Cavan finish strongest to end Leitrim Philly McGuinness Final dream

For a brief span of five minutes, it seemed as if Leitrim were on their way to the Philly McGuinness U20 Cup Final before a powerful Cavan finishing spurt that saw them outscore the home team at Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada 1-6 to 0-1 saw the Breffni county claim a deserved victory.

There was always a feeling in this game that Cavan just had a little bit too much cuteness in attack for a Leitrim team who battled manfully to stay in touch with the visitors, their resilience and ability to withstand what Cavan threw at them coming to the fore.

Twice Leitrim wiped out two point Cavan leads with goals in either half but on each occasion, it was the Breffni blues who responded best and that was the nub of the problem - whatever Leitrim threw at Cavan, they were able to answer.

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The game was still in the melting pot with five minutes to go as Cavan had edged into a one point but when the pressure was on, a few key errors in the Leitrim defence proved enormously costly and put Cavan on the road to victory.

With Longford beating Fermanagh in the other game in the group, a Leitrim victory would have seen Brendan Guckian’s side into the final but as it is, they must now concentrate on a Connacht Championship meeting with Galway on Tuesday, April 4.

Cavan were quickest to settle with points from Oran Rehill and Daire Madden (free). Paul Moran’s sixth minute free opened Leitrim’s account but a fine Darragh Lovett point from a tight angle restored Cavan’s two point lead. 

Two from Paul Moran tied the scores, the first a great effort from play but again Cavan edged in front with a 52 yard Madden free. Leitrim should have had a goal on 13 minutes when Ben Guckian and Moran to send Barry McNulty clear on the Cavan goal but keeper Jake Norris made a good save.

However, Leitrim didn’t have long to wait as Cavan failed to clear the ball, Moran won possession back before finding Conor Quinn who floated a pass to the unmarked McNulty for an easy palmed goal on 14 minutes.

Cavan’s response was points from Madden (free) and Favour Shehu while Leitrim had a goal disallowed for a clear square ball offence. Lovett burst through just before halftime to give Cavan a 0-7 to 1-3 lead at the break.

Despite a couple of early bad misses, a Paul Moran free tied the scores. Sub Philp Smyth and Moran exchanged scores before sub Jack Casey fired Leitrim back in front a free only for Darragh Lovett to score a brilliant effort from the corner on 12 minutes to again tie the game.

Cavan moved two clear with a Madden free and a mark from Lovett after a Leitrim pass was intercepted but Leitrim’s response was superb, a long ball to Paul Moran seeing the Ballinamore clubman sidestep a couple of defenders before slamming a rocket to the roof of the Cavan net on 47 minutes.

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Cavan were rattled but they managed to settle themselves, Madden hitting another free before Jake Shiels in the Leitrim goal made a good save after the ball was lost, Madden firing over the resulting fifty to edge Cavan back in front with less than seven minutes to go.

Paul Moran put a free wide and Cavan wing-back Aaron Reel got up in support to fire over a good point with less than four minutes to go. 

Now it was Leitrim’s turn to implode - Jake Shiels kickout didn’t go past the 21 yard leading to a throw ball that ended with Madden flocking the ball to Lovett to fire over. A minute later, the game was over when Lovett’s shot drifted off target but Shiels failed to hold it cleanly and Favour Shehu pounced on the loose ball to virtually walk the ball into the net.

That put Cavan six points up and they extended that lead with a long range Caolan McCabe effort. Paul Moran replied from a free but Cavan were never going to be caught, Madden scoring a superb free from right out on the sideline before Gavin Reynolds ended the game with a black card. 

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LEITRIM

Scorers: Paul Moran 1-6, 4f; Barry McNulty 1-0; Jack Casey 0-1, 1f

Team: Jake Shiels (Bornacoola), Ryan Cunningham (Gortletteragh), Brian Donohue (Cloone), Jack Foley (Kiltubrid), Jamie McGrail (Ballinaglera), Radek Oberwan (Allen Gaels), Mark Lenehan (St Mary’s Kiltoghert), Ben Guckian (St Mary’s Kiltoghert), Michael McKiernan (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins), Gavin Reynolds (St Mary’s Kiltoghert), Barry McNulty (Glencar Manorhamilton); Emmet Regan (St Mary’s Kiltoghert); Daniel Bosquette (Annaduff); Paul Moran (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins); Conor Quinn (Mohill). Subs: Kyle McCrann & Jack Casey  (St Mary’s Kiltoghert) for McGreal & Bosquette (HT); Tommy Taylor (Annaduff) for Cunningham (51); Paddy Keane (Leitrim Gaels) for McKiernan (60)

CAVAN

Scorers: Daire Madden 0-7, 6f, 1 50; Darragh Lovett 0-5, 1M; Favour Shehu 1-1; Oran Rehill, Philip Smyth 0-1, 1M; Aaron Reel & Caolan McCabe 0-1 each

Team: Jake Norris, Sean Og McGearty, Evan Crowe, Ben McGahan, Kevin Lovett, Caolan McCabe, Aaron Reel, Thomas Partington, Ryan Brady, Oran Rehill, Turlough Farrelly, Cormac McKeogh, Favour Shehu, Daire Madden, Darragh Lovett. Subs: Philip Smyth for McGahan (HT); Cormac Brady for McGearty (41); Emmanuel Shehu for Farrelly (43); Kyle McCabe for McKeogh (53); Michael Smith for Reel (60); Liam Maguire for R Brady (62); Ben Tierney for F Shehu

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon)