Goals make the difference as Cavan take home the silver

Lidl National Football Leagu

Cavan 2-10

Wexford 0-9

By Daire Walsh

CAVAN manager Emmet Daly said it is a huge boost to have silverware back in the county after they saw off Wexford to win the Lidl National Football League crown.

Goals in either half from Lauren McVeety and Ellie Brady at the Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda on Sunday were decisive as they captured their third Division 3 title.

“There’s a lot of girls that have been knocking around the county set-up for a good few years, that haven’t won a cup,” said Daly. “I think 2013 was the last time that there was a cup that came to Cavan at adult level. It’s great to get that over and done with. We can think ahead that that’s not hanging in the back of anyone’s minds anymore.

“The girls worked extremely hard down two players and they upped their work rate. You could see that the legs were beginning to tire, but the work rate didn’t stop. Fair play to them for doing that and Wexford put a lot of pressure on us.”

Wexford manager Lizzy Kent said that while they were disappointed to lose the final, there were a lot of positives from this league campaign.

“It’s probably one of the best league campaigns we’ve had in a while. Five wins on the board. We’re delighted as in that was the aim, Division Two football next year. We’re really, really pleased with that and can look forward to that challenge in the year ahead,” said Kent.

“Cavan are a really, really good side. We knew that coming into the game. We knew we’d have to be at our best in order to cope with the threat that they offered. I suppose the threats came from all over the field. Whilst the goals came at really opportune times, it’s a credit to them in relation to that. We’d always be hoping if we got maybe one or two that it could have shifted momentum, but they managed the game very well and we can have no complaints.”

A goal from McVeety after 23 minutes helped Cavan lead by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break, having played with the breeze, but the Breffni outfit were left temporarily hamstrung by the sin-binnings of Brady and Micaela Fitzpatrick within five minutes of the play restarting.

Chloe Foxe registered a brace of pointed frees during this juncture and she was later joined on the scoresheet by substitute Grace Donovan as Wexford attempted to force their way back into contention. However, while Sherene Hamilton was on hand to trade points with Aisling Gilsenan, Brady palmed to the net for a second Cavan goal on 44 minutes — moment after she had returned to the field of play.

This major restored the Ulster side’s half-time buffer of eight points and this cushion remained intact when Niamh McCorry cancelled out an Emma Tomkins score for Wexford.

Scorers

Cavan: L McVeety 1-2, E Brady 1-1, A Gilsenan 0-3, S Greene, C Dolan, N McCorry, E Madden 0-1 each.

Wexford: C Foxe 0-4 (4f), C Banville, A Halligan, G Donovan, S Hamilton, E Tomkins 0-1 each.

CAVAN: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch, S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, E Brady; E Madden, L McVeety, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan.
Subs: N McCorry for Keenaghan (45), K McCormack for Gilsenan, A Deneher for Madden (both 49), R McLoughlin for Brady (58).

WEXFORD: S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, K English; C Donnelly, R Murphy; B McDonald, C Murray, O Byrne; A Neville, C Ní Nualláin, C Foxe.
Subs: S Hamilton for McDonald (10), A Cullen for Byrne, G Donovan for Ní Nualláin (both 33), E Tomkins for Murray (40), A Power for Neville (48).

Referee: Gerard Canny (Mayo).