Hyland believes battling Breffni deserve title

CAVAN manager Terry Hyland believes his team’s remarkable Cadbury’s All-Ireland U21 FC campaign “deserves” to be rewarded with a maiden title.

The Breffni boys battled exhaustion on Saturday evening as they saw off Wexford in the semi-final at Parnell Park — just three days after overcoming Ulster final opponents Tyrone.

Fatigue was evident as they made schoolboy errors and gifted possession to Wexford time and again, particularly around their own half-back line, in the early stages.

But Wexford’s inability to take advantage allied to Niall McDermott’s 34th minute Cavan goal, and a final quarter scoring burst, ultimately saw Hyland’s side progress to the final.

“If you look at it in fairness, these bunch of guys deserve a little bit of history because they’ve worked exceptionally hard,” said Hyland.

“There were tired legs in the first-half all right. We needed to just open up a bit. Perhaps we were saving ourselves slightly and maybe holding back because we knew we were going to have tired legs further into the game.

“Once we got the goal early in the second-half that gave us a bit of a cushion to express ourselves that bit better.”

Cavan had described the scheduling of Saturday’s game as “scandalous, disgraceful and illogical” after Wednesday’s Ulster final. But pulling through in such circumstances will surely make them believe it’s their year.

“That’s true,” continued Hyland. “There has been great character shown by these lads.

“But it’s funny, I was only talking to Jimmy McGuinness (Donegal manager) after the Ulster semi-final and he was saying that they’d played Galway and that they were an exceptionally good side and to be wary of them. It turns out they’re in the final with us so I’ll be heeding that advice.”

The travelling Breffni fans had little to cheer early on as their players found it difficult to get beyond their own half-back line at times. But when they did get forward McDermott pointed twice while Michael Brady and Barry Reilly were also on the mark.

Wexford really should have taken control as they turned over lots of possession but couldn’t make it count. They hit five first-half wides and 11 overall to find themselves level, 0-4 to 0-4, at half-time.

Cavan restarted with gusto and a brilliant passing move that began with the goalkeeper ended with full-forward McDermott slamming home to the net.

Soon after Niall Smith pointed and from nowhere Cavan led 1-5 to 0-4.

As Hyland said, it should have given them a cushion but, in truth, they were dominated for the next 15 minutes by Wexford. Conor Carty was Wexford’s top scorer with 0-5 but just as they looked set to seize the momentum they were rocked by Cavan’s late surge.

Jack Brady inspired Cavan with three points as the Breffni boys impressively sealed victory with five of the game’s last six points.

Scorers for Cavan: N McDermott 1-2, J Brady 0-3 (1f), B Reilly 0-2f, M Brady, G McKiernan and N Smith 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: C Carty 0-5 (3f), M O’Regan (1f), K Kehoe and D Murphy 0-1 each.

CAVAN: A O’Mara; D Barkey, O Minagh, D Tighe; M Leddy, K Meehan, M Brady; G McKiernan, B Reilly; N Smith, N Murray, F Flanagan; P Leddy, N McDermott, J Brady.

Subs: P King for M Leddy (46), T Mooney for M Brady (49), C McClarey for Smith (52), K Tierney for Reilly (53), C Smith for P Leddy (59).

WEXFORD: R Farrell; M Furlong, S Gaule, J Breen; D Butler, J Leacy, C Carty; M O’Hanlon, M O’Regan; L Og McGovern, E Kent, P Kelly; K O’Grady, K Kehoe, B Halpin.

Subs: D Murphy for McGovern (29-34), D Murphy (0-1) for Halpin (40), C Lane for Breen (54), J Boggan for Kelly (57), B O’Gorman for Kent (60).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).