Impressive Cavan ease past 14-man Longford

NFL Division 3, Round 3

Cavan 1-19

Longford 0-11

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

In-form Cavan made it three wins from three as they eased to a comfortable home victory against a disappointing Longford to retain top spot in Division 3.

Cavan were the better team in every sector against a Longford side who looked low on confidence and appeared devoid of a plan – they had a lot of bodies back when defending but yet Cavan were able to run through them with ease while at the other end, there was no focal point, the visitors relying pot shots and frees.

Cavan opened the scoring through Cian Madden before Dara McVeety doubled their advantage with a trademark effort from the edge of the D.

Robbie Smyth replied with a free for Paddy Christie’s side but Oisin Brady in response. Joe Hagan, who kicked two high-quality scores in the first half, thumped over from long range to cut the gap to two on 17 minutes but Cavan completely dominated the second quarter as Longford appeared to run out of gas.

Full-back Padraig Faulkner booted over after Gerry Smith ran at a packed but ragged Longford defence. Brady then added a free and Smith turned finisher when scorching along the end-line and fisting over to make it 0-6 to 0-2.

And Cavan moved seven clear with a superb individual goal from Brady, who turned sharply, skipped away from two defenders and finished to the bottom corner with the left foot.

Ryan O’Neill won the resulting kick-out and the impressive Brandon Boylan clipped in another to make it an eight-point game. Cavan added further scores before the break from Cian Madden and midfielder David Brady, with David McGivney adding two long-range frees and Hagan belting over from 40 metres to leave seven between them at the midway point.

Longford started the second half brightly with the opening point but it was going to take a momentous turnaround and when Hagan, their main attacking threat, was sent off on what looked a harsh second yellow card five minutes after the resumption, their race was run.

The Dromard man had teed Robbie Smyth up for their opening second-half point prior to his dismissal but that score was quickly cancelled out by Boylan, who showed pace and power to muscle his way in along the end-line.

Paddy Lynch and Conor Madden came off the bench and bagged 0-7 between them in the final half hour, both looking very sharp.

Dessie Reynolds, Smyth (free), Liam Connerton (two) and full-back Andrew Farrell all registered for the Leinster side in the second half but Cavan were very much in control.

And while the new faces like Johnny McCabe, David Brady, Tiarnan Madden and Brandon Boylan all impressed, the loudest cheer of the day was reserved for second-half sub Killian Brady, who came off the bench for his 100th senior appearance for the Breffni men.

Mickey Graham’s charges now move clear at the top of the table, with an away trip to Offaly next as they seek to switch divisions for the eighth successive season. Longford, meanwhile, will certainly be in a relegation dogfight for the second year in a row.

The only cause for the concern for the Cavan management will be the loss of Oisin Brady and Dara McVeety, two of their best performers to date who both limped off in the second half.

Cavan: Raymond Galligan, Evan Finnegan, Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Niall Carolan, Ciaran Brady, Dara McVeety (0-1), Tiarnan Madden, David Brady (0-1), Killian Clarke, Gerard Smith (0-2), Cian Madden (0-3), Jonathan McCabe, Brandon Boylan (0-2), Ryan O’Neill, Oisin Brady (1-2, 2f)

Subs: Paddy Lynch (0-3) for O’Neill (43 mins), Conor Madden (0-4) for O Brady (46, inj.), Ryan Donohoe for D Brady (54), Killian Brady for N Carolan (57), Stephen Smith for G Smith (62)

Longford: Patrick Collum, Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell (0-1), Barry O’Farrell, Iarla O’Sullivan, PJ Masterson, Ryan Moffett, Keelin McGann, Darren Gallagher, Joe Hagan (0-2), Dessie Reynolds (0-1), Liam Connerton (0-2), Daniel Mimnagh, David McGivney (0-2f), Robbie Smyth (0-3, 2f, 1m)

Subs: Michael Quinn for B O’Farrell (temp, 14 min, reversed 18), Rian Brady for K McGann (ht), Aaron Farrell for R Smyth (54), Fergal Sheridan for D Gallagher, Peter Lynn for PJ Masterson (both 57), Dylan Farrell for D Mimnagh (61)

Ref: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)