Reilly steps up to the mark

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE/Division 1 B - Cavan ... 4-11 Laois ... 2-17: Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer had reason to be a little downbeat after watching his well-organised team lead for most of this match only to be denied both points in the fourth minute of injury time by a penalty converted by Cavan centre back and captain Peter Reilly.

The penalty award itself for a foul on Micky Graham may have been seen by some in the 7,000 crowd as a little harsh but that did not bother Reilly as his well-placed shot went in inside the right upright.

It was Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron's turn to be on the receiving end, as he had given his counterpart Aaron Donohoe little chance when scoring from the spot two minutes into injury time at the end of the first half.

If Laois proved anything in this pulsating division of the spoils it was that they have huge strength in depth. Four of the substitutes introduced by O'Dwyer scored.

Probably the best of their contributions was Hugh Emerson's goal at the start of the last quarter and only seconds after a Graham point had brought Cavan back level. Emerson was only on the field less than a minute for Chris Conway when he netted Aidan Fennelly's teed-up pass in volleyball smash-style.

The score gave Laois a three-point lead and the county's substitutes appeared to be auditioning at this stage to be the match-winner, with David Sweeney, Fennelly and Ross Munnelly all scoring.

Cavan's Dermot McCabe reimposed himself at midfield and Larry Reilly pointed and then Jason Reilly, a doubtful starter, lashed home the second of his two goals for a one-point lead entering the final five minutes.

The Laois super subs did their bit at this vital juncture. Fennelly pulled back a point and the dazzling Sweeney popped up in the right places to score two rapid points. Captain Ian Fitzgerald then tacked on a point to secure a three-point lead going into injury time.

Then came Reilly's penalty intervention.

Cavan, it must be said, were inconsistent, depending largely on the forceful play of McCabe (who faded in and out of the game), the driving wing-back play of Anthony Forde, the staunch defending of Reilly and the opportunism of Jason Reilly.

Laois created much more chances and it was only sheer bad luck that corner back Tom Kelly was denied a goal following a superb move involving Parkinson and Brian McDonald in the second half.

CAVAN: A Donohoe; C Collins, T Prior, J Jordon; A Forde (0-2), P Reilly (1-0 pen), M McKeever; D McCabe (0-5, frees), P McKenna; P Galligan (0-1), L Reilly (1-1), J Clarke; M Graham (0-1), J Reilly (2-1), S Maguire. Subs: P Brady for Maguire (39 mins); P Cooney for McKeever (43); K Fannin for Clarke (50); B McGahon for Cooney (58); D Prior for Jason Reilly (70).

LAOIS: F Byron (1-0 pen); T Kelly, C Byrne, J Higgins; D Rooney, K Fitzpatrick, D Conroy; P Clancy (0-1), N Garvan (0-1); C Parkinson (0-2), I Fitzgerald (0-1), M Lawlor (0-4); B McDonald (0-3), C Conway, D Delaney (0-1). Subs: R Munnelly (0-1) for Parkinson (40 mins); H Emerson (1-0) for C Conway (54); D Sweeney (0-2) for D Delaney (59); A Fennelly (0-1) for Lawlor (63).

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).