Cavan are through to the Ulster semi final following a 0-13 1-9 win over Fermanagh at Breffni Park on Saturday evening. A poor attendance witnessed a match that never lived up to expectations, but the form of Seanie Johnston, Cian Mackey and Martin Reilly proved to be the difference between the sides. The Erne County have had only one success over Cavan in the championship and that came in a 2003 qualifier at Brewster Park, so that was a stigma they needed to shake off. Fermanagh manager Malachy O'Rourke named an unchanged side to the one that defeated Down in the preliminary round and this meant no place for the returning Mark Murphy as well as Barry Owens and Ciaran O'Reilly who were back from injury. Cavan had to plan without the influential Jason Reilly and Michael Lyng, who both were ruled out through injury, but charismatic corner forward Seanie Johnston, who had given the county's supporters a scare earlier in the week was passed fit to play. This was the first time in many years that Cavan lined out without the retired Dermot McCabe and it heralded a new era for the Breffni Blues as the county looked to restore some pride. Indeed youth was the key for Tommy Carr's charges, but there was no signs of nerves in this match. The sunshine that had baked the country all week was evident in its absence and the wind that replaced it made conditions very blustery this evening. The first half was a dour affair with no atmosphere as the small crowd were given little to cheer about and this was certainly not a good advertisement for Ulster football. The action got off to a fast start as Cavan's Sean Brady had a point ruled out for over carrying after just eleven seconds, but the home side opened the scoring just after the minute mark when Johnston kicked a fine point from a tight angle. The same player was fouled in the next attack after good work by Ray Cullivan and Johnston tapped over a free from 13 metres. It was just the start that Cavan needed. Fermanagh's first threat on goal came from a free but Carson's long effort from 50 metres dropped short and was comfortably cleared. The first yellow card of the match was handed out in the seventh minute when Marty McGrath fouled Ronan Flanagan, but the Erne county had the ball in the back of the net a few second later when Daryl Keenan took a quick free kick over the top and Eamonn Maguire flicked the ball over the advancing James Reilly to make it 1-00 to 0-2 after eight minutes. A Johnston effort for a point was deflected out for a '45 and Martin Reilly duly slotted over to level matters. At this stage neither side were playing with any fluency, particularly Cavan, who gave away the ball cheaply on a number of occasions. Tommy McElroy was making his usual raids down the right wing and this was causing problems for the Cavan defence and it was a foul on the wing back that gave Carson another chance to kick a point from a placed ball, but his effort sailed wide. At the other end Cian Mackey kicked a point to lift the crowd slightly as this was far from a classic Ulster encounter. A well worked move involving McGrath and Little resulted in the latter kicking a fine point to level the match once again after 21 minutes. Referee Rory Hickey, who seemed very finicky with some of his decisions made Eamonn Maguire the second player to go into the book after a rash challenge on Padraig O'Reilly. From the resultant free Walsh broke the ball to Brady and he tapped over. Carson finally got on the score sheet in the 25th minute when he sold a fine side step and kicked from over to tie the contest once again. Seconds later Johnston kicked over a free after Shane Lyons had fouled Cullivan to put the home side in front by 0-6 to 1-2. Carson was coming more into the game and he was winning a lot of possession the full forward line. And it was Carson whose hand pass found Maguire and the corner forward went to flick the ball past Reilly once again, but the ball drifted wide. Peter Sherry replaced full back Shane Lyons, but moments earlier, Cavan could have had a penalty when it looked as if Mackey's shot was foot blocked by Hugh Brady. Then Brady and Daryl Keenan then exchanged points as the first half entered the 32nd minute. A foul by Shane McDermott lead to a converted Reilly free to leave it 0-8 to 1-3. In injury time Ryan McCluskey got on the score sheet when he found time and space to kick a point in what was the last action of the half. There was 35 minutes of championship football remaining for one of these sides as Fermanagh faced into a stiff breeze in the second half. Once again Carson was causing problems for Dermot Sheridan and he won a free on the 20 metre line but Daryl Keenan fired badly wide. Cavan seemed intent in driving long balls into their full forward line but the Fermanagh defence mopped up comfortably early on. The ever dangerous Johnston kicked yet another fine point when the ball was eventually played in properly to the inside forwards. Seven minutes of the second half had elapsed in the second half when this score was registered. As expected, Mark Murphy was introduced in the 43rd minute and he replaced Daryl Keenan. His first tasted of the action saw him give away a free and Reilly dispatched with ease to leave three points between the sides, 0-10 to 1-4. An off the ball incident gave Reilly the opportunity to kick his fourth point of the evening and he duly did so and it looked increasingly likely that Cavan were going to continue their reign over their opponents. Thirteen minutes of the second half elapsed before Fermanagh opened their account and it was Carson who fired over from a narrow angle. At this stage Cavan began to believe in themselves and their defence was working tirelessly to cut out any threat. A great lay off by Reilly saw the impressive Mackey race through and kick a point to leave the score 0-12 to 1-5 after 52 minutes. Barry Owens came on for James Sherry, which brought a loud cheer from the travelling support, but they needed scores. Like Murphy, Owens was immediately into the action and he won possession on the edge of the square, but was harshly adjudged to have held on to the ball too long. A flare up resulted from the free out awarded and the referee booked Ryan Keenan, Ciaran McElroy and Cavan's Cullivan. Maguire then missed another simple free from the right, which is unforgivable at this level. Owens was making his presence felt and he won a free on the right. This time Little took it and this time a score was registered to leave three points between the sides. The Erne County were coming more into the match and a run by McElroy was halted when he was fouled and Carson scored from 13 metres to leave just two between the sides with ten minutes remaining. Rory Dunne came on for Ciaran Galligan, while Padraig O'Reilly was replaced by David Gibney as Cavan looked to tighten up at the back for the last six minutes. Another Little free was fisted over by Owens to leave the minimum between the sides and we were set for a nervy final few minutes as the game eventually came to life. Veteran Larry Reilly was introduced in place of Sean Brady and then Johnston rounded Sherry to kick an excellent score to give the home side some breathing space in the 67th minute. Then Daniel Kille replaced Keenan as Fermanagh made a last throw of the dice. A terrible decision by the umpire saw the visitors ruled out of a 45, then Reilly made a good save when he dived low to stop substitute Damien Kelly's goal bound effort. Michael Brides received a yellow card and handed Little another converted free to leave one point in it, with two minutes of injury time played. Gerald Pierson was then a late replacement for Mackey as Fermanagh had one last attack, but the Cavan defence snuffed out any threat as the final whistle went and the hoodoo goes on. Cavan - J Reilly; M Hannon, D Sheridan, M Brides; J McCutcheon, E Keating, P O'Reilly; N Walsh, C Galligan; S Brady (0-2), R Flanagan, C Mackey (0-2); S Johnston (0-5, 2f), R Cullivan, M Reilly (0-4, 3f, '45). Subs - R Dunne for P Reilly, D Givney for Galligan, L Reilly for Brady, G Pierson for Mackey. Fermanagh - C Breen; N Bogue, S Lyons, H Brady, R McCluskey (0-1), S McDermott, T McElroy, M McGrath, J Sherry, R Keenan (0-1, 1f), C McElroy, M Little (0-3, 2f), D Keenan, R Carson (0-3, 2f), E Maguire (1-0). Subs - P Sherry for Lyons, M Murphy for D Keenan, B Owens (0-1) for J Sherry, D Kelly for McDermott, D Kille for R Keenan. Ref - R Hickey (Clare) Tweet

Most Read Stories