Longford 2-16 Cavan 0-11:REJUVENATED LONGFORD turned the second coming of the Val Andrews/Terry Hyland axis into a funeral at Breffni Park on Saturday. The Cavan managerial pair's second stab in 10 years at reviving Cavan's championship fortunes foundered on weaknesses in every sector.
But for some profligacy in the first half, when a hat-trick of goal chances went a-begging, the visitors’ winning margin would have been even more pronounced.
The psychological damage inflicted on Cavan by their 2-14 to 1-8 to humbling in the Ulster SFC by Donegal last time out was there for all the 18,243 fans to see.
Longford luminaries Paul Barden and Brian Kavanagh did most of the damage, each plundering a goal in the second half.
The best move of the match came in the 20th minute and was finished by Longford’s star man Seán McCormack which left Cavan trailing by 0-2 to 0-5. Four points without reply – including a gem from defender McKeever – helped the hosts to a 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead.
Cavan failed miserably to consolidate their interval lead and Seán McCormack put through Paul Barden for a clinically-executed goal to leave Longford leading by 1-10 to 0-8 on 49 minutes. The final quarter was enveloped in an air of inevitability as Longford eyed the chequered flag with venomous intent.
With two minutes of normal time to play, Cavan goalkeeper Reilly parried Niall Mulligan’s close-range effort but Kavanagh volleyed home the rebound and Cavan frustrations saw the dismissals of Gareth Smith (66) and David Givney (69), each for second yellow card offences.
CAVAN: J Reilly; M Cahill, T Corr, J McEnroe (0-1); M McKeever (0-1), J McCutcheon, M Brady; D Givney, G McKiernan; F Flanagan, M Lyng, N Murray; N McDermott (0-1, free), E Keating (0-4, 0-1 free), S Johnston (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: G Smith for N Murray (18 mins); R Flanagan for F Flanagan; M Brennan (0-1) for J McCutcheon (both 42 mins); C Mackey for M Lyng (52 mins).
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; S Mulligan, K Diffley, N Farrell; B McElvaney (0-1), M Brady; D Barden, D Masterson, P Barden (1-3); D McElligott, B Kavanagh (1-2), S McCormack (0-9, 0-7 frees). Subs: F McGee for D McElligott (47 mins); P Foy for S Mulligan (55 mins); N Mulligan for D Masterson (58 mins); Colm P Smith (0-1) for N Farrell (61 mins); J Keegan for D Barden (69 mins).
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
