Allianz FL D2: Derry defeat Cavan

Allianz Football League Division Two

Derry 1-20 Cavan 0-19

By Michael Wilson at Find Insurance Celtic Park

Derry's promotion hopes were dashed at Find Insurance Celtic Park on Sunday, despite Shane McGuigan hitting 0-11 in the Oak Leafers four point victory over Cavan.

Last week's defeat against Louth in Ardee had wrestled Derry's league fate from their own hands and while Ciaran Meenagh's men did all they could in terms of finishing with two points, a Cork victory over Tyrone in Healy Park meant another season in the second tier as Meath joined the Rebels in the top flight for 2027.

Indeed, it was ironic that Cavan were the happier of the teams at the final whistle, the Breffni men remaining in Division Two thanks to Louth's victory over Kildare in Newbridge, a result that confirms Kildare and Offaly as the two relegated counties.

Considering the amount of jeopardy for both counties, it wad the visitors who came out of the blocks quickest with three scores from the opening three attacks as Gearoid McKiernan (f), Ciaran Brady, and Tiarnan Madden handed the Breffni men the early initiative.

Derry, who sacrificed Brendan Rogers to pick up Patrick Lynch, were struggling on both kick-outs at this stage, but all Cavan's good early work was undone by Loughlin's finish, the Oak forward brilliantly drilling home Ethan Doherty's pass to level with only Derry's second shot in the seventh minute.

The goal settled Meenagh's team, who edged ahead for the first time thanks to Lachlan's Murray's opening score of the day, but Cavan soon levelled through McKiernan's second of the day.

It should have been even better for Dermot McCabe's side when the dangerous Ciaran Brady burst through on Lynch's pass before sending the first of two carbon copy goal chances inches wide of Shea McGuckin's far post; the second blocked by Rogers four minutes later.

The chance proved a five point swing as a subsequent foul on Conor Glass from a hop ball handed Shane McGuigan the opportunity to register the first of two two-point frees in the half, the second arriving after a Cavan breach in the 21st minute.

That left Derry 1-3 to 0-4 ahead and while Dara McVeety reduced the deficit, the Oak Leafers best spell of the half saw McGuigan hit 0-4 to add to a Ethan Doherty single in an excellent eight minute period.

Cavan finished the half with points from McKiernan and Oisin Brady but leading 1-9 to 0-9, Derry were playing their part in the bid for promotion.

Five scoreless second half minutes were punctured by another Oisin Brady score, but Derry and Loughlin, should have had their second goal of the game on 42 minutes when McKinless' handpass allowed the Derry forward to step inside his marker but he blasted his shot inches over the bar to keep the home lead at three points.

Further points from Ethan Doherty, Murray (2) and McGuigan (2) took Derry's advantage out to five at 1-15 to 0-10, a lead which facilitated many eyes within Celtic Park stands and terracing to turn their attentions to goings on in Omagh and Newbridge.

A lovely Oisin Brady two-pointer maintained Cavan interest and when Ryan Donohoe hit an even better effort from outside the arc, it brought the Breffni county back to within four at 1-15 to 0-14 but the revival was short lived.

Points from McGuigan, Doherty and Forbes reasserted the home dominance and while Dara McVeety hit Cavan's third two pointer of the half - with Patrick Lynch adding another before the final whistle - the fate of both counties in Celtic Park was decided elsewhere.

Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-11, (2tpf, 1f), Niall Loughlin 1-1, Lachlan Murray 0-2, Ethan Doherty 0-2, Ruairi Forbes 0-1, Sean Young 0-1.

Scorers for Cavan: Gearoid McKiernan 0-5 (3fs), Oisin Brady 0-4 (1tp), Dara McVeety 0-3 (1tp), Tiarnan Madden 0-2, Ryan Donohoe 0-2 (1tp), Patrick Lynch 0-2, (1tpf), Conor Brady 0-1.

Derry: Shea McGuckin, Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Ruairi O Mianain, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Matthew Downey, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty, Dan Higgins, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.

Subs:Conor McCluskey for M Downey, HT; Niall Toner for R O'Mianain, 48mins; Sean Young for P Cassidy, 57mins; Niall O'Donnell for D Higgins, 64mins; Sean Kearney for R Forbes, 68mins.

Cavan: Liam Brady, Jason McLoughlin, Brian O'Connell, Cormac Brady, Niall Carolan, Ciaran Brady, Conor Brady, Ryan Donohoe, Gearoid McKiernan, Tiarnan Madden, Eoin Clarke, Oisin Brady, Emmanuel Shehu, Dara McVeety, Patrick Lynch.

Subs: Gerard Smith for E Shehu, 48mins; Peter Corrigan for C Brady, 56mins; Favour Shehu for O Brady, 60mins; Caoimhan McGovern for P Lynch, 68mins; Ryan Tobin for N Carolan, 68mins.

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).