Cavan show no mercy

SEANIE JOHNSTON and Gearoid McKiernan bagged 1-5 apiece as Cavan crushed Armagh in a surprisingly one-sided division two league clash at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Johnston hit 1-4 in the opening half and the contest was pretty much over when Cavan stretched their lead to 1-11 to 05 at half time.

Ethan Rafferty, who came on 10 minutes before the break, was Armagh’s one ray of hope, landing a long-range free followed by a point early in the second half.

However, he picked up a harsh black card for a body check on Johnston and with his dismissal, Armagh’s fightback was over.

Cavan then rattled up 1-3 without reply in a seven-minute spell after Rafferty went off. Worse was to follow for Armagh with Givney palming home a second goal following a great run and unselfish pass from Martin Reilly after 52 minutes.

McKiernan drilled home a third, his low left-footed finish in the 59th minute inflicting further punishment on the visitors on a rough night for Orchard football.

CAVAn: R Galligan; P Faulkner (B Sankey 65), K Clarke, J McLoughlin (J Hayes 62); C Brady, C Moynagh, K Brady; T Corr, L Buchanan (R Dunne 48, C Mackey 55); D McVeety (N Murray 13), G McKiernan, M Reilly; D Givney, M Argue, S Johnston (P O’Connor 53)

Scorers: S Johnston 1-5 (2f), G McKiernan 1-5 (3f), D Givney 1-1, M Argue, J McLoughlin 0-2, M O’Brien, P Faulkner, D McVeety 0-1

ArMAGH: M McNeice; A Mallon, C Vernon, S Connell; M Shields, S Heffron, S Sheridan; A Findon, S Campbell; N Grimley (A Murnin HT), A Forker (N McConville 49), T Kernan (G McParland 59); C Watters (E Rafferty 25, J McElroy 45), C O’Hanlon (J Hall 64), M McKenna

Scorers: S Campbell 0-3 (3f), E Rafferty 0-2 (1f), G McParland 0-2 (1f), M McKenna 0-1, C O’Hanlon 0-1, S Sheridan 0-1.

referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)