13-man Cavan defeated 14-man Louth by the smallest of margins as the Breffni men claimed a 2-13 to 3-9 victory at Ardee.
Cavan moved three points clear three minutes from time and held on to win by the smallest of margins.
The visitors got off to a flying start, Gerard Smith found the net five minutes in. Two minutes later Sam Mulroy replied with a penalty goal, suddenly the sides were level.
Ryan Burns scored Louth’s second goal on 14 minutes, Conor Grimes added a point two minutes later as the hosts moved two points clear.
Caoimhin O’Reilly halved the deficit on 25 minutes. The sides cancelled each other out during the remainder of the half as Louth led 2-3 to 1-5 at the break.
Cavan started the second half in explosive fashion. James Smith’s goal saw the visitors open up a two-point lead two minutes after the restart.
Louth were reduced to 14 men on 40 minutes when Ciaran Downey was sent off. Five minutes later, Paddy Lynch pushed Cavan five points clear.
Cavan forfeited the numerical advantage on 49 minutes. James Smith received a second yellow card leaving both teams with 14 men.
Lynch gave Cavan a six-point cushion 54 minutes. Two minutes later, the deficit was halved when Sam Mulroy registered his second goal.
Lynch restored Cavan’s three-point cushion three minutes from time. Mulroy and Tom Jackson replied with injury-time points.
Cavan’s Oisin Brady was sent off deep into stoppage time but the visitors held on to win by the smallest of margins.
The win moves Cavan third in Allianz League division two behind Donegal and Armagh.
