Gaelic Games

Cavan finally reach Division One after 20 year absence

The winner-take-all duel certainly lived up to its pre-match billing at Breffni Park

Cavan’s Ciaran Brady with Gary Sice and Eamon Brannigan of Galway during their Allianz League clash. Photo: Tommy Grealy/Inpho
Cavan’s Ciaran Brady with Gary Sice and Eamon Brannigan of Galway during their Allianz League clash. Photo: Tommy Grealy/Inpho
Sun Apr 03 2016 - 17:04

Cavan 1-16 Galway 1-12

Cavan regained their place in the golden realm of Division One football after a 20 year lapse following a thunderous contest at Breffni Park.

The winner-take-all duel lived up to its pre-match billing with both sides giving it their all on treacherous ground conditions.

Inspired by man-of-the-match Gearoid McKiernan, Cavan notched six unanswered points after Gary Sice’s free (15) had edged Galway into a 1-5 to 1-2 lead.

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Galway were largely impotent in the first half and they failed dismally to build on the leg-up offered by Patrick Sweeney’s 12th minute goal.

Sweeney’s major had come as the perfect repost to David Givney’s opportunist goal for the hosts in the 8th minute when Galway’s ball-watching exposed them close to goal.

On the glue-like ground conditions, Cavan continued to show the tougher teeth and sharper claws in winning the lorry-loads of ‘dirty ball’ spawned by the greasy and muddy sod.

Using the twin towers of Givney and Argue under the high ball close to goal - and supported by McKiernan - the Ulstermen said No to intermittent Galway comeback attempts by calling on their infamous blanket.

The hosts introduced an extra defender, Niall Murray, with 30 minutes left to play as Galway began to offer more going forward and a misplaced Cavan pass allowed Eamon Brannigan to make it a 1-11 to 1-9 game after 43 minutes.

The Tribesmen enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the dregs of the game but a beautiful brace from impressive Cavan sub. Eugene Keating almost raised the rafters of the seated stand.

Galway’s think-tank rang the changes in the run-in too as Cavan became more twitchy the closer the chequered flag came into focus.

A Shane Walsh free (66) made it a two point game (1-13 to 1-11) and Galway smelled blood.

The Connacht men had a gilt-edged chance in the 68th minute to hoist one foot into the winner’s enclosure but Cavan corner-back Jason McLoughlin stuck out a leg to deflect Damien Comer’s daisycutter wide of the blues’ goal.

Galway rung the changes in the run-in but injury-time points from the peerless McKiernan (72) and super-sub Murray (74) left the westerners licking their wounds.

Cavan: R Galligan (0-2, ' 45, '45; P Faulkner, K Clarke (0-1), J McLaughlin; C Brady, C Moynagh, K Brady; T Corr, L Buchanan (0-1); D McVeety (0-1), G McKiernan (0-5), M Reilly; D Givney (1-1), M Argue, J Brady (0-2, 2f). Subs: N Murray (0-1) for M Argue (41); A Varley for P Sweeney (43); E Keating (0-2) for J Brady (56); C Mackey for M Reilly (60); R Dunne for L Buchanan (63, B.C); C Conroy for T Corr(71).

Galway: M Breathnach; D Wynne (0-1), D Kyne, C Sweeney; L Silke, G O'Donnell, G Bradshaw; T Flynn, P Conroy; E Brannigan (0-2), P Sweeney (1-0), G Sice (0-3,3f); S Walsh (0-4,1f, '45), D Cummins (0-1), D Comer (0-1). Subs: J Heaney for D Cummins (48); S Denvir for G Sice (61); E Hoare for E Brannigan (70).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).