Goals key as Sligo hurlers sink Cavan

Cavan 3-10
Sligo 4-20

A brace of goals in the dregs of the first half broke the back of Cavan’s gutsy challenge in an entertaining NHL Division 3B tie at the losers’ 3G facility.
Cavan, with a solitary win over Fermanagh under their belt, looked to conclude their league season on a high but a sprinkling of points sandwiched by the concession of a goal in the 30th minute and another one in first half injury time proved fatal to Cavan's faint hopes of a shock victory.
In truth, Cavan had a nightmare run into the half-time break after Cuala clubman Brian Fitzerald’s free in the 24th minute had actually drawn them level (1-7 apiece)for what would be only the second time in the near 80 minutes long contest.
Cavan had rebounded well to get on terms after last year’s Nicky Rackard Cup winners had opened up a 1-7 to 1-4 gap and, despite being raging hot underdogs, Ollie Bellew’s charges continued to give as good as they were getting in the opening half-hour.
In taking on the raging hot match favourites and the remnants of Storm Jorge, Cavan actually opened the scoring when Josh Crowe’s shot dropped short but was tipped over the bar by Sligo ‘keeper Burke.
However, the hosts found themselves on the backfoot after Kieran Prior's 5th minute goal helped propel the Yeats County into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.
Cavan re-grouped though and after Josh Crowe's well-taken goal (16), Cavan grew in confidence and looked promisingly comfortable.
Sadly for the blues, Sligo proceeded to turn on the after-burners to hit an unanswered 2-6 in the run into the interval with the goals coming from Finnian Cawley and Rory McHugh and some excellent points from go-to attacker Keith Raymond and playmaker-in-chief Rory McHugh.
Cavan manfully hung in there after the interval but in Raymond and McHugh, Sligo had the sort of mobility, sharpness and finishing touch that Cavan couldn’t match.
For all that, Cavan kept nipping away at Sligo’s heels as they sought to eat into the Connachtmens’ sizeable 3-13 to 1-7 interval lead.
With the wind at their backs and playing towards the portakabin end of the 3G, Cavan showed a lot of spirit, endeavour and work rate as the second half gathered pace but, unfortunately, the punch, pace and panache just wasn’t there in the final third to unhinge Sligo.
Showing the class and experience associated with a side whose next outing is a Christy Ring Cup meeting with former all-Ireland SHC winners Offaly, Sligo upped the ante as the third quarter raced to a close Keith Raymond’s neat, clinical goal (41) all but ending the game as a contest.
Now trailing by 1-8 to 4-13, Cavan boss Bellew chose to ring the changes but there was to be no diminution in Cavan’s honest efforts to prevent a runaway victory for the Yeats County.
A couple of Fitzgerald frees helped to keep Sligo honest and then in the 59th minute substitute Jack Barry got out in front of his marker to meet a delivery from another sub, Anthony Sheridan, and in a jiffy the  white flag was raised.
An opportunist goal by Fitzgerald from a penalty (60) followed and the blues had the satisfaction of having the final say when Barry had the Sligo net billowing two minutes from time.

Cavan: Darren Sheridan; Matthew Hynes, Dominic Crudden, Darragh Madden; Caolan Kelly, Enda Shalvey, Edward Dalton; Bart Nannery, Colum Sheanon; Brian Fitzgerald (1-6, 7 frees), Sean Keating (0-1), Mark Moffett; Joshua Crowe (1-1), Jessie Holland (0-1), Diarmaid Carney.
Subs: Jack Barry (1-1) for B Nannery (30); Philip Brady for D Carney (45); Shane Shiels for M Moffett (45); Anthony Sheridan for D Crudden (57); Eugene Hill for J Holland (68).

Sligo: Mark Burke: James Weir, Niall Feehily, Niall McDermott; Finnian Cawley (1-1), Liam Reidy, Kieran Prior (1-2); Tony O’Kelly Lynch (0-3), Keith Raymond (1-12, 7f): Brian Shannon, Joe McHugh (0-2), Kevin Gilmartin; Rory McHugh (1-0), Mikey Gordon, Kevin Banks.
Subs; L Cadden for K Gilmartin (40); P O’Grady for N McDermott (44); K O’Kennedy for J McHugh (45); S Brennan for G Connolly (51); D Keavney for K Prior (68).

Ref: K Jordan (Tipperary)