Gaelic Games

Physical Cavan brush past Fermanagh at Brewster Park

Seanie Johnston’s well taken goal proves decisive in feisty Division Two encounter

Fermanagh’s Declan McCusker tackles Cavan’s Tomas Corr. Photograph: Inpho
Sun Mar 13 2016 - 11:37

Fermanagh 0-9 Cavan 1-12

A much physically superior Cavan had no real difficulty in dispensing with Fermanagh’s relatively lightweight challenge at Brewster Park on Saturday night.

And, a superbly finished goal from Cavan poacher Seanie Johnston was the clinching score in a feisty affair before 5,000 fans.

Johnston blasted the ball to the roof of the net after Liam Buchanan set him up in the 48th minute.

READ MORE

Johnston’s cool finish put Cavan into a 1-8 to 0-5 lead, and there was no way back for Fermanagh

Ironically the Ernesiders were brilliantly denied a goal after sub Marty O’Brien’s point blank shot was superbly saved by Cavan keeper Raymond Galligan a minute before Johnston’s goal.

Cavan team manager Terry Hyland said his team needed another point to be sure of their position in this division.

“We knew coming down here that it would be hard.

“We worked vey hard but we also worked very hard against Derry and Tyrone but we just did no get the results out of them.

“Modern sport is all about hard work, you need skill but you also need the work ethic.

“And our big players are maturing.

“Our big players like Gearoid McKiernan and David Givney are now in their mid 20s and can kick on”.

The winners were well worth their halftime led of 0-6 to 0-4 and Fermanagh could muster only one point from play over the hour.

And there was a real neighbourly edge to this encounter, with referee Ciaran Branagan handing out three black and six yellow cards.

Fermanagh: C Snow, M Jones, C Cullen, N Cassidy; P Reihill, J McMahon, A Breen (0-1); E Donnelly, R O'Callaghan; B Mulrone, R Corrigan, D McCusker; P McCusker, R Jones, T Corrigan (0-6f),

Subs: M O'Brien for P Reihill (41) S Quigley (0-2,45) for R Corrigan (45), C Jones for P McCusker (62), R McCluskey for N Cassidy (66). D Kelly for R O'Callaghan (b-card), (P McGovern for A Breen b-card)

Black Cards: R O'Callaghan (67), A Breen (69),

Yellow cards: R Jones (2),

Cavan: R Galligan (0-1), P Faulkner, (0-1), K Clarke,J McLoughlin (0-1); C Brady, C Moynagh, K Brady; T Corr (0-1) L Buchanan (0-1); D McVeety, G McKiernan (0-42f) M Reilly (0-1); D Givney (0-1), M Argue, S Johnston (1-1).

Subs: N Murray for K Brady (18), C Mackey for N Murray (43) P O'Connor for M Argue (55), R Dunne for C Brady (65), J Hayes for S Johnston (66), B Sankey for G McKiernan.

Black cards: N Murray (43),

Yellow cards: S Johnston (5), G McKiernan (45), K Brady (27), C Mackey (52), D McVeety (56),

Referee: C Branagan (Down)