Cavan topple U16 footballers in Gerry Reilly Final

Mon, 28th July 2014

CAVAN 1-16 DUBLIN 1-8

Cavan toppled reigning champions Dublin in Sunday night's Gerry Reilly U16 Football Tournament Final at Oldcastle.

Dublin's, Ciaran Dowling got the opening score with a pointed free. Cavan responded with two points from Conor Smith and Thomas Edward Donohue. Jeff Rafter got Dublin's second point to have the sides level.

A pointed free by Cavan's Stephen Smith put them ahead again. Cavan's 'keeper, Daniel Cullivan brought off a great save to deny Dublin's David Maloney .

Cavan then got very much on top scoring five unanswered points. A great run by Aaron Carey resulted in Dublin's third point. In the 16th minute Cavan's Conor Smith registered his second point. Cavan added two more points to their tally before Cavan's 'keeper brought on another great save to deny Conor Lennon on this occasion as Cavan held a 0-11 to 0-3 interval lead.

When Stephen Smith finished to the Dublin net four minutes into the restart, they were well on the road to securing victory.

However the Dublin lads had other ideas and by the 40th minute had recorded four unanswered points Conor Lennon, Ciaran Dowling (2f) and Jeff Rafter .

Cavan hit back with points from Owen Cooney and Conor Smith.

When Jeff Rafter finished to the Cavan net after a mistake by the 'keeper, Dublin were right back in it. They were putting a lot of pressure on Cavan but the Cavan defence were playing their hearts out.

Cavan went on to add three points to their score, while Dublin failed to covert their scoring chances. Cavan began to play possession football to run out the clock.

CAVAN: Daniel Cullivan - Cornafean; Finbar McAvenie - Arva; Patrick O Reilly - Crosserlough; Matthew McGee - Ramor United; Eoin Smith (0-1) Crosserlough; Colm OReilly - Mullahoran; Luke Fortune - Cavan Gaels; Conor Brady - Gowna ; Thomas Keaney - Crosserlough; Ryan ONeill - Killdallan; Patrick Brady - Mullahoran; Stephen Smith - Crosserlough (1-5, 4f); Owen Cooney - Laragh (0-3); Thomas Edward Donohoe - Denn (0-5, 2f)); Conor Smith - Kllygarry (0-2).Subs: Jordan Mc Cabe - Knockbride for Keaney; Shane Hamilton - Arva for Cooney; Cavell Keogan - Denn for Conor Smith; Conor Rehill - Crosserlough for Fortune
DUBLIN: Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams); Glen McNamara (Raheny); Rob Shaw (Castleknock); Seafra Fitzgerald (Na Fianna); Aaron Carey (St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh) (0-1); Paddy Smyth (Clontarf); Conor Gibson (Nh Barróg); David Maloney (St Sylvester's); Aaron Bradshaw (Ballinteer St John's); Cormac Howley (Round Tower, Lusk) (0-1); Dan O'Brien (Kilmacud Crokes); Kevin Lillis (Clontarf); Jeff Rafter (Na Fianna) (1-2); Ciarán Dowling (Lucan Sarsfields) (0-3, 3f); Conor Lennon (St Finian's, Swords) (0-1). Subs: Conor Ryan (St Vincent's) for Maloney; Eric Rowan (Thomas Davis) for Lillis; Nathan Doran (Clontarf) For Smyth; Jack Rowe (Trinity Gaels) for Carey; Tiernan McGlynn (St Brigid's) For Rafter; Aaron Duffy (Round Tower, Lusk) for Fitzgerald
REF: C Flynn (Meath).