CORK 0-21 CAVAN 0-19

By Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

After seven matches, it came down to one strike for Cavan but unfortunately for the Breffnimen, Dara McVeety’s two-point effort trailed just wide as the hooter sounded, denying them promotion to Division 1.

McVeety, possibly thinking time was running out as was the case prior to the rule tweaks which came in after round five, shot on sight from the wing with his side down by two and his effort just trailed wide to the left – results elsewhere meant that, implausibly, had it gone over, Cavan were up.

However, while the large home crowd were disappointed at the denouement, Cork deserved their win – they were hungrier, used the ball better and never trailed in the match.

The visitors led by six, 0-11 to 0-5, at half-time, having played with a strong breeze at their backs. The Rebels should have been much further ahead, spurning two glorious goal chances midway through the half.

The scores were level at 0-2 apiece after seven minutes; Brian Hurley opened the scoring, Dara McVeety replied and then Mark Cronin (free) and Sean McEvoy traded scores.

But Cork kicked on thereafter, with two-pointers from Brian O’Driscoll and Cronin and singles from Hurley and Chris Óg Jones stretching their lead to 0-8 to 0-2.

Cavan, struggling to win primary possession, pulled one back with a Gearoid McKiernan free but Jones added another and a fisted point from Sean McDonnell made it 0-10 to 0-3.

They should have been further in front – Mattie Taylor kicked wide when one-on-one and Paul Walsh was denied by an excellent Gary O’Rourke save – and Cavan ate into their advantage before the break, with McEvoy and Cian Madden (free) on the mark.

Cavan started the second half with quickfire points from Donnelly and McKiernan (free) but Cork, dominant on kick-outs, strung together four in succession from the impressive Sean McDonnell (two), O’Driscoll and Jones to make it 0-15 to 0-7.

Two-pointers from James Smith and Dara McVeety drew Cavan closer on the run-in, with Cormac O’Reilly also chipping in, but Cork, who missed some easy chances, kept the scoreboard ticking through Ian Maguire, Cathal O’Mahoney, Cronin and McDonnell.

Two massive scores from McKiernan late on brought Cavan back within two but they couldn’t get on level terms.

Scorers for Cork: Mark Cronin 0-5 (2f, 2pt), Chris Óg Jones 0-4, Sean McDonnell 0-4, Brian O’Driscoll 0-3 (2pt), Cathal O’Mahony 0-2, Brian Hurley 0-2, Ian Maguire 0-1

Scorers for Cavan: Gearoid McKiernan 0-7 (2pt, 2ptf, 3f), Dara McVeety 0-3 (2pt), Sean McEvoy 0-3, Cian Madden 0-2 (2f), James Smith 0-2 (2pt), Cormac O’Reilly 0-1, Barry Donnelly 0-1

Cork: MA Martin, S Brady, D O’Mahony, N Lordan, B O’Driscoll, R Maguire, M Taylor, I Maguire, C O’Callaghan, P Walsh, E McSweeney, S McDonnell, M Cronin, B Hurley, C Óg Jones
Subs: B Murphy for D O’Mahony (temp, 9, reversed 12), R Deane for P Walsh (25), S Walsh for E McSweeney (53), C O’Mahony for B Hurley (54), C Cahalane for S McDonnell (67)

Cavan: G O’Rourke, B O’Connell, C Reilly, P Faulkner, Ciaran Brady, L Fortune, J Smith, G Smith, S McEvoy, B Donnelly, D McVeety, Cian Madden, G McKiernan, Cormac O’Reilly. Subs: Killian Brady for G Smith (ht), K Clarke for L Fortune (45), TE Donohoe for B Donnelly (53), R O’Neill for C Madden (61), J McLoughlin for B O’Connell (63), L Molloy for K Clarke (temp, 67)

Ref: P Faloon (Down)