Cavan relegated after dire performance in Roscommon

Roscommon 1-13
Cavan 1-10

Paul Fitzpatrick
at Hyde Park

Cavan’s relegation to Division 2 of the National League, after just a season in the top flight, would have been confirmed regardless by Mayo’s win over Donegal in Castlebar but a dismal performance in Hyde Park provided no balm for the sore.

Against bogey team Roscommon, the Blues – coming off the back of a win over Mayo and a draw with Kerry – were leaden-footed and were out-fought by a limited but game home side who were clearly determined not to end the league with seven defeats from as many games.

Cavan failed to score from play in the second half, despite playing with the wind against a side who had lost six from six before today.

The lead flip-flopped early on, Diarmuid Murtagh and Martin Reilly trading scores early on before Joe Dillon nudged Cavan in front on the quarter-hour mark and Ciaran Brady extended that gap to 0-4 to 0-2.

Approaching half-time, Cavan remained two up after a free from Niall McDermott made it 0-7 to 0-5 but the Rossies kicked three in a row from Donie Smith, Conor Devaney and Murtagh, with another McDermott free ensuring the sides were level at the brak.

With the wind at their backs, the visitors looked set to kick on and when sub Cian Mackey found Dara McVeety, who smashed to the net, two minutes into the second half, Mattie McGleenan’s troops were three in front – and with Donegal leading Mayo, survival looked likely.

But that dream quickly soured when, within 50 seconds, Roscommon broke through and Cathal Compton stroked to the net from close range.

From there, Roscommon kept their opponents – whom they have beaten five times in recent seasons – at arm’s length. Cavan’s play was littered with errors and they managed just one more point, a Gearoid McKiernan free, in the final 40 minutes (including injury time) as Roscommon deservedly took their first win of the season.

Scorers

Cavan: N McDermott 0-3 (2f), D McVeety 1-1,  M Reilly 0-1, C Brady 0-1, J Dillon 0-1, G McKiernan 0-1f, R Galligan 0-1f

Roscommon: D Murtagh 0-4 (3f), N Kilroy 0-3, C Compton 1-0, C Devaney 0-2, C Murtagh 0-2 (1f), D Smith 0-1, T Corcoran 0-1