Cavan Masters survive late Antrim surge to lift the Shield

Masters football

Cavan 3-12

Antrim 1-14

The Cavan Masters bridged a 12-year gap to their last national Shield success when they overcame Antrim in Saturday’s Masters Shield final at Kingspan Breffni. In a contest that swung from total Breffni dominance to a late Antrim charge, the hosts did enough to secure a four point victory, and their second ever Shield title.

Cavan, managed by Terry Smith with selectors Declan Beard, Cormac Neligan and Barry McGovern, had qualified for the knock-out stages in sixth place after one defeat and a draw in the group, before producing a semi-final win over Mayo. Antrim had finished just a point behind them in the table and carried that form into a spirited comeback, but Cavan’s first-half power and Joe Sheridan’s second-half goal proved the difference.

Cavan started at a blistering pace. Inside the opening minute, Sean Brady sent in a direct kick-pass that found Paddy McNamee, who split the posts. Moments later, Michael McGovern curled over from the right wing to double the home sides lead.

On two minutes, Mark McKeever battled to keep a miscued shot in play and offloaded to Keith Fannin, who swung over with his left to make it 0-3 to 0-0. With four minutes played, Joe Sheridan found McGovern, with a cross field pass, who tapped over his second. From the next attack, McKeever intercepted and set up Fannin for another excellent left-footed point from distance to leave Cavan ahead 0-5 to no score.

Antrim finally got on the board after seven minutes. A foul resulted in a black card for Sean Brady, and when the free was advanced for dissent, Michael McCarry converted. Five minutes later McCarry added another, this time from the left corner.

Cavan answered straight away. Anthony Brady won the restart and launched a long pass to McNamee, who cut in on his left and clipped his second point. Antrim’s Ryan Daly then surged forward from corner-back to fire over, leaving the score at 0-6 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.

On 19 minutes, the target man, Sheridan was hauled down in the square under a dropping ball. Keith Fannin buried the penalty low past the keeper, pushing Cavan into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead.

Antrim responded on 22 minutes with a piece of improvisation from Kieran Close, who pointed an overhead kick, with his back to goal after a McCarry free rebounded off the post. Ryan Boyd quickly followed with a long-range effort that skimmed the crossbar.

Antrim’s Liam Casserly was then black-carded, leaving them down to 14 men for the remainder of the half. Cavan pressed on. With a minute to the interval, Sheridan dragged defenders out of position before Keith Fannin picked out Colm Reilly, who fed Derek Hand. Hand palmed over when a goal looked on.

There was still time for one more major score. Captain Padraig Cahill turned over possession and launched an attack that ended with Reilly floating a ball over the heads of the Antrim defence, to McNamee, who rattled the net off the left post. At the break, Cavan led 2-7 to 0-5.

Cavan resumed on the front foot, rattling off three scores without reply. McNamee added a point, substitute Tomás Leonard struck another, and Fannin curled his third score of the day to leave the score 2-10 to 0-5.

Antrim were not done. On 36 minutes David McLernon pointed on his right, and two minutes later Liam Cassely squared across goal for Mark Graham to palm home, cutting the margin to 2-10 to 1-6. McCarry followed with another free, and suddenly it was a six-point game.

Cavan steadied again. Sheridan set up McNamee for a fisted point, before again turning provider for McGovern, who dummied onto his left and clipped his third of the match.

On 45 minutes came the game’s decisive score.

Tomás Leonard launched long, Sheridan got the run on his marker, and with trademark power the Meath native fisted to the net. That goal put Cavan 3-12 to 1-7 ahead, an 11-point cushion.

The final quarter belonged to the Saffrons. McCarry was unerring, hitting five of their last seven points (three frees and two from play) to spark belief. Declan McErlean added another, and Brendan Etherson struck as the gap closed dramatically.

Seven points in a row left just four between them, but the clock ran out before Antrim could find the goal they needed. Cavan, despite a nervous finish, were worthy winners on the balance of play and lifted the Shield.

Cavan: Brian Clarke (Killinkere); Kevin Donohoe (Lavey), Paul Brady (Cornafean), Sean Brady (Castlerahan); Anthony Brady (Killinkere), Padraig Cahill (Capt, Killygarry), Pearse West (Redhills); Ray Keogh (Gowna), Tomas Corr (Denn); Keith Fannin (Drumgoon)(1p-3), Shane McAnarney (V Capt, Clann na nGael), Michael McGovern (Killygarry)(0-3); Paddy McNamee (Ramor)(1-4), Joe Sheridan (Seneschalstown)(1-0), Mark McKeever (Gowna)

Subs & Panel: Colm Reilly (Ballyhaise), Daithí Neary (Kildallan), Tomás Leonard (Killygarry)(0-1), Derek Hand (Laragh)(0-1), Fergal Maguire (Kildallan), Philip Monaghan (Drung), Stephen McGovern (Killygarry), Gary Arkins (Gael Colmcille), John Conroy (Killygarry), Gareth Corrigan (Drumlane), Barry Reilly (Ballyhaise), Stephen Tighe (Ramor), Shane Mulligan (Crosserlough), Shane McGorry (Drumgoon), Barry Balfe (Gael Colmcille), Rory Geoghegan (Cornafean), John Andrews (Killygarry), Garret Bannon (Templeport), Gary McNamee (Ramor), Peter Clarke (Cuchulainns), Pat Clarke (Killygarry), Cormac Nelligan (Ramor), Declan Beard (Ballinagh), Barry McGovern (Killygarry), Damian Smith (Castlerahan), Patrick Mulligan (Arva), Paul Farrelly (Castlerahan), Seanie Farrelly (Kingscourt)

Antrim: Sean McGreevy (St Paul’s); Ryan Daly (St Brigid’s)(0-1), Laurence Higgins (St Paul’s), Colly Connolly (St James’); Damien Kelly (All Saints), Stephen O’Connell (Ahoghill), Dominic Neeson (Ahoghill); Ken Golden (Ballina Stephenites), Ryan Boyd (Moneyglass)(0-1); James McGreevy (St Paul’s), Barry McMahon (St Brigid’s), Michael McCarry (All Saints)(0-8,6f); Kevin McAllister (Dunloy), Kieran Close (Cargin)(0-1), Michael Herron (Capt, Lamh Dhearg)

Subs: Stephen Harbinson (St Teresa’s), Adrian Scullion (Dunloy), Mark Graham (Enniskillen)(1-0), Michael Donnelly (Rasharkin), Liam Magee (St Paul’s), Liam Cassely (All Saints), Declan McLarnon (St Agnes’), Niall Sweeney (Moneyglass), Darren Craig (Cargin), Kevin Gallagher (St Brigid’s), Brendan Etherson (Rasharkin), Thomas Doherty (Rasharkin), David McLernon (Ahoghill)(0-1), Michael McCann (Cargin), Sean Kelly (St Gall’s), Phelim McCluskey (Portglenone), Anto Healy (St Gall’s), Colin Brady (St Gall’s)(0-1), Declan McErlean (Portglenone), Brendan Herron (Lamh Dhearg), Sean Carter (St Brigid’s).

See tomorrow's print edition for reaction and photos.