Win for Co Cavan in league opener

Saturday afternoon brought a large crowd to Swellan Park to witness Co. Cavan take on Letterkenny in the opening match of the league. It was their first competitive match under newly appointed player-coach Tumaile Tasola and players were out to impress. The game began with fervour from the home team as Co. Cavan were awarded a scrum after three minutes. Alistair Trenier received a pass at the back and the youngster chipped over the head of a Letterkenny player, caught the bouncing ball, ran 40 metres and made a dive over the line under immense pressure to score the opening try of the match and the campaign. Cavan failed to score the conversion. Some great work by Tumaile Tasola, Justin Pilgrim and Martin Reilly ensured that Co. Cavan got the better of their opponents in the battle for possession taking place in the middle of the park. This was aided by some excellent running, kicking and blocking by Gareth Corrigan and driving forward by the fearless Robbie Beattie. An excellent 30 metre run by Steven Ivors started another attack as he passed to Gary Browne. Browne then laid it off to Tasola who set up Paul McCusker and he sped across the line for a second try. The conversion was kicked wide however. The hosts were on the attack again as Salesi Tuipulotu started a great run, off-loaded the ball to Tasola who then passed to Corrigan and he returned the favour to Tuipulotu. Jeremiah Loughnanne got on the end of his pass to dive over the line but the referee adjudged the final pass to be forward, disallowed the try and awarded a scrum to Letterkenny. Co. Cavan did, however, get another chance in the dying seconds of the half as Tasola ran some distance, passed to Corrigan who kicked over the Letterkenny player's head, gathered the ball on the bounce and returned it to Tasola. Loughnanne got on the end of Tasola's pass and ran under the posts for a third try. Stephen Ivors converted to leave Cavan 17 up at half time. David Beattie retired from the match at half time with an injury and, abiding by the rules of the competition stating that no substitutions may be made, Co. Cavan had to continue the game with 14 men. The depleted side were the ones applying pressure early on in the second half and were rewarded with a penalty after 11 minutes which Ivors kicked just wide of the posts. A breakthrough was finally made two minutes later as a great passing movement involving Shane McCormack, Tasola and Corrigan ended with the ball being returned to Tasola who danced around three opposing players and finally drove through to score a try. The conversion was missed. Letterkenny finally responded, five minutes later, as their out-half found open space and ran unchallenged between the posts for the away side's first try of the match. They conversion was made and seven points put up on the board. The home team reacted immediately and got to the final quarter of the field only for Tasola's final pass to evade Ivors and go out into touch with the try line beckoning. It was the visitors who struck next and their out-half repeated the dose, evading desperate tackles from the Co. Cavan defence, to touch down beside the posts. The conversion was kicked and only eight points separated the sides. The 'Cavemen' made three more pushes for the line but Myles Reilly was tackled into touch. A minute later, with seconds ticking away in injury time, Letterkenny had a player sin binned and the hosts were awarded a penalty. They opted for the scrum and Tasola picked and ran past three players to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed. The match ended with an excellent win for the home team with every player putting in a tremendous effort. They will look to continue this form when they meet local rivals Monaghan away next week. Cavan 1st XV: Myles Reilly, Paul McCusker, Alan Brady, Gary Browne, Martin Reilly, David Beattie, Robbie Beattie, Shane McCormack, Alistair Trenier, Jeremiah Loughnanne, Justin Pilgrim, Salesi Tuipulotu, Taamaile Tasola, Gareth Corrigan, Steven Ivors.