County Hurling (Cavan v Leitrim)

New Cavan Manager Brendan Nelligan enjoyed a winning debut at Breffni Park, helped by profligate Leitrim recording 15 wides.
With former London star Kevin Downes to the fore , Cavan opened up a 0-3 to 0-2 lead in the opening quarter.
Clement Cunniffe gave Leitrim a foothold but their limitations up front soon became all too obvious.
Cavans frontmen laboured initially before enjoying a 13-minute purple patch in which they notched 1-5 without reply.
However, four minutes after Mark McEntees 28th-minute goal for Cavan, Dave McGovern raised a green flag to give Leitrim hope.
But Cavan regained control and with Bernard Gaffney shining, hit five points without reply. Leitrim refused to cave in and got a late consolation through Shane Kiernans goal.  Final score Cavan 1.17, Leitrim 3.4.
scorers — Cavan: B Gaffney 0-9 (0-3f, 0-3 65s), K Downes 0-6, M Entee 1-1, G Brennan 0-1. Leitrim: C Cunniffe 1-3 (0-1f, 0-1 65), S Kiernan, D McGovern 1-0, D OBrien 0-1.
Cavan — M Curry; D Neary, M Carr, A Sheridan; B Devine, C Nelligan, A Nelligan; P Sheridan, G Brennan; C Brennan, B Gaffney, R OHanlon; K Downes, M McEntee, M OConnell. Subs: J Rosney for R OHanlon (20), S Og Brady for M OConnell (66).
Leitrim — P McKiernan; K McGrath, nÓguckian, S Guckian; K Boyle, V McDermott, M Poniard; K Connolly, C Cunniffe; D McGovern, I Bermingham, F Carroll; M Hayes, D OBrien, M Burns. Subs: C Burns for M Hayes (30), L Burns for I Berminghan (38), P McWeeney for F Carroll (47), S Kiernan for M Burns (55), D Tiernan for K McGrath (65).
REF — C Groome (Offaly).

Match Report courtesty of the Irish Independent

 

 

23-Feb-10 by Colette Fox – PRO