Published: Wednesday, 28th July, 2010 12:02pm

Minimum of fuss for Gaels

Lavey's Sean Maguire in action against Cavan Gaels.

Paul Fitzpatrick

at Kingspan Breffni Park

Business as usual, then, for Cavan Gaels. Lavey found out that the step up from Intermediate football to the top flight is a hard one last Friday evening when Cavan Gaels, minus anything up to ten possible starting players including the likes of Micheál Lyng, Cormac Nelligan, Darren Rabbitt, Gavin Duffy and Daniel Graham, recorded a comfortable ten-point victory with the minimum of fuss.

A young Lavey side, themselves short a number of regulars, showed plenty of heart but kicked some inexcusable wides and once Sean Reilly ghosted inside to bury a well-taken goal seven minutes into the second half, there was no way back.

The Gaels led by 0-5 to 0-0 after 15 minutes, with Niall Smith - surely the quickest solo-runner in the county right now - punching over the opener, centre-back Eamon Reilly adding the second and Sean Johnston (who was fairly well handled by young Lavey defender Fergal Smith) and Niall Murray (two) also getting on the score sheet.

Cavan Gaels midfielder Dominic Reilly was the outstanding player on show, covering acres of ground and chipping in with some good scores, but Enda King wasn't far behind, doing well at centre-forward in an engaging tussle with Lavey's Joey Jordan.

Lavey got off the mark through a Stephen Jordan free in the 17th minute but while they were creating plenty of chances, they lacked any edge up front (with Declan Murphy and Tierney absent) and weren't helped by an impressive Gaels defence, which smothered the Lavey attack and forced them to shoot from difficult positions.

They kicked three successive wides midway through the half before Darren Jordan added their second point from a close-range free.

This was cancelled out by a free from team captain Johnston, after he was fouled himself, before Lavey's Stephen Jordan had another poor wide, his team's sixth.

The New Inns men showed last year in their run to the Ulster IFC final that they lack for nothing in commitment and they continued to press hard, winning more than their fair share of breaks at midfield.

From one, county minor Chris Conroy floated over an excellent long range point but Johnston again won a free at the other end and converted to open a 0-7 to 0-3 gap.

The same player was at the centre of attention moments later when, after a late shoulder, he looked certain to have his name taken. Referee MG Brady took out his notebook but let the county ace - who appeared to have been yellow-carded earlier in the match - off with a stern caution, much to the derision of the Lavey supporters.

Lavey drew first blood in the second half, Sean Maguire firing over the bets score of the match with the outside of his right boot just 30 seconds in.

Following the trend of the match, however, the Gaels were able to up a gear when needed and a fine point from Niall Smith and a free from 'Jelly' restored the five-point gap.

The vital score of the match arrived in the seventh minute of the half. Dominic Reilly and Smith combined to set up midfielder Sean Reilly, who tucked away a terrific finish in off Mark Donohoe's left-hand post.

At 1-9 to 0-4, this match was now over as a contest and although Lavey battled away, and actually kicked a great score through Oliver Smith in response, the Gaels were in cruise control until the final whistle.

A huge 45-metre free from the hands by Johnston stretched his side's lead to eight and another fisted Smith point - blistering acceleration and fisted points are fast becoming a trademark - and a first for Dominic Reilly extended the gap to ten, 1-12 to 0-5.

Karol Crotty and Stephen Jordan exchanged points as the clock ticked down. There were ten in it when the long whistle sounded but in truth, the margin was irrelevant. What matters is that the Gaels are looking as sharp as ever and still have plenty of talent to welcome back. Pretenders to the throne, be warned.

CAVAN GAELS: E Elliott, P Heslin, C Collins, D McCormack, K Crotty (0-1), E Reilly (0-1), G Collins, D Reilly (0-1), S Reilly (1-0), N Murray (0-2), E King, N Smith (0-3), A Forde, P O'Donnell, S Johnston (0-5, 4f)

SUBS: A O'Riordan, L Murphy

LAVEY: M Donohoe, F Smith, D Smith, D Conroy, K Donohoe, J Jordan, D Tierney, S Maguire (0-1), S Jordan (0-2, 1f), D Jordan (0-1f), F Jordan, K Duke, C Conroy (0-1), M Cusack, O Smith (0-1)

SUBS: K Brady, D Walsh

REF: MG Brady