Cavan's Cian Madden in action at Croke Park.
Allianz Football League Division Four Final
Cavan 2-10 Tipperary 0-15
By Paul Fitzpatrick at Croke Park
It may be ‘just’ a Division Four League but Cavan supporters will be entitled to celebrate this one as the Breffni men picked up a first inter-county title at Croke Park since 1952.
A two-goal haul from young full-forward Patrick Lynch proved crucial as Cavan hung on to pick up their first National League title since winning the Division 2 version on home turf in 1977.
Both sides won their respective provincial championships in 2020 before being unexpectedly relegated to the basement the following Spring. Having achieved promotion, there was a sense that this was bonus territory but as the finish line drew near, the tempo increased and the exchanges were fiercely contested.
Tipp almost snatched it when sub Stephen Quirke smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar in injury time but Cavan hung on to avenge their loss at Kingspan Breffni three weeks ago.
Cavan were ahead by the minimum, 1-5 to 0-7 at the end of a slow-burner of a first half.
When the sides met in the league, Tipperary set up defensively and negated the hosts. This time, the sides mirrored each other to an extent, with the result that defences were on top for long spells.
Cavan hit the jackpot with a superb Paddy Lynch goal on 24 minutes which opened a four-point gap but Tipp then strung together four points in succession, three of them spectacular efforts from the right wing by Mark Russell, before a Ray Galligan 45 with the final play of the first half left Cavan ahead.
Conor Moynagh, who played the ‘quarter-back’ role for Cavan, opened the scoring but Tipp were soon ahead through Conor Sweeney (free) and Mikey O’Shea.
Lynch, whose movement was excellent, gathered a Jason McLoughlin pass and converted a mark but Tipperary nudged in front again with a monster 40-metre effort from Kerry native Teddy Doyle.
Gearoid McKiernan (free) and Lynch raised further white flags and when Cavan, playing against the wind, found the net through Lynch, they were in command.
But Tipp came roaring back through Russell’s three and a Jack Kennedy free and Galligan’s free was all that separated them at the midway point.
Conor Sweeney, Tipperary, and Evan Finnegan, Cavan, during the Allianz Football League Division Four Final at Croke Park.
On the resumption, Conor Sweeney and Mikey O’Shea pointed but Cavan pulled two back quickly from Sweeney’s fellow 2020 All-Star and direct opponent Padraig Faulkner and a fisted Cian Madden point.
Sweeney showed his class for another two quality scores from pay as Tipp hit the front with 20 minutes to go. James Smith sent over a good score for Cavan but the Munster men weren’t going away and a fourth for the excellent Russell nudged them in front again and when Kevin Fahey thumped over a big score, Tipperary were in the box seat.
But back came Cavan. Stephen Smith threaded over a well-taken score after good work from McKiernan and Lynch converted a pressure free and then, after a brave Jason McLoughlin interception, the 22-year-old attacker raised his second green flag to make it 2-10 to 0-13 with seven minutes remaining.
The closing stages were helter skelter; Cavan forced numerous turnovers but struggled to convert. Sweeney knocked over two frees, either side of Quirke’s thunderous effort off the woodwork, but Cavan held on for what was only their second win at headquarters from 11 appearances at all levels since 1997.
Cavan: Raymond Galligan (0-1, 45), Luke Fortune, Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Killian Brady, Jason McLoughlin, Conor Moynagh (0-1), Gerard Smith, James Smith (0-1), Killian Clarke, Thomas Galligan, Gearoid McKiernan (0-1f), Cian Madden (0-1), Evan Finnegan, Paddy Lynch (2-3, 1f, 1m), Stephen Smith (0-1)
Subs: Conor Brady for K Brady (47 mins), Caoimhin O’Reilly for Madden (49), Conor Madden for G Smith (60), Chris Conroy for Finnegan (63), Niall Murray for S Smith (70)
Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly, Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Jack Harney, Kevin Fahey (0-1), Colm O’Shaughnessy, Tommy Maher, Conal Kennedy, Mark Russell (0-4), Bill Maher, Jack Kennedy (0-1f), Teddy Doyle (0-1), Mikey O’Shea (0-2), Conor Sweeney (0-6, 3f), Sean O’Connor.
Subs: Cathal Deeley for S O’Connor (19 mins), Willie Eviston for Harney (49), Stephen Quirke for Russell (54), Billy Hewitt for Deeley (65), Martin Keogh for T Maher (69).
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).
