Lively Longford spring surprise

CAVAN’S think-tank cleared the decks at the back but it was Longford who held all the aces in this All-Ireland SFC qualifier first round tie at Kingspan/Breffni Park.

Val Andrews and Terry Hyland made five changes in defence on the back of their team’s 1-8 to 2-14 Ulster SFC defeat to Donegal and then subbed John McCutcheon in the 42nd minute for a clean sweep but all to no avail.

The new-look Cavan defence coped admirably in the first half with the wind at their backs but it was a different story on the restart as Longford duo Paul Barden and Brian Kavanagh bagged a goal apiece.