Cavan Secure Victory Over Wicklow

Wicklow 0-10

Cavan secured their first Division 2B victory Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday night when they comfortably accounted for Mick O'Dwyer's side.

Cavan began impressively and led by 0-5 to 0-0 after 20 minutes, 18-year-old Ray Cullivan scoring three of the points. Wicklow came much more into the game and after John Slattery had got their opening point in the 29th minute, the visitors enjoyed a much greater share of possession.

Cavan, who had failed to press home their early advantage, were under pressure coming up to half time as Leighton Glynn, Tommy Gill, Paul Earls and Tony Hannon all found the target to level the scores at 0-6 each by the interval.

Cavan resumed in determined fashion and points fro Gerald Pearson, Cullivan and Keith Fannan helped restore their five point lead, 0-11 to 0-6 and were looking comfortable seven minutes into the second half.

However, the Breffni side managed to add just one point to their total during a 23 minute period.

Wicklow gained real confidence and Gill with three points left just two points between the teams with ten minutes left. And a James Reilly save denied them a goal moments later.

However, Cavan quickly regained their composure and scored five points without reply in the last six minutes of play including two from former Fermanagh star Rory Gallagher and one from world handball champion Paul Brady.

SCORERS - Cavan: R Cullivan, G Pearson 0-4 each, M Cunningham, R Gallagher 0-2 each, K Fannan, P Brady, S Johnston, C Mackey, M Brennan 0-1 each. Wicklow: T Gill 0-4, P Earls 0-2, L Glynn, J Slattery, K Byrne, T Hannon 0-1 each.

CAVAN - J Reilly; M Cahill, A Forde, K Fannan; P Brady, E Reilly, M Brennan; D McCabe, M Cunningham; R Cullivan, M McCeaver, L Mulvey; G Pearson, R Gallagher, S Johnston. Subs: N Walsh for L Mulvey (ht), C Mackey for R Cullivan (47), J Reilly for S Johnston (48), L Reilly for G Pearson (69), M Reilly for M Cunningham (71).

WICKLOW - R Daniels; C Highland, D O'hAnnaidh, A Byrne; S Byrne, C Foley, L Glynn; J Stafford, B O'Donovan; J Slattery, K Byrne, J P Dalton; T Gill, P Earls, T Hannan. Subs: P Dalton for S Byrne (10), D Jackman for C Foley (43), B Lennon for P Earls (63).

REF - P Hughes (Armagh).