One point will see Cavan promoted after Laois win
Cavan 1-17
Laois 0-15
Paul Fitzpatrick
at Kingspan Breffni Park
A win or a draw at home next Sunday against Galway will be enough to see Cavan return to Division 1 for the first time since 2002 after they ground out a solid win against a sticky Laois side today.
The O'Moore men never really looked like winning – and never led – yet Cavan struggled to shake them off and were made to work hard for their five-point win.
The battle between Killian Clarke and Donie Kingston was worth the admission fee alone as Laois lumped high ball after high ball into their full-forward in the closing stages – but Cavan stood strong and kept a clean sheet, thanks in no small part to two great saves from Ray Galligan.
Early points from Sean Johnston (free), Tomás Corr, Ciaran Brady, Michael Argue and Gearoid McKiernan helped Cavan into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead 12 minutes in and they led by four at the break after further scores from Liam Buchanan and Conor Moynagh and an expertly-taken goal from Seanie Johnston in the 15th minute.
The Gaels man went off with a hamstring injury in the second half as Cavan endured 14 scoreless minutes but sub Jack Brady, who sparkled with two excellent points, and McKiernan steadied the ship as the Blues ran out five-point winners.
Scorers for Cavan: S Johnston 1-3 (3fs), G McKiernan 0-3, M Argue 0-2, J Brady 0-2, L Buchanan 0-1, R Galligan 0-1 (45), C Brady 0-1, C Moynagh 0-1, T Corr 0-1, M Reilly 0-1, D Givney 0-1.
Scorers for Laois: D Kingston 0-4 (4fs), J O'Loughlin 0-3, E O'Carroll 0-3 (1f, 1 45), C Begley 0-2, R Munnelly 0-2 (1f), J Farrell 0-1.
Cavan: R Galligan, P Faulkner, K Clarke, J McLoughlin, C Brady, C Moynagh), K Brady, T Corr, L Buchanan, D McVeety, G McKiernan, M Reilly, D Givney, M Argue, S Johnston.
Subs: E Keating for Johnston (47 mins), C Mackey for Argue (51 mins), N Murray for Moynagh (47 mins), J Brady for Buchanan (58 mins), J Hayes for K Brady (66 mins), R Dunne for Givney (69 mins).
Laois: G Brody, C Begley, D O'Reilly, D Strong, G Dillon, S Attride, M Timmons, B Quigley, C Meredith (0-1), K Meaney, J O'Loughlin, N Donoher, E O'Carroll, D Kingston, P Kingston.
Subs: J Farrell for Meaney (30 mins, BC), A Farrell for Dillon (HT), R Munnelly for P Kingston (51 mins), D O'Reilly for Meredith (55 mins), N Murphy for O'Carroll.
Referee: P O'Sullivan (Kerry).