Cavan hold on for one-point win over Fermanagh in Ulster U20 football clash

The Breffnimen had made the perfect start to the contest as a Cian Keaney goal helped them into an early 1-2 to 0-1 advantage, Keaney taking advantage of a loose pass in the Erne defence to stroke to the back of the net.

With full forward Darragh Lovett proving a lively presence in the Cavan attack the visitors led 1-4 to 0-2 by the 20th minute although Conor O’Hanlon rattled over a couple of fine efforts for the Ernemen to leave four between the sides at the interval, 0-5 to 1-6.

With Keaney, Lovett and Favour Shehu among the points in the opening ten minutes of the second half, Cavan extended their lead out to six points, 0-6 to 1-9.

But Fermanagh rallied and O’Hanlon converted a free and Jack Quinlan fired over before Michael Burns crashed a superb shot to the top corner to close the gap back to one with ten minutes to go.

Cavan hit back though with the perfect response a minute later as Lovett cut in and drilled a shot to the back of the Erne net to put four in it again.

Fermanagh kept battling and Cian O’Brien and Caolan Fitzpatrick knocked over points to leave one in it but Cavan managed to cling on to seal a one-point win.

Scorers – Fermanagh: C O’Hanlon 0-4 (1’45, 1f), M Burns 1-0, C Fitzpatrick 0-2 (1f), S Conlon 0-2, C O’Brien 0-1, D Owens 0-1, J Quinlan 0-1. Cavan: D Lovett 1-3, C Keaney 1-2, D Madden 0-1, Matthew Smith 0-1, F Shehu 0-1, E Hartin 0-1.

Fermanagh: S Mulligan; C McAnespie, L McEnri, A Callaghan; D Og Kelly, S McCarron, C Brennan; J Flanagan, L Donnelly; M Burns, C O’Hanlon, D Owens; J Quinlan, S Conlon, J Killilea. Subs: C Fitzpatrick for Killilea (22), L Feely for McCarron (34), C O.Brien for Og Kelly (37), M McDermott for Flanagan (41), D Morris for Callaghan (55).

Cavan: L Phillingham; J Tynan, E Crowe, K McCabe; F Shehu, O McCrystal, B McGahan; R Tobin, E Hartin; Michael Smith, Matthew Smith, B Donnelly; C Keaney, D Lovett, D Madden. Subs: O Daly for Tynan (39), T Partington for Tobin (52), A Shekleton for Shehu (52), C Galligan for Michael Smith (53)L Reilly for Keaney (55).

Referee: R Walsh (Donegal).