Cavan took a giant step towards promotion to Division 2 with a very convincing win over Offaly iat Glenlisk O'Connor Park.
With four wins from four games, Cavan are now out on their own at the top of the table and it will be a big surprise if they don't make the leap up to the second tier..
This trip to Tullamore provided an interesting test for Cavan and they passed with flying colours. They were outstanding for periods, especially in the first half when they played against the wind and needed to lay down a marker. They had the points all but gift-wrapped when they led by 0-11 to 0-7 at half-time and they controlled the game throughout the second half.
The final scoreline of 0-21 to 0-14 is a fair reflection of the way this game went for both sides. Cavan were seven points the better side and could have won by more as they created two decent goal chances in each half but didn't manage to take any of them.
On this occasion, however, they weren't needed as Cavan won with real comfort. It was a very good performance for them with their attacking play a joy to watch at times and their pace and movement asking serious questions of the hosts.
The first half provided great entertainment as both teams threw the kitchen sink at each other and attacked with abandon. They were tied on three occasions in the opening six minutes before the Breffni got three in a row with two of them from frees by man of the match Paddy Lynch.
Offaly were competitive in the first 20 minutes and they hit back with three of their own to level it up at 0-6 each, the equaliser a huge lofted kick by full back Declan Hogan.
Jonathan McCabe and Anton Sullivan (mark) exchanged points to make it 0-07 each after 25 minutes but this was the high point of the afternoon for Offaly.
The Ulster side got the closing four points for that half time lead and then got the next three after half time in a seven-point run of scores. It saw them 0-14 to 0-07 ahead after 41 minutes and it could have been more as Cian Madden drew a fine save from Ian Duffy and Jonathan McCabe misplaced a pass to David Brady.
A black card for Jonathan McCabe in the 48th minute allowed Offaly to dominate possession for a while but they never threatened the glut of scores they needed. The closest they could get was five, 0-17 to 0-12 after 58 minutes and in the closing quarter, Cavan won pulling up, without having to do anything special.
The defeat sends Offaly back to the drawing board. They had started the campaign very well with wins over Antrim and Fermanagh but have now suffered two in a row. They travel to Longford next Sunday for what is a real six pointer and staying up now looks to be Offaly's most realistic target.
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Ciaran Donnelly, Declan Hogan (0-01), David Dempsey; Rory Egan, Peter Cunningham (0-01f), Lee Pearson; Jack McEvoy (0-01), Conor McNamee; Joe Maher (0-01), Ruari McNamee (0-01f), Cian Donohue; Cian Farrell, Anton Sullivan (0-02, 1f, 1m), Dylan Hyland (0-06, 4f).
Subs: Bernard Allen (0-01) for Maher (HT), Luke Egan for Ruari McNamee (45m), Jack O'Brien for Hogan (50m), Jack Bryant for Farrell (56m), Jamie Evans for Donohue (66m),
Cavan: Raymond Galligan (0-01f); Evan Finnegan, Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan; Ciaran Brady, Dara McVeety, Tiarnan Madden; David Brady, Killian Clarke; Gerard Smith (0-01), Cian Madden (0-01), Jonathan McCabe (0-02); Paddy Lynch (0-10, 7f), Ryan O'Neill (0-02), Brandon Boylan (0-02).
Subs: Jason McLoughlin for Finnegan (53m), Stephen Smith for McCabe (59m), Conor Madden (0-01) for Boylan (60m), James Smith for Brady (60m), Conor Rahill for Madden (64m).
