Late point saves Cavan's blushes

Cavan 0-11 Antrim 0-11

An Antrim team with eight debutants came within a whisker of causing a Breffni Park sensation, and only a Finbar O'Reilly injury-time free rescued Cavan, who must go to Casement Park for a replay next Saturday.

A scrappy Ulster Football Championship tie ended in a welter of excitement, with 14-man Cavan falling behind after leading for most of the game, Kevin Madden's clinical free-kicking taking the Saffrons to the verge of triumph.

Madden missed a penalty, but his accuracy from placed balls was crucial to an inspired second half performance from his side.

Cavan carved open the Antrim defence three times in the first quarter, but failed to take any of the golden goal chances which tempted their misfiring attackers.

Larry Reilly was the chief culprit, scuffing his shot badly wide after being sent through by Jason O'Reilly, and later blazing over the bar from another O'Reilly assist.

In between, O'Reilly had a shot saved by goalkeeper Patrick Murray, but Reilly made amends for his double miss with three well struck points.

Finbar O'Reilly converted a '45' and Dermot McCabe steered over a long distance free as the Breffni men opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

Kevin Brady, Antrim's most threatening attacker, hit a couple of points and Kevin Madden scored from a free as the Saffrons closed the gap.

And with wing backs Tony Scullion and Sean Kelly pressing forward to good effect, Antrim began to get on top in the closing stages of the half.

For all their dominance for 25 minutes, Cavan found themselves just two points ahead at the break, after Madden and Ciaran Close both thumped over long range frees to give Antrim some hope.

Cavan led by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time, and were once again denied a goal early in the second half when Murray saved superbly from Jason O'Reilly, deflecting the ball round a post for a '45', which Finbar O'Reilly converted sweetly, his third such score of the contest.

Moments later Antrim missed the best goal chance of the game, Kevin Madden's penalty brilliantly saved by James Reilly, and Saffron goalkeeper was fortunate to remain on the field after aiming a kick at Larry Reilly on the halfway line during a moment of tactical and disciplinary madness.

Close and Madden were on target again from frees to narrow the gap to two points midway through the second half.

Antrim began to believe in themselves, and worried the Cavan defence with their direct running, much of their good work prompted by the excellent Tony Scullion from wing back.

Cavan were reduced to 14 men 15 minutes from the end when defender Karol Crotty picked up a second yellow card, and from the resultant free, Madden brought the sides level at 0-9 each.

Larry Reilly immediately regained the lead for the home side, but with Joe Quinn beginning to get some joy from the midfield battle, Mickey Culbert's side were soon back on level terms, thanks to the accurate Madden, who converted his fifth free.

And when he drilled a sublime effort between the posts from 45 metres with five minutes to play, Antrim, were ahead for the first time.

But Dermot McCabe, pushed into full forward in a desperate last push, won the free from which Finbar O'Reilly levelled from the 20 metre line.