Sport

Johnston points way for Cavan

Cork 0-12 Cavan 0-13: A RELIEVED Cavan team manager Donal Keoghan saw his side achieve their first win in Division Two as Seanie…

Mon Mar 31 2008 - 01:00

Cork 0-12 Cavan 0-13:A RELIEVED Cavan team manager Donal Keoghan saw his side achieve their first win in Division Two as Seanie Johnston's late point sufficed to pip Cork at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday night.

The scores were level on 10 occasions in a closely fought encounter and the excitement grew in the closing stages as both sides sought the decisive match-winning score.

Appropriately Cavan Gaels star Johnston, who shot nine points of his team's total, three from frees, popped up with the vital winner.

The scores were level six times in the opening half as the impressive Daniel Goulding and Donnacha O'Connor provided the attacking threat for the visitors. In the two minutes of added time at the end of the half, Cork grabbed the lead through Goulding to edge 0-8 to 0-7 in front.

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Neither side could really establish control in an eagerly contested second half and Johnston kept Cavan in the game through his accuracy.

The home side gradually began to assert themselves and Dermot McCabe and Johnston added a point each to put Cavan two points in front 0-11 to 0-9 in the 51st minute.

Cork battled back again and they appeared to be gaining the upper hand as Goulding and Donnacha O'Connor levelled the scores by the 53rd minute.

Cavan needed some inspiration and in difficult conditions Johnston took the spotlight again with two crucial points in the 64th and 67th minutes to give Cavan a valuable win and more importantly two crucial points in their relegation fight.

CAVAN: J Reilly; M Hannon, P Reilly, M Brides; J McCutcheon, A Forde, D Sheridan; D McCabe (0-2), J Cunningham; M Reilly, R Flanagan (0-1), M McKeever; E O'Reilly, S Johnston (0-9, three frees), G Pearson (0-1). Subs: B Watters for J McCutcheon (25); R Dunne for B Watters and J O'Reilly for G Pearson (ht); M Lyng for M Reilly (48); L Mulvey for J Cunningham (74).

CORK: A Quirke; D Duggan, G Canty, K O'Connor; S O'Donoghue, G Spillane, O Sexton; N Murphy, A O'Connor; J Miskella (0-1), F Goold (0-2), K McMahon; D Goulding (0-4, two frees), D O'Connor (0-4, one free), K O'Sullivan (0-1). Subs: P Kissane for O Sexton (51); P Kelly for S O'Donoghue (60).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).