by Ger Canning
Ronan Murtagh did it again for Down! The Ballyholland clubman fired over an equalising point at Kingspan Breffni Park deep into stoppage time to ensure a replay for Ross Carr's team in Newry next Sunday.
This was an error-ridden match, where both defences coped badly, and but for some poor finishing the score-keeper could have been a good deal busier. As it happened, the final score was Cavan 2-11 Down 3-08. And in spite of being the weaker team, Cavan actually created more scoring chances: 34 against 28 for Down.
The Mournemen went into this game with a wretched record of no wins from seven matches played in Division 1 of the National League during the spring. But their forwards, led expertly by Benny Coulter, were always likely to get goals. The first of these came after eight minutes when wing-forward Ronan Sexton breezed in to beat James Reilly with a stunning shot.
During the opening half, centre-forward Aidan Carr was very effective with his precise passing and willing work attitude. There was little Anthony Forde, the opposing No. 6, could do to curb his influence.
Twelve minutes after the first goal, Coulter again tormented the hapless Cavan defence with another memorable goal. This was his fifth such score in as many games against Cavan. To his credit, Michael Hannon did a decent job of marking the Mayobridge marksman after the break, and the Down corner-forward only managed another point from play.
When Cavan really needed a lift, they got such a break through the endeavours of that great campaigner, Larry Reilly. The Knockbride player was playing in his 35th championship match. Two fine scores from play by Reilly forced the Down management into a change: John Clarke was withdrawn, replaced by Martin Cole.
For all that, the veteran Cavan forward was at the end of a three-man move involving Seanie Johnston and Jason Reilly to flick the ball past Mickie McVeigh ten minutes before the break. At half-time Down shaded it, 2-03 to 1-05.
The wind blowing strongly from the town end was supporting the visitors for the second 35 minutes. Cavan, however, made the brighter start. They challenged for every broken-ball around midfield, and converted hard-won possession into two early points. The Breffni men now led by a single score.
However, all the good work was undone by some wayward passing from the centre of the park. Down quickly unhinged their hosts on the excellent playing surface with a swift counter-attack. Up popped Ronan Sexton once again to double his tally of goals for the afternoon. What an afternoon he was having!
In the past, Sexton was a player used somewhat sparingly. True, it was his 15th game at this level, but most of the previous appearances had been as a substitute. Indeed, he had only started one championship match in the previous two seasons, and that was the ill-fated game against Sligo last June!
In Kingspan Breffni Park in this preliminary tie he added to his two previous goals against Fermanagh and Derry, both scored in the qualifying rounds of the 2005 championship.
The real drama in this match, where there was a real lack of sufficient quality, came in the last ten minutes. Down were leading by three points when substitute Sean Brady reduced the arrears and was then involved in a crucial move which saw another of Cavan's subs, Jonathan Crowe, hit a speculative shot from the edge of the large-rectangle.
With a number of players in front of him, 'keeper McVeigh dived late and allowed the ball to trickle tantalisingly over the goal-line.
Dermot McCabe, another veteran from Cavan's last successful Ulster campaign, kicked Cavan into the lead during the three minutes of added-time. Passions were high among the attendance of 13,500.
However, the Mourne side deservedly got a second chance when the admirably-composed Ronan Murtagh kicked the second of his afternoon's points. Both scores were superbly taken by the wing-back, but the one he'll be remembered for came in the 73rd minute.
So honours even then in this 27th meeting of the counties. The replay will be in The Marshes, Newry, next Sunday, throw-in at 4pm.
