Cavan turn on the style as Laois fight relegation

Cavan 1-17 Laois 0-15: Promotion-chasing Cavan set themselves up for a winner-take-all duel with Galway next weekend after a comfortable NFL Division 2 win over Laois at Kingspan Breffni Park.

On a day wholly unsuitable to Gaelic football, Cavan led from gun with 11 different players making the scoresheet. Laois were their own worse enemies at times, arrowing four shots into Cavan ‘keeper Galligan’s midriff inside the opening 10 minutes.

But with the wind at their backs, the Leinster side managed to keep in touch and Conor Meredith’s 13th-minute effort cut Cavan’s lead to a more manageable 0-5 to 0-3.

Cavan’s cause got a real shot in the arm two minutes later when Seanie Johnston’s goal — after good work by rampaging corner-back Padraig Faulkner — helped propel the Ulstermen into a 1-9 to 0-8 half-time lead.

With Donal Kingston operating further out the field, Laois enjoyed more possession in the middle third on the restart but their moves continued to be too lateral.

Cavan were more direct and after a delightful solo effort by Laois sub Jamie Farrell, points from Cavan pair Martin Reilly and Michael Argue (45) had them sitting pretty on a 1-13 to 0-11 lead.

The relegation-threatened midlanders gamely tried to eat into their opponents’ lead but were out of luck in the 49th minute when Cavan ‘keeper Galligan saved, chest-high, from Donal Kingston.

Substitute Ross Munnelly and O’Loughlin pointed to breath new life into the midlanders’ challenge but a sublime brace by Cavan sub Jack Brady, and an excellent save from Galligan to thwart Munnelly, edged Laois further towards relegation.

Scorers for Cavan:

S Johnston (1-3, 3f); G McKiernan (0-3); J Brady, D Givney (0-2 each); R Galligan (45), C Brady, C Moynagh, T Corr, L Buchanan, M Reilly, M Argue (0-1 each)

Scorers for Laois:

J O’Loughlin, E O’Carroll (2f), D Kingston (3f) (0-3 each); R Munnelly (0-2, 1f); C Meredith, K Meaney, J Farrell, C Begley (0-1 each)

CAVAN:

R Galligan; P Faulkner, K Clarke, J McLoughlin; C Brady, C Moynagh, K Brady; T Corr, L Buchanan; D McVeety, G McKiernan, M Reilly; D Givney, M Argue, S Johnston

Subs; E Keating for S Johnston (inj, 47); C Mackey for M Argue (52); N Murray for C Moynagh (57); J Brady for L Buchanan (58); J Hayes for K Brady (67); R Dunne for D Givney (69).

LAOIS:

G Brody; C Begley, R Kehoe, D Strong; G Dillon, S Attride, M Timmon; B Quigley, C Meredith; K Meaney, J O’Loughlin, N Donoher; E O’Carroll, D Kingston, P Kingston.

Subs; J Farrell for K Meaney (33, B.C); A Farrell for G Dillon (h-t); R Munnelly for P Kingston (52); D O’Connor for R Kehoe (57); D O’Reilly for C Meredith (57); N Murphy for E O’Carroll (62).

Ref:

P O’Sullivan (Kerry)