All Ireland SFC Round 2 Qualifier

CAVAN 1-14 DOWN 0-15

By Paul Fitzpatrick at Brewster Park

Cavan marched on to the next round of the qualifiers after a hard-fought win over Ulster rivals Down in this exciting and, at times, ill-tempered clash at a sunny Brewster Park.

The big talking point was a flare-up after the final whistle which saw Down’s Anthony Doherty and Cavan’s Conor Moynagh and Dara McVeety handed straight red cards.

Down will feel that they were out of luck on the evening – they fielded without the injured Donal O’Hare and lost key men Connaire Harrison and Kevin McKernan (30th minute black cards), Ryan Johnston (49th minute red card) as well as seeing star defender Caolan Mooney limp off early in the second half.

However, Cavan also lined out without a key man – Killian Clarke – and having trialled a new ultra-defensive structure against Wicklow last time out, will be more than pleased to have come through this stern examination in the sun.

The Blues were the better side early on and eased into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead through Sean Johnston (free), Ciaran Brady and McVeety.

Two further Johnston frees and an excellent McKiernan score made it 0-6 to 0-2, but the underdogs dominated the remainder of the first half, with Harrison, Ronan Millar (two frees) and Doherty (free) all on the mark.

Eamonn Burns’s men made light of the losses of Harrison and McKernan to land the final two points of the half from Niall Madine and Sean Dornan as they went in holding a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.

Both sides were set up defensively – Cavan employed three sweepers at times – but Down were that bit slicker up front at this stage and three points in succession from David McKibbin, Millar (free) and Dornan made it 0-13 to 0-9 as the upset seemed on.

However, Cavan were buoyed by their goal – McKiernan’s point attempt dropped short and through the hands of goalkeeper Shane Harrison – and with Down reduced to 14 men following Johnston’s dismissal, Mattie McGleenan’s charges finished strongly to march on.

Late scores from Padraig Faulkner and McKiernan sealed it, with Down’s Darren O’Hagan denied a goal by a good save from James Farrelly in the dying seconds.

Scorers for Cavan: Gearoid McKiernan 1-2, Sean Johnston 0-3 (3fs), Ciaran Brady 0-2, Niall Murray 0-2, Conor Bradley 0-1, Dara McVeety 0-1, Padraig Faulkner 0-1, Sean McCormack 0-1, Oisin Kiernan 0-1

Scorers for Down: Anthony Doherty 0-4f, Ronan Millar 0-4 (3fs), Sean Dornan 0-2, Connaire Harrison 0-1, Kevin McKernan 0-1, David McKibbin 0-1, Peter Turley 0-1

CAVAN: James Farrelly, Killian Brady, Padraig Faulkner, Enda Flanagan, Ciaran Brady, Conor Moynagh, Martin Reilly, Sean McCormack, Bryan Magee, Oisin Kiernan, Gearoid McKiernan, Niall Murray, Conor Bradley, Dara McVeety, Sean Johnston.

Subs: Fergal Reilly for K Brady (ht), Cian Mackey for Johnston (42), Caoimhin O’Reilly for Magee (42), Adrian Cole for McCormack (54), Niall Clerkin for Kiernan (65), Jason McLoughlin for Flanagan (70).

DOWN: Shane Harrison, Ryan McAleenan, Brendan McArdle, Anthony Doherty, Darren O’Hagan, Niall McParland, Caolán Mooney, Peter Turley, Niall Donnelly, Ronan Millar, Kevin McKernan, Conor Maginn, Sean Dornan, Connaire Harrison, Ryan Johnston.

Subs: David McKibbin for McKernan (BC, 30 mins), Niall Madine for Harrison (BC, 30), Jonny Flynn for Mooney (44), Conor Poland for Donnelly (51).

REFEREE: Cormac Reilly (Meath).