Lory Meagher Cup: Cavan 2-25 Lancashire 0-21
Kevin Carney
Cavan underpinned their case for a place in this year’s Lory Meagher Cup final with a deserved victory over Lancashire at Glengormley.
The Belfast venue was of the picture postcard variety and this was a clash to write home about, with both sides combining to make for a splendid contest.
Played in perfect conditions, the game was a high-tempo affair throughout, with Dillon Mulligan’s goal for Cavan cutting the hosts’ lead at the interval to the minimum, 0-12 to 1-8.
In a game of few goal chances, the game’s plethora of scores was generously distributed, but Cavan’s major scoregetter, Nicky Kenny, fired over in the 54th minute to again leave a point in it and then, moments later, team-mate Liam O’Brien arrowed over his free to level matters at 1-15 to 0-18.
The game was always destined to go right down to the wire, though, and a splendid Conor Levingstone effort (48) ensured that the Exiles edged three points in front, 0-17 to 1-11.
Cavan had the greater eye for goal, though, and a brilliant move in the 63rd minute ended with sub Canice Maher rattling the Lancashire net to catapult the Ulstermen into a 2-18 to 0-20 lead.
The run-in to the chequered flag was just as hectic, but after Eoghan Clifford converted a free (65) to cut Cavan’s lead to three points (2-18 to 0-21), the blues finished with a flourish and their seven unanswered points left Lancashire floored.
Scorers – Cavan: N Kenny 0-10 (5f); L O’ Brien 0-5 (3f); S Keating 0-4; D Mulligan, C Maher 1-0 each; J Barry 0-2; T Leonard, M Moffett, L Óg Cooke, B Fitzgerald 0-1 each. Lancashire: E Clifford 0-6 (3f); D Lynch 0-4 (2f, ‘65); P Boylan 0-3; C Levingstone, A Gallagher 0-2 each; E Kelly, E Kearns, C Convery, C Kenny 0-1 each.
Lancashire: J Doyle; F Henry, C McCormck, A Murchadh; E Kelly, S Nugent, C Kenny; A Gallagher, E Clifford; P Boylan, C Convery, D Lynch; C Levingstone, E Kearns, A McKinley. Subs: S Holland for E Kearns (48); B Slattery for A Morgan (51); E Costello for D Lynch (62); H Lane for C McCormick (68).
Cavan: C Gallagher; S Briody, G Fitzpatrick, M Moffett; D Carney, L O’Brien, E Shalvey; D Mulligan, C Sheanon; T Leonard, J Barry, J McGuinness; S Keating, M Hynes, N Kenny. Subs: L Óg Cooke for D Carney (h-t); B Fitzgerald for T Leonard (53); O Gaffney for J McGuinness (57); C Maher for M Moffett (61); D Crudden for G Fitzpatrick (68).
Referee: C McDonald (Antrim)
By Susan Wed 15th May
