Cavan caught cold and late

An eight-minute scoring blitz in the final quarter in which they scored 2-3 earned Limerick a surprise win over Cavan in a first-round replay of an exciting All-Ireland football qualifier at Breffni Park on Saturday evening.

After the marathon drawn game the previous Saturday, Cavan might have felt fortunate to have got a second chance. The large Limerick following among the crowd must have been encouraged when they led by 0-3 to nil after three minutes and were playing some top-class football. All three points came from corner forward Michael Reidy.

Then Limerick full forward Jason Stokes had a great opportunity to increase that lead following a sweeping move but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Aaron Donohoe.

However, Cavan fought back to take the lead at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5, with Eamon Reilly, Pierce McKenna and Jason Reilly the scorers. But that lead could have been greater as they kicked seven wides to Limerick's two in the first half.

Cavan dominated the early stages of the second half and after 18 minutes had built up a 0-10 to 0-5 lead and there seemed no way back for Limerick.

However, passion and real determination saw Limerick battle back and, in a dramatic turn of events, they scored a remarkable 2-3 in the space of eight minutes, substitute Johnny Murphy getting the first goal and Conor Mullane the second to give them a 2-5 to 0-10 lead with 10 minutes left.

Cavan were completely shattered as they battled to save the game, but Limerick held their nerve, tacked on three points and celebrated an unexpected but deserved victory.

LIMERICK: S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack; S Lavin, S Lucey (0-1), D Reidy; J Quane, J Galvin; P Ahern (0-1), C Fitzgerald, C Mullane (1-0); S Kelly, J Stokes, M Reidy (0-5). Subs: J Murphy (1-1) for C Fitzgerald, M Gavin for S Kelly, C Hickey for P Ahern.

CAVAN: A Donohoe; E Reilly (0-1), T Prior, C Hannon; P Galligan (0-1), P Reilly (0-1), A Forde (0-1); P McKenna (0-1), C Collins; J Doonan, L Reilly (0-1), J Reilly (0-1); F O'Reilly (0-2), D McCabe (0-1), G Pierson (0-1). Subs: C Neligan for L Reilly, B Corrigan for J Reilly, R Rogers for D McCabe, B McCrudden for C Collins, M Graham for P Galligan.

Referee: D Joyce (Galway).