GAA: NFL DIVISION THREE: Cavan 0-11 Louth 1-5CAVAN DELVED into their underage resources to put Louth to the sword in a poor Division Four clash at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday night. Ahead of their upcoming date in the Ulster Under-21 FC final, rising stars Gearóid McKiernan and Niall McDermott shone more than most to ease Cavan's relegation fears.
McDermott’s three first-half points settled his side’s nerves while McKiernan cemented his side’s drive to the winner’s enclosure with a terrific brace midway through the second half.
The hosts laboured to chisel out a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the interval but Louth’s bid to underpin their promotion push imploded with the dismissal of corner back Declan Byrne five minutes after the restart.
Cavan failed to impress overall but they were helped on their way by an extremely poor Louth team who failed to show the sort of hunger, determination and nous normally associated with a title-chasing side. That said, on a night of below-par fare, a 1-1 tally seconds either side of the hour mark by Louth made for a nervous finish for the hosts.
Louth were all vim and vigour in the opening quarter but needed a classy point from playmaker-in-chief Paddy Keenan to level matters at 0-2 apiece after 16 minutes.
Louth ought to have netted in the 16th and 19th minutes but Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly nicked the ball off Páraic Smith’s toes in the first instance and then Smith opted to take his point from 12 metres second time around.
CAVAN: J Reilly; O Minagh, T Corr, D O'Dowd; M McKeever (0-1), P O'Reilly, D O'Reilly; J McCutcheon, G McKiernan (0-3); N Murray, R Cullivan, R Flanagan (0-1); N McDermott (0-3, 0-1 free), E Keating, C Mackey (0-2, frees). Subs: S Jordan for E Keating (h-t); G Smith for S Jordan (54 mins); S Johnston (0-1) for R Cullivan (58 mins); M Brennan for G McKiernan (63 mins); K Fannin for N Murray (69 mins).
LOUTH: S Connor; D Byrne, A Hoey, G Hoey; D Crilly, D Finnegan, S Fitzpatrick; R Carroll, B Donnelly; A McDonnell, P Keenan (0-2), R Finnegan; D Maguire, P Smith (0-2), C Judge. Subs: M Brennan (1-0) for D Maguire (half-time); E McAuley (0-1) for S Fitzpatrick (half-time); A Reid for A McDonnell (44 mins); J Carr for D Finnegan (47 mins); JP Rooney for C Judge (54 mins).
Referee: G Walsh (Antrim).
