Cavan unravel in final 10 minutes as Cork come back from the dead

NFL Division 2 Round 1

Cork 0-24

Cavan 2-17

Paul Fitzpatrick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh

This was one that got away for Cavan. Chasing a third win in Páirc Uí Chaoimh since 2018, the visitors led by seven points with 10 minutes to go but ultimately unravelled in the closing stages as the Rebels got the job done.

Cavan led by three in a quickfire start, trailed by two at half-time but were brilliant in the third quarter as the hosts collapsed, with Dara McVeety, Ciaran Brady (Arva) and Gearoid McKiernan to the fore.

But Cork, who looked dead and buried, turned it around and somehow, found a way to win.

Cavan set up with McKiernan, in his first competitive game since April 13 last year, and McVeety, who scored 1-4 and laid on the same, close to goal. Tiarnan Madden was ostensibly the link man, dropping deeper when Cavan were in their defensive shell, but Oisin Brady covered every inch of the pitch in a similar role.

Dermot McCabe’s side burst from the blocks. Oisin Brady took on Ruairi Deane, made the space and split the posts off his left, and when Cavan intercepted the kick-out moments later, Niall Carolan won it, fed McVeety and the Crosserlough man curled over from the right.

Ryan Donohoe then laid off for Gerard Smith, who threaded a lovely score from just inside the arc and after three minutes, it was 0-3 to 0-0.

Cavan squeezed Cork’s kick-outs, forced them long and made the early running, but Cork steadied. Colm O’Callaghan clipped a point on the run, Jones fed Deane for a left-footed score and when Sean McDonnell gathered a loose ball after Brian O’Driscoll’s two-point attempt hit the upright, the Cork midfielder barged through Jason McLoughlin only to pull his goal chance wide, a warning shot on six minutes.

Mark Cronin levelled it with a left-footed strike and Cork were beginning to look sharp. They had a free on the wing when a Cavan kick-out failed to cross the 20 metre line, but Cronin missed.

Still, the pressure was mounting. Oisin Brady’s shot was blocked at the other end and Cork built again before McLoughlin produced an excellent turnover to deny what looked like a clear goal chance.

McVeety broke that spell, beating Rory Maguire and curling in a neat point on 13 minutes, but Cork responded immediately. McDonnell landed a two-pointer and then, after Cavan lost possession on the next kick-out, Cronin edged the hosts ahead.

The game swung again in an instant. Conor Brady, who turned in a good shift, delivered to the back post, McVeety rose and palmed to the net. The ref consulted his umpires and the goal stood; Cavan were back in front at 1-4 to 0-6.

Paul Walsh and Cronin replied, the latter from a free after Luke Fahy was fouled, and Cavan were working hard but living dangerously at the back. Madden steadied them with a fine point, but Cork continued to find space.

Ryan Donohoe missed a couple of frees and as the half wore on, the absence of Paddy Lynch, presumably not fit enough to start, was beginning to show.

Cronin fist-passed over after temporary sub Hofmann was turned over, a possible goal chance reduced to a point, and McVeety dragged one wide at the other end. Then came Cavan’s best move of the half. O’Driscoll dropped short, Oisin Brady linked with McKiernan, Madden and again Brady, and McVeety injected the pace, beating his man and fisting over from a tight angle after a sweeping move the length of the field.

Cavan forced a kick-out over the sideline and from the throw-in, Killygarry’s Brady burned a defender and launched a tremendous point to tie it. Cork had a response when Brian Hurley pointed; McVeety set up Donohoe for another fisted score but Hurley had the final word of the half, drilling a two-pointer to send Cork in 0-13 to 1-8 ahead.

The second half began with a Luke Fahy point, but Cavan’s response was excellent. McVeety laid off to McKiernan on the loop and he swung over off his left. Gearoid then stepped forward to nail a two-point free and suddenly the deficit was gone.

McDonnell missed, O’Callaghan and McDonnell combined for a goal chance that Liam Brady smothered, and another poor wide followed. Gearoid dropped deeper on Cavan’s kick-outs, began to dominate in the air and the mood shifted – Cork were wilting and Cavan’s confidence grew.

Captain Ciaran Brady drove through a heavy challenge, steadied and pointed. It was Cavan’s first lead since the opening minutes and Cork looked to be under pressure. They coughed it up again and when Lynch was introduced, Cavan had all the momentum.

McVeety then produced a moment of class, dummied his man, slipped the pass off the shoulder and Ciaran Brady (Arva) powered through to blast to the net. At 2-12 to 0-14 on 45 minutes, Cork, it seemed, were on the canvas.

Gearoid went wide, Paul Walsh replied, but Cavan were flying. McKiernan, dominating in the air, took another huge catch, worked it to McVeety, who shrugged off a defender and pointed. The next kick-out was broken again, Lynch and McVeety combined to release Carolan and he blasted over. It was 2-14 to 0-15 and Cork had folded.

Or so it seemed.

Cronin pointed a free and a black card for sub Ryan Brady offered Cork a lifeline. They squandered it with another wide, but McVeety was still terrorising the full-back line and when he was fouled, Lynch converted to restore a five-point cushion.

A wide was brought back for a three-up infraction and Lynch converted the two-point free. At 2-17 to 0-16 with just over 10 minutes to go, Cavan were seven clear.

And then things went awry. McDonnell pointed, Oisin Brady over-carried and Dara Sheedy worked it to orange flag specialist Steven Sherlock, who curled over a two-pointer. A loose kick-out was claimed, delivered long to Cronin, his shot struck the upright but he converted the resulting free. Game on.

Lynch missed at the other end. Cavan then fluffed a goal chance when Gerard Smith unluckily slipped and Cork countered, Sheedy pulling wide - but the sense of momentum had shifted. A soft free was awarded to Jones, Cronin converted and when Jones pointed from play, the Páirc Uí Chaoimh crowd, drifting in for the hurling, found its voice.

Gerard Smith, who had worked tirelessly, dragged Sherlock back and the sub nailed the two-point free. From seven down, Cork were in front. Cavan, impressive for large stretches and brilliant in the third quarter, had somehow come away empty-handed, a cruel result after they were very much in command approaching the home stretch.

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