Kildare 1-16 Cavan 1-15A SENSATIONAL goal in the second minute of injury time by James Kavanagh snatched victory for Kildare in a pulsating tie in Newbridge.

The wing-forward finished a wonderful move kick-started by Mick Foley's barnstorming run and continued by Dermot Earley.

It looked like Kildare had blown it as Cavan hadn't led between the third and 66th minutes but with Seánie Johnston in superb form, the Breffni men got themselves back into the game.

Paul Brady's fisted goal 30 seconds after the resumption played a major part in the fight back, although when Kildare responded with four points in succession, it looked like the hosts had things under control.

But Johnston and veteran Dermot McCabe inspired Cavan and when Johnston pointed with just two minutes remaining to push Cavan two points clear, an unlikely victory seemed secured until Kavanagh's late intervention.

KILDARE:E Murphy; M O'Flaherty, D Hendy, A Mac Lochlainn; E Bolton (0-1), M Foley, K O'Neill; K Brennan, D Earley (0-1); J Kavanagh (1-0), P O'Neill (0-1), E Callaghan (0-1); A Smyth (0-2), K Donnelly (0-2), J Doyle 0-8 (four frees). Subs: M Scanlon for Hendy (61); P Mullarkey for P O'Neill (67); M Conway for Smith (67)

CAVAN:J Reilly; M Cahill, M Hannon, D Sheridan; A Forde, M McKeever, B Watters; E Keating, D McCabe 0-4 (frees); P Brady (1-0), R Flanagan (0-1), M Reilly (0-1); S Johnston 0-6 (three frees), E O'Reilly (0-2), C Mackey (0-1). Subs: P O'Reilly for Reilly (39 mins); N Walsh for Keating (45 mins)

Referee:C Reilly (Meath).