Tipp bag vital win over Cavan to keep up promotion push

Cavan slipped to their first defeat in Division 4 of the National League with this home loss against Tipperary at a blustery Kingspan Breffni.

Down by a point at half-time having played into a gale, Cavan looked to be in a strong position but Tipperary, while riding their luck at times, managed the second half very well and deserved their victory.

Cavan played against a very strong wind in the first half and trailed for most of it but a great goal from Caoimhin O'Reilly on the stroke of half-time meant that Mickey Graham's side will have been very happy going in just a point down at the halfway stage trailing by a point, 1-05 to 1-04.

Tipperary opened the scoring with a free from Conor Sweeney, who was being picked up by fellow 2020 All-Star Padraig Faulkner, before Cavan levelled through O’Reilly, who fisted over after a good pass from Oisin Kiernan.

The wind was making shooting difficult for Cavan. Tipperary set up defensively and looked to utilise long, direct kick-passes to Sweeney and Cavan struggled to break them down for long spells, the breeze meaning they needed to find a clear pocket of space to shoot – and there was very little of that.

A super point from Mark Russell edged Tipp in front before they lost wing-forward Bill Maher to the sin bin. In that 10-minute period, however, Cavan failed to capitalise.

A Sean O’Connor score opened a two-point gap. Cavan pulled one back through Gerry Smith, after good work from James Smith and Jason McLoughlin, and the latter turned finisher with a well-taken point after Gearoid McKiernan intercepted.

But a great effort from Kerry native Teddy Doyle made it 0-04 to 0-03 just as Maher returned to the fray and Tipp extended their lead when sloppy Cavan defending allowed them to slice