U20s denied by late Monaghan equaliser
Ulster U20 Championship
Monaghan 1-10
Cavan 0-13
Paul Fitzpatrick at Páirc Grattan
A late point from sub Max McGinnity denied Cavan a come-from behind win in this Ulster U20 opener at Inniskeen.
A more clinical Monaghan led by 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time, with senior panellist Bobby McCaul supplying a well-taken goal five minutes before the break.
Cavan had two good goal chances of their own just before the interval but Cian Keaney and Dylan Edwards were off target.
The pattern of the half was set early on; Cavan opened the scoring after two minutes with a fisted point from Niall Magee after a patient build-up and Monaghan levelled with a much faster break.
As the half wore on, Cavan tried to figure out how to break down a congested and well-organised Monaghan defence whereas, at the other end, Cavan went man-to-man which meant there was space for the likes of McCaul and Sean Óg McElwain to exploit.
However, that would all change in the second half as Cavan poured forward and the Farney registered seven wides.
Cavan eased into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with a two-pointer from Lorcan Reilly but a superb free from the wing by goalkeeper Kian Mulligan helped propel the hosts back into the lead and McCaul’s powerful finish after a floated delivery from Packie Doogan Burke would leave six between them.
Cavan were better in the second half, with Man of the Match Reilly coming up with some big scores. Five points unanswered saw Cavan level draw level with seven minutes to go.
McElwain (free) nudged Monaghan back in front, Cavan seized back the advantage with a free from Cian Keaney and a lovely effort from Reilly but sub McGinnity had the final say.
Cavan: L Phillingham, J Tynan, C Brady, A Shekleton, B Tully (0-1), E Crowe, J Tully, D Graham, D Edwards, C Mooney, L Reilly (0-8, 2pt, 3f), N Magee, M Smith (0-1), M Costello, C Keaney (0-2f)
Subs: D Noonan for C Mooney (ht), C Sharpe for M Smith (48), K McCave for N Magee (58)
Monaghan: K Mulligan (0-3, 2ptf), C McCooey, J Wright, D Lynch, P Doogan Burke, T Buckley, M McCaffrey, E McFarlane, M Carolan, M Maguire, B McCaul (1-1), F Foy (0-2, 1f), S Óg McElwain (0-2, 1f), S Callan, T Doherty (0-1)
Subs: M Finn (0-1) for F Foy, C Jones for M Maguire (40), J Lavelle for P Doogan Burke (44), S O’Connell for D Lynch (52), M McGinnity for T Buckley (58)
Ref: J Lewis (Fermanagh)
Full report and reaction to follow.