Cavan 1-16 Mayo 0-11 If Cavan could only produce the classy football that bamboozled Mayo in the second half at Breffni Park yesterday more often they would be a far greater attraction for their long suffering and success-starved supporters.
Mattie Kerrigan, the former Meath hero, put the transformation of his side during the second 35 minutes down to "we sorted things out at half-time".
Something special had to be achieved by Kerrigan in the sorting out department after he and the team's supporters in the 6,000 crowd had watched the home side waste chances with such regularity that they seemed to be unable to take their finger off the self-destruct button. They hit nine first-half wides when scores seemed so imminent.
And during the first 30 minutes of that half the men in blue picked up six yellow cards and managed the worst missed opportunity moments before half-time when late call-up Sean Maguire, with only Mayo substitute goalkeeper Fintan Ruddy to beat, spoiled the fine build-up work by Micky Graham and Paul Galligan by shooting wide.
The game's biggest mystery lay in the fact that Mayo, with wind advantage to come, were in the game at half-time trailing by only four points, 0-7 to 0-3.
As Cavan so convincingly settled down to the task of showing their loyal supporters the sort of football they are capable of producing, heroes began to spring up everywhere.
"They beat us in every sector," admitted Mayo manager John Maughan.
Larry Reilly's work rate made him the most popular player on the field among the home crowd, especially when he returned to the fray after a second-half injury with his head heavily bandaged. The resolute Knockbride man could be seen foraging back in defence and setting up attacks from deep in his half.
Along with Paul Galligan and Sean Maguire, Reilly demonstrated the wisdom of taking points with the fist. Jason Reilly's second-half introduction with 20 minutes remaining was totally unexpected given the damage sustained to an ankle in the match against Fermanagh.
Not so unexpected was the goal he slotted home with five minutes remaining which made it game, set and match to Cavan. Reilly was like quicksilver as he knifed his way past Ken Mortimer and Fergal Costello before planting the ball in Ruddy's net.
Dermot McCabe proved a huge influence from the middle of the field and his place-kicking yielded five points. The most welcome came in the 30th minute of the second half at a time when the Cavan scoring rate had curiously stalled for nine minutes.
CAVAN: A Donohoe; C Collins, T Prior, J Jordon; A Forde, P Reilly, M McKeever; D McCabe (0-6 frees), P McKenna; P Galligan (0-2), L Reilly (0-2), J Clarke (0-1); S Maguire (0-1), M Graham (0-2), G Pierson (0-1). Subs: J Reilly (1-0) for Pierson (50 mins), E King for Galligan (60 mins), M Hannon (0-1) for Clarke (63 mins), K Fannin for Maguire (71 mins).
MAYO: F Ruddy; K Mortimer, P Kelly (0-1), R Connely; A Roche, B Prendergast, F Costello; D Heaney, G Mullins; G Brady, D Sweeney (0-1), A Moran; C Mortimer (0-2), M Horan, M Sheridan (0-6 frees and 45). Subs: B Burke for Prendergast (33 mns), A Dillon for C Mortimer (57 mins), S Mangan (0-1) for Moran, S Carolan for Brady (both 50 mins), A Costello for Connely (69 mins).
Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).
