Cavan edge out Dubs in Gerry Reilly decider

CAVAN 1-12 DUBLIN 1-10

Cavan retained the Gerry Reilly U16 Football Cup in a keenly fought final on Sunday evening in Millbrook, Oldcastle before a large crowd.

Scores were hard to come by in the opening period, but it was Dublin who were creating the better chances early on but were met by keeper in top form in Cameron Smart.

An Adam Byrne free in the 12^th minute and Anthony Quinn point from play gave Dublin a solid start.

Dublin continued their dominance in this period with three unanswered points from Adam Byrne (two frees) and Darragh Warnock to move four ahead before a Seán Martin converted free for Cavan left three between the sides.

A high ball into the square was finished to the Dublin net by Seánie Keoghan to bring the sides level in the 29th minute. This lifted Cavan as they added two points from Seán Martin and Cian McGovern for the Breffni lads to lead 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Cavan restarted impressively with points from Seánie Keoghan (two) and Seán Martin.

Adam Byrne converted two frees for the Dubs to narrow the gap but again Cavan keeper Smart denied Dublin a goal chance.

Points were exchanged with Cian McGovern for Cavan and Anthony Quinn for Dublin on the mark before Dylan Molloy pushed out Cavan’s lead to four points.

Dublin’s Conor Kinsella brought Dublin right back into it with a terrific goal and Darragh Warnock converted a free to bring the sides level again in the 48th minute.

A Gavin Donoghue point put Cavan ahead again but Dublin responded with an Anthony Quinn point.

Seánie Keoghan restored Cavan’s lead with a point which was added to by Seán Martin.

Dublin did have scoring chances and had three wides before the Cavan defence blocked their attempt on goal out for a ‘45’.

Dublin had a lot of late pressure but Cavan’s defence was resolute as they claimed the Gerry Reilly Cup for the third year in-a-row – defeating Dublin on all three occasions.

SCORERS - Cavan: Seánie Keoghan 1-3 (0-1f), Seán Martin 0-5 (0-2f), Cian McGovern 0-2, Dylan Molloy, Gavin Donoghue 0-1 each. Dublin: Adam Byrne 0-5 (0-5f), Anthony Quinn 0-3, Conor Kinsella 1-0, Darragh Warnock 0-2 (0-1f).

CAVAN: Cameron Smart, DJ Cassidy, Fionn Reilly, Dylan Molloy, Dylan O’Brien, Killian Brady, Patrick Lynch, Kent Fadjo, Gavin Brady, Rhys Hudson, Seánie Keoghan, Cian McGovern, Philip Nutly, Gavin Donoghue, Seán Martin. Subs: Eoin Brady for Martin (Blood sub), Sean Martin for Eoin Brady, Shane Hanley Hudson, Shane Cosgrove for O’Brien, Kevin Curtis for Fadjo, Thomas Smith for Lynch

DUBLIN: Liam Woodcock, Daniel Bailey, Sam Jones, Tom Aherne, Seán Farrelly, Fionan O’Sullivan, Lee Gannon, Niall Comerford, Conor Kinsella, Darragh Warnock, Stephen O’Byrne Braiden, Andrew McCaul, Lennon Bracken, Adam Byrne, Anthony Quinn. Subs: Jordan Leonard for O’Byrne (inj), Cian McGrane for Byrne, Ciarán Murphy for Warnock, Jordan Leonard for Aherne.

REF: Joey Curley (Meath).