Galway 2-12; Cavan 2-11: Galway came back from the brink of defeat, helped by a Matthew Clancy goal seven minutes from the end, to overcome Cavan in a tension-filled encounter at Breffni Park yesterday.
With Cavan already relegated, a win for Galway was imperative to put them into the knockout stages, while defeat would leave them with relegation worries.
Galway manager John O'Mahony, who was under pressure following the heavy defeat by Wexford - his side now go on to face All-Ireland champions Tyrone in the semi-final - was a relieved man: "The game epitomised the situation in the entire group where two points separated them (Galway) from relegation and a league semi-final place. When we were one point down today we were technically relegated; but when we went one point ahead, we were in the semi-final. We take our luck as we get it as we had a bit of bad luck at various stages of the league and we will take all the luck we got today."
In a game which had plenty at stake for both sides, not least Cavan who were in need of a boost, the exchanges carried a championship fervour. At one stage Galway might have felt it wasn't going to be their day. Ahead by 1-7 to 1-5 at half time, a John Devane goal having given them a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes, Galway could have been out of sight at that stage as they were also awarded a penalty immediately after Devane's goal, but Micheál Meehan's kick went straight to goalkeeper Paul O'Dowd.
Nine minutes later, Cavan took the lead with a Jason Reilly goal and in the next six minutes the scores were level twice. However, Galway finished the half on top with points from Noel and Micheál Meehan.
Cavan made a better start to the second half and after 12 minutes, were 1-8 to 1-7 in front. Galway were then reduced to 14 players when centre-half back Paul Clancy was sent off for a second yellow card offence. Cavan maintained the pressure with points from Jason Reilly and Trevor Crowe which put them 1-9 to 1-8 in front.
Galway then launched what appeared to be a series of decisive attacks, scoring 1-3 in three minutes, the goal coming from Matthew Clancy and with three minutes of normal time remaining, Galway enjoyed a five-point advantage.
Cavan were far from finished, however, and a point from Larry Reilly followed by a Mark McKeever goal reduced Galway's lead to one point. Cavan had a chance to grab a share of the points from a free but Michael Lyng's effort went wide.
The addition of Caltra players Micheál and Noel Meehan in the Galway attack was a major boost to O'Mahony; however, Michael Donnellan's attacking skills were curtailed as he was forced into a defensive role when the team was down to 14 players. However, the crucial goals from Clancy and Devane were an enormous boost to Galway's league title chances.
A disappointed Cavan manager Eamon Coleman, said Cavan would have to learn how to win and felt they had enough chances to win the game.
GALWAY: A Keane; M Comer, G Fahey, C Monaghan; D Meehan, P Clancy, S De Paor; J Bergin (0-1), S Ó Dómhnaill; M Clancy (1-2), M Donnellan (0-1), J Devane (1-1); M Meehan (0-4), P Joyce (0-2), N Meehan (0-1). Subs: B Dooney for C Monaghan (38 mins); M Joyce for N Meehan (44).
CAVAN: P O'Dowd; C McGovern, T Prior, P Brady; E Reilly, T Crowe (0-1), S Brady; P McKenna, C Collins; N Walsh, M Lyng (0-3), L Reilly (0-2); S Johnston (0-1), J Reilly (1-1), A Forde (0-2) Subs: D Rabbitte for T Prior (16 mins); M McKeever (1-0) for S Brady (35 mins); F O'Reilly for Johnston (61); P Reilly for Walsh (62); R Donoghue for P Brady (64).
Referee: P Finnegan ( Louth)
• St Kieran's College (Kilkenny) booked their place in the senior colleges All-Ireland hurling final with a comfortable 0-17 to 1-8 win over St Flannan's of Ennis at The Ragg on Saturday. The reigning champions had a strong wind in the opening half and used it to good effect, opening up a large lead mainly through Richie Power and Darren O'Neill.
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