Published: Wednesday, 14th January, 2009 12:00pm

United turn tables on rivals

Cavan United 4 Connolly FC 2

After a humiliating capitulation 4-0 away to league leaders Connolly F.C. two months ago, Cavan United sought to exorcise some ghosts when the sides locked horns in the Combined Counties Saturday Cup.

Gale force winds battered both teams for the entirety of this game and along with the freezing conditions; any sort of flowing football would be a gargantuan challenge indeed. United it was who seized the initiative pouring forward in an attempt to gain early advantage. An excellent through ball by Dariusz Jankowicz finding Sean O" Flaherty who shot wide from an angle with multiple team mates better positioned. 

O" Flaherty ploughing a lone furrow up front was working gamely for his colleagues set Arturs Buzuns clear on the right he combined with Nicolajs Istranins his cross was spurned on the far post when the most difficult task was to miss.

Amply aided by the strong wind, the first goal came about from a set piece, the Connolly winger dropping in a high cross, consternation ensued and the Longford side"s striker at the second attempt steered the ball past Alex Hrynchuk, 0-1 and against the run of play. Connolly soon doubled their lead when a left sided free kick in behind the centre backs was met by an away midfielder who headed well to make it 0-2 with 5 minutes of the first half remaining.

Paul Flynn offered a lifeline when Istranins released him left of the Connolly area, his low drive nicely finding the net.

The second half saw United take proceedings by the scruff of the neck, Istranins cutting in from the left and almost cracking the crossbar. Cramp ended Istranins game 2 minutes later, and it was his replacement that levelled matters Voitek Kumar deftly heading home a right sided free kick from Flynn.

Now cup matches are notorious for throwing up the unusual, and the goal which gave United the lead could most certainly be labelled as such.

A Connolly attack broke down when Alex Hrynchuk caught the ball just inside his area, the Latvian keeper unleashed a huge kick up field, the ball bounced over the hapless away custodian an into the net, much to the delight (and amazement!) of home players and especially Hrynchuk who had already turned to retake his place between the sticks.  Two minutes from time Paul Flynn brought all scoring proceedings to a close, when after a breakaway run, he turned inside his centre back to chip the Longford keeper.

CAVAN UNITED: Alex Hrynchuk, Don Gorby, Rory O"Hanlon, Tony Brady, Brian Mitchell, Dariusz Jankowicz, Gordon Clarke, Arturs Buzuns(Darren Humphreys), Sean O" Flaherty(Gary Helferty), Nicolajs Istranins (Voitek Kumar), Paul Flynn, 

Subs Not Used: Declan Smith, Alex Puzirjovs.

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