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Cavan's Jack Brady and Ronan Flanagan celebrate after the game. INPHO/Morgan Treacy

4 point victory for Cavan over Armagh in Ulster showdown

Cian Mackey struck the only goal of the game so far for a Cavan team that were also inspired by attacker Martin Dunne.

Cavan 1-15
Armagh 1-11

CAVAN have made a fine start on home soil in the Ulster championship as they defeated Armagh in Kingspan Breffni Park this afternoon.

Full-forward Martin Dunne crowned his championship debut with a super attacking display as he shot over 0-9 to help Terry Hyland’s men advance to face Fermanagh at the quarter-final stage on June 16th.

Cian Mackey’s brilliant individual goal in the 23rd minute spurred Cavan on as he surged through the Armagh defence before finding the net to the delight of the home fans in the crowd of 12,556.

Armagh did fight back in the second-half when Ethan Rafferty shot to the net with 12 minutes to go to cut the gap to a single point, 1-10 to 1-9.

Yet they failed to build on that strike and were left to rue the decision of referee Maurice Deegan to disallow a Jamie Clarke second-half goal as he called the play back for a foul in the build-up to the score.

Dunne had emerged as a major threat for Cavan in the opening period as he shot over four points. Cavan lead by 0-3 to 0-1 by the 14th minute but then Armagh hit back to level up the game thanks to points from Tony Kernan and Caolan Rafferty.

Then Mackey fired to the net and Cavan finished the half strongly to extend their advantage with Dunne and Niall McDermott on the mark.

Both sides had been forced into late pre-match changes with Cavan replacing attacker Jack Brady with Killian Brady. While on the Armagh side, defender Finian Moriarty came in for Brendan Donaghy.

The Orchard County’s difficulties at the back were illustrated by the withdrawal of Moriarty in the 21st minute with Ethan Rafferty replacing him while Donaghy was introduced just before the interval for Declan McKenna to help shore up the defence.

Cavan opened in the second-half in a confident fashion with Eugene Keating, McDermott and Dunne all impressing in attack as they went seven points clear at one stage, 1-9 to 0-5.

However then Armagh fought back  helped by the point-taking of Aaron Kernan and Stefan Forker, and Rafferty’s powerful finish to the net.

With their lead cut to a point, Cavan’s situation looked precarious. But they held their nerve superbly to close out the game with Dunne in sparkling form up front as they claimed a four-point victory.

Armagh’s Jamie Clarke argues with referee Maurice Deegan after his goal was disallowed
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Scorers for Cavan: Martin Dunne 0-9 (0-1f), Cian Mackey 1-0, Eugene Keating, Niall McDermott 0-2 each, Damien O’Reilly, James McEnroe 0-1 each.
Scorers for Armagh: Stefan Forker 0-4 (0-2f), Ethan Rafferty 1-0, Aaron Kernan (0-2f), Tony Kernan (0-1f) 0-2 each, Mark Shields,Caolan Rafferty, Eugene McVerry 0-1 each.

CAVAN: Conor Gilsenan (Bailieborough Shamrocks); Jason McLoughlin (Shannon Gaels), Rory Dunne (Redhills), Killian Clarke (Shercock); James McEnroe (Ramor United), Alan Clarke (Kingscourt), Ronan Flanagan (Castlerahan); Damien O’Reilly (Belturbet), David Givney (Mountnugent); Cian Mackey (Castlerahan), Killian Brady (Mullahoran), Feargal Flanagan (Butlersbridge); Niall McDermott (Ballinagh), Martin Dunne (Cavan Gaels), Eugene Keating (St Sylvester’s).

Subs: Martin Reilly (Killygarry) for Brady (47), Jack Brady (Ramor Utd) for McDermott (64), John McCutcheon (Cootehill) for O’Reilly (66).

ARMAGH: Philip McEvoy (Dromintee); Paul McKeown (Crossmaglen Rangers), Declan McKenna (Armagh Harps), Mark Shields (Whitecross); Aaron Kernan (Crossmaglen Rangers), Finian Moriarty (Wolfe Tones), Ciaran McKeever (St Pat’s Cullyhanna); James Lavery (Maghery), Stephen Harold (Carrickcruppen); Caolan Rafferty (Granemore), Ciaran O’Hanlon (Killeavy), Kevin Dyas (Dromintee); Tony Kernan (Crossmaglen Rangers), Jamie Clarke (Crossmaglen Rangers), Stefan Forker (Maghery).

Subs: Ethan Rafferty (Grange) for Moriarty (21), Brendan Donaghy (Clonmore) for McKenna (32), Eugene McVerry (Mullaghbawn) for Forker (57), Gavin McParland (Ballymacnab) for Caolan Rafferty (66).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

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    Mute John Paul Mullins
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:05 PM

    40 wins in a row. My god. No wonder most ppl couldn’t give a flying fiddlers about Football anymore. Maybe just maybe, the Dubs might realise the Money, home advantage and population might be the reason to this. Or shall we just hope Wexford or Westmeath beat them next year?

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    Mute real man
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:17 PM

    @John Paul Mullins: if its money and population Cork should be doing well

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    Mute Martin Lonergan
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:25 PM

    @John Paul Mullins: the government gave Dublin the money, they did say yes please, they can’t control the population, Derry Mayo and Kerry have small populations and can beat Dublin in the top games, the Dublin team and supporters would love to come out of Croke park, but both Leinster council and Croke park want them to play there, population agreement would have Dublin winning hurling and camoige and under age football championships all the time, just saying

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    Mute Kevin Dillon
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:37 PM

    @real man: dublin has three times the population of cork.

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    Mute John Paul Mullins
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    Apr 14th 2024, 9:18 PM

    @Martin Lonergan: Good man….. Keep up the top quality denial and delusion. Why would dublin young lads ever switch to hurling when the money is in the football. Smh!

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    Mute Barry Baz
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:27 PM

    @real man: Corks Population is a fraction of Dublins

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    Mute MMD
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    Apr 15th 2024, 8:58 AM

    @Barry Baz: Cork’s gaa playing population is the highest in the country.

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    Mute Liam Sheehan
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    Apr 16th 2024, 11:00 PM

    @Martin Lonergan: The Gaa gave them the money.

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    Mute Andrew Smyth
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    Apr 14th 2024, 7:52 PM

    I was in the Hill when Dublin missed a peno to beat Meath in a Leinster semi final in 97. The place was packed. And the three games that Meath played against Kildare after that was packed too. Those days are gone. Today’s crowd was embarrassing. We need something new.

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    Mute Andrew Smyth
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    Apr 14th 2024, 7:53 PM

    @Andrew Smyth: *quarter final

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    Mute Paully kells
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    Apr 14th 2024, 11:04 PM

    @Andrew Smyth: offaly beat meath that year in leinster final I remember it well was on a Saturday night and roy malone scored two crackers.

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    Mute Andrew Smyth
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    Apr 15th 2024, 7:31 AM

    @Paully kells: Offaly put Meath to the sword in the final ten minutes. All the games caught up with them. Probably the best Leinster Championship of my lifetime.

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    Mute Tony McGrath
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:31 PM

    Nice to see dubs getting a leg up from the ref to allow 13 steps for first goal

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    Mute Ultán Corcoran
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    Apr 14th 2024, 9:23 PM

    @Tony McGrath: Even as a Dub I agree it was steps, but having said that it would’ve made zero difference to the outcome if we’re honest.

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    Mute Barry Baz
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:30 PM

    @Ultán Corcoran: Think the referees take into account the fact he was fouled while heading towards goal. Always play advantage and balance out one foul with the technical foul. That way he doesn’t stop a goal chance or stop the flow. Just a theory

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    Mute Kevin Scully
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:38 PM

    Obviously the money and the resources dublin have puts them way ahead of most Leinster counties but the real story in Leinster is how bad meath and Kildare are, monaghan beat dublin in the league and with 5 minutes to go In the all ireland semi final last year were level, Derry beat dublin in the league final and have a genuine chance of winning the all ireland, neither of these counties have superior resources or tradition to meath or Kildare they have no reason bot be competitive

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Apr 14th 2024, 8:37 PM

    Meath has a bigger population than Kerry, Tyrone, Down & Mayo – all counties that have been competitive in the last few years. Maybe some inward reflection required on why they cant put a good squad together

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Apr 14th 2024, 9:31 PM

    @Owen ODonoghue: half of Dublin live in Meath and play with Dublin clubs!!

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    Mute David Jackman
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:21 PM

    @Owen ODonoghue: maybe Dublin people have reallocate to Meath because of house prices.

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    Mute Simon Dwyer
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    Apr 14th 2024, 9:26 PM

    No one outside leinster would watch it. Fair play to Colm for saying it as it is. Dublin doesn’t have a serious game until at least the all Ireland semi’s. Ulster is the only competing province now. Something needs to be done and fast

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    Mute Rob M
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    Apr 14th 2024, 9:49 PM

    How about starting with moving the semis out of croker in 2 weeks time Leinster council?

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    Mute MayoForSam
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:53 PM

    The GAA is in a poor state ATM. The majority of games that took place today and last week are irrelevant, Dublin won’t be stopped in Leinster, Mayo/Galway won easy Connaught and Armagh won at a canter against Fermanagh.
    I’m a GAA man but also an avid sports fan and it’s hard to watch GAA when the Premier League is coming to an exciting climax and one of the 4 majors in golf is on all weekend.
    I turned Meath/Dublin on for 15 mins and went back to the Arsenal game as the outcome was always going to be one way.
    The GAA has done this to itself in my opinion not changing with the times and sticking with the same old same old championship structure that has run its course.
    Very sad to see

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    Mute Barry Baz
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:27 PM

    Provisional competitions need to be scrapped. A champions league style AI would be amazing… Play Provisional competitions as stand alone

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    Mute David Jackman
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:23 PM

    The round Robin in hurling is the same. The bigger counties Will always come out on top.

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    Mute Tom Murphy
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    Apr 14th 2024, 11:47 PM

    Should have stayed on the Sunday game Colm you had all the answers on tv .
    Not as easy on the sidelines.
    Not Dublins fault Meath so poor.

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Apr 15th 2024, 2:27 PM

    @Tom Murphy: Colm is not a novice and knows GAA far more than most. He was only stating what everyone was thinking including Dessie Farrell. It is a total eff up. Sad day when people have to go to Google to try and unravel the ins and outs of the championship!!

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    Mute Colm Mc Grath
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    Apr 14th 2024, 10:52 PM

    @David Jackman: won’t 3 crash out

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