Down leapfrogged Cavan on the Division Two table with a thoroughly-deserved 1-9 to 0-8 triumph at Breffni Park.

In a match that was played in shocking conditions, Cavan - who finished with 14 men after Ronan Flanagan picked up a second yellow card 16 minutes from the end - were chasing from start to finish.

The hosts did draw level at 0-6 apiece after 44 minutes, having reeled off  the first three points of the second half and they looked likely winners as the elements were at their backs.

Corner back Damien Turley and Kevin McKernan pointed to edge the winners back in front before Cavan again equalised in the 61st minute thanks to frees from Niall McDermott and Martin Dunne.

Down were never behind and they struck for the decisive score seven minutes from the end when Donal O'Hare found the net at the end of a move involving substitute Arthur McConville and Mark Poland.

Conall McGovern added the insurance point with his fist as Jim McCorry's men bounced back from their second-round defeat to Roscommon.

Having played with the wind behind them, the Mourne County assembled a double-scores half-time lead, 0-6 to 0-3. The Breffni County were kept in the game by three pointed frees, two from McDermott and a third from Martin Reilly in response to Down's sixth point of the night from McKernan.

Down slotted four of the first five points courtesy of O'Hare (3) and a long speculative punt from full back Luke Howard, which bounced over the crossbar. Jerome Johnston kicked Down's fifth score after McDermott converted a soft Cavan free.

The visitors lost both Darren O'Hagan and Brendan McArdle to injuries during the first half, but carried a three-point advantage into the break.

Corner back Jason McLoughlin registered the first point of the second half and then placed Martin Dunne for the next (Cavan's only two scores from play all night!) before McDermott tied the scores up from a free.

Terry Hyland's men never managed to get in front and could have no complaints when the full-time whistle sounded.

Down - K Gordon; D O'Hagan, L Howard (0-1), D Turley (0-1); P Devlin, N Madine, C McGovern (0-1); B McArdle, P Turley; J Johnston (0-1), K McKernan (0-2), D O'Hanlon; M Poland, C Laverty, D O'Hare (1-3, 0-2f). Subs: R Boyle for B McArdle, G Collins for D O'Hagan, C Garvey for N Madine, A McConville for J Johnston, A Carr for P Turley.

Cavan - C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin (0-1), R Dunne, K Brady; R Flanagan, F Flanagan, D O'Reilly; K Clarke, G McKiernan; P Smith, D McVeety, M Reilly (0-2f); M Lyng, M Dunne (0-1), N McDermott (0-4f). Subs: B Reilly for M Lyng, N Murray for P Smith, C Mackey for D McVeety, B Fitzpatrick for M Reilly.

Referee - P Hughes.

Tweet

Most Read Stories