McKiernan the difference as Cavan make it three from three

Allianz League Division 4

Damien  Donohoe

A five point win is usually a result with which to be happy, but somehow Cavan won’t be getting carried away with Sunday’s victory. In truth it was more of what we had seen in the Wexford game, a good first half and a not so good second.

Cavan led by six points with 17 minutes remaining while playing with a strong wind and had held Carlow scoreless since before half-time, but at that juncture something changed. Nine minutes later after a goal and two points for Carlow the result was in doubt.

Credit where it’s due Cavan finished the game with the final three points but it wasn’t the dominant performance the supporters in blue had expected. While some supporters came away with the frame of mind that ‘a win is a win’, others questioned why we haven’t seen the ruthless Cavan who put Tyrone to the sword in January again?

Cavan, kicking into the flaggy bottom end in the first half, opened the scoring early after a beautiful pass by Chris Conroy found Thomas Galligan for a mark. Carlow’s top scorer from play Jordan Morrissey showed just how strong the wind was when he sent the ball over the bar from 48 meters.

Cavan, having to work the ball closer to the goal, regained the lead with Cormac O’Reilly and James Smith combining to set up Gearoid McKiernan for his first of the day. On the fourth minute Carlow were level thanks to centre-forward Jamie Clarke but could have taken the lead a minute later if Raymond Galligan hadn’t stopped Colm Crowley’s goal bound effort.

Cormac O’Reilly and Cian Madden came very close to creating a goal chance on the sixth minute but in the end Cavan settled for a second McKiernan point. Carlow clearly enjoying playing with the wind sent over another long range effort from captain Darragh Foley to level the sides for the third time.

A gap of two was opened for the first time thanks to points from Cormac O’Reilly and Patrick Lynch (free) but from the 45 meter line Foley responded for Carlow with his second of the afternoon. Gerard Smith and Jordan Morrissey traded points before fouls on Conor Moynagh and James Smith saw McKiernan’s frees leave Cavan ahead by three with 15 minutes played.

A beautifully judged wind assisted free from the sideline by Darragh Foley gave Carlow their first score in eight minutes. On the 20th minute Killian Brady cleverly flick a ball into Oisin Kiernan’s path for a simple tap over to restore Cavan’s three point lead.

After another Foley free the gaps in the Cavan defence appeared again. Foley’s excellent awareness put Colm Crowley through on goal, but full-back Faulkner somehow managed to keep his shot out.

A Darragh O’Brien ‘45 was cancelled out by McKiernan’s fifth point of the day on the 28th minute. Coming up for his second attempt from a long range dead ball Raymond Galligan judged the wind in his face to perfection from the 45 meter line restoring Cavan’s three point lead.

The final score of the half came for the visitors as Darragh Foley converted a long range free to leave the score 0-11 to 0-9. Considering the strength of the wind Cavan went in happy with 11 points on the board and a two point advantage.

Carlow’s prospects for a come back suffered an early blow in the second half when Jamie Clarke pulled down Cormac O’Reilly just yards from the watchful eyes of the linesman resulting in a black card. Cavan made the extra man count on the score board as Patrick Lynch sent over two frees, the first a mirror image of Foley’s beauty from the sideline in the first half.

With nine minutes played in the second half Padraig Faulkner fisted over from close range when there looked to be half a goal chance on. On the 11th minute the sides were levelled up when Conor Moynagh received the game’s second black card.

Mid-way through the second half Thomas Galligan hit Cavan’s first wind assisted long range point giving Mickey Graham’s side a deserved six point lead. Three minutes later Colm Hulton found himself 20 meters in front of the Cavan goal with enough time to gather the ball and calmly tap over his second of the day.

James Smith with the next attack sent up a long range shot to allow the wind to take it all the way over the bar. With the score board reading 0-16 to 0-10 either Carlow stepped up a gear and/or Cavan went for a nap.

On the 23rd minute of the half, Carlow centre-back Darragh O’Brien picked out wing back Jordan Morrissey on the edge of Raymond Galligan’s small box with a ball to his shins. Morrissey inexplicably had time to bend his back, gather the ball and tuck it low into the corner of the net. Four minutes later Colm Hulton ran a half circle round the D in the Cavan defence and without a hand laid on him he pointed to leave just two between the sides.

The Cavan subs introduced impacted the game positively as Conor Madden found Gearoid McKiernan with a pass for a converted attacking mark to end an eight minute spell without a score. Caoimhin O’Reilly split the posts with five minutes remaining to re-establish a four point lead.

The drama wasn’t over as Cavan supporters thought Carlow were being awarded a penalty as Conor Crowley hit the deck but Sean Laverty signaled a free for Cavan deeming Crowley to have over carried the ball.

Three minutes into injury-time player of the match Gearoid McKiernan crowned off a seven point tally with the final point of the game.

Cavan team: Raymond Galligan(0-1,/45), Evan Finnegan, Padraig Faulkner(0-1), Killian Brady, Chris Conroy, Conor Moynagh, Oisin Kiernan(0-1), James Smith(0-1), Michael Argue, Gerard Smith(0-1), Gearoid McKiernan(0-7, 2f, 1m), Cian Madden, Cormac O’Reilly(0-1), Thomas Galligan(0-2, 1m), Patrick Lynch(0-3f). Subs used: Oisin Brady for G Smith, Conor Madden for C O’Reilly, Caoimhin O’Reilly(0-1) for M Argue, Stephen Smith for Cian Madden, Luke Fortune for E Finnegan.

Carlow team: Ciaran Cunningham, Liam Roberts, Shane Buggy, Dara Curran, Jordan Morrissey(1-2), Darragh O’Brien (0-1/45), Conor Doyle, Murtough Ware, Seanie Bambrick, Shane Clarke, Jamie Clarke (0-2), Josh Moore, Conor Crowley, Darragh Foley (0-5, 3f), Colm Hulton (0-2). Subs used: Mikey Bambrick for S Clarke, Liam Brennan for S Bambrick, Niall Hickey for M Ware, Eoghan Ruth for L Brennan.

Referee: S Laverty (Antrim)