Gaels weather a late storm

Ulster SF Quarter-final/ Cavan Gaels 0-12 Latton 1-7 : Cavan Gaels dominated from an early stage but had to withstand a late…

Ulster SF Quarter-final/ Cavan Gaels 0-12 Latton 1-7: Cavan Gaels dominated from an early stage but had to withstand a late rally by Latton of Monaghan at Brewster Park which brought them to within two points.

The Gaels opened the scoring after five minutes when Cormac Neligan pointed a free after corner forward Seán Johnston had been fouled. Latton replied quickly when Eoghan Duffy linked with Kevin Hughes who knocked over a score.

Latton took the lead on 12 minutes after Aidan Farmer set up Finbar Fitzpatrick, but a string of missed chances let in the Cavan side who scored five points without reply midway through the half, through corner forward Johnston (four) and midfielder Enda King.

Anthony Forde pegged one back for Latton with a quick free, and Noel Coyle added another after a good run

READ MORE

Gaels had the final say of the half with another flowing move involving Duffy and Mickey Graham for Neligan to point. Johnston and Fitzpatrick exchanged points early in the second half but there were six points between the sides when Neligan's free-kick sailed over and then a brilliant ball from substitute Alan O'Riordan gave Johnston another chance to score from close range.

Latton staged their comeback. The busy Coyle took a good ball from Hugh Lennon to shoot to the net, and John O'Brien and a Duffy free followed.

Cavan restored the three-point margin when Anthony Forde pointed after good work by Graham.

Latton, did have the final say, though, when Aidan Farmer's long-range effort sailed between the posts.

CAVAN GAELS: E Elliott; G Collins, E Reilly, S McGlade; K Crotty, G Duffy, P Smith; E King, C Collins; P O'Donnell, A Forde, C Neligan; M Graham, N Walsh, S Johnston. Subs: S Reilly for G Collins; D Reilly for King; A O'Riordan for O'Donnell; K Downes for Neligan.

LATTON: S Farmer; H Lennon, R Ward, E Lennon; S Fitzpatrick, F Coyle, D O'Brien; E Lennon, A Farmer; N Coyle, F Fitzpatrick, E Duffy; B O'Brien, H McElroy, K Hughes. Subs: S O'Brian for Lennon; B O'Brien for Fitzpatrick; M Duffy for O'Brien.

Referee: C Broderick (Down).