Cavan 1-14

Down 1-13

Cavan came from 10 points behind to register a remarkable victory over Down at the Athletic Grounds and set up a repeat of last year's Ulster SFC final against three-in-a-row chasing Donegal.

In a game of two halves, Down led by 1-9 to 0-4 at the interval thanks to Ceilium Doherty's early goal and points from Jerome Johnston, Paul Devlin and Donal O'Hare, but a Martin Reilly penalty was the catalyst for a terrific Cavan comeback as they qualified for back-to-back provincial finals for the first time since 1969.

The character of this Cavan team cannot be questioned after they once again defied the odds to come out on top. Since suffering relegation to Division 3 of the Allianz League, Mickey Graham's men have racked up three championship wins in as many weekends to leave themselves just 70 minutes away from lifting the Anglo-Celt for the first time since 1997. They will be big underdogs against Donegal, but won't have any intention of making up the numbers.

Picking up from where they left off against Fermanagh seven days ago, Down got off to a flying start when Johnston set up Doherty for a third-minute goal. Further scores from Johnston and Doherty extended the Mournemen's advantage to 1-4 to 0-0 before Stephen Smith finally opened the winners' account from a 13th minute free.

The Breffnimen lost Martin Reilly to a black card in the 25th minute and Down capitalised with two pointed frees from Paul Devlin. Caolan Mooney and Johnston were denied goals by Raymond Galligan and Padraig Faulkner before Faulkner and Gearoid McKiernan - who had a quiet first half by his standards - got points back for Cavan, who were hanging on by a thread.

Cavan's Thomas Edward Donohoe holds off Down’s Peter Fegan. ©INPHO/Matt Mackey.

The gap looked to be too much for a team playing for the fifth weekend in-a-row, but an heroic second half effort turned the game around for them. Reilly's penalty, after Kevin McKernan had touched the ball on the ground, got them motoring, while the introduction of Conor Madden to their attack paid huge dividends as Paddy Tally's charges visibly wilted.

Madden nailed three points, including a brilliant effort from close to the sideline, before Thomas Galligan tied up the scoring with 10 minutes remaining.

Ciaran Brady then won a free which McKiernan converted to give Cavan the lead for the first time with five minutes to go. All the momentum was with the Breffni Blues at this stage as further scores from Thomas Galligan and Killian Clarke pushed out their lead.

Down rallied with late points from Donal O'Hare and Sheelin Johnston, but Cavan held on by the minimum.

Cavan - R Galligan; J McLoughlin, P Faulkner (0-1), L Fortune; G Smith, K Clarke (0-1), C Brady (0-1); P Graham, K Brady (0-1); M Reilly (1-0pen), G McKiernan (0-3f), O Kiernan; O Pierson, T Galligan (0-3, 1m), S Smith (0-1f). Subs: C Conroy for P Graham, C Madden (0-3) for O Pierson, T E Donohoe for S Smith, C Timoney for C Brady, N Murray for M Reilly.

Down - R Burns; P Fegan, P Murdock, P Laverty; K McKernan, J Flynn, D Guinness; C Mooney, L Kerr; B O'Hagan, P Delvin (0-3, 1f, 1'45), C Poland; J Johnston (0-4, 1f), D O’Hare (0-4, 3f), C Doherty (1-1). Subs: S Johnston (0-1) for L Kerr, D Ward for P Devlin, C Quinn for B O’Hagan, J Guinness for C Poland, R Johnston for D Guinness.

Referee - M McNally.

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