Cavan respond to threat

ULSTER UNDER-21 FC SEMI-FINAL Cavan 0-12 Donegal 1-4:CAVAN FOOTBALL received a boost at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, last night when their under-21s booked a place in the Ulster final for the second successive year.

They weren’t flattered by their 0-6 to 1-1 interval lead against the side that beat them in the 2010 final.

Donegal captain Mark McHugh hit the opening point with a free on seven minutes but it was another 17 minutes before they scored again. Despite hitting six first-half wides – to Donegal’s brace – Cavan were more efficient in most areas.

A brace of scores from AFL target and man-of-the-match Barry Reilly and a gem from Niall McDermott helped edge Cavan into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. Donegal hit back as Colin McGinley set up Dermot Molloy for a goal six minutes from half-time.

Cavan re-establish their ascendancy as the second half got under way with Jack Brady firing over. Reilly added salt in Donegal wounds by pointing on the double to leave Cavan 0-9 to 1-1 in front nine minutes into the second half.

Donegal eventually ended a 22-minute barren period when Molloy’s free cut Cavan’s lead to four points. Donegal threw everything forward in the dying minutes but a brilliant save by Alan O’Mara from Séamus Corcoran helped to secure Cavan’s progress.

CAVAN: A O'Mara: M Leddy, O Minagh, D Tighe; K Meehan, D Barkey, M Brady; G McKiernan (0-1), F Flanagan; N Smith (0-1), C McClarey, B Reilly (0-5, four frees); J Brady (0-2), N McDermott (0-2), P Leddy (0-1). Subs: S Tierney for McClarey (42 mins); N McKiernan for Leddy (45 mins); N Murray for Flanagan (53 mins); S Nolan for Brady (59 mins); S Gray for Tighe (61 mins).

DONEGAL: P Boyle; D Curran, E Doherty, T McKinley; S Kennedy, L Keeney, C McGinley; C Classon, A McFadden; M McHugh (0-2, frees), D Molloy (1-1, 0-1 free), D McLoughlin; K McFadden, R McErlean (0-1), P McBrearty. Subs: K Ward for Curran (half-time); P McNeilis for McGinley (half-time); O McNiallais for Keeney (35 mins); S Corcoran for McFadden (35 mins); A Kelly for Kennedy (53 mins).

Referee: M McErlene(Derry).