A late free from Seanie Johnston saw Cavan secure a late draw against Kerry and hugely boost their survival hopes in Division 1.
On front of 8,000 fans at Kingspan Breffni Park, the hosts got some massive contributions from the bench in the second-half to gain an unlikely result against the Munster champions, who have saw their league final aspirations all but dashed.
Kerry sharp shooter Paul Geaney’s frees helped the Kingdom lead by two at half-time but they should have been behind to a wasteful Breffni side which tallied 10 wides in the opening 35 minutes.
Dara McVeety’s goal catapulted Cavan in front early in the restart and despite the visitors registering four unanswered scores in the final 15 minutes or regulation, they were able to grab late scores subs Joe Dillon and Johnston to stay very much alive in the relegation battle heading into next weekend.
Cavan captain Killian Clarke scored an excellent individual point before Niall Clerkin erased Paul Geaney’s free and full-forward Conor Madden put the Blues two to the good on 10 minutes.
Darran O’Sullivan got an early introduction for the visitors a minute beforehand after Kevin McCarthy picked up a black card and the hosts would also lose one from their starting pack when corner-back Killian Brady saw black for a trip which saw Jason McLoughlin introduced to the fray.
Two Geaney frees in the meantime drew the sides level and there was no separating them after 20 minutes as Donnchadh Walsh cancelled out Gearoid McKiernan’s first of the afternoon.
Cavan should have at least restored their two-point advantage but saw efforts from Martin Reilly, Dara McVeety and Gerard Smith all drop wide and it allowed their opponents to stroll in front.
Geaney’s fourth free punished some more indiscipline at the back from the Breffni men and a fine point from Jack Barry had the Munster men going in at the break 0-6 to 0-4 ahead, despite very much a below par opening 35 minutes.
Mackey and McDermott was introduced to the fray for the second-half and both would have a significant impact in gaining the home side a result.
Kerry sub Bryan Sheehan pushed his side’s lead to three early in the restart but the Cavan men would be in front within five minutes as a Madden free was backed up by McVeety latching on to Mackey’s brilliant delivery and lashing home a goal which drew a mighty roar from the home crowd.
Sheehan and McKiernan swapped frees before sub Barry John Keane put the Kingdom’s noses back in front as David Moran continued his brilliant display around the centre.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side had chances to extend their lead but like their opponents in the first half ended up wasting them and it was the hosts that seized the opportunity to move two in front with a pair of frees from McDermott.
Mackey was instrumental during what turned into a hot spell for his team and teed up Ballinagh man McDermott for a two-point lead with less than 20 minutes left remaining.
Geaney (free) and Paul Murphy squared things again for Kerry prior to Jonathan Lyne smashing over Raymond Galligan’s crossbar to restore the visitors lead.
Cavan couldn’t come up with a leveler in the ensuing five minutes, as they looked set to rue all of their prior missed chances after Sheehan’s free doubled the Kerry advantage heading towards injury-time.
Sub Joe Dillon punched over a precious point to narrow the deficit to down to the minimum and in the closing stages Cavan dug their absolute deepest, drawing a free for sub Johnston to step up to the mark and covert from 40 meters.
The Kingdom had a chance of their own to clinch the win put Genaey couldn’t steer the ball over the post and as it finished the final score seen Cavan 1-10 Kerry 0-13
Speaking after the game to Damian Donohoe was Cavans Dara McVeety
