U20s impress with thrilling win over Armagh

Ulster U20 Football Championship R2

Cavan 3-16

Armagh 1-19

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Cavan U20s continued their unbeaten run with this hard-fought victory over Armagh, coming from behind to power over the finish line with a greatly improved performance.

Havign drawn their opener against Monaghan when they were five down at half-time, Cavan again started slowly but grew into this contest and hit their stride on the home stretch to deservedly take the win.

At half-time, Armagh held a deserved 0-10 to 1-5 lead and Cavan would have been relatively content to go in only two down considering the Orchard had registered nine of the first 11 scores.

Cavan, though, crucially had a goal on the board, a brilliant individual effort by Niall Magee who unfortunately went off injured before half-time, and a well-taken two-pointer from Matthew Smith.

The home side rallied, though, before the break, with Oliver McCrystal (who replaced Magee) making a difference, landing the final three points of the half to propel themselves very much back into contention.

Armagh, who came into the match as big underdogs with the bookmakers, started well, rattling off three quick points from their first four shots.

Conal McGeough, captain Calum O’Neill and Michael McSorley all scored before Cavan levelled it when Magee gathered possession 40 metres out and tore in before finishing with the left.

Armagh weren’t rattled, however, and four successive points from McSorley, Paul Hendron, livewire John Joe Hughes and Diarmaid O’Rourke made it 0-7 to 1-0 as Cavan struggled.

The hosts stopped the bleeding with an outside-the-boot two-pointer from Matthew Smith but Armagh again responded in kind, McGeough sending over a great score.

Hughes, out in front, raised another white flag but Cavan finished the half strongly. McCrystal fired over off the left with his first play and Cian Keaney then curled one in with the left.

His confidence up, the Killygarry man kicked another lovely score just before the break to leave two between them.

Cavan started the second half on the front foot, Dylan Edwards releasing Jake Whyte for a fisted point. Hughes replied with a well-struck free which set the tone for an end-to-end and very entertaining second stanza.

Cavan were moving the ball quicker now, as exemplified with their next play when captain Costello, who was influential in a deeper role than last week, made a big catch and hit Lorcan Reilly quickly, with the Knockbride attacker drilling over.

Reilly soon added a point after Smith was fouled when shooting and five minutes in, Cavan were in front for the first time when Smith again sprayed it forward and Ben Tully, who was part of a half-back line who impressed going forward, kicked a fine score.

McGeough converted a free, brought forward 50 metres, but Cavan were not going away and superb strikes from Reilly and Keaney made it 1-11 to 0-13.

Smith added the next after a penetrative run from James Tully but when Cavan were loose in possession, Armagh broke and the classy O’Neill punished them with a point.

As the game ticked into the final quarter, the Orchard struck for a well-worked goal; an overload saw Cavan scrambling and sub Jack Loughran practically walked it in.

And when captain O’Neill kicked another quality score, it was 1-15 to 1-12 with 12 minutes of normal time remaining and Armagh looked firmly in control.

Then came the second major for the Blues. But Cavan came again. After a wide (Cavan’s ninth), Smith pinched a kick-out and Keaney and Ben Tully combined, the latter finding sub Darragh Noonan, who palmed in at the back post.

Although Diarmaid O’Rourke nudged the visitors back in front and then they worked an easy point off their own kick-out (Ryan Duffy finishing), Cavan replied when James Tully laid off for Noonan to point from a tight angle.

Armagh almost crept in for another goal when things opened up after a long kick-out but O’Neill took his point to leave it 1-18 to 2-13 with five minutes remaining.

But Larry Reilly’s lads kicked on from there with what proved to be a match-winning surge. After a spectacular block from full-back Cillian Brady, they sped upfield and Smith released Even Crowe, who galloped down the centre and, just as the defence closed in, released a powerful shot to the right of the net.

Buoyed by the major, Cavan poured forward. Ben Tully pointed off the left, Smith created an opening and Reilly belted over and then, after a powerful run from Aaron Shekleton, Reilly again stepped up with a good point as Cavan surged four in front.

Armagh needed a goal but had to settle for a point from sub Eoin Duffy. Barry O’Hagan’s side were handed a chance at a two-point free but were off-target; they forced a 45 but Costello rose highest to field it and the long whistle sounded immediately afterwards.

Cavan: Tom Martin (Kingscourt Stars), Jensen Tynan (Ramor United), Cillian Brady (Gowna), Aaron Shekleton (Kingscourt Stars), Ben Tully (Cavan Gaels, 0-2), Evan Crowe (Ballyhaise, 1-0), James Tully (Laragh United), Davin Graham (Butlersbridge), Dylan Edwards (Templeport), Jake Whyte (Cootehill Celtic, 0-1), Lorcan Reilly (Knockbride, 0-5, 1f), Niall Magee (Cuchulainns, 1-0), Matthew Smith (Ramor United, 0-3, 2pt), Matthew Costello (Crosserlough), Cian Keaney (Killygarry, 0-4)

Subs: Oliver McCrystal (Ramor United, 0-1) for N Magee (inj, 23), Darragh Noonan (Killygarry, 1-1) for J Whyte (47), Oisin Maguire (Mullahoran) for D Graham (52), Cormac Galligan (Mullahoran) for C Keaney (30), Luke Allison (Butlersbridge) for J Tully (62)

Armagh: Michael Finnegan, Eugene McEntee, Shea McCann, Jack Lavery, Ryan Duffy (0-1), Ryan Nugent, Diarmaid O’Rourke (0-2), Michael McSorley (0-2), Sean Burke, Paul Hendron (0-1f), Ryan Martin, Calum O’Neill (0-4), John Joe Hughes (0-3, 1f), Conal McGeough (0-5, 2pt, 1f), Eoin Kane

Subs: Jack Loughran (1-0) for P Hendron, Aaron Haughey for R Martin (both 42), Eoin Duffy (0-1) for S Burke (50)

Ref: Christopher Brady (Monaghan)