Cavan edge past Down

Cavan's Larry Reilly (right) fends off Miceal Magill

Bank of Ireland Ulster Championship:
Cavan 1-14 2-10 Down

Dermot McCabe inspired Cavan to a deserved victory over Down in Sunday's Bank of Ireland Ulster Championship quarter-final at Casement Park.

One point was the victory margin at the finish and Down could have snatched a draw as Cavan lost their way somewhat in the closing minutes.

But Cavan, overall, were the better side and should have wrapped up the match long before the frenetic injury-time finale.

McCabe was immense in midfield - particularly in the second half when Cavan told effective control of the contest.

The Breffni men were fortunate to be four points ahead at half-time (1-8 to 1-4) but they bossed the second half until the closing stages when Down inevitably rallied.

Cavan missed a series of goal opportunities in the second half.

First Ulster win for Cavan boss Val Andrews

Peter Reilly saw a penalty deflected over the bar by Michael McVeigh, the Down keeper made a brilliant double save to deny Jason Reilly while a Larry Reilly shot also crashed off the Mourne crossbar.

Down were handicapped before the start by the absence of midfielder Alan Molloy whose ankle injury didn't stand up to the rigours of a fitness test.

The opening exchanges in the first half were even enough although the Down forward line, especially Shane Ward and Michael Walsh, looked lively.

At the quarter-hour mark, the sides were level at 0-3 apiece although the Down attack were looking a tad slicker than their Cavan counterparts.

Paul Galligan's second point of the day and a McCabe effort then put Cavan two ahead but the lead was short-lived as Michael Walsh hit the first goal of the match in the 19th minute.

Cavan goalkeeper Aaron Donohue, under pressure, spilled a towering ball from Benny Coulter and Michael Walsh picked his sport from close range.

Despite the goal, Cavan quickly regained the lead thanks to Peter Reilly and Edward Jackson points but the sides were level again by the half-hour mark when Shane Ward pointed.

Probably the crucial moment of the match then came on 31 minutes when Jason Reilly maintained his composure to fire a crucial goal for Cavan.

Down boss Pete McGrath asks for more effort

Reilly turned Down full-back Ciaran Byrne inside out and despite McVeigh's best efforts, found the net from close range.

Michael Graham added a further point in first half injury-time and suddenly an even enough first half in possession terms, had materialised into a four point Cavan lead.

Down manager Peter McGrath felt obliged to introduce veteran Mickey Linden at half-time - much earlier than he would have intended.

But for the opening five minutes of the second half, Cavan dominated entirely.

Only poor shooting prevented the Breffni men from forging a lead which probably would have ended the match as a contest.

But Peter Reilly showed his forward colleagues how to finish with a great score which extended the Cavan lead to five points.

Down looked beaten at that stage but Linden then showed his worth to the Mourne cause by goaling in the 43rd minute to leave only a point in it after Walsh had also pointed seconds earlier.

At the other end of the field, Dermot McCabe won a penalty in the 46th minute after he was sandwiched by a couple of Down defenders.

Michael McVeigh complained about the award after the match but it looked a fair enough call.

In any case, the Down goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to divert Peter Reilly's penalty over the bar.

Down's Mickey Linden after his substitution

Mickey Graham's second score of the game a minute later extended Cavan's lead to three points.

By the time when Cavan hit their final score of the match in the 64th minute, they were four points ahead at 1-14 to 2-7.

Val Andrews' team had bossed the second half yet Down were still not completely out of the reckoning.

By this stage Mickey Linden had departed to the bench after feeling the hamstring twinge which had prevented him starting the match.

His replacement Shane Mulholland pointed three minutes from the end of normal time to leave a goal between the teams.

In injury-time Michael Walsh notched two frees as Down piled forward.

But Down didn't really have the chance to bring the tie to a replay.

When the final whistle came, Cavan boss Val Andrews was celebrating his first championship win in his third Ulster campaign.

Down: M McVeigh, J Clarke, C Byrne, B Grant, S Poland, M Magill, B Kearney, B Burns (capt), P McConville, L Doyle (0-2), M Walsh (1-4), A O'Prey, R Murtagh, B Coulter, Shane Ward (0-2). Subs: M Linden (1-1), S Mulholland (0-1). Cavan: A Donohue, M Brides, T Prior, G Sheridan, E Jackson (0-1), A Forde, J Doonan, D McCabe (0-2), B McCrudden (0-1), F O'Reilly, P Galligan (0-2), P Reilly (capt) (0-4), L Reilly (0-1), M Graham (0-2), J O'Reilly (1-1). Subs: J Tierney, R Rodgers.

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Cavan defeated Down 4-13 to 0-8 in Sunday's Ulster Minor Football Championship match at Casement Park.

James Clarke hit two goals for Cavan while Sean Maguire and Sean Brady also netted.

In Sunday's opening Leinster Football Championship match at Croke Park, Offaly defeated Laois 1-13 to 0-11.

Dublin also face Longford at Croke Park on Sunday.