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Cavan came from ten points behind to score a remarkable comeback win over Down and set up a final Ulster SFC meeting with the champions Donegal.
Breffni’s men simply refused to lie down on the Athletic Grounds, taking the second half by storm as they surprised the favorites before the game with an impressive display of guts, positivity and courage.
Relegation to Division 3 of the Allianz League has done nothing to lower the self-confidence among Mickey Graham’s players, who expended every last ounce of energy to unearth this magnificent result.
And having eliminated Monaghan, Antrim and Down, they will not complain about entering the provincial decider as underdogs.
Jerome Johnston slid a pass to Ceilium Doherty to score a goal in the third minute, and already the movement of Morne’s men was causing immense difficulties in the Breffni’s rear.
Heavy turf on a gray afternoon may have been considered favorable for Mickey Graham’s side, but the rhythm of the men in red and black shone through, particularly through Johnston, Caolan Mooney and Daniel Guinness.
Cavan had his chances, but wasted spikes stifled their efforts, and as they pushed for Rory Burns’ kicks, Down prevailed in the battle for broken possession down the middle.
By the 12th minute, Paddy Tally’s wind-assisted team had opened a seven-point lead 1-4 to 0-0, with Johnston and Doherty nailing all their points, and it wasn’t until the 13th minute that Stephen Smith pulled out. They dig. the mark of a free.
Jonny Flynn restrained Gearoid McKiernan’s influence, and the Breffni system suffered as a result, sending another hit when the influential Marty Reilly was thrown away in 25 minutes.
Down’s men were gaining confidence, even beginning to show glimpses of Morne’s famous swagger, as they stretched the lead with a pair of balls placed by Paul Devlin.
And they created more scoring opportunities late in the half, Mooney running down the middle to bring in a good save from Raymond Galligan, and Johnston denied by a superb block from Padraig Faulkner.
Faulkner and McKiernan slashed scores at the end of a difficult first half, but Down looked comfortable at 1-09 to 0-04 at the turnaround.
But Cavan went man-to-man and threw everything on the attack on the restart, his direct approach to route one wreaking havoc on the back, and Down’s defense weaknesses were exposed.
When they failed to clear a free Chris Conroy, Kevin McKernan was penalized for touching the ball on the ground in the small square, and Marty Reilly hit the penalty.
The introduction of Conor Madden added a much-needed spark to the Breffni attack, while Thomas Galligan advanced fully to create chaos, and Reilly and McKiernan began to prevail in the contest. Padraig Faulker was an immense figure as he pushed up to add power to the central area.
Madden shot more than three points, including a wonderful effort from near the touchline.
And it was Galligan who tied the wings at the hour from a mark.
Ciaran Brady was another colossus, winning the free practice sessions that McKeriann gave them the lead in for the first time with five minutes left on the clock.
Raymond Galligan’s excellent kicks kept him by his side in the attack by the men in blue, and they extended the lead through Thomas Galligan and Killian Clarke.
Down made a tight finish with late scores from O’Hare and Sheelin Johnston, but this was going to be Cavan’s day.
They dig: R Galligan; J McLoughlin, P. Faulkner (0-01), L Fortune; G Smith, K Clarke (0-01), C Brady (0-01); P Graham, K Brady (0-01); M Reilly (1-00 (pen), G McKiernan (0-03, 3f), O Kiernan; O Pierson, T Galligan (0-03, 1m), S Smith (0-01, f).
Subs: C Conroy for Graham (ht), C Madden (0-03) for Pierson (ht), T Donohoe for S Smith (52), C Timoney for C Brady (62), N Murray for Reilly (69)
Down: R Burns; P Fegan, P Murdock, P Laverty; K McKernan, J Flynn, D Guinness; C Mooney, L Kerr; B O’Hagan, P Delvin (0-03, 1f, 1 ’45), C Poland; J Johnston (0-04, 1f), D O’Hare (0-04, 3f), C Doherty (1-01).
Subs: S Johnston (0-01) for Kerr (48), D Ward for Devlin (52), C Quinn for O’Hagan (58), J Guinness for Poland (66), R Johnston for D Guinness (68)
Referee: M McNally (Monaghan)
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