Down turn on drama for last-gasp equaliser

Down 1-13 Cavan 1-13

A dramatic equalising point in the fifth minute of injury time by defender John Clarke gave 14-man Down a second chance at Ulster Football Championship salvation at Casement Park.

Cavan's final quarter flourish appeared to have done the trick, especially when Larry Reilly brought a woeful sequence of wides to an end with a 59th minute goal, and when Michael Lyng's sixth point eased the Breffni blues in front, Down were looking anxiously towards the Qualifiers.

It was a game packed full or twists and turns, and what this contest lacked in quality and fluency, it made up for in terms of excitement and drama.

Down looked lively in the opening stages, with Liam Doyle, from a free, and Benny Coulter, splitting the posts, but it was Cavan who became a more potent attacking force as the first half progressed.

Debutants Michael Lyng and Sean Johnston both settled their first day nerves with well taken scores, and when full forward Jason O'Reilly twice hit the target, the Breffni men grew in confidence.

Doyle converted his second free, but when Shane Ward and John Clarke combined to send Eoin McCartan through on goal, Cavan's new goalkeeper Eoghan Elliot was equal to the challenge with a superb save.

But Elliot was beaten in the 24th minute when Coulter took a Shane Ward pass and left marker Darren Rabbit stranded as he cut in from the left to fire a low shot to the corner of the net for a 1-4 to 0-5 lead.

Cavan also had a goal chance, but O'Reilly's effort was blocked by Adrian Scullion.

Down were reduced to 14 men when corner back Michael Higgins, already booked, received a second yellow card.

They finished the half on a high, however, with a Coulter point and another Doyle free to lead by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break.

Cavan failed to make their numerical advantage count, and a succession of wides meant they continued to chase the game, while their opponents were able to capitalise on more limited opportunities.

Daniel Hughes scored twice within the space of 30 seconds, and Eoin McCartan also marked his debut with a point as Down made it 1-10 to 0-9 within 10 minutes of the restart.

Hughes delighted the Mourne faithful with a delightful score from far out on the left wing, but Cavan suddenly found a way through the Down defence for Jason Reilly to fire a low shot past Michael McVeigh 11 minutes from the end.

Three minutes later Lyng had the sides level, and he raced through to fist the lead point with five minutes to play.

Down dug deep, showed tremendous character, and substitute Aidna O'Prey had the sides level, Pierson edged Cavan back in front in a gripping finish, and finally it was left to John Clarke, whose experimental stint as an attacker during the National League was deemed a failure, who popped up with a sensational equaliser, sending the teams back to Breffni Park for the replay on May 30.

Down: M McVeigh, M Higgins, A Molloy, A Scullion (0-1), J Clarke, M Cole, S Farrell, D Gordon, G McCartan, L Doyle (0-4, all f), S Ward, R Sexton (0-1), E McCartan (0-1), B Coulter (1-2), D Hughes (0-3). Subs: J Lavery for Farrell, C McCrickard for G McCartan, B Grant for Sexton, A O'Prey (0-1) for E McCartan

Cavan: E Elliot, E Reilly, D Rabbit, P Brady, A Forde, T Crowe, A Gaynor, P McKenna, C Collins, L Reilly (0-1, f), M Lyng (0-6, 4f), M McKeever, G Pierson (0-3), J O'Reilly (1-2), S Johnston (0-1). Subs: K Crotty for Collins, P Reilly for Johnston