Cavan who stepped up. Conor Madden split the posts with a 50-metre strike and although Mulroy made it 0-17 to 1-13 with a free, the game turned six minutes from time when Madden intercepted McDonnell’s kick-out and hit the net with an inch-perfect finish from the wing.
Cavan, with sub Killian Clarke making a big impact, now led by two and that was extended to five when McKiernan’s point effort dropped into the net.
Ciaran Murphy pulled on a loose ball at the other end and sent it over but Cavan had the wind in their sails and a McKiernan free, after sub Sean McEvoy was fouled, and a well-taken point from the impressive James Smith saw the hosts pick up a crucial win which was Ray Galligan’s first as manager at the venue.
Scorers for Cavan: Gearoid McKiernan 1-2 (2fs), Conor Madden 1-2 (1 2pt), Dara McVeety 0-4, Jason McLoughlin 1-0, James Smith 0-2, Padraig Faulkner 0-1, Evan Crowe 0-1, Gary O’Rourke 0-1 (45), Luke Fortune 0-1, Oisin Brady 0-1.
Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-6 (3fs), Ryan Burns 0-3 (1 2pt), Liam Jackson 0-2, Tommy Durnin 0-2 (1 2pt), Andy McDonnell 0-2 (1 2pt), Ciaran Downey 0-2, Ciaran Murphy 0-1.
Cavan: Gary O’Rourke, Niall Carolan, Brían O’Connell, Jason McLoughlin, Padraig Faulkner, Dara McVeety, Oisin Kiernan (Castlerahan), James Smith, Evan Crowe, Luke Fortune, Gerard Smith, Ciaran Brady, Darragh Lovett, Gearoid McKiernan, Oisin Brady.
Subs: Sean McEvoy for D Lovett (40), Conor Madden for P Faulkner (50), Cian Madden for O Brady (55), Killian Clarke for E Crowe (59), Ryan O’Neill for G Smith (67).
Louth: Niall McDonnell, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch, Donal McKenny, Conal McKeever, Liam Jackson, Daire Nally, Tommy Durnin, Conor Grimes, Fearghal Malone, Ciaran Downey, Andy McDonnell, Val Leddy, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns.
Subs: Leonard Grey for F Malone (40), Paul Matthews for V Leddy, Ciaran Keenan for C Grimes (both 44), Ciaran Murphy for D Nally, Ciaran Byrne for A McDonnell (both 52), Peter McStravick for C McKeever (temp, 62).
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down).
