Raymond Galligan's first league match in charge of Cavan has ended in victory as the Breffni men defeated Kildare in their Allianz Football League division two opener.
The Breffni men led for the majority of the contest and claimed a 0-16 to 0-12 victory at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Cavan got off to a flying start leading 0-3 to 0-1 inside six minutes. Paddy Lynch chipping in with two points for Cavan while Oisin Kiernan was also on target.
Jimmy Hyland narrowed the gap to a solitary point four minutes later. Oisin Brady restored Cavan's two-point cushion on 14 minutes.
Again Kildare responded impressively. Points from Darragh Kirwan and Jimmy Hyland made it a level game on 16 minutes.
Paddy Lynch pushed the Breffni men three points clear eight minutes later. Kildare's Kevin Flynn and Cavan's Killian Clarke subsequently traded scores as Cavan led 0-9 to 0-6 at half-time.
Points from Ciaran Brady and Dara McVeety helped push Cavan four points clear 13 minutes into the second half. Kildare's Shane O'Sullivan halved the deficit on 50 minutes.
Suddenly Paddy Lynch halted Kildare's momentum. The Crosserlough man replied with two successive scores as the Breffni led 0-13 to 0-9 on 55 minutes.
The same margin separated the sides heading into injury time. Lynch and Kildare's Kevin O'Callaghan traded scores as Cavan ran out four-point winners.
