FROM THE ARCHIVE: Cavan minors defeat Fermanagh in 2010
Today's From The Archive flashback is Cavan minors' win over a strong Fermanagh side in the 2010 Ulster MFC.
Cavan 2-16
Fermanagh 1-10
The 2010 Cavan minors were billed as a side short on big names but long on guts, heart and workrate and they lived up to this new style of hype with a thoroughly impressive performance in disposing of a highly-rated Fermanagh at St Tiernach's Park, Clones last Sunday evening.
In perfect playing conditions, Cavan showed ferocious hunger and a relentless, Tyrone-esque ability to hound, hassle and harry Fermanagh into coughing up possession.
That's not to dismiss this side as mere workhorses. Some of the scores, particularly from the likes of first half substitute Nevin O'Donnell, Chris Conroy and Jack Brady, were magnificent but it was the disciplined defending which had the supporters wide-eyed and wondering if, just maybe, this side could give us a long summer yet.
The match turned on an incident exactly on the three-quarter mark, with the match poised on a knife-edge. Cavan led by one, 2-7 to 1-9, but crucially had conceded three of the previous four scores to Fermanagh, who were growing in confidence by the second. A huge shoulder from Aaron Smith felled a Fermanagh attacker in front of the stand and a swarm of Cavan players surrounded the player and forced him to overcarry. From the resultant free-kick, delivered over 60 metres into the teeth of the Fermanagh square, Paul O'Connor fielded brilliantly, swivelled and tapped over.
The tipping point was reached - the score lifted Cavan and when a superb 35-metre strike from Conroy split the posts seconds later, there was only going to be one winner.
Cavan went on to register the final four points to win pulling away but if the scoreline was a little harsh on Fermanagh, who competed aggressively in every position, there was no doubt that Cavan were the better side, despite being outplayed at midfield at times.
Cavan began the brighter, with Butlersbridge's Fergal Flanagan, who was a tour de force at centre-forward, opening the scoring and Conroy doubling the lead with a fisted point after a clever short free from O'Connor.
Fermanagh are a good side though, as we knew from their results in the Ulster League, and possessed a handful of outstanding forwards. Aidan Breen fired over a fine point from distance in the fifth minute and Ciaran McBrien levelled matters from a free after a harsh call against Jason McLoughlin, who grew into his full-back role impressively as the game went on.
Cavan put some daylight between the sides when they they broke in behind the Erne full-back line for the first time in the eight minute. A huge kick-out from Conor Gilsenan was broken by Paul Graham to Conroy, who fed Jack Brady with a perfect pass. Brady held his head to bury the ball to the net from close range to open a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.
Jarlath Jackman and Brady traded frees (the latter after a foul on the strong-running Flanagan) before Fermanagh, who were holding their own against a hard-hitting Cavan side, cut the gap with a free from McBrien.
A lovely left-footed strike from Emmet Fitzsimons restored the three-point gap but a sweet point from Sean Quigley cancelled this out and the Roslea lad stole in for a well-taken goal seconds later.
Behind for the first (and only) time, Cavan hit back in the best possible fashion, Turloc Mooney and Flanagan combining to set up O'Connor, who bundled the ball to the net from close range just two minutes later.
Cavan introduced Shannon Gaels player O'Donnell at this stage and the rangy left-footer announced his arrival with the first of four points seconds later.
Up 2-5 to 1-6 at the break, Cavan pulled further clear through a fisted O'Donnell point inthe 33rd minute but with Quigley showing well, Fermanagh got back to within one.
Enter Conroy, Smith and Co. Suddenly, their tails up, Cavan kicked on.
While Kane Connor repleid with a super score for the Erne boys, Paul McEvoy kicked a huge point from distance and Mooney added another to make it 2-11 to 1-10 with ten minutes left.
Points fromO'Donnell and the excellent Brady, plus another brilliant McEvoy strike and one from Fitzsimons, put paid to a gutsy Fermanagh challenge.
Cavan: C Gilsenan; A Moran, J McLoughlin, S Clarke; P McEvoy (0-2), A Smith, C Moynagh; P Graham, T Mooney (0-1); J Brady (1-2, 1f), F Flanagan (0-1), C Conroy (0-2); E Fitzsimons (0-2), P O'Connor (1-1), A Dewart
Subs: N O'Donnell (0-4, 1f) for A Dewart (29), K Duke for P Graham (41), E O'Reilly (0-1f) for P O'Connor (54), D Sexton for C Moynagh (62).
Fermanagh: B McAleer; V O'Brien, L Leonard, P McGovern; JJ Strain, P Mullan, J Jackman; P McManus, C Jones; A Breen, K Connor, R Corrigan; C McAleer, C McBrien, S Quigley
Subs: E Courtney for c McAleer (34), J Feeley for P McManus (51), R McGullion for JJ Strain (52), B Owens for C McBride (55).
Ref: S McLaughlin (Donegal).