Rossies rocked by Cavan's second half power show in league opener

The acronym GUBU (Grotesque, Unprecedented, Bizarre and Unbelievable), coined at a shady remove of the nation's chequered history, came graphically to mind last Sunday evening, following this truly amazing NFL Division 3 encounter at a dry, but bitterly cold, Dr. Hyde Park. The 2000 or so hardy souls who turned up at Headquarters for what traditionally constitutes the start of the relatively serious business of the GAA season, including a sizeable Cavan contingent, could hardly believe their collective eyes at what was transpiring before them, nor had events in the lead-up to this first round joust given any indication. Roscommon, for their part, had just come off a Connacht FBD League campaign where they were always competitive, though worries existed concerning a perceived lack of forward power. Cavan, on the other hand, although running eventual McKenna Cup champions Donegal to two points in Round 1, would subsequently incur setbacks against St. Mary's and Tyrone, the latter by 16 points. With stalwarts like goalie James Reilly (emigrated), Larry Reilly (retired) and Seanie Johnston (arm injury) gone from the team which inflicted an 0-14 to 0-6 defeat on the Primrose and Blue in the corresponding tie at Kingspan Breffni Park last March, the portents looked ripe for Roscommon to exact sweet revenge. And with Donal Shine - who has been in terrific form for DCU in the O'Byrne Cup - back with his county at full-forward, hopes for a home win were high against already depleted opponents. To the delight of the home faithful and aided by a somewhat diagonal wind into the town end, Roscommon made the best of starts. Donie Shine punished a pick-up inside the opening minute with a pointed free and, although temporarily losing wing-back Niall Carty with a blood injury (6th minute - he returned eight minutes later), they maintained their momentum with two further points (7th and 8th minutes). The first came from attacking wing-back John Rogers, following impressive approach work by centre-forward David O'Gara, then came a beauty from in-form Donal Shine. It wasn't until the 15th minute of play that a slow starting Cavan rose their opening flag. Full-forward and subsequent match-winner Raymond Galligan punished a foul on himself by slotting over the resultant free. Another free, by centre-forward Gareth 'Nesty' Smith and a point courtesy of wing-back Mark McKeever, all in as many minutes, had the teams level 17 minutes in, with a ding-dong struggle now apparently in store. Shine strike Roscommon and especially Donal Shine had other ideas, with the Clann na nGael star now about to launch a tour-de-force. The No 14 seized on a through ball from midfielder Mark O'Carroll to deliver an unstoppable shot to the corner of the Cavan net. Then the Ros' sharpshooter pointed two frees, the second from all of 60 metres out. This spell of scoring opened up a five-point lead for the home squad as the clock reached 22 minutes and things were looking rosy for the Rossies as they had impressively regained the initiative. However, Cavan refused to capitulate and they were about to establish what would later become absolute dominance at midfield. Fighting back with renewed fervour, the Breffni men scored six of the remaining seven points flagged before the break. Lacken's Raymond Galligan, who also starred for Athlone IT in last week's Sigerson Cup win over UL, scored three from frees with each of the half-forward trio of David Givney, Gareth Smith and Cian Mackey also on target. Donal Shine (free) notched his side's solitary reply. The blues had to be feeling happy as they headed to the dressing rooms level with their hosts at 0-9 to 1-6, an unlikely scenario a quarter-hour earlier. Cathal McHugh (St. Brigid's) came on at half time for Roscommon who soon regained the lead with a pointed free by Donal Shine three minutes in. There followed a brace of brilliantly executed points, the first from Raymond Galligan out on the wing, with David O'Gara responding following a superb solo effort. Cavan centre-back John McCutcheon surged forward to again tie up the match, and this would signal a total transformation of fortunes in this league tie, which bordered on the incredulous. Cavan proceeded to take complete control of proceedings, to such an extent that they went on to outscore alarmingly fading opponents by 2-9 to 0-2 between the 47th minute and the full time whistle. GUBU, 2010 style, had raised its unlikely head. A dropping ball from centre-forward Gareth Smith was deflected out by Roscommon goalie Geoffrey Claffey at the expense of a '45', converted by Raymond Galligan, followed almost immediately by midfielder Eoin McGuigan tearing through for his team's first goal. A beleaguered defence was forced into the concession of frees, punished on the treble by a now rampant Galligan. Sub Paul Garvey, just on the park, pointed for Roscommon - his teams first score in sixteen minutes, but there would be no let-up by a gung-ho visiting team who appeared to have a distinct edge in early season match fitness. Another scoring spurt produced 1-5 from play to bring their grand total for the evening to 2-20. The outstanding Raymond Galligan (0-2) brought his total to 0-10 in a par-plus display, with Eddie Reilly (0-2) and Michael Lyng (0-1) also on target. And, in a forward formation where five of their starting sextet scored from play, winger Cian Mackey put the icing on the cake with a late goal to give his side the perfect start to league 2010 and Manager Tommy Carr at timely boost for his charges next outing against Antrim under the Kingspan Breffni Park lights on this coming Saturday night. His top performers on Sunday were Dermot Sheridan, John McCutcheon, Eoin McGuigan, David Givney, Gareth Smith and of course Raymond Galligan. Roscommon also will be very much under the spotlight on Saturday night at Brewster Park, Enniskillen (7.30pm), where Fermanagh, despite narrowly losing to Offaly at Tullamore will provide doughty opposition. What went wrong on Sunday last and how did a five-point lead at one stage turn into a 13-point rout? Roscommon failed to maintain their earlier momentum against opposition who went from strength to strength as the game wore on. Their defence, despite good work by Peter Domican, Michael Killilea and Ian Kilbride early on, was subsequently overrun by opponents who gradually developed an insatiable hunger for victory. Though unlucky to lose midfielder Michael Finneran (second bookable offence) late in the game, this was also a sector where early promise gave way to total dominance by the Breffni side, particularly in that eminently forgettable second half. In attack, Donal Shine scored a magnificent tally of 1-7, but lacked any real or consistent support in a sector where four of the starting formation were replaced before the end and which sorely missed the influence of Senan Kilbride, unavailable due to a groin injury. Sunday's game, unreal in many aspects, must be put behind the team now, with the certainly attainable win against Fermanagh of absolutely top priority. CAVAN: Fintan Reilly, Dermot Sheridan, Tomas Carr, Martin Cahill, Mark McKeever (0-1), John McCutcheon (0-1), Alan Clarke, Eoin McGuigan (1-0), Nicholas Walshe, David Givney (0-1), Gareth Smith (0-3, 1f, 0-1 '45'), Cian Mackey (1-1), Martin Reilly, Raymond Galligan (0-10, 6f) and Michael Lyng (0-1). Subs: Pauric Reilly for McCutcheon (58), Eddie Reilly (0-2) for Galligan (61), Ciaran Galligan for Walshe (64); Eoin McPhillips for Cahill (67). ROSCOMMON: Geoffrey Claffey, Sean McDermott, Michael Killilea, Peter Domican, Niall Carty, Ian Kilbride, John Rogers (0-1), Michael Finneran, Mark O'Carroll, Sean Purcell, David O'Gara (0-1), Cathal Cregg, Ger Heneghan, Donal Shine (1-7, 0-5f) and Enda Kenny. Subs: Colm Garvey for Carty (blood sub, 6 mins - Carty returned, 14), Kevin Higgins for Cregg (29); Cathal McHugh for Carty (H/T); Gary Cox for Heneghan (53); Paul Garvey (0-1) for Kenny (56); James McDermott for O'Gara (65). REFEREE: Declan Corcoran (Mayo).