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N.Y. GAA In seesaw game, Cavan go down

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Stamford: 1-13, Cavan: 1-10

The senior football Div. 1 game was a close encounter throughout, with the scoreline seesawing. It contained all the ingredients a senior football game needs to spice things up: a missed penalty, a vocal crowd, a number of bookings, a late winning goal, and, of course, some fine individual performances.

Andy McEvoy opened the scoring for Cavan with an effort that whistled over the bar, and Dessie O’Reilly shortly afterward hit the first of what was to be four consecutive points for his side.

Stamford hit back through Kieran Gallagher, Justin O’Halloran and a great opportunist point from Ted Steede, who snuck in to punch Mike Martin’s free over the bar.

Cavan thrashed champions Leitrim on opening day, then lost to Tyrone. Stamford, having reached the senior final last season, have not been performing well so far at all, despite holding Leitrim to a draw a few weeks back. It was uncertain how this tie would finish, though many at the Park felt that Cavan would have been slight favorites going into the tie if they had their preferred formation ready to play.

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Stamford were missing New York players Keith Hennessy and Richie Purcell, whereas Jim Gilsenan failed to appear for Cavan.

The first half finished upon an even keel with both sides having scored seven points. Two half backs, one for either side, really stole the show. Kieran Gallagher for Stamford, and his Cavan opponent, Dessie O’Reilly, scored with almost every opportunity they were presented with.

The second half opened in much the same vein, with McEvoy hitting one for Cavan only for Gallagher to reply. Gallagher hit another three points for his side to give Stamford a decent lead, but Dubliner Shane Nugent, having come on as a second-half replacemant, hammered in a goal for Cavan to even affairs once more. Cavan’s O’Reilly was left unmarked to hit another couple to give his side a late lead, but points from Gallagher and Stafford, and a late goal from Mike Martin gave Stamford the points.

Cavan will be bitterly disappointed with this result, having done so much to garner the win yet finishing with nothing. It was an important victory though for Stamford, who must continue to play in this dogged fashion if they are to advance in the competition.

Cavan: Finbarr Flood, Kieran Gaughan, Kieran Reilly, Barney Brady, Jimmy McGirr, Joe Cassidy (0-1), Barney Madden, Barry Annette, Martin Cusack, Kevin Shalvey, Gary McDermott, Dessie O’Reilly (0-6), Andy McEvoy (0-3), Dave Ballantine, Anton diver Subs Brian Murphy, Shane Nugent (1-0)

Stamford: John Wallace, Martin McDermott, Brendan Brady, John Cregan, Eric McDonald, Declan Curtin, Mark Cunningford, Rory Stafford (0-2), Ted Steede (0-1), Kieran Gallagher (0-8), Dave McDonagh, Justin O’Halloran (0-1), Mike Martin (1-1), Adrian O’Regan, Terry McCann.

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