Stuttering Leitrim hold off determined Cavan for third Allianz NHL Division 4 win on the trot

In what was far from an overwhelming victory, Leitrim picked up a third Allianz NHL Division 4 victory on the trot on Saturday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada as they had to dig deep to hold off a battling and determined Cavan in a tense and tight encounter.

At times, it looked as if Leitrim would brush aside Cavan at ease, opening up an early five point lead and a six point gap ten minutes into the second half but each time, the Breffni blues forced their way back into the game, harrying and hassling the home side at every opportunity and forcing a litany of handling errors and technical breeches that were punished ruthlessly by freetaker Mark Moffatt.

Perhaps Leitrim were lulled into a false sense of complacency, particularly when Cavan lost Matthew Hynes to a second yellow card three minutes into the second half, but they never produced a consistent spell of hurling that would have made this contest much, much eaiser for a team who were the better side but failed to truly show it on the scoreboard, the scoring opportunities reflecting that fact.

When Leitrim moved the ball at pace and with intent, Cavan had no answer with Colm Canning an effective target man upfront but inefficiency was a problem - Leitrim had ten first half scores from 20 opportunities while Cavan, operating on far less possession, mined seven scores from nine chances.

That obstinacy meant that Cavan were never going to put away easily - even a man down, they exploited hesitancy or maybe complacency in Leitrim's play out the field to grab a foothold back in the game while over-carrying, handling errors and other technical breeches were punished by Moffatt who top-scored on the day with 11 points.

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For all that, and perhaps a measure of how far they've come since the opening two games of the Division 4 campaign, Leitrim were the superior - Joe Murray was superb around the middle of the park, Martin Feeney a rock in defence while Colm Canning didn't get enough reward for his unstinting efforts, denied what looked like cast-iron frees on more than one occasion by referee Adam Kinahan from Offaly.

But with Canning, Paul Mulligan, Gavin O'Hagan, Sean O'Riordan and Philip Burgess giving Leitrim a spread of scorers Cavan couldn't match, there was always the feeling that Leitrim just had too much for their neighbours who they meet again in the Lory Meagher Cup in May.

Leitrim got off to a confident start, firing over four unanswered points in the opening ten minutes as Cavan looked all at sea at times. Sean O’Riordan opened the home side’s account from a 45 metre free out on the wing before Paul Mulligan scored a fine effort from play, O’Riordan following up with another free after just six minutes.

The Leitrim team that defeated Cavan in the Allianz NHL Division 4 clash in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Saturday Picture: Willie Donnellan

Philip Burgess then hit a monster free from near his own 45 metre line over the Cavan crossbar as Leitrim were in complete control but then errors started to slip into Leitrim’s play, a poor handpass leading to a successful Mark Moffatt free, although the score as quickly answered by a fine Daniel Miller score from out near the sideline.

Martin Feeney did well to set up Burgess for a long range bomb, this time from play, but a Conor Hackett foul on Stephen Sheridan saw Moffatt tap over a second free. Gavin O’Hagan replied with a good effort from play in the corner but Cavan were starting to capitalise on Leitrim efforts as Moffatt converted two frees in as many minutes.

Sean O’Riordan landed two frees for the home side, either side of a fine Moffatt point from play but the Cavan full-forward might have pounced for more thana point when a Leitrim crossfield pass was intercepted and the Breffni marksman was bearing down on goal.

Moffatt added another free and suddenly Leitrim were only two points clear approaching halftime, although a high ball in was worked by James McNabola to Colm Canning, who went for goal but saw his shot crash off the woodwork and over for a Leitrim point, leaving the home side 0-10 to 0-7 ahead at the break.

Cavan quickly reduced the gap to two points with Jack Barry scoring within 15 seconds of the second half restarting but Daniel Miller showed precision in response a minute later.

The game took a major turn three minutes into the second half when Cavan’s Matthew Hynes received a second yellow card after a heavy tackle, O’Riordan converting the free. Now with a man advantage, Leitrim were in a good position and two points in a minute from Paul Mulligan opened up a game-high six point Leitrim lead.

But a good score from Jack Barry on 11 minutes hinted that Cavan were not going to go down without a fight. Leitrim forced a turnover and got the sliothar into Colm Canning for a great point on the run but a Moffatt free out near the sideline wiped that gain out within a minute.

Cavan were beginning to throw caution to the wind, winning the 40-60 battles and two Moffatt frees suddenly had the Leitrim lead back to just three points with more than 15 minutes remaining.

Moffatt uncharacteristically missed a free but great work from James McNabola in winning the sliothar back and cutting in to set up sub Dhani Keane for a powerful shot over the bar restored a four point gap for the Green & Gold.

The Leitrim sub then had a goal chance but couldn’t get his hurl to connect with the half chance and Cavan responded with Tomas Leonard firing over from about 65 metres on 57 minutes. Both side missed chances but Philip Burgess eased Leitrim fears with a great point from a Leitrim 65 with just ten minutes of normal time left.

Leitrim looked to be surging clear when a great pass from Miller found Gavin O’Hagan for an expertly taken point but Cavan kept battling back, Jack Barry firing over. Paul Miller landed his fourth point of the contest for Leitrim but Cavan came right back, Leonard again leaving four between the teams.

Cavan were beginning to exert more pressure, dropping high balls into the Leitrim area but it took a Moffatt free in the first minute of four minutes added time to close the gap to a solitary goal.

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Then Colm Canning produced probably the score of the game, pulling off a great catch before being taken to the ground. With no free awarded, the Toomevara man got up on his feet and launched a 50 yard bomb over the Cavan crossbar for a crucial insurance score.

It was a score that was needed as Clement Cunniffe had to be alert to stop a Rian Gillen shot from sneaking into the net in added time of added time, keeper Conor Gallagher firing over the resulting 65 to bring the game to a close.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Sean O’Riordan 0-5, 5f; Paul Mulligan 0-4; Philip Burgess (f) & Colm Canning 0-3 each; Daniel Miller & Gavin O’Hagan 0-2, Dhani Keane 0-1

Team: Clement Cunniffe, Pearse Kenny, Conor Hackett, Kevin Clerkin, Paul Lenehan, Martin Feeney, Philip Burgess, Colm Canning, Joe Murray, Stephen Goldrick, Gavin O’Hagan, Daniel Miller, James McNabola, Sean O’Riordan, Paul Mulligan. Sub: Dhani Keane for O’Riordan (53); Aaron Rynn for McNabola (74)

CAVAN

Scorers: Mark Moffatt 0-11, 9f; Jack Barry 0-3; Tomas Leonard 0-2; Conor Gallagher 0-1, 65

Team: Conor Gallagher, Shane Briody, Enda Shalvey, Philip McKeon, Rian Gillen, Matthew Hynes, Dominic Crudden, Stephen Sheridan, Dylan McKeever, Tomas Leonard, Jack McGuinness, Rian Delaney, Mark Moffatt, Jack Barry. Subs: James McKetterick for Crudden (62); Sean Galligan for McKeon (64)

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)