Cavan ease past Laois and towards promotion showdown

Cavan 1-17 Laois 0-15

Promotion-chasing Cavan set themselves up for a winner-take-all duel with Galway next weekend after a comfortable NFL Division Two win over Laois at Kingspan/Breffni Park.

On a day wholly unsuitable to parades and Gaelic football alike, Cavan led from the early on with 11 different players making the score-sheet.

Cavan consolidated second place in the table - behind already promoted Tyrone - with all the ease suggested by the final scoreline.

Laois were their own worst enemies at times, shooting four shots into Cavan ‘keeper Galligan’s midriff inside the opening 10 minutes.

But with the wind at their backs the Leinster side managed to keep in touch and Conor Meredith’s 13th minute effort cut Cavan’s lead to a more manageable 0-5 to 0-3.

Cavan's cause got a boost two minutes later when Seanie Johnston's goal - after good work by rampaging corner-back Padraig Faulkner - helped propel the Ulstermen into a 1-9 to 0-8 half-time lead.

With Donal Kingston operating further out the field, Laois enjoyed more possession in the middle third on the restart but their moves continued to be too lateral for their own good.

Cavan were more direct and points from Martin Reilly and Michael Argue (45) had them sitting pretty on a 1-13 to 0-11 lead.

The relegation-threatened Laois gamely tried to eat into their opponents’ lead but were out of luck in the 49th minute when Cavan ‘keeper Galligan saved, chest-high, from Donal Kingston.

John O'Loughlin and substitute Ross Munnelly pointed to breathe new life into the midlanders' challenge but a sublime brace by Cavan sub Jack Brady, and an excellent save from Galligan to thwart Munnelly, edged Laois further towards the relegation trap door.

Cavan: R Galligan (0-1, one 45); P Faulkner, K Clarke, J McLoughlin; C Brady (0-1), C Moynagh (0-1), K Brady; T Corr (0-1), L Buchanan (0-1); D McVeety, G McKiernan (0-3), M Reilly (0-1); D Givney (0-2), M Argue (0-1), S Johnston (1-3, 3f).

Subs: E Keating for S Johnston (47); C Mackey for M Argue (52); N Murray for C Moynagh (57); J Brady (0-2) for L Buchanan (58); J Hayes for K Brady (67); R Dunne for D Givney (69).

Laois:G Brody; C Begley (0-1), R Kehoe, D Strong; G Dillon, S Attride, M Timmon; B Quigley, C Meredith (0-1); K Meaney (0-1), J O'Loughlin (0-3), N Donoher; E O'Carroll (0-3, two frees), D Kingston (0-3, three frees), P Kingston.

Subs: J Farrell (0-1) for K Meaney (33, B.C); A Farrell for G Dillon (h-t); R Munnelly (0-2, 1f) for P Kingston (52); D O'Connor for R Kehoe (57); D O'Reilly for C Meredith (57); N Murphy for E O'Carroll (62).

Referee: P O'Sullivan (Kerry)