Surprising league loss to Cavan proves big reality check

Cavan 0-12

FOR the second successive Sunday the Galway senior footballers were left counting the cost of missed goal opportunities as Cavan, inspired by the excellent shooting of substitute Martin Dunne, came with a late run to deservedly pocket the two points on offer at Pearse Stadium.

Despite being armed with a 0-7 to 0-2 lead at the break, having played with the aid of a favourable wind blowing in towards Arus Bothar na Trá, Galway never looked in control of this Division Two contest as Cavan funnelled bodies back into a blanket defence that the home side struggled desperately to unlock.

When the chances to put clear daylight between the sides came, either side of the interval, Galway were not clinical enough to take them, as Danny Cummins blazed over the bar in a one-on-one situation before Paul Conroy inexplicably ignored a three-on-two overlap, with Michael Martin well placed inside, and opted to shoot for his own point. To compound the error, Conroy’s shot drifted horribly wide.

Cavan took full advantage of this second let-off, impressively outscoring the natives by five points to one in the closing ten minutes to seal a victory which moves Terry Hyland’s well-drilled side above Galway in the table. Kevin Walsh’s men will seek a reversal of fortunes against Laois this Sunday but should the same level of performance transpire then Galway will quickly be sucked into a relegation dogfight.

From the off, Cavan realigned defensively and pulled Ronan Flanagan, a defender by trade but named in the half forward line, back to the last line of defence to mark Adrian Varley. Conor Moynagh then assumed a roving sweeper role and blocked off one of Galway’s preferred delivery routes into the left corner to telling effect.

Both full back lines were on top in the early stages as the play meandered from end to end, with the early kick-off time perhaps contributing to both sides appearing leaden-footed. Galway full-back Finian Hanley twice broke up early Cavan forays, and Paul Conroy kicked the first score of the day on five minutes when using the wind to good effect to land a fine point from distance.

With Galway also committing extra numbers to defensive duties, Cavan were ponderous in attack, with only a Fergal Flanagan wide to their name by the ten minute mark. Galway kicked their second point when Gareth Bradshaw powered through the centre onto an Adrian Varley handpass to win a free that Conroy tapped over.

Michael Martin duly added another free from a tighter angle on the right, and the game for now appeared to be going to plan for the home side. Finally, though, Cavan got off the mark when Cian Mackey fed Jack Brady in the left corner, and Brady worked himself some space before firing over a good point.

More worrying was the sight of Cavan’s Tomas Corr cleanly fielding the resultant kick-out and, with Galway beginning to struggle around the middle third, ‘keeper Manus Breathnach began to resort to a short kick to utilise the numerical advantage in defence. While guaranteeing possession, it also slowed down Galway’s progress forward and allowed Cavan to regroup.

Good work by Danny Cummins on 18 minutes, for the second time forcing a turnover with a good tackle, led to arguably Galway’s best score of the half when Sean Denvir, with little clear options ahead of him, floated a clever pass over the head of Damien Comer, who duly split the posts to put Galway 0-4 to 0-1 in front.

Aware that the game could easily be slipping away, Hyland introduced Martin Dunne on 23 minutes, forcing another reshuffle as corner-back Killian Brady made way. Dunne’s impact was almost instantaneous, as he picked up a ball in the right corner, from where he had no right to score, but score he did with a beautiful curling effort.

Cavan were then awarded a penalty when half-back James McEnroe galloped forward down the right before being hauled down by the retreating Denvir. After a disciplined opening where Galway had not conceded a single scoreable free, they were now facing a spot-kick which could have given the Ulster side the lead.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.