London’s promotion hopes were put to bed by Cavan who left the English capital with promotion to Division 3 all but secured after a nervy one-point victory
Despite a late rally by the Exiles at McGovern Park in Ruislip, their slow start in the first half came back to haunt them.
Cavan, on the other hand, hit the ground running from the word go and were on the board in the first minute.
Caoimhín O’Reilly and Cormac O’Reilly got the Breffnimen’s first two scores before Jason McLaughlin and Patrick Lynch took over to put their side four up, with Lynch then rattling the net as the visitors hit cruise control.
The momentum Mickey Graham’s men had was halted when James Smith was given a black card in the 11th minute.
London, despite their numerical advantage, failed to utilise the extra man and Cavan were allowed to continue their fine start with Killian Clarke putting them eight points to the good.
James Hynes would eventually get London on the board before Henry Walsh scored a brilliant goal to turn the game into a contest. He followed up his green flag with a lovely point to give the home support something to shout about.
Gearóid McKiernan hit three points before the break with two coming from frees to give the 2020 Ulster champions a six-point advantage at the break.
London were a completely different side on the resumption and showed the fight they lacked in the first.
- After Cavan opened their second-half account through Gerard Smith, the hosts replied with scores from James Hynes and Christopher Farley to make it a five-point game.
Liam Gavaghan contributed 0-05 in the second period to keep up London’s momentum
Points from Jason McLoughlin and Conor Madden, however, in the closing stages proved vital for Cavan.
A Henry Walsh point and a converted Christopher Farley penalty in injury-time made it a one-point game.
Cavan were on edge and almost threw the game away when keeper Raymond Galligan fumbled the ball on the line with seconds left. The Breffni defence managed to clear their lines and breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew the whistle for full time.
If Cavan were to lose their final game against Waterford, Tipperary draw with London and either Sligo or Leitrim win their clash, then three teams will finish on 10 points, which means score difference would then apply and a six-point defeat at home to Waterford would see Cavan miss out, in that unlikely scenario.
London: Noel Maher; Eoin Walsh, Cathal Long, Nathan McElwaine, Ronan Sloan, Matt Moynihan, Cahir Healy, Christopher Farley (1-01), Liam Gallagher, Conal Gallagher, Liam Gavaghan (0-05, 2f, 1m), Evan Wynne, James Hynes (0-02), James Gallagher, Henry Walsh (1-02)
Subs: Fearghal McMahon (0-01) for James Gallagher (47), Thomas Lenihan for James Hynes (52), Conor O’Neill for Evan Wynne (59), Sean Hickey for Nathan McElwaine (64), Alan Kyne for Conal Gallagher (69)
Cavan: Raymond Galligan; Luke Fortune, Padraig Faulkner, Killian Brady, Jason McLoughlin (0-02), Conor Moynagh (0-01), Benjamin Kelly, James Smith, Killian Clarke (0-01, 1m), Gerard Smith (0-01), Gearóid McKiernan (0-05,3f), Cian Madden, Caoimhín O’Reilly (0-01), Patrick Lynch (1-02, 2m), Cormac O’Reilly (0-01)
Subs: Thomas Edward Donohue for Caoimhin O’Reilly (36) Thomas Galligan for Cormac O’Reilly (50), Conor Madden (0-01) for Gerard Smith (53), Stephen Smith for Cian Madden (64), Chris Conroy for Conor Moynagh (67)
Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)
