NFL Division Two: Westmeath 0-21 Cavan 1-22
Cavan recovered from a 12-point deficit at half-time to edge out Westmeath (managed by former Cavan star Dermot McCabe) in a pulsating and incident-packed game played on a heavy pitch in Mullingar. Indeed, the match had been in doubt up to noon.
Westmeath had the aid of a strong wind in the first half, but it was Cavan who opened the scoring via James Smith after 80 seconds. The same player scored his side’s second point all of 16 minutes later, but between the two scores Westmeath went on a scoring spree, registering 0-12 in the process.
Eight of these came via four two-pointers – two of them from Danny McCartan frees (with Cavan paying for some indiscipline) and the other two from Luke Loughlin (a free and open play). This left the scoreboard at the end of the opening quarter reading: Westmeath 0-12 Cavan 0-2.
Team captain Ronan Wallace stretched the home team’s lead with another two-pointer from play in the 20th minute, and they were well in control when leading by 0-17 to 0-4 with 32 minutes on the clock.
However, an incident in the 33rd minute between Jack Geoghegan and James Smith saw the Westmeath man pick up a second yellow (and red) and his opponent a first yellow, while Jamie Gonoud picked up a black card for getting involved. This left Westmeath with 13 men for the remainder of the half. At the interval, the Lake County led by 0-17 to 0-5, but given the strength of the wind and the availability of two-point scores, it looked a deceptive scoreline.
On the change of ends, sandwiched between a point exchange between the respective number 10s, Gerard Smith and Danny McCartan, half-time sub Conor Madden spurned a glorious goal chance for the Breffni men. However, they gradually took control and dominated possession from kickouts taken from both ends of the pitch and the gap was down to three points (0-18 to 0-15) with 45 minutes on the clock, the lively Oisín Brady doing most of the damage for the winners.
A point apiece from Loughlin (a free) and Danny McCartan steadied home fans’ nerves, but the relief was temporary with the outstanding James Smith firing over a point before Gerard Smith made the most of a turnover by soloing almost half the length of the pitch before slotting the ball low to the net in the 58th minute. A black card soon followed for Cavan sub Killian Clarke, before a great two-pointer by Dara McVeety in the 62nd minute put Raymond Galligan’s troops ahead for the first time (1-18 to 0-20) since the third minute.
They always looked the likelier winners from that moment onwards, and Westmeath’s woes were compounded when they picked up their second red card of what was a pulsating contest when Gonoud got a yellow with five minutes remaining to go with his earlier black.
Cavan now have four points on the board, while Westmeath – despite being very competitive in all four matches to date – remain pointless and in grave danger of relegation to Division Three.
Westmeath: C McCormack; J Gonoud, C Drumm, J Geoghegan; R Wallace (0-1-0), C Dillon (0-0-1), M Whittaker (0-0-1); S McCartan, R Connellan; D McCartan (0-2-2, 2tpf), B Cooney (0-0-1), K O’Sullivan (0-0-2); L Dolan (0-0-1), L Loughlin (0-2-2, 1tpf, 2f), B Kelly (0-0-1). Subs: K Martin for Cooney (h-t), E Gaffney for Kelly (42), D Scahill for Dolan (53), R Forde for Martin (62), S Smith for Whittaker (67).
Cavan: G O’Rourke; N Carolan, B O’Connell, J McLoughlin; P Faulkner, C Brady, L Fortune; J Smith (0-0-3), E Crowe; G Smith (1-0-1), D McVeety (0-2-0), O Kiernan (0-0-1); R O’Neill, G McKiernan (0-0-5), O Brady (0-1-2, 1tpf, 1f). Subs: Cian Madden (0-0-2) for O’Neill (h-t), Conor Madden for Fortune (h-t), K Clarke for Crowe (45), D Lovett (0-1-0) for Kiernan (56), S McEvoy for O Brady (69).
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).
[ On Saturday: Monaghan returned to winning ways in entertaining clash with CorkOpens in new window ]
Meath 2-18 Roscommon 0-17
The Robbie Brennan revolution is up and running in Meath after the Royal County chalked up their third successive win following this victory over the tabletoppers in Division Two at Páirc Tailteann.
Roscommon were well on course to make a quick return to the top tier following an unblemished record in their opening three encounters, but they were halted firmly in their tracks by a resurgent Meath, who overcame a six-point second half deficit to end up comfortable and convincing winners.
The win for Meath leaves them very much in the mix for promotion after an excellent display, particularly in the second half when they had the advantage of the stiff breeze. After electing to play against the elements in the opening half, the hosts found themselves 0-8 to 0-12 in arrears at half-time.
The visitors hit the opening two scores of the second half from Enda Smith and Ciarain Murtagh (free) to go six clear by the 40th minute and at that stage Meath were facing an uphill battle. However, Meath then struck for two goals in the space of 40 seconds to wipe out Roscommon’s lead and turn the game on its head.
A great move started by Sean Rafferty and continued by Jordan Morris ended with Sean Coffey finishing low to the net to halve the deficit on 42 minutes. Meath won possession from the kick-out and Ronan Jones ran on to Eoghan Frayne’s through ball and produced a great finish to the net to draw the sides’ level.
Frayne then pointed Meath ahead before Roscommon responded with Cian McKeon pointing to restore parity. Meath then enjoyed another purple patch starting with a point from Ciaran Caulfield and they then struck three two-pointers from Conor Duke (two) and Eoghan Frayne in a four-minute spell to open up a 2-16 to 0-15 lead by the 57th minute.
There was no way back for Roscommon after that though they almost had a goal on 59 minutes as Diarmuid Murtagh attempted to apply the finishing touch but keeper Billy Hogan got down somehow to scoop the ball off the goal line.
Roscommon started with a two-pointer from Ciarain Murtagh inside two minutes and keeper Conor Carroll repeated the feat as they led 0-5 to 0-4 after 15 minutes.
Meath keeper Billy Hogan converted a brace of ‘45s and the hosts were just the minimum in arrears after Shane Walsh pointed on 25 minutes. But, Roscommon finished the half strongly and were boosted by three points from wing back, Dylan Ruane (one two-pointer) as they led by four at the break, but not enough considering the severity of the elements.
While Frayne and Duke took the scoring honours in attack, both midfielders Bryan Menton and Jack Flynn won more than the share against former All-Star Enda Smith and Keith Doyle. It was in defence that Meath performed heroics with Sigerson Cup-winning captain Ciaran Caulfield outstanding along with veteran Donal Keogan who kept Diarmuid Murtagh scoreless throughout.
MEATH: B Hogan (0-0-2, 2 ‘45s) S Lavin, S Rafferty, D Keogan; A O’Neill, S Coffey (1-0-0), C Caulfield (0-0-1); J Flynn, B Menton; C Duke (0-2-1), J Kinlough, R Jones (1-0-0); J Morris (0-0-2, 1f), S Walsh (0-1), E Frayne (0-1-4, 2f, 1 tpf). Subs: B O’Halloran for O’Neill (44 mins), A Lynch (0-1) for Walsh (50), D McGowan 6 for Jones (54), M Murphy for Caulfield (67).
ROSCOMMON: C Carroll (0-1-0); P Frost, J McManus, N Higgins; S Cunnane, R Fallon, D Ruane (0-1-1); E Smith (0-0-3), K Doyle (0-0-2); C Murtagh (0-0-3, 1f), U Harney, R Daly; D Murtagh, D Smith, C McKeon (0-0-2). Subs: S Killoran for D Smith (28 mins), C Hand (0-0-1) for R Daly (44), D Murray for Fallon (44), B O’Carroll for Harney (50), C Cox (0-0-1, 1f) for C Murtagh (57).
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).
Louth 2-17 Down 0-22
One point was all that separated the knife edge Division Two encounter in Drogheda in the way of the hosts Louth over Down. Some 41 scores overall, but it would come down to the minimum.
Louth now leapfrog their opponents on the suffocating league table with their crucial second win of the season.
When Odhran Murdock’s last-gasp effort deep into additional time sailed wide, the relief was palpable among the home supporters. Two valuable league points confirmed by Martin McNally’s full-time whistle.
Louth deserved the win, managing the elements much better than the visitors. With the wind at their back in the opening half, Down looked to pull away at time but did not, while against the elements in the second half they had chances to salvage something from the game but did not.
Louth were feeling the effects of Down’s shoot-on-sight policy in the game’s beginning. Using the wind expertly Down raised four orange flags.
Danny Magill, whose All-Ireland winning father Micheal, manages locally, hit the first one, Daniel Guinness, Pat Havern and Ceilum Doherty all found the range in an impressive shooting display.
Despite that menace going forward, Louth were able to grow into the game with a much more possession-based approach and Down’s Achilles heel at the back handed Louth a route back into the game.
Ronan Burns spilled Sam Mulroy’s tame effort and namesake Ryan Burns was on hand to turn it home. Outplayed Louth were now in touch thanks to that lifeline.
The mental gymnastics again flipped in hosts favour when Mulroy led a late surge with three points to cut the gap to two points at the break. That was a crushing blow to Conor Laverty’s side’s psyche for the second half against the wind.
Louth methodically levelled and took the lead through the imposing Mulroy. Smelling blood, Louth turned the screw and essentially won the game with a Kieran McArdle goal.
Four points the lead at that stage, with a wind at their backs, Louth set their stall and managed the game from that vantage point.
Down did cut the gap to one point, twice but Ger Brennan’s side showed enough nous to earn a valuable win.
Louth: N McDonnell; D Corcoran, D Campbell, D McKenny; D Nally, P Lynch, L Jackson (0-0-1), T Durnin (0-0-1), C Byrne; A McDonnell (0-0-1), C Keenan (0-0-1), C Grimes; K McArdle (1-0-0), S Mulroy (0-1-8, 4f, 1tpf, 1′45), R Burns (1-1-0, 1tp). Subs: D McConnon (0-0-1) for Keenan (38), P Mathews for McDonnell (50), A Williams for Lynch (55), T Jackson for Byrne (57), L Grey for L Jackson (66).
Down: R Burns; P Fegan, R McEvoy, P McCarthy; P Laverty, D Guinness (0-1-2), M Rooney; P Havern (0-1-5, 3f), A McClements; D Magill (0-1-1), J Guinness, S Millar; C Doherty (0-1-0), O Murdock (0-0-1), C McCrickard (0-0-2). Subs: O Savage (0-0-2, 1f) for Millar (43), A Crimmins for McClements (46), E Branagan for Magill (56), C Francis (0-0-1) for J Guinness (58).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
