Allianz Football League Division II: Derry 1-12 Cavan 1-11

by Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni Park
 
Cavan and Derry served up a thriller at a bitterly-cold Kingspan Breffni Park, with Mark Lynch's 65th minute free proving the difference in the end.
 
Cavan threw everything they had at the visitors in a frenetic last five minutes, with the home supporters feeling they could have been awarded a couple of frees, but Derry stood up well to the challenge and squeaked home after what was a pulsating contest played at near-championship pace.
 
The Blues made most of the early running but they were hampered by dreadful shooting as Derry made the most of their early chances.
 
On 12 minutes, it was tied at 0-2 apiece with Mark Craig and Ciaran McFaul helping Derry into a two-point lead before Dara McVeety and Eugene Keating (free) tied it up.
 
A sweet McFaul strike restored Derry's advantage, with Gearóid McKiernan and James Kielt (free) trading scores as this slow-burner continued to merely smoulder.
 
The half turned six minutes before the break when Derry, who were leading 0-4 to 0-3, were awarded a penalty after Feargal Flanagan fouled Christopher Bradley.
 
Ryan Bell had netted from the spot in the McKenna Cup meeting between the sides but, this time, his penalty was weak and easily smothered by goalkeeper Ray Galligan – and the home crowd erupted.
 
Visibly buoyed, Cavan poured forward and levelled from the break-out through starting debutant Paul O'Connor, whose tidy point bore similarities to his first cousin, Cillian of Mayo.
 
Better was to follow for the hosts as they won the next two kick-outs, Tomás Corr and the inspirational Gearóid McKiernan – with a magical point from the wing - firing over to make it 0-6 to 0-4.
 
Derry steadied the ship with an Emmett Bradley effort to go in just a point in arrears.
 
Could Cavan, who had kicked eight first-half wides and dropped three more into the grateful hands of Eoin McNicholl, hold on against the gale?
 
Derry provided the answer with 70 seconds of the restart. From a counter-attack, they sliced Cavan open and after a delightful hand-passing move involving Craig and Benny Heron, Caoilean O'Boyle palmed to the net.
 
And once James Kielt boomed one over from all of 50 metres from their next attack, Derry had the breathing space which looked like proving crucial in such a claustrophobic affair.
 
Martin Reilly and Herron exchanged points but, from nowhere, Cavan hit the front with another scattergun flurry.
 
First Givney pointed then the Ballymun man spilled possession only for sub Michael Argue to react quickest and rifle a shot first-time to the top corner. When the smoke cleared, Hyland's troops were in front but Derry refused to panic.
 
Two frees from Mark Lynch edged them in front – and then sub Shane Heavron floated over a beauty to make it 1-11 to 1-9 and set up a frenetic final 10 minutes.
 
By the time three of them had elapsed, Cavan had clawed it back to a draw again with frees from McKiernan and sub Seanie Johnston but Derry were handed another chance when McKiernan fouled – and the reliable Lynch again converted.
 
The Cavan talisman went off on a black card after that incident but the home side threw everything they had at the Derry goal in injury time, with Johnston seeing black after one huge scramble.
 
Derry, though, held their heads and rode their luck – crucial ingredients in the profile of any successful side. 

Cavan: R Galligan, P Faulkner, K Clarke, K Brady, C Brady, C Moynagh, F Flanagan, T Corr (0-1), G McKiernan (0-3, 1f) M Reilly (0-1f), D Givney (0-1), D McVeety (0-1) C Mackey (0-1), E Keating (0-1f), P O'Connor (0-1). Subs: C Conroy for McKiernan (BC, 65 mins), T Hayes for Keating (60 mins), S Johnston (0-1f) for O'Connor (54 mins), M Argue (1-0) for K Brady (47 mins), J Hayes for McVeety (50 mins).
 
**Derry: **E McNicholl, K McKaigue, C McKaigue, C Mullan, G McKinless, M Craig (0-1), D Heavron (0-1), E Bradley (0-1), M Lynch (0-3f), B Herron, C McFaul (0-2), C Bradley (0-1), C O'Boyle (1-0), E McGuckin, R Bell, J Kielt (0-2, 1f). Subs: E McGuckin for C O'Boyle (46 mins), N Loughlin for R Bell (52 mins), C McAtamney for E Bradley (68 mins), S Heavron (0-1) for B Herron (56 mins), D McKinless for C Bradley (70 mins)
 
**Referee: **P Neilan (Roscommon)