Cavan see off resilient Sligo to reach Tailteann final

Cavan are one step closer to a season's double with the Allianz League Division 4 champions now Tailteann Cup finalists thanks victory over Sligo in Croke Park.

Although powerful at times against Yeats County in an entertaining semi-final, Cavan were fortunate that Tony McEntee's side missed a number of gilt-edged goal chances, with the woodwork and last-ditch clearances helping the Ulster county.

The clash of Sligo and Cavan – the first of the day's two Tailteann Cup semi-finals at Croke Park – brought together counties that had previously only met in a championship game in 1928, an All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final that Cavan won.

They’ve regularly met in the Allianz Football League, however, including this year’s Division Four clash that Cavan won by six points on March 6 at Markievicz Park – a game that saw Sligo finish with 14 players.

In the Tailteann Cup, Cavan recorded confident, straightforward victories – beating Down and Fermanagh.

Sligo, in contrast, were brought to extra-time by both London and Leitrim, beating the latter on penalties in a thrilling quarter-final.

The Connacht county were delighted to have talisman Niall Murphy available, with the Coolera-Strandhill ace named on the bench.

Cavan, breeze-assisted in the opening period, justified their favourites tag to lead by six points, 0-6 to 0-0, by the 14th minute.

Shrewd use of possession and confident, accurate shooting was the basis for Cavan’s early dominance, with six different scorers during this powerful phase.

The best of Cavan’s scores came from Oisin Kiernan and Conor Brady, while James Smith almost flicked a cross from Martin Reilly into the net but Sligo goalkeeper Aidan Devaney smuggled the ball out for a '45’.

Sligo, who were missing chances