Louth minors defeat Cavan to progress to Paul McGurr Cup semi-final
Louth 3-13 Cavan 2-8
Louth minor footballers produced a strong second-half performance to defeat Cavan in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Minor Football Tier 2 Championship at Dowdallshill this afternoon.
The Wee County showed superb character to come from behind in the second half and secure their place in the last four.
The Reds made a bright start and opened the scoring after just two minutes when Joseph Lynch split the posts.
Connell Kelly quickly doubled the advantage with a neat left-footed effort from close range to leave the hosts 0-2 to 0-0 ahead.
Cavan responded through Jay Graham, whose two-point free from distance levelled matters after five minutes.
Kelly restored Louth's lead from a ‘45 before the visitors finished off good work through the hands to make it 0-3 apiece with just over 10 minutes played.
The sides continued to trade scores during a tightly contested opening period. Lynch edged Louth back in front before Graham replied for the visitors.
A Pauric Maguire free restored the hosts' advantage, but Jake Brady levelled again for Cavan midway through the half.
Louth hit the net with five minutes remaining in the first half after a mix-up in the Cavan defence was punished by Cillian Duff, who reacted quickest to finish from close range.
Cavan almost struck back immediately, but goalkeeper Aaron O'Donoghue produced an excellent save to divert Daire McCrystal's effort onto the woodwork.
Donnacha Reidy added a point for Louth before Brady replied at the opposite end. Louth missed a late free, but still carried a three-point advantage into the break.
Half time: Louth 1-6 Cavan 0-6.
The visitors made a determined start to the second half and drew level when Graham fired low and hard to the net.
Two minutes later, O'Donoghue again came to Louth's rescue with a fine save from Finlay McCaul. However, Cavan struck for a second goal moments later.
McCaul was again involved, providing the assist for Jack Forde, who made no mistake to put the Breffni men 2-6 to 1-6 ahead.
The home side responded impressively as Maguire converted a free before Conor Marron pointed to cut the gap to a single point.
Finn McEneaney then saw a goal effort saved by Darragh Eccleston as the hosts searched for a breakthrough.
Andrew Smart and Graham extended Cavan's lead, but Louth remained in touch thanks to a fine long-range effort from Maguire.
Kelly added a close-range free before the decisive moment arrived with three minutes of normal time remaining.
A goalmouth scramble ended with Marron reacting quickest after the goalkeeper spilt the initial effort, and the Louth forward blasted home from close range to put the Wee County back in front at 2-10 to 2-8.
That goal lifted the hosts, and they finished strongly as substitute Anthony Traynor added a point before Kelly and Duff both capitalised on Louth's momentum to stretch the lead.
Cavan's hopes of a late comeback faded further when they missed a free before substitute Cillian Downey applied the finishing touch in injury time.
Downey completed an excellent move by shooting low to the near post beyond the goalkeeper to seal victory.
It was a deserved win for the Reds, who registered 30 shots and 16 scores over the hour.
Despite recording nine wides and four efforts that fell short, they showed character when the game was in the balance to secure a place in the Paul McGurr Cup semi-final when they will play Monaghan next week.
Full time: Louth 3-13 Cavan 2-8.
Louth: Aaron O'Donoghue; Matthew Kierans, Calvin Winters, Oliver Walsh; Finn McEneaney (c), Mark Smith, Conor Marron (1-1); Tadhg McDonnell, Geraldines; Pauric Maguire (0-3, 2f), Connell Kelly (0-5, 1f, 1 ‘45), Joseph Lynch (0-2); Donnacha Reidy (0-1), Cillian Duff (1-1), Brian O'Neill.
Subs: Cillian Downey (1-0) on for Donnacha Reidy (44’), Anthony Traynor (0-1) on for Brian O’Neill (52’), Conor McCabe on for Finlay McCaul (55’), Conor Duffy on for Pauric Maguire (60’).
Cavan: Darragh Eccleston; Jack Fallon, David Luggan, Andrew Smart (0-1); Simon Kolimar, Daire McCrystal, Connor McCaffrey; Finlay McCaul, Exceedingly Imade; Zach Byrne, Oliver Clarke, Oisin Smith; Jack Forde (1-0), Jake Brady (c) (0-2), Jay Graham (1-4, 1tpf).
Sub: Adam Smith for Oliver Clarke (28’), CJ Fitzpatrick on for Oisin Smith (37’), Conor McCabe on for Finlay McCaul (55’).
Referee: Enda Mallon (Armagh).