Cavan 2-13 Carlow 0-12
Eugene Keating and Cian Mackey hit the crucial goals at Kingspan Breffni Park as Cavan achieved the rare distinction of winning an All-Ireland qualifier with just six days preparation.
Terry Hyland's side put their disappointment following defeat to Tyrone in an Ulster semi-final replay last Sunday to one side to advance to Round 3A of the qualifiers.
Underdogs Carlow put up a decent fight and were just four points down with 20 minutes to go but Mackey's 51st minute goal was the strike that ultimately decided it.
Gearoid McKiernan added two late points for Cavan, taking his tally to 0-05 for the evening and securing a seven-point Round 2A win.
Cavan finished with 14 men though as Dara McVeety was black carded in the 53rd minute having earlier picked up a yellow card and couldn't be replaced. Substitute Martin Reilly also had to be taken off after picking up a serious finger injury which could rule him out next weekend.
Cavan came into the contest as strong favourites to advance after beating Armagh in Ulster and taking Tyrone to that replay having previously gained promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz league.
They got a great start against the Division 4 outfit when Keating flicked in a third minute goal to open up a four-point lead.
But Cavan only added five more points in the first-half with three of those coming in the minutes just before the break.
Carlow played a defensive game and got 14 men behind the ball at times though they punished Cavan on the counter attack and surprisingly outscored the hosts by three points between the third and 33rd minutes.
Free-takers Darragh Foley and Daniel St Ledger contributed a brace of points apiece in this period.
Foley also fisted in a 15th minute goal for Carlow though it was ruled out for a foul and colleague Chris Blake had a palmed effort blocked by 'keeper Raymond Galligan.
Carlow trailed by just a point with 33 minutes on the clock but leaked three points before the break to McKiernan, two, and Killian Clarke as Cavan took a 1-06 to 0-05 interval lead.
Seanie Johnston kicked three second-half points from frees though Cavan couldn't shake Carlow off in the third quarter and led by just 1-09 to 0-08 with 50 minutes on the clock.
Keating's goal after a well worked passing move arrived shortly after and Cavan were comfortable in the closing minutes despite losing McVeety.
Cavan: R Galligan; K Brady, R Dunne, P Faulkner; F Flanagan, C Moynagh, C Brady; T Corr, L Buchanan; K Clarke (0-01), G McKiernan (0-05,0-01f), D McVeety (0-01); C Mackey (1-01), E Keating (1-01), S Johnston (0-03, 0-03f).
Subs: M Reilly for Buchanan, J Brady for K Brady, G Smith for Reilly, T Hayes (0-01) for Keating (BC), McVeety (BC 53, previously booked so not replaced), N Murray for C Brady.
Carlow: R Molloy; D St Ledger (0-05,0-05f), K Nolan, BJ Molloy; G Kelly, J Murphy (0-01), B Kavanagh; E Ruth (0-01), S Gannon; A Kelly (0-01), D O'Brien (0-01), H Gahan; D Smithers, D Foley (0-02, 0-02f), C Blake (0-01, 0-01f).
Subs: D Walshe for Smithers, D Lunney for Foley (BC), D Moran for O'Brien, P O'Halloran for Blake, B Cawley for Nolan, C Bailey for Ruth.
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).
