A point by Danny Hughes on the stroke of
time gave Down a narrow victory over Cavan
in this Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup semi-final
in Pairc Esler, Newry last night. In one of
the most exciting games seen for years, Down
showed greater hunger and although they conceded
two goals they came back to snatch victory.
Down showed two changes from the side which
defeated UUJ. Peter Turley took over from
team captain Dan Gordon at midfield, while
John Clarke replaced John McAreavey in the
right corner of the attack.
The home side opened with a point inside
a minute from a free by John Fegan. Cavan
were level two minutes later when Gerald Pierson
set up Finbar O'Reilly to send over the bar.
Down moved into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10
minutes, but Cavan came back strongly and
were level after 20 minutes with some good
open football.
Down regained the lead with a point from
a free by John Fegan, but almost immediately
Lorcan Mulvey had the sides level again. Two
John Clarke points shot Down ahead but again
Cavan fought back with a point from a '45
by Finbar O'Reilly and another from a free
to leave the sides level at 0-9 each at half-time.
Danny Hughes put Down ahead within a minute
of the restart but they were shocked four
minutes later when a lightning Cavan move
saw Finbar O'Reilly set up Barry Watters for
a goal.
There was misery for Cavan four minutes later
when midfielder Mark McKeever received a straight
red card.
Down came back with two pointed frees by
John Fegan to keep them in the game. Midway
through the half Cathal Magee pointed from
long range and the sides were level again.
The sides were level numerically when Down's
Colm Murney, who had only been on the pitch
for some six minutes, received a second yellow
card and was dismissed.
Cavan moved up a gear and Finbar O'Reilly
regained the lead with a point from a '45
but Kevin McKernan levelled only for the visitors
to regain the lead with a Lorcan Mulvey point.
Down then had a great `chance for a goal
but a great Danny Hughes effort came back,
however Hughes did net two minutes later when
set up by John Fegan.
The sides were level yet again when Eddie
Reilly poked the ball to the net in a goalmouth
scramble, but Danny Hughes had the final say
and the final score of the match, a glorious
point giving Ross Carr's side victory.
Cavan half-back John McCutcheon received
a second yellow card and was also dismissed
a minute into injury time.
MATCH?STATS
Down: B McVeigh; C McGovern, G McArdle,
M Cole; D O'Hanlon, L Doyle, K McGuigan;
P Turley, J Lynch; J Fegan (0-5 frees),
K McKernan(0-3), D Hughes (1-2); J Clarke
(0-3), C Magee (0-3), R Sexton; Subs: C Murney
for J Lynch; R Murtagh for D O'Hanlon
Cavan: J Reilly; M Brides (0-1), R Dunne,
M Reilly; J McCutcheon, K Fannin, B Watters
(1-0); L Mulvey (0-2), M McKeever; M Lyng,
R Donohue, E Reilly (1-1); F O'Reilly (0-6.
0-2 45,0-3 frees), G Pearson (0-1), J O'Reilly(0-1);
Subs: J Clarke for G Pearson; D Gaffney for
M Lyng; R McCormack for E Reilly
Referee: JJ Cleary (Derry)
