A dominant third quarter surge from competition favourites Cavan crushed what promised to be a lively challenge from Laois in Saturday evening's Tailteann Cup opener at Kingspan Breffni, with seven unanswered points from the home side putting the midlanders to the sword and wrapping up the win long before a late surge from Billy Sheehan’s men.
Whether the opening 20 minutes was a case of Cavan flushing dirty diesel out of the system after their disappointing Ulster championship showing, or whether it was a case of Laois fired up and determined to prove a point, was hard to tell. Most likely, both factors were at play, as the side that failed to get out of Division 4 of the Allianz League were more than a match for the team that will play in Division 2 in 2024.
There was no mistaking the potency of the Cavan attack at any stage, and while Mickey Graham’s men were guilty of a number of early wides, they also picked off some good scores through James Smith (after just ten seconds), Gerard Smith, and Ryan O’Neill.
Laois went with a very direct approach, looking to exploit the aerial ability and good hands of Paul Kingston and Evan O’Carroll close to goal. That worked well too, with O’Carroll finding the net after a driving run from the left corner, while Mark Barry picked up on some good layoffs to chip over some excellent points.
Paul Kingston’s well-struck score from the right wing made it 1-5 to 0-5 just short of the 20 minute mark, and the visceral roar from the Laois players that greeted the score was a fair indicator of their competitive frame of mind.
Underdogs need luck as well as spirit however and they were rocked back when referee Anthony Nolan deemed that there was a foul as Paddy Lynch drove at the Laois goal after 26 minutes and laid off to Gearóid McKiernan, whose attempt on goal was smothered. Lynch dusted himself off and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with the penalty, and Cavan had a lead they would never lose.
Evan O’Carroll’s point just before half-time from close range left just two between the sides, 1-10 to 1-8, so there was still plenty of cause for optimism for Laois supporters at the interval, but the next 20 minutes was one-way traffic, as without ever hitting a really high tempo, Cavan rattled off seven points without reply.
They took complete control of the two half lines, with Gerard Smith and Tiernán Madden particularly impressive in the two wing forward positions, leaving Laois utterly starved of ball up front. Killian Roche did all he could in goal for the midlanders, popping up with two outstanding saves to deny Paddy Lynch and Oisín Brady, but Laois looked bereft of ideas of energy, before mounting a late surge with four points in row.
Even then however, their attempt at mitigating the damage was undone as Oisín Brady set up Jonathan McCabe for a late goal, ensuring further momentum for the home side in advance of their trip to London next weekend, while Laois won’t have any problems getting up for a derby battle with Offaly in Portlaoise on Saturday evening.
Cavan: Raymond Galligan (0-01, 45); Niall Carolan, Pádraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke; Ciarán Brady, Oisín Kiernan (0-01), Cian Madden (0-01); James Smith (0-02), Conor Brady (0-01); Gerard Smith (0-03), Gearóid McKiernan (0-04, 3f), Tiernán Madden (0-02); Ryan O'Neill (0-01), Paddy Lynch (1-03, 1-00pen, 0-01f), Oisín Brady.
Subs: Brandon Boylan for O’Neill (51), Conor Rehill for C Madden (59), Jonathan McCabe (1-00) for T Madden (59), Martin Reilly for Lynch (66), Ryan Donohoe (0-01) for McKiernan.
Laois: Killian Roche; Séamus Lacey, Trevor Collins, Robert Pigott; Pádraig Kirwan (0-01), Mark Timmons, James Finn; Patrick O'Sullivan, Kieran Lillis (0-02); Mark Barry (0-05, 3f), Eoin Lowry (0-01m), Damon Larkin (0-01); Cathal Doyle, Evan O'Carroll (1-02, 0-01 45), Paul Kingston (0-02, 1f).
Subs: Seán Greene for Lacey (27), Alex Mohan for Collins (31-34, blood), Colm Murphy for Doyle (38), Seán O’Flynn for Kirwan (51), Kevin Swayne for Finn (53), Dylan Kavanagh for O’Sullivan (60).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)
