Town go down

Cavan Town were hosts to Navan Cosmos on a blustery wet Sunday afternoon at Tullacmongan for a top of the table clash with the top spot was the reward for the winners. The Town team took to the pitch in positive mood after a dogged win last weekend to move them to second place with a result away to Newtown FC and they were determined to take the three points here and claim pole position. Chances from Mark Fernombe and Brian Dolan could have put the Town ahead within 10 minutes and these missed opportunities would prove costly by the time the long whistle sounded. On 22 minutes Navan had pressurised the Cavan defence with the help of a very strong wind and had Cavan keeper James Heffernan busy between the sticks and a shot from distance caught the Cavan defence napping and somehow trickled through the hands of Heffernan. Mother Nature was the main culprit here but onlookers would have to question how the Cosmos centre forward even got a chance to shoot. Cavan pushed from the defence right out and worked hard through midfield with Barney Morris and Finbar Donoghue creating chances for Dolan and Ferncombe but a resilient Cosmos defence kept them one up close to half time. But the pressure finally paid of for the Town as a corner swung in by Morris looked certain to be converted by Ferncombe, only for the midfielder to be pulled down in the area and Cavan were awarded the penalty. Michael Smith stepped up and gladly obliged from the spot, shooting high to the top of the net to bring the game level at half time. The second half was an incredible battle. Cavan introduced Vinnie Wimsey for Stan McKeown and he brought some calm to the Town side and gave Finbar Donoghue a wandering role in midfield and he made it quite clear that midfield was belonging to the town side with fierce hard tackling and clinical passing spreading great ball to his wingers Gareth Flynn and Barny Morris who both caused many problems for Cosmos But Cavan were failing to convert these chances and frustration was building as the clock ticked on. Cavan looked a more likely side to score at this stage but on 70 minutes Cosmos produced the winner. Assisted by some misunderstanding in the Cavan defence, the Cosmos centre forward was left one on one with Heffernan and he calmly struck past to the bottom corner and left it 1-2 to the visitors. Cavan introduced Aaron Heffernan to the forward line and his height and aerial presence caused havoc for Cosmos but again Cavan just could not convert. Cosmos have a great keeper to thank for this performance and Cavan will relish the return leg in Navan in the coming weeks. Hard work from Cavan Town, but a determined effort fell fruitless on this occasion. Cavan Town: James Heffernan, Shane Byrne, Michael Smith, Michael Doheny, Greg Meehan, Gareth Flynn, Finbar Donoghue, Stan Mc Keown Barny Morris, Mark Ferncombe, Brian Dolan (captain) SUBS: Aaron Heffernan, Vinnie Wimsey