Report and video argue goal helps cavan squeeze past gallant new york

Cavan 1-15
New York 0-15

Paul Fitzpatrick
at Gaelic Park, New York

A late, punched goal from Michael Argue proved the decisive score as Cavan came from behind to beat a fired-up New York side in a robust encounter at Gaelic Park last night (Thursday) in the first match of the two-legged Mick Higgins Cup series.

Tempers were frayed at a couple of stages in the second half as the hosts threw everything they had at what was an experimental Cavan team. New York, who are trained by Drumlane man Ollie Fay, led by a point with five minutes remaining after being four up early in the second half but a storming finish saw Argue hit the net and Conor Moynagh fire over a point to snatch it for the Blues.

New York were three in front early on with a hat-trick of points from former Wexford full-forward PJ Banville (two frees) and although Enda O'Reilly and Barry Reilly curled over points for Cavan, another Banville free had New York 0-5 to 0-2 in front on the quarter-hour mark.

Ciaran Brady drove out of defence and landed two points for Cavan but excellent scores from Clones man Darren Freeman and Gary O'Driscoll kept the exiles' noses in front.

With Brian Connor fielding well at centre-field, New York were looking the more purposeful outfit at this stage and two points from Connor and another Banville free saw them extend their lead to four.

Jack Brady (free) and Argue replied for Cavan but Andrew Hope and then Connor with a 50-metre free from his hands made it 0-10 to 0-6 approaching half-time.

Cavan had the final say of the first half, a free from Jack Brady, but New York started the second strongly, Banville punching over from what was a good goal chance.

Brady and Connor traded frees before Cavan finally started to inch their way in front, thanks largely to half-time sub Martin Reilly, who landed two excellent frees from the ground.

A point from Brendan Fitzpatrick saw Cavan move to within one, 0-11 to 0-12 but New York were not going away. After Tomás Corr set Chris Conroy up for a cracking point, Niall McFeely fired over one of his own and then Banville converted a difficult free to make it 0-14 to 0-12 in favour of the hosts with 13 minutes remaining.

From there on, though, Cavan looked to surge clear. A fantastic point from Martin Reilly dragged them closer as the management team implored their charges to push up and go for the jugular. However, a neat point from Luke Loughlin – whose fist pump celebration showed how much the game meant to the hosts – saw Ian Galvin's men take the initiative again.

But Cavan weren't done yet. Fitzpatrick sent a high ball into the square and Argue rose to fist to the net, with Reilly following up to make doubly sure, and when Moynagh broke forward and punched over, Cavan had stolen it on the line after what was a very entertaining, hard-hitting 70 minutes of action.