A SECOND HALF performance by Cavan's young, eager and extremely fit team which was so good it won them a standing ovation, saw Donegal bow graciously out of the Ulster senior football championship before a crowd of 20,493 at Clones yesterday.

All the pre match fears concerning Cavan's fitness for this demanding semifinal test after spending the previous two Sundays in energy sapping encounters with Fermanagh were quite dramatically assuaged by an their exhilarating performance late in the game.

Speed on and off the ball augmented by precision enabled the eager and hungrier Cavan side to conquer the Everest they had largely created for themselves.

For a long time, however, Cavan's superior fitness and ability to move the ball seemed to be in serious danger of bringing no reward. They clearly demonstrated their ability to outstrip their more fancied opponents in general play but their fingers were never far away from the self destruct button.

They walked the tight rope far too often for the comfort of their patient supporters. Many of their 14 wides were like beginners errors and proved agonising reminders for Cavan folk of the main reason for previous failures by this otherwise very capable side.

But, from the moment that Peter Reilly was credited with a goal 17 minutes into the second half that gave Cavan the lead for the first time it became progressively easier for the hyped up winners.

By this stage Cavan had rid themselves of most of their suicidal tendencies. Dermot McCabe may have got a touch for that crucial goal but afterwards nobody in the Cavan dressing room really cared.

Match hero Ronan Carolan, who hit 1-7 of the team's tally, epitomised the mood by saying: "It really doesn't matter who scores." He rejected the notion that he should have been given a starting place in the side earlier in the campaign by saying: "There are about 10 good forwards queueing up for places."

The second Cavan goal, which gave them a three point advantage at 2-8 to 1-8, was impressively consolidated within a seven minute spell by four Cavan points - three from Carolan and another by Peter Reilly from a free.

Donegal, ultimately found wanting for speed and composure, had started well and led by 1-1 to no score after 12 minutes. Tony Boyle, who had switched positions with Manus Boyle from the start, left Damien O'Reilly for dead to hit a great goal in 12 minutes to add to his early point.

O'Reilly was injured in the challenge and hobbled out of the match but came back into the action in the second half to contribute handsomely to Cavan's dominance.

That dominance emanated from good midfield displays by the team captain and veteran Stephen King and Dermot McCabe. Bernard Morris, officially picked at centre half back, covered acres of ground in a seemingly self imposed duty to be everywhere.

Donegal were not as well equipped in the central area and were repeatedly undermined by the astute positional play of Carolan.

Donegal near veteran Brian Murray switched to the attack to allow John Ban Gallagher the opportunity of attempting to improve Donegal's lot in the middle, but the Cavan diamond of Morris, King, McCabe and Carolan proved the key.

Cavan's belated matchwinning penetration was hardly signposted by a shaky start which saw them fail to score until the 16th minute, when Carolan pointed a free. They had to wait until the 21st minute before they had their opening point from play, Stephen King doing the honours.

Donegal's defence had to work overtime to keep the inventive Cavan attackers at bay, but with seven first half wides, the underdogs seemed to be contributing to their own undoing.

Donegal looked safe enough at halftime, when they led 1-5 to 0-6.

Donegal substitute Brian Roper got clear for a goal chance in the opening minute of the second half but sent the ball over the bar. Cavan's Fintan Cahill, however, had had the first chance of the half but had shot a wide.

Carolan's goal came in the third minute of the second half when he took the pass from Dermot McCabe to put the teams on level terms at 1-6 apiece.

However, Cavan, despite winning a great deal of possession, soon returned to their wayward ways up front. They had five wides in the opening eight minutes of the second half and players of the calibre of McCabe, King, Larry Reilly and Ray Cunningham were the main culprits Larry Reilly's pace was a continuous thorn in Donegal's side.

The sides had been level three times in absorbing exchanges before Peter Reilly struck with that defining second goal for Cavan.

Donegal manager PJ McGowan admitted to the Cavan players afterwards: "We could not cope with you in many departments. He added: "You are a fine Cavan team and you won a great match typical of CavanDonegal meetings. We forgot the basics and lost our shape."

"The fitness levels of my team did not surprise me after two hard games with Fermanagh," said Cavan manager Martin McHugh. "Those games stood them in good stead," said McGowan.

Another cause for Cavan celebrations is that, until yesterday, it had been 21 years since they had beaten Donegal in the championship.