Cavan 1-16
Galway 1-12
The Cavan fans’ social media mantra ‘the future is blue’ is beginning to look fairly apt after Terry Hyland’s young Breffni side secured their return to Division 1 for the first time since 2002 with a merited win over Galway.
Star man for the hosts was captain Gearoid McKiernan, who landed 0-5 from play including three magical first-half efforts.
The home side were always in command but some wayward shooting – they kicked nine first half wides while Galway registered none – kept the Tribesmen in the contest.
With David Givney showing well at full-forward and McKiernan in sensational form ‘on the 40’, Cavan kicked six points in succession in the lead-up to half-time.
Cavan had hit the front in the ninth minute when Givney slotted to the net after a long delivery from Killian Brady but within three minutes Galway were in command again when Damien Comer and Gary Sice (free) before Comer reacted quickest after the ball rebounded off the upright to rifle home.
But Cavan upped the ante and two 45s from goalkeeper Ray Galligan, a super score from the excellent Dara McVeety and McKiernan’s trio of scores saw them lead by 1-8 to 1-5 at half-time.
Scores from Jack Brady, who replaced injured top scorer Seanie Johnston, and Givney boosted the Breffni men on the restart but Galway piled on the pressure, with Shane Walsh causing havoc.
With the finishing line in sight, Cavan began to panic as the rain pelted down and Galway went in search of the goal they needed. Strong defending,though, from Padraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke and Ciaran Brady kept the visitors at bay, with Gary Sice, Eamonn Brannigan and Walsh the only men in maroon to make inroads on the scoreboard.
Cavan came up with an important point from rookie midfielder Liam Buchanan and another from sub Eugene Keating to put four between them again with 10 minutes on the clock.
Galway were now the team kicking wides as Cavan lived on their nerves, with Walsh sending over two super points.
The Tribesmen pushed for a goal and almost got it, Padraig Faulkner clearing Comer’s shot off the line, and in the four minutes of added on time, the Blues kicked on, Keating, McKiernan and sub Niall Murray tacking on the scores that sealed the win.
Scorers for Cavan: R Galligan (0-2, 2 45s), P Faulkner, K Clarke (0-1), J McLoughlin, C Brady, C Moynagh, K Brady, T Corr, L Buchanan (0-1), D McVeety (0-1), G McKiernan (0-5), M Reilly, D Givney (1-1), M Argue, J Brady (0-2f)
Subs: N Murray (0-1) for Argue (51 mins), E Keating (0-2) for J Brady (55 mins), C Mackey for M Reilly (60 mins), R Dunne for Buchanan (BC, 63 mins), C Conroy for Corr (70 mins)
Scorers for Galway: M Breathnach, D Wynne (0-1), D Kyne, C Sweeney, L Silke, G O’Donnell, G Bradshaw, E Brannigan (0-2), P Conroy, T Flynn, P Sweeney, G Sice (0-3f), S Walsh (0-4, 1f, 45), D Cummins (0-1), D Comer (1-1)
Subs: J Heaney for Cummins (48 mins), A Varley for P Sweeney (53 mins), S Denvir for Sice (62 mins), E Hoare for Brannigan (70 mins)
