WARWICKSHIRE 3-15 (24)
CAVAN 0-22 (22)
Lory Meagher Cup, Round 1
By Anthony McLaughlin at Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham
WELL, talk about being put through the wringer! Just when it looked as though Cavan were going to break Warwickshire hearts, Jack Grealish ended a four-year winning drought in dramatic fashion.
Leading by seven at half-time last Saturday at Páirc na hÉireann, Warwickshire battled gamely to keep the National League 3B Champions at bay until Canice Maher dropped an equalising free over the bar with the clock moving into added-time. Step forward Grealish, the Oranmore/Maree man launching a free from inside his own half that somehow nestled into the back of the Cavan net with half of hurling humanity piling in for a vital touch. Despite a point from Sean Keating in quick reply, Warwickshire held firm to record a vital Championship win ahead of a trip to Longford.
By a country mile, this was Warwickshire’s best performance of the season. With John Collins returning to the side abetted by the impressive Dan Ryan who took up midfield duties alongside Grealish, the home side made the most of their opportunities while Cavan squandered countless opportunities as Paddy Hands remained utterly defiant between the Warwickshire sticks.
Grealish’s teasing free early on ended up in the back of Darren Sheridan’s net before Luke Hands skilfully converted three side line cuts over the bar. Maher was Cavan’s chief scoring outlet with six first-half points (three frees) but shortly after a long range point from Niall Eames the St. Gabriel’s man forced the ball through to Hands who drilled a shot past Sheridan for a second Warwickshire goal. Facing into the wind in the second-half, Cavan needed to cut out the wides that dogged them in the opening thirty-five and they started to make in-roads on the scoresheet with a Maher brace off set pieces and a score from play by substitute Keating.
Although the home side were reliant on frees in the second-half, they kept their lead intact through Grealish and Hands – the latter denied a third Warwickshire goal by a brave Sheridan save at point-blank range. With time ticking on Cavan were wrestling momentum but while Maher was sending over scores Paddy Hands was steadfast in keeping the green flags at bay as he denied Diarmuid Carney twice before Keating somehow swept wide when a goal looked certain.
As legs tired, Warwickshire desperately fought to maintain their advantage. Yet five late Maher frees eventually told as Cavan drew level before Grealish sent the home support into raptures with the winner. The celebrations on the final whistle were well merited, Warwickshire’s drought consigned to the history books ahead of trips to Longford and Monaghan.
Diarmuid Carney attacks for CavanTeams:
Warwickshire: P Hands; J O’Connor, J Collins, C Shalvey; M Keane, N Eames (0-1), M Holland; D Ryan, J Grealish (2-6, 6f); A Hanley, P Crehan, O Coffey; K Murphy (0-3), L Hands (1-5, 2f), P McMahon. Subs: I Dwyer (for Coffey 35); D King (for McMahon 62).
Cavan: D Sheridan; S Briody, D Crudden, C Kelly; J Barry, C Sheanon, E Shalvey; D Mulligan, C Carney (0-1); T Leonard (0-4), C Maher (0-14, 9f, 1 ’65), C Sheanon; R Delaney, D Carney, C Gargan. Subs: M Moffett (0-1, for C Carney 28); S Keating (0-2, for Gargan 40); A Sheridan (for Kelly 60).
Referee: C. Daly (Kildare)
