Derry defeat Cavan but win not enough for promotion

With Cork beat Tyrone, it wasn’t enough for the Oakleafers to clinch promotion and they’ll now look forward to a Ulster Championship visit of Antrim next month.

Cavan’s Patrick Lynch and Derry’s Ruairi Ó Mianáin. Pic: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho

Division 2: Derry 1-20 Cavan 0-19

DERRY bounced back from defeat in Louth to see off Cavan on Sunday afternoon at Find Insurance Celtic Park.

With Cork beating Tyrone, it wasn’t enough for the Oakleafers to clinch promotion and they’ll now look forward to an Ulster Championship visit of Antrim next month.

At the other end of the table, Cavan beat the drop thanks to Louth’s win over Kildare.

Cavan went three up after five minutes with points from Gearóid McKiernan, Conor Brady, and Tiernan Madden.

The Breffni men were dominant on kick-outs from both ends and settled into the game.

Derry shot back into contention with Loughlin’s eight-minute goal. Ehan Doherty’s fist pass went to ground and he pulled on the ball, with the shot going low and beyond Lia Brady’s dive to level matters.

A Lachlan Murray run a point put Derry ahead with McGuigan kicking a two-point free for a 1-3 to 0-4.

Derry were lucky at the other end. Ciarán ‘Holla’ Brady pulled one goal chance wide and had another blocked by Darragh McVeety.

A fisted McGuigan point had Derry six up before McKiernan (twice) and Oisin Brady pointed to leave Loughlin’s goal separating the teams at the break, 1-9 to 0-9.

Derry spring Conor McCluskey at the break but there were wides at either end, Tiernan Madden and Ethan Doherty.

Cavan hit the first score from Oisin Brady after a spell of turnovers. Derry had a goal chance but Loughlin blazed over in the 43rd minute.

Paul Cassidy cut inside but his tame shot was easily gathered by Liam Brady.

Derry then pushed five up with scores from Ethan Doherty and Lachlan Murray by the 50th minute.

Murray and McGuigan (2) added quickfire points and Derry went eight points ahead with 15 minutes to go.

Oisin Brady and Ryan Donohoe replied with two-pointers to leave four between the sides before McGuigan’s tenth point of the game.

Ethan Doherty added a third with Forbes kicking over before McVeety’s two-pointer gave Cavan a glimmer again.

Sean Young added a point and Cavan hit back with a two-point free from Lynch but all eyes were on Omagh as Cork still led the Red Hands.

Scorers for Derry: S McGuigan 0-11 (2tpf, 2f), N Loughlin 1-1, L Murray, E Doherty 0-3 each, R Forbes and S Young 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cavan: G McKiernan 0-5 (5f), O Brady 0-4 (1tp), D McVeety 0-3 (tp), R Donohoe (tp), P Lynch (tpf), T Madden 0-2 each and Conor Brady 0-1 

DERRY: S McGuckin, D Baker, R Forbes, G McKinless; R Ó Mianáin, B Rogers, P McGrogan; C Glass, D Higgins; E Doherty, S McGuigan, P Cassidy; N Loughlin, M Downey, L Murray 

Subs: C McCluskey for Downey (HT), N Toner for Ó Mianáin (48), S Young for Cassidy (58), N O'Donnell for Higgins (65), S Kearney for Forbes (68).

CAVAN: L Brady; E Clarke, B O'Connell, Cormac Brady; N Carolan, J McLoughlin, Ciarán Brady (Arva); R Donohoe, G McKiernan; T Madden, Conor Brady O Brady; E Shehu, D McVeety, P Lynch 

Subs: G Smith for Shehu (48), P Corrigan for Cormac Brady (57), F Shehu for O Brady (61), R Tobin for Carolan (68), C McGovern for Lynch (68).

Referee: T Murphy (Galway).