All square in local derby as Cavan come from behind at half-time again
NFL Division 2 Round 5
Cavan 0-11
Meath 0-11
It had to be a draw, didn’t it? After 48 National League matches without a deadlock, Cavan were due a stalemate and it duly arrived in this topsy turvy clash under lights.
Cavan turned in their worst performance to date under manager Ray Galligan in the first half but once again, they upped it after the break and a tremendously spirited second half saw them lead in injury time only for Meath goalkeeper Sean Brennan to snatch a draw with a late free.
Both sides could have won it – Ciaran Brady, on his 100th appearance, was off target with a left-footed effort for Cavan at the death while Ciaran Caulfield was inches away from securing both points for Meath as his late strike hit the upright and was cleared.
Cavan came into this game knowing that three wins in their remaining matches would secure promotion while the Royals, after a slow start, were coming off the back of successive home victories over Louth and Kildare.
After heavy snowfall in Cavan Town, the game was in doubt on Friday but the pitch passed a 10am inspection yesterday morning and, while understandably heavy, was playable.
The first half was a poor spectacle, producing 11 wides (six for Cavan, who seemed unable to figure out how to unlock the Royals’ defence). As the second half wore on, Cavan improved greatly and with both sets of supporters very vocal, it resulted in a memorable, helter-skelter final quarter in which both sides threw everything they had at it.
Among those to impress for Cavan were Killian Brady, joint-captains Padraig Faulkner and Ciaran Brady and Niall Carolan while Paddy Lynch also led the line well and Gary O’Rourke had another solid outing in goals. For Meath, Brennan’s kicking was outstanding, the powerful Matthew Costello was a handful and Donal Keogan picked up the official Man of the Match award.
Meath were ahead by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break, with Cavan’s scores coming from Paddy Lynch (two frees) and one Cian Madden point from play.
Lynch and James Smith both raised two white flags apiece in the third quarter as Cavan cut the gap – although the Breffnimen had Gary O’Rourke to thank for a terrific one-on-one save.
Cavan levelled with a superb left-footed Padraig Faulkner point at 0-9 apiece and they would be level again at 0-10 and 0-11 each in a pulsating finale in which both sides could have lost it – or won it.
Full report in this week’s print edition.
Cavan: Gary O'Rourke; Niall Carolan (0-1), Killian Brady, Jason McLoughlin; Conor Rehill, Brian O'Connell, Padraig Faulkner (0-1); Ryan Brady, Killian Clarke; Ciaran Brady, Cian Madden (0-1), Gerard Smith; Oisin Brady, Paddy Lynch (0-6, 5f), James Smith (0-2).
Subs: Caoimhin O'Reilly for Oisin Brady (21), Tiarnan Madden for Ryan Brady, Cian Reilly for Rehill (both ht), Ryan O'Neill for C O'Reilly (53), Oisin Kiernan (Denn) for Killian Brady (69).
Meath: Sean Brennan (0-03, 45s); Adam O'Neill, Donal Keogan, Brian O'Halloran; Ciaran Caulfield, Darragh Campion, Sean Coffey; Daithi McGowan (0-2), Cian McBride; Ronan Jones (0-1), Eoghan Frayne (0-1f), Jack O'Connor (0-1); Mathew Costello (0-2), Shane Walsh (0-1), Cathal Hickey.
Subs: Ruairi Kinsella for J O'Connor (49), Danny Dixon for D McGowan (57), Michael Murphy for C Hickey (52), Aaron Lynch for E Frayne (52), Adam McDonnell for Campion (65).
Ref: James Molloy (Galway)