McGleenan praises McVeety’s leadership of buoyant Breffni
CAVAN 0-14 CORK 0-11
CAVAN manager Mattie McGleenan hailed the contribution of captain Dara McVeety as the Breffni men maintained their unbeaten record with victory over Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
McVeety (right) scored a point and was involved in many others as the Ulster side stayed on course for an immediate return to Division 1 and afterwards his manager pinpointed his leadership as a key factor.
“He’s the leader of the football team, he’s just an outstanding example,” McGleenan said.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and that’s in training, this wasn’t just a one-off that he saved for you guys.
At training every night he’s driving the team forward, he’s pushing the boys, and in fairness to them it’s a 21-man game. We had six come in today and they fought and they harried and they hassled.
“It’s very important that we left Cork this weekend with something, we’re just over the moon.”
After falling behind early on, Cavan took a 0-3 to 0-1 lead as Oisín Kiernan, Ciarán Brady and Caoimhín O’Reilly got on the scoresheet.
Although Cork responded to lead 0-5 to 0-4 with Seán White and Mark Collins impressing, the hosts would never have the advantage thereafter.
McVeety’s point started a run of five unanswered Cavan scores as they led by 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
John O’Rourke – one of four Cork half-time substitutes – made his presence felt on the scoreboard, but there was never any real concern that Cavan would have their grip on the game loosened.
The visitors were able to get scores as and when required, with Enda Flanagan and sub Gearóid McKiernan on target, while full-forward Adrian Cole weighed in with two.
Another Cork sub, Stephen Sherlock, got a brace as well, but it wasn’t until injury-time that they managed to get the deficit down to three points, after a score from wing-back Tomás Clancy.
Cavan’s clean sheet was never in any real doubt as Cork struggled to create a goalscoring opening. At the other end Cavan should have netted at least one of two late chances, with sub Thomas Galligan and Martin Reilly denied by goal-line blocks from Ruairí Deane and Clancy respectively.
Their manager Ronan McCarthy acknowledged that his team’s display hadn’t been up to scratch.
“I’m not angry, it was disappointing,” he said.
“We knew it was a big game. It was a very poor performance on the back of a very poor second-half against Louth.”
SCORERS – Cavan: C O’Reilly 0-3 (2f), A Cole 0-2, C Brady, E Flanagan, B Magee (f), K Clarke, C Moynagh, O Kiernan, D McVeety, G McKiernan, C Mackey (f) 0-1 each.
Cork: S White, M Collins, J O’Rourke, S Sherlock 0-2 each, T Clancy, B O’Driscoll, C O’Neill (45) 0-1 each.
CAVAN – J Farrelly 7; D Phillips 7, P Faulkner 8, J McLoughlin 8; M Reilly 7, Ciarán Brady 8, E Flanagan 7; B Magee 7, K Clarke 8; N Clerkin 6, C Moynagh 7, O Kiernan 7; D McVeety 9, A Cole 8, C O’Reilly 7. Subs: G McKiernan 7 for Clerkin (halftime), S Murray 6 for Moynagh (46), C Mackey 7 for O’Reilly (49), T Galligan for Magee (60), D Brady for Cole (62), Conor Brady for Ciarán Brady (70, black card).
CORK – A Casey 7; S Ryan 6, J O’Sullivan 6, M McSweeney 6; K Crowley 5, B O’Driscoll 5, T Clancy 7; I Maguire 6, K O’Hanlon 6; K Flahive 6, S White 7, R Deane 7; M Hurley 5, C O’Neill 6, M Collins 7. Subs: K O’Driscoll 6 for Ryan, Cian Kiely 6 for Crowley, M Taylor 6 for B O’Driscoll, J O’Rourke 7 for Hurley (all half-time), C Dorgan 6 for O’Hanlon (55), S Sherlock 7 for O’Neill (60).
REF – D Coldrick (Meath).