Improved Cavan survive in Division 2 despite loss to Derry

NFL Division 2, Round 7

Derry 1-20

Cavan 0-19

Paul Fitzpatrick at Celtic Park

Despite falling to a fifth loss, Cavan survived in Division 2 after an improved performance in defeat against Derry.

The visitors opened very well, easing into a three-point lead and were unfortunate to be three down at the break, with captain Ciaran Brady off-target when Cavan opened Derry up for a goal chance. Derry pushed their lead out to eight with 15 minutes to play but Cavan kept battling and, helped by four second-half two-pointers, cut the gap to four by the long whistle.

Cavan started full of intent. Dara McVeety, who was outstanding, won an early free when he drove into contact and Gearoid McKiernan converted after just 70 seconds. Conor Brady followed with a fine effort from the left wing which clipped the upright on its way over and, after another slick attack involving McVeety, Emmanuel Shehu and Tiarnan Madden, the latter curled over with his left foot as Dermot McCabe’s men registered scores from each of their opening three attacks.

Derry were out of sorts in the opening exchanges but they struck for the game’s only goal on seven minutes when a quick handpass from Ethan Doherty was slightly overhit and Niall Loughlin, reacting sharply, drew on it soccer-style and buried to the bottom corner, and they added their first point shortly after through Lachlann Murray.

Even then, Cavan remained the better side for a spell. They were winning primary possession, with McVeety especially influential dropping deep on kick-outs, and Jason McLoughlin’s surging carries from defence caused Derry repeated problems. McKiernan punched over after one well-worked move and Ciaran Brady then had a glorious chance when he burst through the centre after a kick-out break, only to drag his shot wide of the left post when a goal looked on.

That miss proved costly as Derry settled. Shane McGuigan, operating with the aid of the breeze, nailed a superb two-point free from the sideline and although McVeety clipped over after another opening was fashioned for Ciaran Brady, the home side began to find a rhythm.

Gareth McKinless, driving forward, was central to that change, repeatedly stepping into the play from deep and picking clever passes, while Doherty and Loughlin added points after Cavan turnovers.

A three-up infringement handed McGuigan another two-point free and he soon added a point from play after combining again with McKinless on the loop. Suddenly Derry had turned a promising Cavan opening into a six-point lead.

Yet Cavan dug in. Cormac Brady produced an important block when Derry threatened another goal and Tiarnan Madden, one of Cavan’s liveliest forwards throughout, responded with a fisted point after a clever bounce dummy created the opening.

McKiernan then tagged on a free after Ciaran Brady was fouled and the Swanlinbar man followed with an excellent score from play off his right foot. Madden was involved again soon after, laying the ball off for Oisin Brady, who wrong-footed Conor Glass and split the posts to leave just three between them at the interval, 1-9 to 0-9.

Cavan resumed with purpose and Oisin Brady clipped over another fine point from the left to reduce the deficit to two, with Derry looking strangely loose at the back.

But the home side gradually regained control. McKinless again supplied the incision for Loughlin, who blasted over when in on goal, and after a subdued Patrick Lynch missed a free and McVeety shot wide, Derry found another gear.

Doherty’s pace brought a point on 49 minutes and Lachlan Murray followed with a superb curling effort. McGuigan – who scored 0-11 but left a few behind him - then wasted a good chance.

From the next attack, McGuigan made no mistake after a powerful run from clubmate Brendan Rogers, before Murray stretched the margin again with a score from the right after a loose kick from Liam Brady. McGuigan added a free, Derry's sixth point in succession, and, at 1-15 to 0-10 with 15 minutes remaining, Derry appeared to be coasting home.

To Cavan’s credit, they refused to let the game drift away. Oisin Brady led the response with a brilliant two-pointer from the edge of the arc and Gerard Smith, on as a substitute, surged forward before Ryan Donohoe landed a magnificent outside-of-the-boot two-pointer. In the space of a couple of attacks, Cavan had breathed life back into the contest.

Derry still had enough class to keep them at arm’s length, though. McGuigan arrowed over another point and Doherty produced an excellent finish from a tight angle. McVeety then had a sight of goal for Cavan but shot straight at the goalkeeper when a point may have been the better option, and McGuigan punished them at the other end to leave four in it again.

By now, the intensity had dropped at both ends. A well-worked kick-out saw McVeety win possession, continue his run and take the return before drilling over a two-pointer of real quality. Sub Sean Young replied with a fine strike for Derry but Lynch landed a two-point free and, after Cavan pinched the next kick-out, McKiernan went for the top corner only to blaze wide when a goal would have set up a grandstand finish.

Derry then did what experienced teams do, holding possession and running down the clock before McGuigan closed the scoring with a late free. Even in defeat, there were positives in Cavan’s display and Louth’s win over Kildare ensured the Breffnimen’s Division 2 status was preserved.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Brían O’Connell, Cormac Brady; Niall Carolan, Ciaran Brady, Conor Brady (0-1); Ryan Donohoe (0-2, 2pt), Gearóid McKiernan (0-5, 2f); Tiarnan Madden (0-2), Eoin Clarke, Oisin Brady (0-4, 2pt); Emmanuel Shehu, Dara McVeety (0-3, 2pt), Patrick Lynch (0-2, 2ptf)

Subs: Gerard Smith for E Shehu (49), Peter Corrigan for Cormac Brady (57), Favour Shehu for O Brady (61), Ryan Tobin for N Carolan (68), Caoimhín McGovern for P Lynch (68).

Derry: Shea McGuckin; Diarmuid Baker, Ruairí Ó Mianáin, Ruairí Forbes; Matthew Downey, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty (0-3), Dan Higgins, Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin (1-2), Shane McGuigan (0-11, 2 2ptf, 4f), Lachlan Murray (0-3)

Subs: Conor McCluskey for M Downey (half-time), Niall Toner for R Ó Mianáin (49), Sean Young (0-1) for P Cassidy (58), Niall O’Donnell for D Higgins (65), Sean Kearney for R Forbes (69).