Allianz Football League Division 3 – Cavan 4-10 Tipperary 0-14

Dunne delivers as Cavan dominate

Tipperary 0-14 Cavan 4-10

By Jackie Cahill for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cavan eased their relegation fears with a comprehensive eight-point victory against Tipperary at Semple Stadium yesterday. Tipp, who finished the match with 13 players, appear destined for the drop down to Division 4 after slumping to a fourth defeat in as many outings. The Premier men shipped 15 points against Wexford on their travels a week before and boss John Evans described yesterday’s tie as ‘a make or break’ fixture for his men.

But his charges managed just six points from play and fluffed their lines badly as a miserable afternoon was compounded by red cards for midfielder Brian Jones and top scorer Barry Grogan. Cavan finished the game with 14 men as corner-forward Brendan Fitzpatrick was dismissed seven minutes before half-time for a second bookable offence but that hardly affected the rampant Breffni men. In first half stoppage time, Jones was dismissed for a high tackle and the afternoon would get even worse at the death when Grogan received a straight red card from referee Michael Meade. Tipperary led 0-3 to 0-2 in the early stages but goals from Martin Dunne and Mark McKeever helped Cavan to lead 2-6 to 0-6 at half-time. In the 48th minute, top scorer Dunne, who notched 2-4, netted again before wing back Barry Watters surged forward for a fourth Cavan goal four minutes later.

Scorers for Tipperary: B Grogan 0-9 (7f), P Acheson, S Ryan, D Heffernan, H Coghlan & B O’Brien (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cavan: M Dunne 2-4 (0-1f), M McKeever 1-1, B Watters 1-0, N McDermott 0-3 (1f), P O’Reilly & G McKiernan 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: M O’Donnell; E Connolly, L Egan, C McDonald; D Lynch, T Ryan, R Kiely; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, D Heffernan; P Acheson, S Ryan, B Grogan.

Subs: H Coghlan for Hannigan (h.t.), D Butler for S Ryan (43), B O’Brien for Carey (52), E Ryan for Lynch (59).

CAVAN: K Fannin; D Barkey, D Reilly, R Flanagan; B Watters, P O’Reilly, R Maloney-Derham; D Givney, G McKiernan; N Smith, M McKeever, K Meehan; B Fitzpatrick, N McDermott, M Dunne.

Subs: D O’Dowd for O’Reilly (inj, 59), S McCormack for Meehan (64), D McKiernan for G McKiernan (70+2).

Referee: M Meade (Limerick)