Donegal grabbed a well-earned win against a resilient Cavan in an exciting Allianz Division two contest writes Jack Gannon.
Donegal opened the scoring before back-to-back Cavan points by Padraig Faulkner and Paddy Lynch. Lynch converting a free. Donegal’s Paddy McBrearty levelled the sides after eight minutes.
James Smith restored Cavan’s a minute later with a well-taken mark. However, Donegal landed four points without reply giving them a three-points to-six lead after 29 minutes.
Indeed, Paddy Lynch broke Cavan’s 21 minute scoring drought with a much-needed free on the half-hour mark. Donegal would manage to get two more points before half-time as they took a four-points to-eight lead into the dressing rooms for the interval.
Cavan made a blistering start to the second-half with three points without reply reducing Donegal’s lead to one single point. Dara McVeety, Paddy Lynch, and Ciaran Brady all getting their name on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Donegal responded expertly through three scores without reply. Cavan substitute Caoimhin O’Reilly got his name on the scoresheet as he disrupted Donegal’s momentum before the visitors were able to restore their four-point advantage. The score-line read 12 points to nine on the hour mark.
Cavan comeback
Caoimhin O'Reilly managed to get his second score of the game, three minutes later. This would kick-start Cavan’s late flurry. Paddy Lynch and James Smith went back-to-back to reduce Donegal’s lead to the minimum once again four minutes from time.
Man-of-the-Match Oisin Gallen gave Donegal some breathing room, kicking his sixth point of the match in the fourth minute of additional time.
However, Cavan refused to lie down as corner forward Paddy Lynch made it a one-point game yet again 60 seconds later.
However, it was too late for Cavan revival as they fell to an agonising one-point defeat to their Ulster rivals. Donegal make it two wins from two in Division two.
