Cavan GAA

Celtic Challenge U17 Hurling Round 2
Wednesday 10th May, Kingspan Breffni
Cavan 5-14 Monaghan 0-6

The Cavan lads had an emphatic win over neighbours Monaghan in round 2 of the Celtic Challenge U17 hurling competition last Wednesday evening, played in perfect conditions in Kingspan Breffni. Having lost out to Leitrim the previous week, the home side were hoping to make amends at the second time of asking and that they did.

Conor Masterson opened the scoring for Cavan after four minutes which was quickly cancelled out by a Hugh Brennan strike. Cavan went three up through Jesse Holland with two 65s and Cormac Smith before Padraig McGahon pulled one back for the visitors. Jesse Holland and Conor Masterson, who both impressed, got two point apiece to Monaghan’s one before the break to leave five between the sides at the break. Cavan 0-8 Monaghan 0-3.

Cavan management of Mark Hayes, Rossa Gaffney, Kathryn Flynn and Keith Greene and Monaghan’s Aidan Morgan and Derek Maguire introduced players from the bench throughout the second half. Each player gets gametime on match days in the Celtic Challenge which is a positive move particularly as these games are often played on county grounds.

The Monaghan lads battled well throughout but the hosts continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, with five goals in the second half from Jack Barry, Philip McCabe, Mark Sexton, Brían O’Rourke and Jesse Holland. There was points also from Jesse Holland (2), Conor Masterson, Jack Barry, Philip McCabe and Odhran Keating to Monaghans’s three from Padraig McGahon with two frees and Hugh Brennan.

The Cavan lads will be happy with this result with every sector performing well. They look forward to playing table toppers Louth this Wednesday 7.30pm in Edwin Carolan Park in Mullagh.

Scorers for Cavan: Jesse Holland (1-6, 3f), Conor Masterson (0-4), Jack Barry (1-1), Philip McCabe (1-1), Mark Sexton (1-0), Brían O’Rourke (1-0), Cormac Smith (0-1), Odhran Keating (0-1).

Scorers for Monaghan: Padraig McGahon (0-4f), Hugh Brennan (0-2).

CAVAN: Eoghan McGrath, Michael Smith, Cian McEntee, Conor Harten, Mark Sexton, Aaron Kenny, Ross O’Gorman, Jack Barry, Peter Devine, Conor Masterson, Jesse Holland, Donal O’Gorman, Conor Shalvey, Donal Keapock, Cormac Smith.
Fionn Fleming, Conor Smith, Philip McCabe, Ryan Gargan, Brían O’Rourke, Liam Maguire, Declan Mernagh, Conall Wallace, Patrick Larkin, Darragh Donnellan, Aaron Crowe, Cian Donoghue, Odhran Keating, David Emmo, Sean McMahon.

MONAGHAN: Michael Maguire, Logan McQuillan, Sean Conway, Declan Hughes, Darragh Cassidy, Niall Birmingham, Daniel Boyle, Steven Beattie, Ronan Boyle, Hugh Brennan, Padraig McGahon, Ciaran Guinan, Darragh Whelan, Jarlath McGahon, Emmett Walsh.
David Irwin, Aaron Boyle, Ethan O’Gorman, Cathal O’Rourke, Conor Gernan, Ciaran Slevin, Kian O’Connor, Aaron Treanor.

Referee: Noel Mullaney (Monaghan).

Best and Fairest Awards: Conor Masterson (Cavan) and Ciaran Guinan (Monaghan).