Football

Ulster SFC semi-final - how the Cavan players rated

Cian Mackey came off the bench to make a vital contribution in Clones yesterday. Picture by Philip Walsh
Cian Mackey came off the bench to make a vital contribution in Clones yesterday. Picture by Philip Walsh Cian Mackey came off the bench to make a vital contribution in Clones yesterday. Picture by Philip Walsh

Raymond Galligan: Distribution was fantastic all afternoon, lived life on the edge a few times but always kept a calm head. 7

Jason McLoughlin: Did a sound job on Jamie Clarke, who didn’t score from play, and made a vital interception in extra-time. 7.5

Padraig Faulkner: His afternoon ended before the half hour when he was harshly black carded for a challenge on Niall Grimley. 6

Conor Moynagh: Playing a roving role from deep and made some vital interceptions, as well as getting up the field to score a trademark outside of the boot point in the first half. Black carded in extra-time. 7.5

Gerard Smith: Landed a nice point before injury forced him off 25 minutes in. 6

Killian Clarke: Spent most of the day following O’Neill and granted the Crossmaglen man little room to operate. 7.5

Conor Rehill: Won the kick-out that led to the first of Mackey’s two late equalising scores. On the down side, took on an ambitious shot deep in added time when it might have made more sense to stay patient and work a better opportunity with the game there to be won. 6.5

Conor Brady: Didn’t get close enough to Burns and nowhere to be seen when the Armagh midfielder ran through to score a second half goal. Eventually withdrawn. 5.5

Gearoid McKiernan: Got nowhere near the heights scaled against Monaghan on a frustrating afternoon. Kicked five wides, including a gilt-edged free in extra-time. 6

Martin Reilly: Roved all around to try and find space but Forker wasn’t for giving him any. Always calm in possession but not involved as much as Cavan need him to be. 6

Dara McVeety: Brilliant. Played at full-forward for long spells and was just too quick and cute for Morgan, who was withdrawn after picking up a yellow card. Scored two lovely points in the second half and continued to take the fight to Armagh. 8

Niall Murray: A typically energetic performance and a cool head on frees. 7

Oisin Kiernan: Worked hard but largely ineffective. Spilled a ball that ended up leading to Armagh’s only score of extra-time. 6

Thomas Galligan: Started at midfield before moving up top but saw very little ball. 5.5

Conor Madden: Well shackled by Ryan Kennedy and eventually withdrawn early in the second half. 5.5

Substitutes

Ciaran Brady: Replaced Faulkner after he was black carded, but picked up two yellows and walked the line before full-time. 5.5

Christopher Conroy: Kept a close watch on Stefan Campbell and did okay. Gave away possession in extra-time when Cavan were chasing an equaliser. 6

Cian Mackey: Superb cameo. Brought Cavan back from the brink twice as the clock ticked down in regulation time, and was the coolest man in Clones as he slotted over the final equaliser right at the end of extra-time. Could’ve won the game in the final second but it wasn’t to be. 8

Stephen Murray: A superb ball carrier, his pace caused Armagh all sorts of problems. Scored a super point a minute after coming on, soon added another and made a great run for Mackey’s late leveller in normal time. 8

Oisin Pierson: Didn’t get the chance to show his quality in extra-time. 6

Jack Brady: Picked up a yellow card in the final minute of the game. 6

Paul Graham: Came on for extra-time but made little impact. 6