Sean Higgins holds possession.jpg

14-man Gaels snatch equaliser late in extra time

Cavan Gaels 0-12

Derrygonnelly 0-12

AET

 

Paul Fitzpatrick
at St Tiernach's Park

 

Cavan Gaels dug deep and came up with a late equaliser from Darragh Sexton to force a replay against Derrygonnelly in this hard-fought, dour Ulster SFC semi-final.

The Cavan champions came into the game as red hot favourites with the bookmakers and looked to be on track 10 minutes into the second half of normal time when they led by four points but after losing Levi Murphy to a straight red card, they lost their way and in the end, they were glad to hear the full-time whistle.

While Cavan Gaels, managed by former Breffni goal king Jason O’Reilly, looked like they would coast home when they pulled 0-10 to 0-6 clear early in the second half but, in the end, they were lucky to hold on for a draw in normal time as Derrygonnelly dominated the closing stages and missed a handful of good opportunities.

There was little between the sides in the first half. While Cavan Gaels, conquerors of Antrim’s Lámh Dearg last time out, eased into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to points from Niall Smith, Andy Graham and Martin Dunne, Derrygonnelly hit back with five points in succession.

A free from Paul Ward – his second – got them going again and when he kicked one from play and brothers Ryan and Garvan Jones added two more, the underdogs were two to the good.

And while Sean Johnston (free) and Declan Meehan – a late replacement for injured captain Micheál Lyng – pulled it back, a free from Ward saw the Harps go in leading by 0-6 to 0-5.

The Gaels, who haven’t lost a match in 2017 in league or championship, emerged full of running after the break and within three minutes they had mustered a hat-trick of points from Dunne (free), Levi Murphy and Paul O’Connor.

And when they added another from Dunne, after a brilliant break, and a second for defender Murphy, they were cruising.

But if the Cavan Town team dominated the third quarter, the final 15 minutes plus added time was all about Derrygonnelly.

As the Cavan champions, attempting to reach a first Ulster Club final since the 1970s, wilted, Derrygonnelly upped the tempo and could have finished the job in normal time, missing three gilt-edged chances in the closing stages including a 13-metre free.

And while the Gaels also came close to sealing it, with Niall Murray striking the upright in the 64th minute, extra time would be needed to separate them as Derrygonnelly finished normal time superbly.

A super effort from Declan Cassidy was followed by a brilliant left-footed Garvan Jones strike, a free from Gary McKenna and, a minute into injury time, a Conall Jones free to force the extra time.

McKenna opened the Harps’ account 15 seconds after the restart, with Dunne cancelling it out from a free. Again, Paul Faloon’s troops remained on the front foot and regained the lead with another splendid Ward strike.

But, three minutes from the end, up stepped Sexton, who held his nerve to drill over the equaliser.

 

Derrygonnelly: Shane McGullion, Lee Jones, M Jones, N Gallagher, E McHugh, G McGinley, R Jones (0-1), G Jones (0-2), K Cassidy, P Ward (0-5, 3f), D Cassidy (0-1), G McKenna (0-2, 1f), Leigh Jones, C Jones (0-1)

Subs: Stephen McGullion for K Cassidy (32 mins), A Gallagher for Lee Jones (43), K Cassidy for Leigh Jones (52), Lee Jones for Gallagher (66), Leigh Jones for Stephen McGullion (72), Stephen McGullion for A Gallagher (77)

 

Cavan Gaels: C Flynn, L Fortune, N Murray, K Meehan, S Murray, B Fortune, L Murphy (0-2), P Graham, R Maloney-Derham, N Smith (0-1), D Meehan (0-1), A Graham (0-1), P O’Connor (0-1), S Johnston (1f), M Dunne (0-4, 2f)

Subs: V Coyle for P Graham (BC, 38 mins), S Higgins for A Graham (54), D Sexton (0-1), K Donohoe for S Murray (60), S Fitzsimons for Smith (69), M Lyng for O’Connor (76)

 

Ref: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)