Division 2 leaders Cavan made it four games unbeaten as they produced an excellent performance to see off Cork in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League.
While the Breffni County did concede the game’s first score, they responded with three in a row and only trailed once more in the game, 0-05 to 0-04, before going on to lead by 0-09 to 0-05 at half-time.
Dara McVeety was excellent for Cavan, his driving runs proving testing for Cork all afternoon, and the Ulster side could boast 11 scorers in all. For the home side, it was another day to forget in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as their promotion hopes suffered a setback following wins over Down and Louth.
When they scored four points between the 14th and 22nd minutes to turn a 0-03 to 0-01 deficit into a 0-05 to 0-04 lead, Seán White and Mark Collins impressing, they seemed set to kick on, but they didn’t score again in the opening period.
Instead, Cavan reeled off five in a row, from McVeety, Conor Moynagh, Killian Clarke and Caoimhín O’Reilly, to hold that four-point interval advantage. Cork made four substitutions at the break in response, but Cavan should have moved seven in front in the 39th minute, Moynagh shooting wide from McVeety’s pass.
Adrian Cole made it a five-point game on 41 and though Cork sub John O’Rourke responded with a fisted effort, the buffer of four points remained for most of the second half, only broken when Tomás Clancy scored in injury time.
Cavan never looked troubled, with Cole doubling his tally while sub Gearóid McKiernan also weighed in on the scoreboard. Cork had two from another replacement, Stephen Sherlock, but the goal which looked more and more necessary didn’t ever appear likely to materialise.
In fact, Cavan seemed the more probable to raise a green flag and nearly did so twice in the closing stages. First, sub Tomas Galligan was denied by a Ruairí Deane goal-line clearance and then Clancy made a similar block to keep out Martin Reilly’s effort.
By then, though, Cavan had done enough t o secure the two points and remain firm favourites for an immediate return to Division 1.
Cork: Anthony Casey; Sam Ryan, Jamie O’Sullivan, Micheál McSweeney; Kevin Crowley, Brian O’Driscoll (0-01), Tomás Clancy (0-01); Ian Maguire, Killian O’Hanlon; Kevin Flahive, Seán White (0-02), Ruairí Deane; Michael Hurley, Colm O’Neill (0-01 45), Mark Collins (0-02).
Subs: Kevin O’Driscoll for Ryan, Cian Kiely for Crowley, Matthew Taylor for Brian O’Driscoll, John O’Rourke (0-02) for Hurley (all half-time), Cian Dorgan for O’Hanlon (55), Stephen Sherlock (0-02) for O’Neill (60).
Cavan: James Farrelly; David Phillips, Pádriag Faulkner, Jason McLoughlin; Martin Reilly, Ciarán Brady (0-01), Énda Flanagan (0-01); Bryan Magee (0-01f), Killian Clarke (0-01); Niall Clerkin, Conor Moynagh (0-01), Oisín Kiernan (0-01); Dara McVeety (0-01), Adrian Cole (0-02), Caoimhín O’Reilly (0-03, 0-02f).
Subs: Gearóid McKiernan (0-01) for Clerkin (half-time), Stephen Murray for Moynagh (46), Cian Mackey (0-01f) for O’Reilly (49), Thomas Galligan for Magee (60), David Brady for Cole (62), Conor Brady for Ciarán Brady (70, black card).
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
