Ulster SFC/ Down 0-15 Cavan 0-11:In terms of getting a result, Down's blockbuster finish would have been as welcome to their joyous supporters as a plethora of first-preference votes at the polling booths on Thursday.
This Ulster championship first round replay lured an estimated 20,000 to the well-appointed Newry ground, but for the neutral spectators especially it was a disappointing visit as the football never came up to the mark and the game proved tense, niggling and punishing.
Cavan were unfortunate to lose a player in what was proving a tight encounter. Micheál Lyng was shown a second yellow card in the early stages of the second half and he was severely missed as Cavan's challenge fragmented in the crucial final quarter.
"We ran at them and tried our best with a depleted team," said a disappointed Cavan captain Mark McKeever. "They had that extra man and they utilised it to the full. They generally came at us in waves during the final quarter and we were left wanting."
Cavan will rue their score-shy opening 23 minutes and, of course, regret a jaded final 10 minutes. Although they did not get to open their account until that 23rd minute through a pointed free from the accurate Dermot McCabe, they came back into the game and were on level terms at half-time, 0-5 each.
After the game, Down manager Ross Carr could not conceal his delight, but he sympathised with Cavan for losing a player at such a crucial stage. "It was a massive blow for them, but I am very pleased with the way we dealt with the situation on a large pitch. We built up cleverly out of defence and I think we got the rewards."
That Down defence finished up with many credit marks and they produced three scorers in Ronan Murtagh, full back Declan Rooney and astute corner back Kevin McGuigan. It was a trend that reflected Down's capacity to launch attacks from deep, something Cavan could not manage.
Down tended to show greater strength in depth and this was surely demonstrated by the introduction of Paul McComiskey, a talented teenager, and Stephen Kearney. Both players showed no signs of nerves and fitted in with precision and imagination, not least when showing a mature capacity to take their scores and set up others.
It was nip and tuck in the second half before the Down avalanche arrived, influenced to a great deal by the prolific Daniel Hughes in the right corner.
McGuigan was one of the big successes in a Down side that moved with verve and imagination all the time. But as Carr reflected: "We didn't get as many goal-scoring chances this time as in the drawn match at Breffni."
Benny Coulter would have been disappointed according to his own standards with his display on the day in the left corner forward position.
He emerged without a score, an unusual happening for him, but in fairness he was well policed by any Cavan defender requested to mark him.
DOWN: D McVeigh; D McCarton, D Rooney (0-1), K McGuigan (0-1); R Murtagh (0-1), B Grant, M Cole; D Gordon (0-2), P Murphy (0-1); J McGovern (0-2), A Power, R Sexton; D Hughes (0-3), P Downey, B Coulter. Subs: P McComiskey (0-2)for Power, S Kearney (0-2)for McGovern, J Clarke for D McCarton.
CAVAN: J Reilly; M Hannon, E Reilly, M Cahill; J Crowe, A Forde (0-1), R Flanagan; D McCabe (0-5, four frees), C Galligan; L Reilly (0-1), M Lyng, S Brady (0-1); J Pierson, M McKeever, J Reilly. Subs: S Johnston (0-3)for Pierson, P Brady for J Reilly.
Referee: T Quigley(Dublin).
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