Big win for hurlers in opening championship clash
Lory Meagher Cup round 1
Cavan 1-21
Warwickshire 2-13
Cavan had to dig deep before finishing with a flourish to get their Lory Meagher Cup campaign off to a winning start at Kingspan Breffni.
In beating the recently crowned NHL Division 3B champions, Cavan consolidated their impressive campaign in Division 3A this year and, in the process, gained revenge for their defeat to the Exiles in the corresponding fixture in Birmingham last year.
Warwickshire showed several changes from the Class of 2023 with the ‘importation’ of natives from Galway, Kerry and Antrim, bolstering their coffers and, for extended tracts of the contest, looked likely winners.
Indeed, the visitors led by a single point going into the last 20 minutes of actual playing time. However, an increasingly confident Cavan camp showed their true colours when most needed, turning on the burners to out-score their opponents by 0-7 to 0-1 down the home straight.
After their shock but deserved league final victory over Fermanagh (at Brewster Park) in March, Warwickshire began the game like a team bedecked with national honours as they opened their shoulders as the game began and played with their chests-out.
Not for the first time this season, Cavan produced a lethargic opening quarter display and their opponents galloped into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes with stand-out Nicky Kenny Cavan’s sole scorer at that juncture.
Kenny was to be the blues’ lightning rod up front, constantly punching holes in the visitors’ defence from frees and open play, aided and abetted up front in particular by Ballinagh native Sean Keating.
After Warwickshire’s most influential attacker Jack Grealish had put his side 0-6 to 0-5 in front after 20 minutes, Cavan showed real character and intent by hitting back with five unanswered points – including a gem from Thomas Leonard (24) – to ease them into a 0-10 to 0-5 lead.
Cavan looked on the cusp of taking a real stranglehold on proceedings but, instead, their opponents came roaring back.
As Cavan seemed to rest on their laurels, their opponents got the bit between their teeth and the likes of Kevin Magee and Ian Dwyer shot fantastic points as a six-in-a-row- haul saw Warwickshire level matters, 0-10 apiece, as the half-time break loomed large.
Cavan were still on the backfoot and looking more shaky than they had in any game at any stage of the league campaign when they conceded the opening goal of the game. A quick breakaway saw the visitors gain an overlap and finding himself all alone close to goal, Luke Hands fired in a goal (34) to leave Ollie Bellew’s charges trailing by 0-10 to 1-10 at the interval.
Cavan’s penchant for starting games slowly has threatened to be their ball and chain but the team was a different animal immediately on the restart with Keating setting up Kenny for a quick-fire goal (36) which had the sides on even terms once more.
Cavan never quite got anything remotely looking like a vice-like grip on proceedings all day and, predictably, they allowed their opponents re-settle after the goal far too easily and a Grealish goal (42) duly edged Warwickshire back into the lead, 2-10 to 1-12.
It was clearly anyone’s game at that juncture but Cavan weren’t convincing in their attempts at converting hard won possession into the hard coinage of scores and, instead, it was the visitors who continued to be the more efficient side.
As things panned out, Jordan Conway’s free (51) kept the Birmingham-based boys two points in front. Thankfully from a Cavan perspective, Conway’s effort was – save a Grealish point (60) – Warwickshire’s final indentation on the scoreboard.
Like all good teams, Cavan finished better than they started, dominating the final 18 minutes of play with more aggressive tackling, better passing and more inventive approach work.
Either side of Grealish’s point on the hour mark, Mark Moffett chipped in with a neat point and a monster Liam O’Brien free (69) caused further damage with more points from Kenny and Keating rubbing further salt into Warwickshire’s wound in the seconds before the final whistle sounded.
Cavan’s second round tie is against Fermanagh this coming Saturday (3pm) at Brewster Park, Enniskillen.
Cavan: Niall Clerkin: Shane Briody, Gavin Fitzpatrick, John Carney; Diarmaid Carney, Liam O’Brien (0-1, f), Enda Shalvey; Dillon Mulligan, Cillian Sheanon; Thomas Leonard (0-1), Jack Barry (0-1), Mark Moffett (0-2); Sean Keating (0-5), Mattie Hynes, Nicky Kenny (1-11, 7f, two 65s).
Subs; Jack McGuinness for D Carney (inj); L Óg Cooke for T Leonard.
Warwickshire: Conor Cummins; Alex Hanley, Dan Ryan, Noel Lenahan; Oisin Slattery, Ciaran McKeague, Ian Dwyer (0-2); Kevin McKernan (0-2), John Collins; Daniel Lowry, Jack Grealish (1-3), David Devine (0-2); Luke Hands (1-1), Kevin Magee (0-1), Jordan Conway (0-2, 1f).
Sub; Robbie Duggan for K Magee.
Ref: P Dunne (Laois)
By Susan Wed 15th May
