Cavan ease to six-point win over Wexford

NFL Division 4 round 2

Cavan 0-17

Wexford 1-8

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Cavan made it two wins from two as they comfortably eased past the challenge of Wexford at Kingspan Breffni.

Cavan came into this match as strong favourites, having beaten Leitrim by four in Carrick-On-Shannon a week ago. The visitors were beaten narrowly by Sligo in round one but had been competitive in each outing over the past two seasons under the management of former attacker Shane Roche.

The 2020 Ulster champions lined out a strong side and it was clear they had the edge on physicality and firepower as they raced into a 0-12 to 0-3 lead at the halfway point.

However, the hosts’ second-half performance was sloppy and error-ridden for long spells; Wexford cut the gap to five points approaching the home straight but Cavan stretched away again, with sub Martin Reilly providing fresh impetus.

The big concern for the Blues, though, will be the injury sustained by forward Conor Smith, who was helped off near the end after turning awkwardly.

Early on, Cavan put a press on the Wexford kick-out, forcing goalkeeper Darragh Brooks to go long, and the Breffni men controlled the midfield exchanges, with James Smith and Thomas Galligan ruling the aerial battle, despite Smith spending a spell in the sin bin.

Mickey Graham’s men began very much on the front foot as Smith won the throw-in and galloped through before laying off for Galligan to point. Gearoid McKiernan, who was in sublime form, hooked over his first before Patrick Lynch knocked over a free following a foul on Cormac O’Reilly as Cavan moved three clear after six minutes.

The exchanges were quite ill-tempered in the opening quarter; ref Thomas Murphy handed out five cards, including blacks to Smith and Michael Furlong, and after a scrappy spell, Wexford got off the mark with a point from Ben Brosnan.

Cavan, though, were still dominating; the likes of Gerry Smith, Killian Clarke and Padraig Faulkner were making powerful runs off the shoulder and Wexford struggled to contain them.

A 45 from Cavan goalkeeper Ray Galligan was cancelled out by a Kevin O’Grady point which left it at 0-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes but Cavan put their foot on the accelerator and reeled off seven points unanswered to put the game to bed.

A well-worked point finished by Oisin Kiernan got them going again and further scores from Killian Clarke and James Smith stretched Cavan’s advantage.

Then came two excellent scores in succession by talisman McKiernan and a 45 from Ray Galligan before Wexford finally added their third score, a free from Mark Rossitter.

A McKiernan free rounded off the first-half scoring but Cavan boss Graham will not have been satisfied with the second half which followed.

Rossiter and Martin Reilly traded scores before impressive Wexford sub John Tubritt found the net with a stunning finish.

A free from Kevin O’Grady dragged Wexford closer but Cavan finally woke up when Padraig Faulkner, who had an excellent match, drove over a long-range point.

McKiernan (free) and Tubritt (two from play) exchanged efforts as the clock ticked down. Another 45 from Ray Galligan helped ease Cavan home, with veteran Reilly, in his 16th season, scoring a spectacular late point as Cavan got home with six to spare.

Cavan: Raymond Galligan (0-3, three 45s), Gerard Smith (0-1), Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Killian Brady, Chris Conroy, Killian Clarke (0-1), Oisin Kiernan (0-1), James Smith (0-1), Thomas Galligan (0-1), Cian Madden, Gearoid McKiernan (0-5, 2f), Conor Moynagh, Cormac O’Reilly, Patrick Lynch (0-1f), Luke Fortune

Subs: Conor Smith for C O’Reilly, Martin Reilly (0-2) for C Conroy (45 mins), Conor Madden for C Madden (48), Caoimhin O’Reilly for P Lynch (63), Niall Murray for G Smith (68), Benjamin Kelly for Faulkner (temp, 70, reversed 72)

Wexford: Darragh Brooks, Eoin Porter, Michael Furlong, Liam O’Connor, Paraic Hughes, Martin O’Connor, Dylan Furlong, Liam Coleman, Darragh Lyons, Tom Byrne, Kevin O’Grady (0-2, 1f), Alan Tobin, Glen Malone, Mark Rossiter (0-2f), Ben Brosnan (0-1)

Subs: Niall Hughes for D Lyons (32 mins), Eoghan Nolan for M Rossiter, Robbie Brooks for B Brosnan, John Tubritt (1-3, 1f) for A Tobin (all 49 mins), Conor Carty for M Furlong (52)

Ref: Thomas Murphy (Galway)