Spirited Cavan hold on for one-point win in chaotic clash with Louth

NFL Division 2 round 4

Cavan 2-13

Louth 3-9

Paul Fitzpatrick at St Mary’s Park

Cavan picked up a second successive one-point win in this helter skelter clash in a blustery and bitterly cold Ardee.

In an intensely physical contest, Cavan opened a six-point lead deep in the second half but had to withstand fierce pressure from Louth in the closing stages before holding on for a spirited win by the minimum.

The highlights were many in what was, at times, a crazy encounter. In a tight club venue, there was a throwback feel to the exchanges and both sides will be disappointed with aspects of their play in a match which produced 12 cards and 45 frees – but in the final analysis, the stat that counted was on the scoreboard and Cavan deserved the win.

The home side were ahead by the minimum, 2-3 to 1-5, at the end of an eventful and at times chaotic first half – and things got even more anarchic in the second half, with two Cavan players being shown red cards after being substituted in a surreal twist.

Playing, it appeared, with a strong wind at their backs, Cavan got off to a great start when Ciaran Brady delivered the ball long straight from the throw-in and Caoimhín O’Reilly collected and fired over the resulting mark.

Louth captain Sam Mulroy, who was unusually subdued, replied with a 40-metre free but Cavan hit the jackpot in the sixth minute when a misplaced Louth handpass as they broke out of defence handed Gerry Smith a gift and he made no mistake in tucking away to the empty net.

That major was Cavan’s first of the league but any hopes that it would provide a platform to kick on were quickly dashed; two minutes later, they conceded their maiden goal of the season, too.

Slick movement and passing opened up the Cavan defence and when Mulroy went to ground bearing down on goal, the referee had no hesitation in signalling for a penalty and the Naomh Mairtin man made no mistake from the spot.

The goals seemed to free both sides from whatever shackles were on and the remainder of the half felt like old school football, with relentless turnovers, high intensity and no little physicality leading to an entertaining, if frustrating (for both sets of supporters at the small, sold-out venue) half hour.

A 46-metre strike from Paddy Lynch, after a pass from Oisin Kiernan who probably handled more ball than any other Cavanman in the first half and took over man-marking duties on Mulroy from Killian Brady, nudged Cavan in front again and the advantage was doubled when Lynch split the posts with a 40-metre free.

But that was as good as it got. Midfielder Tommy Durnin, who had the freedom of Ardee all day, broke two tackles and found Ryan Burns, who turned inside sharply and set a rocket to the top left corner of Gary O’Rourke’s net.

Cavan created half a goal chance when Jason McLoughlin lumped a high ball in but the opportunity was squandered; moments later, Louth also found themselves in at the other end but after rounding O’Rourke, Conor Grimes could only send his shot over the bar.

Caoimhín O’Reilly pointed off the left after good work from Killian Clarke and Niall Carolan but Louth were causing the Cavan defence bother and a nice dummy allowed Ciaran Downey space to make it 2-3 to 1-4.

Paddy Lynch, who finished with 0-8, knocked over a free after a foul on Padraig Faulkner to leave one between them at half-time but for the second week in succession, Cavan re-emerged fired up and showed their class.

After 90 seconds, Brían O’Connell squared to the back post for James Smith to palm in his first senior goal and Cavan’s chances were further boosted when Ciaran Downey picked up a straight red following a melee on Cavan’s 45-metre line which caused a long delay.

Cavan added further scores from Cormac O’Reilly, a lovely effort, and a fisted point from Cian Madden followed by a Lynch free and although Ciaran Keenan kicked a quality point, a sweetly-struck Lynch 45 and a free from the same man made it 2-10 to 2-4 entering the home stretch.

By then, though, the sides were levelled numerically when James Smith was sent off (as Cavan tried to take him off) and Louth came thundering back into contention when the impressive Durnin drove at the defence and Keenan laid off for Mulroy to palm in.

Durnin kicked a screamer as Louth upped the ante and when Grimes came up with an excellent score, it was a one-point game with seven minutes remaining.

Cavan didn’t panic; Carolan found Madden for an important left-footed point after Gerry Smith did well. After Lynch tacked on a free, Cavan were turned over and Louth countered, Keenan nailing the chance.

Sub Ryan O’Neill was felled and Lynch did the needful to make it 2-13 to 3-7 on 68 minutes but Cavan had to endure a very nervy final eight minutes (including injury time) as Louth threw everything at it.

Mulroy (free) and Tom Jackson, with a 45-metre wind-assisted strike, left one between them and Cavan were soon down to 13 when Oisin Brady picked up a second yellow after tangling with an opponent while walking to the sideline after being substituted (Tiarnan Madden, Brady’s replacement, was then directed to leave the field).

It was that sort of match, surreal at times and never less than eventful, but Cavan held on to continue a 14-year unbeaten run against the Wee County and cement their third-place position in the table, with two home games to come and promotion very much in their own hands.

Cavan: Gary O’Rourke, Oisin Kiernan, Killian Brady, Jason McLoughlin, Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Brían O’Connell, Killian Clarke, James Smith (1-0), Ciaran Brady, Cian Madden (0-2), Gerard Smith (1-0), Oisin Brady, Paddy Lynch (0-8, 6f, 45), Caoimhín O’Reilly (0-2, 1m)

Subs: Cian Reilly for O Kiernan, Cormac O’Reilly (0-1) for C O’Reilly (both ht), Conor Rehill for K Clarke (62), Ryan O’Neill for C Madden (64)

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Leonard Grey, Anthony Williams, Conall McKeever; Conor Early, Tommy Durnin (0-1); Paul Mathews, Ciarán Keenan (0-2), Conor Grimes (0-2); Ryan Burns (1-0), Sam Mulroy (2-02, 1-0 pen, 2f), Ciarán Downey (0-1).

Subs: Tom Jackson (0-1) for Mathews (44), Niall Sharkey for Grey (57), Conall McCaul for Early (62), Ciarán Murphy for Williams (62), Kyle McElroy for Burns (68).

Ref: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)