Late drama as promotion stars align elsewhere but Cavan come up short

NFL Division 2 round 7

Cork 0-21

Cavan 0-19

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

There was drama at Kingspan Breffni as Cork withstood a late Cavan comeback to take a deserving victory and secure their place in the Sam Maguire for 2025.

Cavan had a late chance to score a two-pointer but Dara McVeety was narrowly wide; as it turned out, results elsewhere meant a draw would have seen Cavan promoted.

The visitors led by six, 0-11 to 0-5, at half-time, having played with a strong breeze at their backs. The Rebels should have been much further ahead, spurning two glorious goal chances midway through the half.

The scores were level at 0-2 apiece after seven minutes; Brian Hurley opened the scoring, Dara McVeety replied and then Mark Cronin (free) and Sean McEvoy traded scores.

But Cork kicked on thereafter, with two-pointers from Brian O’Driscoll and Cronin and singles from Hurley and Chris Óg Jones stretching their lead to 0-8 to 0-2.

Cavan, struggling to win primary possession, pulled one back with a Gearoid McKiernan free but Jones added another and a fisted point from Sean McDonnell made it 0-10 to 0-3.

They should have been further in front – Mattie Taylor kicked wide when one-on-one and Paul Walsh was denied by an excellent Gary O’Rourke save – and Cavan ate into their advantage before the break, with MvEvoy and Cian Madden (free) on the mark.

Cavan started the second half with quickfire points from Donnelly and McKiernan (free) but Cork, dominant on kick-outs, strung together four in succession from the impressive Sean McDonnell (two), O’Driscoll and Jones to make it 0-15 to 0-7.

Two-pointers from James Smith and Dara McVeety drew Cavan closer on the run-in, with Cormac O’Reilly also chipping in, but Cork, who missed some easy chances, kept the scoreboard ticking through Ian Maguire, Cathal O’Mahoney, Cronin and McDonnell.

Two massive scores from McKiernan late on brought Cavan back within two but they couldn’t get on level terms, with McVeety shooting as the hooter sounded, although under the new rules Cavan could have held possession and attempted to work a better chance, although that would not have been easy against a disciplined Cork defence.

Cavan: G O’Rourke, B O’Connell, C Reilly, P Faulkner, Ciaran Brady, L Fortune, J Smith (0-2, 2pt), G Smith, S McEvoy (0-3), B Donnelly (0-1), D McVeety (0-3, 2pt), Cian Madden (0-2f), G McKiernan (0-7, 2pt, 2ptf, 3f), Cormac O’Reilly (0-1)

Subs: Killian Brady for G Smith (ht), K Clarke for L Fortune (45), TE Donohoe for B Donnelly (53), R O’Neill for C Madden (61), J McLoughlin for B O’Connell (63), L Molloy for K Clarke (temp, 67)

Cork: MA Martin, S Brady, D O’Mahony, N Lordan, B O’Driscoll (0-3, 2pt), R Maguire, M Taylor, I Maguire (0-1), C O’Callaghan, P Walsh, E McSweeney, S McDonnell (0-4), M Cronin (0-5, 2f, 2pt), B Hurley (0-2), C Óg Jones (0-4)

Subs: B Murphy for D O’Mahony (temp, 9, reversed 12), R Deane for P Walsh (25), S Walsh for E McSweeney (53), C O’Mahony (0-2) for B Hurley (54), C Cahalane for S McDonnell (67)

Ref: Paul Faloon (Down)