Cork's woes continue as Cavan claim narrow victory in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League

The conversation around Cork football has switched from a promotion push to avoiding the Tailteann Cup after falling to a third consecutive Division 2 defeat against Cavan at at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Oisín Brady's 77th-minute fisted point sent the Ulster side home happy before Paddy Lynch’s ninth gave them a late cushion.

That meant Steven Sherlock had to go for goal from a 14-yard free in the ninth added minute. His blast, however, was pushed over the bar in front of 3,533 fans at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Both sides finished with 14 after Luke Fahy (45th minute) and Pádraig Faulkner (64th) were sent off for picking up yellow and black cards as Cork failed to score from play in the second half.

The result strengthens Cavan’s bid for Sam Maguire football after two years in the Tailteann Cup, leaving them on four points from six. They are the only team in all four divisions yet to concede or score a goal in their three games.

There were late changes on either side, with Christopher Kelly stepping into the Cork goals for Patrick Doyle, while Brían O’Connell and Caoimhín O’Reilly came into the Cavan team for Dara McVeety and Tiarnan Madden.

Cork have been conceding far too much in their opening defeats and Cavan were able to prise them open three times inside 10 minutes. They opted for fisted points on each occasion, one from Ciarán Brady and a pair for O’Reilly.

The Rebels kicked three in a row from Mark Cronin (45), Chris Óg Jones, and Brian O’Driscoll to forge ahead and they also had their chances to break Cavan’s clean-sheet streak.

Eoghan McSweeney had already hit the post with a point effort and he palmed onto the crossbar when set up by great play from Ruairí Deane and Matty Taylor. Ian Maguire then had a shot blocked