On target O’Hare gets Down home

4 March 2015

DONAL O’Hare’s goal with seven minutes to go proved crucial for Down when they edged a decidedly poor contest at Breffni Park.

Down were ahead by double scores after a first half played out in deplorable conditions.

However, Cavan rallied to level, with Niall McDermott, Jason McLoughlin and Martin Dunne on the mark.

The sides were tied at 0-8 apiece when Cavan lost key defender Ronan Flanagan to a red card on the hour mark.

That helped tilt things in the way of Down, who finished strongly, with O’Hare blasting home after a defence-splitting pass from substitute Arthur McConville and and Conall McGovern fisting over the insurance score in injury time.

Terry Hyland’s men were on top early on, but still found themselves 0-3 to 0-1 in arrears after two Donal O’Hare frees and a speculative effort from full back Luke Howard which bounced in front of Cavan goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan and cleared the crossbar.

O’Hare added another free and although Cavan were still creating chances, they struggled to win primary possession in the inside forward line. The match turned into an arm wrestle and in the end, Down made less mistakes and took more chances in a poor contest which produced 50 frees and was played in heavy rain.

Niall McDermott with two frees and Martin Reilly with another were responsible for all of Cavan’s first half total as they went in trailing by 0-6 to 0-3 after Jerome Johnston and the impressive Kevin McKernan, who led the line well for his side, tacked on scores.

Playing with the wind in the second half, Cavan started well with corner back Jason McLoughlin booming over a great score from the wing, Martin Dunne adding another and McDermott levelling it with a free by the 43rd minute.

That was a good as it got, though. Down hit the front again through Damien Turley and McKernan and although Cavan replied through McDermott, they then lost key defender Ronan Flanagan to a second yellow card following a high tackle.

Dunne tied the match once more, but Down now had the numerical advantage and finished stronger. Arthur McConville opened the Cavan defence with a cross-field ball to

Mark Poland, who fed O’Hare for a close-range finish.

Cavan pressed hard for the goal they needed, but Down soaked up the pressure and then hit them late on the break, the Mourne men driving at pace out of defence and defender Conall McGovern fisting over the insurance point.

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 (0-1f), M. Lyng, M. Dunne (0-2, 1f), N. McDermott (0-4f). Subs: B. Reilly for Lyng, C. Mackey for McVeety, B. Fitzpatrick for M. Reilly

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, 2f). Subs: R. Boyle for McArdle, G. Collins for O’Hagan, A. Carr for P. Turley, C. Garvey for Madine, A. McConville for Johnson, C. Maginn for Poland.

Cavan 0-8

Down 1-9

NFL DIVISION 2

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