Gerry Reilly Cup: Cavan advance to the final
July 14, 2014
Cavan's Conor Smith is put under pressure by Wicklow's Tom Maher during the Gerry Reilly Cup 3rd round game at Millbrook. TO VIEW A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS GAME CLICK HERE
Cavan booked their place in the Gerry Reilly Cup Final with a comprehensive win over Wicklow in the 3rd round of the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT played in Oldcastle on Sunday evening. They built their victory on a very powerful first half display.
Points were exchanged in the opening minutes with Cavan's Stephen Smith and Wicklow's Conor Byrne (f). Wicklow followed up with 2 more points from Luke Daly & Conor Byrne to take the lead. Cavan's Ryan O'Neill pulled one back before Luke Daly responded with a pointed free.
Wicklow were well in the game at this stage, but then Cavan moved up a gear starting with a Stephen Smith point. Then followed 2 successive goals from Cavan's corner forward, Eoghan Cooney. Cavan quickly built on this with another point (Stephen Smith (f)) and a goal (Paddy Brady) to lead by 3-4 to 0-4.
A Luke Daly pointed free in the 20th minute turned out to be Wicklow's last score of the half. Cavan added 4 more points to their tally by the break.
H/T: Cavan 3-8 Wicklow 0-5
On the restart Cavell Keogan (f) and Ryan O'Neill extended Cavan's lead further. Wicklow never gave up and had attempts on goal and were rewarded with 2 successive points from frees.
But it was Cavan who were still in the driving seat and finished strongly by adding a further 5 points to their score to Wicklow's one point.
Cavan have sent out a marker that they fear nobody and intend bringing home the Gerry Reilly Cup they last won in 2006.
Cavan's Stephen Smith was presented with the Caffrey's Millbrook Food Market 'Man of the match' award by Shane Caffrey (Millbrook Foods Limited)
Cavan: Daniel Cullivan, Finbar McAvenie, Patrick O'Reilly, Eoin Smith, Conor Rehill, Colm O'Reilly, Luke Fortune, Conor Brady, Darragh Kennedy, Stephen Smith (0-7), Paddy Brady (1-2), Ryan O Neill (0-2), Conor Smith (0-2), Cavell Keogan (0-1), Eoghan Cooney (2-1)
Subs: Thomas Keaney for Brady, Jordan McCabe for Cooney, Robert McCabe for Fortune, Keith Fitzsimons for Co;m O'Reilly, Gavin Daly for Eoin Smith and Conor B Smith for O'Neill
Wicklow: Kyle O'Connor, Tom Maher, Saoirse Kiernan, Aaron Curran, Jack McCall, Jack Cotter, Jack Mockler, Cal Kelly, Robert Kelly, Danielis Sarakusas, Luke Daly (0-6), Liam Scales, Conor Byrne (0-2), Cormac O'Shea, Cathal Kelleher
Subs: Adam Boland for Sarakusas, Justin House for Scales, David Cushe for Mockler, Andrew Reynolds for Curran and Eoin McTague for Kiernan
Ref: Gerry Skelly (Meath) Tweet
