Cavan dig out priceless away win in Cork

NFL Division 2 round 3

Cavan 0-17

Cork 0-16

Cavan footballers dug out a hard-earned away win against Cork to secure their second victory of the Division 2 campaign in an eventful clash at Páirc Uí Chaoímh.

In doing so, the Breffni men inflicted a third successive defeat on the Rebels, who are now staring down the barrel of Tailteann Cup football.

A superb showing from Man of the Match Paddy Lynch, whose tally of 0-9 included three from play and some difficult frees, helped Cavan eke out a very important victory which now has Ray Galligan’s men with one eye on promotion.

The referee played almost nine minutes of injury time (six were announced) and Cork piled on the pressure in this ‘additional’ additional time – but all they could muster was a Steven Sherlock free which was turned over the bar after sub Oisin Brady had earlier fisted Cavan into a two-point lead.

Unusually, Cavan’s first three points were fisted efforts as they started brightly but Cork were the better side and deservedly led by three at half-time.

However, with Lynch and sub Cian Madden to the fore, Cavan kicked six points in succession and probably should have won with a bit more to spare.

The win is a tremendous boost for the Cavan squad, who beat Kildare in the opening round and fell to a one-point loss against high-flying Donegal in round 2.

Full report in this week’s print edition.

Cork: C Kelly; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, T Walsh; L Fahy, R Maguire, M Taylor (0-01); I Maguire, C O’Callaghan (0-01); E McSweeney, R Deane, B O’Driscoll (0-01); M Cronin (0-04, 2 45s, 1f), B Hurley (0-03, 2f), C Óg Jones (0-03).

Subs: S Powter for Cronin (56), F Herlihy for Deane (56), S Sherlock (0-03, 3f) for Hurley (60), D Cashman for Shanley (64), J Cahalane for McSweeney (70).

Cavan: G O’Rourke; O Kiernan (Denn), K Brady, J McLoughlin; P Faulkner, N Carolan, B O’Connell; K Clarke, J Smith; C Brady (0-01), G Smith (0-01), R O’Neill; P Lynch (0-09, 6f), R Donohoe, Caoimhín O’Reilly (0-02).

Subs: C Reilly for Kiernan (4-20, temporary), O Brady (0-01) for J Smith (24, inj), C Rehill (0-01) for O’Connell (29-h-t, temporary), Rehill for K Brady (h-t), C Madden (0-02) for Donohoe (h-t), T Madden for Caoimhín O’Reilly (66), Cormac O’Reilly for O’Neill (70+2), C Reilly for Carolan (70+5).

Referee: B Griffin (Kerry)