RONAN CAROLAN fired seven quality points as prematch favourites Cavan produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance to qualify for next month's Ulster Senior 20Football semi finals where they will clash with either former All Ireland champions Down or underdogs Monaghan.
Carolan's final three efforts inside a nine minute spell midway through the second half were to prove crucial as Cavan diced with a shock upset. After tearing Antrim apart with a sparkling performance of accurate running football during a first half of total dominance, Cavan went strangely off the boil to leave themselves requiring a late finishing burst to claim victory.
Martin McHugh's outfit appeared to carry far too much firepower in the early stages as they ran riot. A 27th minute goal by debutant Jason Reilly emphasised the gulf in class as Cavan ran up a 1-10 to 0-4 half time lead.
But McHugh was given food for thought for next month's semi final task as his side managed to fashion only one score from play between the 27th and 55th minutes, and no scores at all during the opening 19 minutes of the second half. Indeed four of their five second half scores did not materialise until the final eight minutes.
In between times Antrim produced a fighting revival. Nine points in arrears at the break they refused to buckle and throw in the towel. And by the 26th minute of the second half there were only three points in it.
Colm McCabe and Jimmy Wilson clawed back the deficit from play before a marvellous lone range effort by midfielder Eddie Quinn closed the gap to 1-11 to 18 with nine minutes to go.
Cavan seemed to be living on their nerves. They had totally lost their shape and were a subdued side, but. in fairness, Antrim's defensive performance had vastly improved on that witnessed in the first half.
Then Cavan's attack ran through the opposition like a knife through butter. The scores flowed with ease, but in the second half they took their foot off the pedal and were left to struggle until the last five minutes.
Carolan steadied the ship with two points inside 60 seconds for a five point lead after 64 minutes. But Ant rim still refused to submit and maintained the interest, and indeed the edge, to a contest with points from O'Neill and Wilson to again trim the margin to three.
As Antrim searched for a goal Cavan finally replied as King reasserted himself at midfield and Peter Reilly earned vital frees with his stylish wing play down the left flank which brought about scores via McCabe and King to finally put paid to Antrim's challenge.
It should have been a much more decisive victory. Cavan's quality of play in the first 35 minutes had given Ant rim a footballing lesson, and that after an early scare when Quinn's shot for goal on 12 seconds was denied by O'Dowd.
The four point final winning margin and the way they lost their shape will give manager McHugh concern as they approach next month's semi final, while Antrim can take some satisfaction from the way in which their young side refused to buckle and displayed fine battling qualities to make a match of it.
