Football

Key battle, tactical takes, top score... all the analysis from Cavan v Down

Caolan Mooney was one of Down's most dangerous players, especially in the first half as the Mournemen started strongly before Cavan came good after the break. Picture by Philip Walsh
Caolan Mooney was one of Down's most dangerous players, especially in the first half as the Mournemen started strongly before Cavan came good after the break. Picture by Philip Walsh Caolan Mooney was one of Down's most dangerous players, especially in the first half as the Mournemen started strongly before Cavan came good after the break. Picture by Philip Walsh

DOWN TACTICAL TAKE

THE question going into the game was how Down would deal with Cavan around the middle, especially if Mickey Graham opted to start Thomas Galligan – which he did. In the first half, this was not a problem as the Mournemen won enough of the break ball around this sector before inflicting huge damage on their shell-shocked opponents. Paddy Tally’s decision to bring in Liam Kerr for Gerard Collins looked a masterstroke when the Burren man burst forward from deep early on lay on the goal for Ceilum Doherty.

With Cavan looking laboured as they consistently lost foot races to Kerr, Caolan Mooney and Jerome Johnston, Down could and should have been further ahead at the break.

But then, see all those fears Down supporters had before the game? Well, they were realised and then some as a second half nightmare unfolded.

With Cavan dominating the middle, the Mournemen just couldn’t get their hands on the ball. Tally sent Kilcoo midfielder Dylan Ward into the action but it made no difference.

It was one-way traffic in the second half, and Down weren’t able to do anything to stop it.

CAVAN TACTICAL TAKE

CAVAN seemed to sit back in the first half, inviting Down to run at them, which the pacy Mournemen did in their droves, pinning their opponents back and taking scores.

A move to more direct football helped matters, pushing Thomas Galligan and Killian Clarke up to the inside forward line before half-time. However, it was the introduction of Conor Madden and Chris Conor for the second half which turned this game.

Madden was immense in attack, scoring three points, posing problems in the air to force the penalty, and then dropping deeper to set up scores.

Cavan’s appetite for winning breaking ball was also far greater than in the first half, boosted by pushing Padraig Faulkner further forward into the central battleground, with Gearoid McKiernan getting more involved in that respect. Their long range shooting was also more measured in the second half.

TOP SCORE

THE Conor Madden score that brought Cavan to within a point – just controlling the ball ahead of Patrick Murdock and managing to turn and fire over – was a moment of class, but the top score was still probably Ceilum Doherty’s third minute goal.

It started when Paul Devlin found the rampaging Liam Kerr who bounded between two blue bodies before offloading to Doherty, and the Kilcoo man lashed high to the net.

TURNING POINT

WITH Down leading by seven, the game changed hugely in the space of one second half minute. Despite a shaky start after the break, a Caolan Mooney burst through the middle saw another huge goal chance for the Mournemen. The Rostrevor man fist-passed to his right, intending the ball for Paul Devlin, only for Conor Poland to dive in and fist the ball wide.

Sixty seconds later, Cavan were awarded a penalty when Kevin McKernan picked the ball off the ground. Marty Reilly slotted home, the momentum grew and with the wind at their back, the Breffnimen went on to blow down away in this period.

KEY BATTLE

Gearoid McKiernan (Cavan) v Jonny Flynn (Down)

THE Cavan Gaels clubman is repeatedly labelled pre-match as Cavan’s most important player so it was obvious that Down could try to curtail him. Loughinisland’s Flynn did a very good job of that in the first half, with McKiernan limited to a poorly struck shot and a converted free, both late on.

However, the tables were turned in the second half, summing up the changing course of this match. McKiernan got his mitts on plenty of ball and drove his team forward in attack after attack. Then, for the final kick-out, he rose to take a catch which denied Down any chance of forcing extra time.

REF WATCH

Martin McNally (Monaghan)

MADE a puzzling call to bring play back for a free after Martin Reilly was pulled back when he was bearing down on goal but it didn’t cost Cavan in the end.

Consulted his fellow officials to good effect for the penalty call and although both sides will quibble about some of the frees awarded, the Monaghan man had no material bearing on the outcome of this semi-final. Waved away Devlin’s claim after going to ground too easily and generally controlled the game well.