Munnelly capitalises

Laois 1-11 Cavan 0-8 Cavan's inconsistent form in the league has resulted in them being relegated following this defeat to fellow strugglers Laois at Breffni Park yesterday.The fact that this was a vital relegation encounter ensured the game was full of nervous tension and with the heavy underfoot conditions there were lots of mistakes on both sides.

The importance of the game was emphasised in post-match interviews when an angry and frustrated Cavan manager Eamonn Coleman found it difficult to believe how his side had lost a game in which they had enjoyed so much possession.

His Laois counterpart Mick O'Dwyer felt that his forwards with less possession took their opportunities and this was the deciding factor.

The pace of the game was frenetic at times and in a low scoring opening quarter the decisive moment from Cavan's viewpoint came when Seánie Johnston provided Seán Brady with a goal opportunity in the 16th minute which he gratefully accepted.

Although a series of points from frees from Ross Munnelly kept Laois in touch, the home side still held a one-point lead with just seconds left in the first half.

There was drama then as Laois fans were lifted when Munnelly finished a Colm Parkinson pass to the net and it was the turn of Laois to enjoy the lead at the interval - 1-6 to 1-3.

At the start of the second half Cavan exerted heavy pressure and reduced the lead to one point by the 11th minute. However, it was at this stage that Cavan's forwards missed some vital opportunities from which Laois benefited and, with Munnelly in top form from frees, they worked a up a three-point lead with 10 minutes to go.

The final 10 minutes were the most exciting of the game and the tension was palpable as Laois found new reserves of energy and stormed back to snatch the win with vital scores from Tom Kelly and Munnelly.

LAOIS: F Byron; P McDonald, C Byrne, J Higgins; D Mulhall, T Kelly (0-1), K Fitzpatrick; A Fennelly, D McEvoy; R Munnelly (1-8), I Fitzgerald, B McDonald (0-1); M Lawlor (0-1), C Parkinson, C Conway. Subs: M Dunne for C Conway (70 mins), P Lawlor for C Parkinson (71 mins).

CAVAN: E Elliott; C McGovern, T Prior, P Brady; K Crotty, T Crowe, E Reilly; P McKenna (0-1), C Collins; S Brady (1-0), A Forde (0-1), L Reilly (0-2); S Johnston (0-1), J Reilly (0-2), F O'Reilly. Subs: G Pierson (0-1) for F O'Reilly (36 mins), M Lyng for S Johnston (56 mins).

Referee: P Carney (Roscommon).