Cavan Into U17 Final

Saturday 13.05.2017

Championship

Cavan 5-11 Antrim 2-11

Cavan became the first side to reach the Ulster U17 championship final when five first half goals laid the foundation for this nine point success over Antrim at St.Tiernach’s Park in Clones on Saturday afternoon.

The Breffni lads played some superb attacking football throughout and there is no doubt that they will be difficult opponents in the final. A Ruairi Brolly free put Antrim in front in the 3^rd minute but that was as good as it was to get for the young Saffrons. Shane Hanley levelled matters before a Patrick Lynch free gave Cavan a lead that they were never to lose. In the 9^th minute Cavan got in for their first goal when defender Kelan Smith found Seanie Keogan in acres of space and the corner forward raced through to bury the ball in the roof of the net.

Sixty seconds later Hanley got in for a second major and you knew at this stage that it was going to be a long afternoon for Antrim. By the end of the opening quarter it was 3-4 to 0-1 with Lynch and Cian McGovern getting points after midfielder Dylan Molloy had scored a goal. Brolly and Molloy exchanged points before Marc McAfee got Antrim’s first goal. Sixty seconds later though Callum Lynch scored a brilliant Cavan goal. In the 27^th minute McGovern was fouled for a penalty and Sean Martin duly converted it to ensure that all starting Cavan forwards had scored. Antrim had the final say of the first half with two well struck long range Brolly frees but it was Cavan who led 5-5 to 1-5.

Thomas Smith and Keogan added to Cavan’s advantage on the restart before another Brolly free opened Cavan’s second half account. Molloy and Brolly traded points again and after Antrim keeper Luke Mullholland had converted a “45” Peter Henvey got their second goal of the afternoon at the end of the third quarter when he reacted first to the rebound after Eamon Kelly’s shot had been saved by Stephen Lovett.

Brolly and Dominic McEnhill had Antrim points after Keogan’s first time shot went over the bar at the other end of the field. McGovern had the final say of the game for Cavan as they comfortably made it through to the decider.

Cavan scorers – Dylan Molloy 1-2, Seanie Keogan 1-2, Shane Hanley 1-1, Sean Martin 1-1, Callum Lynch 1-0, Patrick Lynch 0-2, Cian McGovern 0-2, Thomas Smith 0-1

Antrim scorers – Ruairi Brolly 0-8, Marc McAfee 1-0, Peter Henvey 1-0, Aaron McNeilly 0-1, Dominic McEnhill 0-1, Luke Mullholland 0-1

Referee – Dan Mullan, Derry