Fast start lays platform as Cavan minors see off Down in League opener

Ulster Minor Football League

Down 0-13

Cavan 3-14

Damien Donohoe at Páirc Esler

Cavan minors opened their Ulster Minor Football League campaign in impressive fashion on Saturday afternoon when a powerful first-half performance paved the way for a deserved 3-14 to 0-13 victory over Down at Páirc Esler, Newry.

In bright Spring sunshine, Ed O’Hanlon’s side burst out of the blocks and established control early, striking three first-half goals and dominating the kick-out battle to build a commanding 3-8 to 0-6 lead by the interval.

Cavan made the perfect start. With just two minutes on the clock, wing half-back Simon Kolimar surged forward and slipped a clever pass inside to Jack Forde. The corner-forward side-stepped his marker and calmly finished low to the net with his right foot to give the visitors the ideal opening.

A minute later Cavan were further ahead when Exceedingly Imade pointed from 25 metres with his right foot after strong build-up play. The Breffni side were dominating possession and soon stretched their advantage again when full-forward Jay Graham split the posts from a placed ball after Down were penalised on their own kick-out.

By the 10th minute Cavan were six points clear. Conor McCabe combined neatly with Jake Brady in a slick one-two before curling over a well-taken point to extend the lead.

Down opened their account on 12 minutes when Conall Gallagher pointed from play for the home side, but Cavan responded immediately. From the resulting kick-out Graham flicked possession forward into the path of CJ Fitzpatrick, who hooked over a fine score off his left foot to restore the six-point cushion.

Cavan continued to dictate proceedings around the middle of the field, with Senan Graham and Imade influential in linking play. Good interplay between Imade and Forde soon resulted in another Cavan score, Forde adding a neat right-footed point.

Down managed a brief response with points from Tiernan Conway and midfielder Ross Austin, but Cavan remained firmly in control. Graham popped up with his second point of the afternoon on 18 minutes, striking over from 35 metres to leave the visitors leading 1-6 to 0-3.

Gallagher kept Down in touch with two well-taken points, narrowing the deficit to four, but Cavan finished the half with a decisive spell that effectively settled the contest.

On 24 minutes Graham’s effort dropped dangerously close to the end line and Kolimar reacted quickest to break the ball back across the goalmouth where Imade was on hand to blast it to the back of the net. That second goal pushed Cavan seven points clear once more.

Moments later Fitzpatrick added another point from a free after Jake Brady had been fouled, curling the ball over from the right-hand side.

Cavan’s dominance from kick-outs was again evident approaching the break. Goalkeeper Kevin Heery’s long restart was brilliantly fielded by Forde around midfield. The attacker immediately released Oliver Clarke with a precise pass over the top and the forward showed impressive pace as he drove towards goal. With Brady cleverly occupying the covering defender, Clarke had the space to unleash a powerful finish to the bottom corner.

That third goal stretched the advantage to 11 points and underlined Cavan’s superiority.

Cavan won the resulting Down kick-out and Daire McCrystal added another point for the visitors before Down grabbed a late score through Josh O’Hagan to leave the half-time score reading 3-8 to 0-6 in Cavan’s favour.

Down began the second half with renewed purpose. Brogan Clarke pointed early after the restart and Michael Trainor followed up with another score to trim the margin slightly.

However, Cavan soon steadied themselves. Graham opened their second-half account with a converted free on ten minutes and he followed that with an excellent point from the left corner shortly afterwards after Cavan once again turned over possession from their own kick-out and moved the ball quickly into the scoring zone.

Down continued to battle hard and Gallagher struck again from play before Sam Murdock converted a free to bring the gap back to eight points midway through the half.

But that was as close as the hosts would get.

Cavan’s defensive unit, marshalled by Andrew Smart and Daire McCrystal, remained well organised and disciplined, forcing Down to operate largely outside the 40-metre arc and limiting any genuine goal opportunities.

Substitute Finn Keaney made a lively impact after being introduced and was rewarded when he worked tirelessly to force a turnover high up the pitch before calmly splitting the posts to restore Cavan’s nine-point advantage.

Murdock replied with another free for Down but wing half-forward Conor McCabe responded immediately with a well-taken point for Cavan.

Keaney added his second point with two minutes of normal time remaining, although the substitute might have created an even better opportunity had he spotted Hugo Morgan unmarked to his left.

Down did manage a late score through Jack O’Mahony but the final say went to Cavan. Deep into stoppage time Jay Graham delivered a superb cross-field kick pass that picked out Imade in space and the forward clipped over his second point of the afternoon to seal the win.

Overall it was an encouraging opening performance from O’Hanlon’s side, whose fast start, strong midfield control and well-organised defence proved decisive as they claimed a comfortable victory on the road.

Cavan: Kevin Heery (Templeport); Jack Fallon (Killygarry), Andrew Smart (Ramor United), Mikey Ferncombe (Drumalee); Simon Kolimar (Cavan Gaels), Daire McCrystal (Ramor United, 0-1) Oisín Smith (Denn), Senan Graham (Butlersbridge), Exceedingly Imade (Butlersbridge, 1-2); Conor McCabe (Denn, 0-2), Oliver Clarke (Killinkere, 1-0), Jake Brady (Gowna); CJ Fitzpatrick (Ballinagh, 0-2, 1f), Jay Graham (Lavey, 0-4, 2f), Jack Forde (Laragh United, 1-2).

Subs: Adam Smith (Arva) for Oisín Smith; Hugo Morgan (Ramor United) for JBrady; Finn Keaney (Killygarry 0-2) for CJ Fitzpatrick; Ben Stafford (Cornafean) for O Clarke

Down: Brodie McGreevy; Ruairí McCaffrey, Luca Smyth, Luca McLogan; Frankie McHugh, Ethan Lavelle, Michael Trainor (0-1); Dara Ward, Ross Austin (0-1); Jack O’Mahony (0-1), Sam Murdock (0-2f), Josh O’Hagan (0-1); Brogan Clarke (0-1), Tiernan Conway (0-1), Conall Gallagher (0-5).

Subs: Dylan Kelly for Josh O’Hagan; Patrick Joyce for Conall Gallagher; Joel Barr for Luca McLogan; Dylan McAleenan for Frankie McHugh; CJ Harrison for Brogan Clarke.