Mannion to the rescue

Roscommon 2-13 Cavan 1-15:KAROL MANNION scored 1-1 in injury-time to give Roscommon a dramatic victory over Cavan and earn them their first league win this season in an exciting Division Two clash at a cold Hyde Park.

Cavan, inspired by the excellent Sean Johnston, were leading by three points as the game entered the final minute of normal time.

Then Mannion fired home a penalty after man-of-the-match Senan Kilbride set up Jonathan Dunning who was fouled by Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly after the latter had already saved his initial effort. Two minutes into injury-time Mannion claimed victory for Paul Earley's side when he added a point from 35 metres.

Cavan were left to rue their inaccuracy in front of goal as they shot 10 wides to their opponents' six.

The visitors were the better team in the first half. Johnston kicked over two early frees before setting up Ronan Flanagan for a goal after 10 minutes.

Dunning brought Roscommon back into the game with a well-taken goal in the 27th minute but Cavan hit back with points from Martin Reilly (two) and Johnston to lead 1-8 to 1-4 at half-time.

Two Kilbride points from frees and a point by Dunning reduced the gap to two but Johnston's accuracy from frees kept Cavan in front. Flanagan scored twice to stretch Cavan's lead to three before Mannion's late heroics.

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; P O'Connor, A McDermott, S McDermott; A Murtagh, J Nolan, J Tiernan; M Finneran, M O'Carroll; C Cregg (0-1), J Dunning (1-1), D Keenan; S Kilbride (0-6, four frees), K Mannion (1-4, 1-0 pen), F Dolan. Subs: S Ormsby for A McDermott (26 mins), R O'Connor for Nolan (half-time), S O'Neill (0-1) for Finneran (43 mins), J Rogers for Murtagh (47 mins), D Shine for Dolan (70 mins).

CAVAN: J Reilly; M Hannon, P Reilly, M Brides; J Crowe, A Forde, D Sheridan; D Gaffney, J Cunningham; M Reilly (0-2, two frees), R Flanagan (1-3), M McKeever (0-2); E. O'Reilly, S Johnston (0-7, five frees), J. O'Reilly. Subs: L Mulvey (0-1) for Cunningham (32 mins), G Pierson for J O'Reilly (half-time), R. Dunne for Sheridan (60 mins).

Referee: J McKee (Armagh)