February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Perhaps looking to wash the sour taste of controversy from their mouths, the Breffni jumped on Clare from the start and never let them up in this knockout affair. New York county marksman Paddy Smyth handled the early scoring, ringing up a personal tally of 1-2 before any other player on the pitch had entered the scoresheet.
John Paul Smith, back with Cavan after a one-year hiatus, tacked on another point before Clare finally got on the board. Mike Keaveney found the range after 21 minutes and the New York panelist followed with a free minutes later.
But Cavan were quick to respond when Paddy Smyth added his second goal from a quickly taken Fergal Shannon free. Cavan were well on top with midfielder Sean Lordon and half forwards Colm Shannon and Colm Fitzpatrick dominating the middle of the park along with Cavan No. 6 Dave “Rooster” Rooney.
Cavan took a 2-6 to 0-3 lead into the break and there was no miraculous comeback in store for Clare on this unseasonably cold late April afternoon. In fact, it only got worse for Clare in the second half. When Colm Shannon notched Cavan’s third goal, all life went out of the match, and Clare, who were so impressive just a week ago versus Mayo, were out and Cavan advanced to the SFA knockout final.
Man of the Match: Paddy Smyth
Cavan: Kieran Traynor, Steve Maloney, Declan Fitzpatrick, Nobby Smith, Dave Rooney (0-2), Dennis McCarthy, Sean Lorden (0-2), Cormac Kelly (0-1), Colm Shannon (1-1), JP Smith (0-2, 1 free), Colm Fitzpatrick, Paddy Smyth (2-4, 2 frees), Fergal Shannon.
Clare: Evan Byrnes, Philip Wickham, Shay Furlong, Eion Loughnane, Kevin Nowell, Gary Dowd (0-1), Eric Bradley, Paul O’Connor, Joe Egan (0-1), Marty Meehan, Pat Hogan, Mike Keaveney (0-4, 2 frees), Keith Conroy.