National Football League/Division 1B; Cavan 1-10; Sligo 0-11:Barely had Cavan's Jason Reilly deflated Sligo hopes with a spectacular goal when he was red carded for a second bookable offence a minute before the end of ordinary time in a match that ran for 76 minutes at Markievicz Park yesterday.
The crucial 62nd minute goal was hardly the fault of late call up Sligo goalkeeper James Curran. He had sized up the move from the moment Micky Graham had started it close in. Graham's deft pass found Reilly inside, and the full forward's transfer to on-running wing back James Doonan left Curran looking vulnerable. But the Sligo goalkeeper made a superb block, only for the ball to rebound to the alert Reilly, who slotted into the far corner.
Earlier, Reilly was unlucky to see his rasping shot come back off the butt of the near post.
Reilly's score gave Cavan a 1-9 to 0-8 lead and virtually set his team up there and then for a semi-final clash with Roscommon but before a scrappy free-riddled game had run its course Aaron Donohoe was asked to bring off a stunning save from Sligo substitute Mark Brehony.
Sligo's defeat, it must be said, was as much due to their own untidy play as anything Cavan could muster. True, the Ulster men were very impressive in the first half against a diagonally blowing wind but the second half, Reilly's goal apart, mainly belonged to Sligo.
Sligo's improved performance could have been handsomely rewarded with a little extra care. Their supporters watched in disbelief 10 minutes into the second half when Paul Durcan and Sean Davey combined to split the Cavan defence, only for Gerry McGowan to literally pass the ball to stunned Cavan goalkeeper Donohoe when trying unnecessarily to find a colleague with another pass in front of goal.
The first half midfield dominance of Cavan's Pierce McKenna and Cathal Collins was not maintained. Paul Durcan, Eamonn O'Hara, and Kieran Quinn stoked up Sligo's bid, encouraged by the work of half backs Padraig Doohan, Michael Langan, and Karl O'Neill.
O'Hara's switch with Quinn, together with a couple of astute substitutions enriched Sligo's second half challenge.
Cavan's first half showing and their two points interval lead, 0-7 to 0-5, acquired against the wind, made them favourites to win comfortably. Besides, Sligo's potential up front had been inadequate in that first half, with only two of the forwards, Dessie Sloyan and Gerry McGowan, looking dangerous.
But Cavan fell back into old habits and contrived to confirm the notion that they are not a good second half side.
Cavan boss Mattie Kerrigan's opinion of the second half trend was, "Sligo put a huge effort into the second half and the upshot of that was we were not allowed play as well as we did in the first half."
In terms of translating good possession into scores, Sligo had their worst patch in the third quarter and it was left to Sloyan to eventually put the Connacht side on level terms at 0-8 each 22 minutes into the half.
It was fitting that Cavan captain Anthony Forde should play a major role in fending off the danger at this juncture when placing Micky Graham for the lead point. Forde had one of his best games at centre back and scored an inspiring point.
CAVAN: A Donohoe; E Reilly, T Prior, C Hannon; M Brides, A Forde (0-1), J Doonan; P McKenna, C Collins; B McCrudden, P Reilly (0-2 fs), F Reilly (0-4, 3fs), L Reilly (0-1), J Reilly (1-0), M Graham (0-2). Subs: P Kermath for E Reilly (53 mins); P Galligan for McCrudden (56); E Jackson for L Reilly (68); D Rabbitte for Forde (72).
SLIGO: J Curran; P Gallagher, N Carew, B Phillips; P Doohan, M Langan, K O'Neill; P Durcan, E O'Hara; K Quinn (0-1), T Brennan, S Davey; D Sloyan (0-4, 1f), J McParland, G McGowan (0-6, 4fs). Subs: E Cawley for Brennan (29 mins); M Cosgrove for Gallagher (65); M Brehony for McPartland (68).
Referee: M Collins (Cork).
