New York GAA: Cavan does just enough, all about last minute between Cork and Kerry

What's going on on the GAA pitches in New York City

Cavan Does Just Enough

Cavan 1-11 Dublin 1-9

Cavan survived the obstacle that Dublin posed in this senior football championship contest, but only just.

Dublin will rue the free taking misses that they had over the hour, with at least four from scorable positions going narrowly and painstakingly wide.

In a tit for tat second half it was the four frees from Eoghan Carew that pushed Cavan into the lead, and while they lived dangerously they certainly were value for the victory.

In a low scoring first half both sides were equally guilty of misdemeanors in front of goal. Cavan keeper Gavin Joyce made a good save from Declan Reilly when the soccer star went soccer-style on a low shot in the opening minutes before Sean Munnelly finally got his side on the board with a point in the 12th minute after Mike Kennedy did a lot of work to get him the ball.

Reilly did have the equalizer three minutes later, but Cavan had a clear goal chance when Ronan McGinley hit the side netting after Carew set him up.

Carew added a 50 over the lathe, but the game then took two huge turns with 10 minutes left in the half.

Firstly Dublin grabbed a goal when Noel Coughlin started a move up the middle releasing Peter Kenny. The big midfielder carried forward and set up Mark Connolly, who stroked the ball to the net.

The response from Cavan was instant and irrefutable. Carew started the ball rolling as he stormed forward crossing the 50 yard line of Dublin as he beat a defender. He found the advancing Paul Lambe inside on the right.

The New York defender headed for goal, and despite being fouled in the act of kicking drove the ball to the net with venom.

Dublin had two of the final three points of the half and the sides were level at 1-3.

Cavan had three of the first four points of the second half, with Sean Kelly driving over while Mike Kennedy linked with Lambe and the ball carrying Mike Higgins for his score.

They could have broke the game open at the three quarter mark when a teasing cross from James Connolly was just out of reach of the charging Barry McGinn with the goal at his mercy.

Two Carew frees sandwiched a Peter Hatzer gem to leave the game wide open at 1-8 to 1-6 to Cavan and 10 minutes on the clock.

Dublin had two scorable frees go wide in the waning moments which hurt their cause terribly.
Cavan did add to their total with a Carew free and an excellent point from McGinley, who started a move and then took a return pass from Rory O’Connor to shy the ball over.

Kris Corrigan had a Dublin point on the run while Reilly added two, the second of which was a tremendous effort in that he had a lot of work to do after he got possession.

Despite loosing a player to a red card Cavan held on, with Lambe chipping over an insurance score with seconds left. 

Cavan finished the Ned Devine tourney strong and now have a good start to the championship. Gavin Joyce has a tremendous kickout from a two step start. He did well in the early minutes with the timely save from Reilly.

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Nster.com