Sport

Reilly pounces

Cavan achieved their second win when they beat a Clare side without 10 of their squad at Breffni Park yesterday

Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00

Cavan achieved their second win when they beat a Clare side without 10 of their squad at Breffni Park yesterday. A goal in each half from full forward Jason Reilly killed off Clare's challenge at a time when they were threatening to spoil Cavan's good early work. However, Reilly's second goal 15 minutes into the second half saved Cavan's blushes.

As Clare went in search of the match-winning goal after reducing the deficit to two points Cavan midfielder James Noonan was sent off following a second yellow card. However, they were unable to get through for the vital scores and Cavan held on.

Heavy showers before the game did little to make things any more comfortable for the players; but for Cavan it was a confident start as they raced into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead with 10 minutes of the first half remaining.

This should have been the platform for Cavan to go on and build up a commanding lead. Instead they relaxed their grip and their half-time lead of 1-6 to 0-2 gave Clare a lifeline.

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Clare made a number of changes during the interval and it seemed to have made an immediate impact two minutes into the second half when, following a 45, Paul Hehir, who was a late first-half substitution, got through for a goal.

This was followed by points from Denis Russell and Hehir which reduced Cavan's lead to one point.

With defeat a possibility it was Jason Reilly who once again came to Cavan's rescue with his second goal. But in a closely fought last 15 minutes Clare battled hard with three points to just one in reply. It was a case of backs to the wall in the closing stages; but Cavan managed to hold out for a valuable win.

CAVAN: A Donohoe; G Sheridan, T Prior, R Donohoe; A Forde, E Jackson, P Reilly (0-1); C Clarke, J Doonan; P Galligan (0-1), L Reilly (0-1), D McCabe (0-1); M Graham (0-1), J Reilly (2-0), F O'Reilly (0-2). Subs: J Tierney for C Clarke; G Pierson for P Galligan; B Morris for J Reilly.

CLARE: F Maguire; D O'Driscoll, B Considine (0-1), E McGuane; M O'Connell, N Hawes, P Smyth; D O'Sullivan, D Russell (0-1); M O'Shea, J Considine, J Young; G Keane (0- 5), D Molohan, C Considine. Subs: P Hehir (1-1) for M O'Shea; C Mullen for C Considine; G Quinlan for D Molohan.

Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).