MAYO TAKE ANOTHER ONE IN THE EYE
CAVAN claimed two crucial points with a shock victory over visiting Mayo yesterday. The visitors were 4/1 outsiders but made light of that with a fine performance across the 70 minutes which leaves their hopes of staying up in Division 1 very much alive.
Mayo, meanwhile, are set to be brought into the relegation dogfight after this defeat but, more importantly, are facing serious questions about their own form.
This upset comes on the back of shipping a heavy defeat to Dublin and last year’s All-Ireland finalists are a team at a crossroads right now.
They were the better side in the opening half and led 0-9 to 0-4 coming up to half-time.
But, in a decisive spell just before the break, a goal and a point from totemic midfielder Gearóid McKiernan proved the launchpad for victory for Mattie McGleenan’s men.
It left them just a point behind at the half-time break — 0-9 to 1-5 — and they had the benefit of a considerable breeze in the second half.
Mayo were never outstanding in the first half and they struggled to break open Cavan’s defensive wall, but some long-range scores from the likes of Fergal Boland, Conor O’Shea and Danny Kirby did keep them in front.
However, the goal before the break served to ensure Cavan were not forced to dispense with their impressive defensive shield and they hit Mayo on the break decisively from turnover ball in the second half.
Danny Kirby pointed just after the resumption for Mayo but Cavan led thanks to three successive scores from fullback Rory Dunne, full-forward Conor Madden and midfielder McKiernan.
It was tit-for-tat for much of the second half but Mayo were finding it harder to score.
Long-range scores from Lee Keegan (two) and Shane Nally were their best avenue to the scoreboard against the Cavan blanket but, too often, Mayo looked clueless up front.
That score from Nally put Mayo in front on 57 minutes but it was to be their last score of a thoroughly disappointing afternoon.
The question was, would Cavan have the belief to see out this game against a big name like Mayo. They answered in impressive fashion with a decisive final few minutes.
McKiernan drew them level with a monster 55-metre free and late scores from the lively Dara McVeety and John McCutcheon saw them home.
It should have been more comfortable but a goal from McVeety was harshly ruled out for a push in the back.
Cavan still need more points in their last two games against Kerry and Roscommon if they are to remain in Division 1, but they are very much in contention to stay up — just as much as Mayo are to go down.
They will need to get a win from either a trip to Tyrone next weekend or a home game with Donegal the following week to assure themselves of safety. With their current form, there can be no guarantees.