Rousing Roscommon rally enough to see off Cavan

An attendance of around 1,200 basked in the beautiful sunshine at pristine Dr Hyde Park last Sunday, but the home support were feeling anything but elated after only seven minutes of this Division 3 clash. At that stage, the Hyde scoreboard amazingly read Cavan 1-4 Roscommon 0-1. Visibly stung by that two-point home defeat to Offaly a week earlier, the Breffni Blues signalled their early intent by racing three points clear after just two minutes. Moving the ball at speed, their attack benefited from admittedly loose marking by the Roscommon rearguard. Brendan Fitzpatrick pointed after just 30 seconds, with Mark McKeever adding another in rapid succession. Fitzpatrick then showed a clean pair of heels to his marker and slotted over point number three as Cavan's incessant attacking play continued. In the first Roscommon attack, full-forward Senan Kilbride drew a free (an advantage could have been played), pointed by Donal Shine. But this was but a temporary aberration as Cavan struck a lethal blow (fifth minute), when wing-forward Niall Smith made a clear road for midfielder David Givney, with the No. 8 unleashing a rocket to the Roscommon net. Smith was again provider almost immediately when sending McKeever through for another point to open up a six-point advantage. Thoughts, at this juncture, inevitably recalled the sides' previous (2010) meeting at the same venue, where the Ulstermen ran out easy winners (2-20 to 1-10). Were the Rossies in for a repeat Rocky Horror Show two years on? Des Newton and his management team obviously entertained similar thoughts. A marked tightening up of a hitherto slack defensive sextet was clearly discernible, with the blues' attack now experiencing a significant reduction in wriggle-room. Earlier midfield superiority by the Breffni men steadily eroded, with the Michael Finneran/Karol Mannion axis exercising greater presence. Karol landed a trademark point from 40 metres while centre-forward Cathal Cregg, bringing his attacking flair and panache centre-stage, forced a foul with Shine expertly slotting over the free. Cavan fought resolutely to regain the initiative and were rewarded when full-forward Niall McDermott sent over a smart point, promptly followed by an exchange of points from both centre-forwards (Cregg and McKeever). As the half edged towards its end, and with Val Andrews men still six points to the good, this league clash assumed a radical transformation. Sean McDermott, Niall Daly and Cathal Dineen, in particular, had orchestrated a closing down at the back for the Rossies, and now assumed almost complete control. Meanwhile, the Ros' attack ran off six unanswered points to wipe out the arrears. McDermott and Cathal Dineen did the preamble for Donal Shine to drive over a missile, with goal written all over it. A lovely bout of interplay saw Cathal Cregg raise another white flag. Then a poor Cavan kick-out which drifted over the sideline led to a David Keenan point. Clann na nGael sharpshooter Shine then added three points from placed balls against a now beleaguered Cavan rearguard. Thus, the wheel had turned nearly full circle at the short whistle when the scoreboard read Roscommon 0-10 Cavan 1-7. A brace of Cavan points was registered inside the opening minutes of the second half, courtesy of midfielder David Givney and wing-forward Niall Smith. These would, however, prove a false dawn for the visitors. The key score came two minutes in. Goalie Keith Fannin failed to deal with a dropping ball which broke to substitute David O'Gara, and the Roscommon Gaels player made no mistake to send the ball to the net, giving the home side the lead for the first time. O'Gara proceeded to play a big part in the upcoming Roscommon resurgence. A left-footed John Rogers point extended their lead, but a brace of Cavan points by Martin Dunne (one free) levelled proceedings. Donal Shine (free) and Cavan Gaels' Martin Dunne had the match deadlocked again on 48 minutes, but the Blues would not score again in the 25 minutes (included three minutes added-on) to the end of the contest. Atonement for an earlier slip-up was made by Cavan 'keeper Fannin when blocking a Shine special; he later deprived Kevin Higgins with another splendid save. Notwithstanding these, the tide was about to go out on the Ulster side, as substitute Higgins burst onto the scene by lofting over three glorious points as the clock wound down. The ever-improving David Keenan drew the foul (the free was pointed by John Rogers), while Senan Kilbride was also on target in this last quarter rally which ultimately rubber-stamped the two points on offer. That false start had the potential to derail the Roscommon bid to get back to winning ways after last week's loss to the Model County. It is to the great credit of Des Newton's men that, excluding the opening seven minutes, they outscored their opponents by 1-16 to 0-8, although many elementary errors were made even in their period of ascendancy. For their part, Cavan lost their way badly after that early flourish and just after half-time, and they look a side that can ill-afford the loss of a talent like Seanie Johnston. Roscommon: Geoffrey Claffey (capt.); Sean McDermott, Neil Collins, Sean Purcell; Ian Kilbride, Niall Daly, Cathal Dineen; Michael Finneran, Karol Mannion (0-1); David Keenan (0-1), Cathal Cregg (0-2), John Rogers (0-2, 1f); Donal Shine (0-7, 6f), Senan Kilbride (0-1), Enda Kenny. Subs: David O'Gara (1-0) for Kenny (inj., 33), Kevin Higgins (0-3) for Mannion (47), Niall Kilroy for Cregg (57), Brian Murtagh for Rogers (66), Conor Devaney for S Kilbride (68). Cavan: Keith Fannin; Damien Barkey, Damien Reilly, Ronan Flanagan; Barry Watters, Padraic O'Reilly, Ciaran Galligan; David Givney (1-2), Ray Cullivan; Niall Smith (0-1), Mark McKeever (0-3), Kevin Meehan; Brendan Fitzpatrick (0-2), Niall McDermott (0-1), Martin Dunne (0-3, 1f). Subs: Niall Murray for Meehan (H/T), Dane O'Dowd for Cullivan (57), Raymond Galligan for McKeever (60), Stephen Jordan for Smith (62), Conor McClarey for McDermott (67). Referee: David Gough (Meath).