Ulster SFC: Cavan score two late goals to beat Monaghan in provincial opener

As expected, Beggan was restored to the starting line-up for the first time this year after chasing his American dream in the NFL, and he made an immediate impact.

After a low-key start to the game and the scores level at 0-1 apiece after frees by ace free-takers McManus and Lynch, Beggan had a dramatic 60 seconds to remind gaelic football fans of his true worth to this game.

First was the speed of thought and vision to release Conor McCarthy with a defence-splitting pass, and after McCarthy’s shot came off the upright and Kevin Loughran and Jack McCarron were denied by smart saves from Gary O’Rourke, he stepped up to nail the ’45’ with ease.

Then he got down low to stop a Lynch goalbound shot and turn it around the corner. Lynch emulated Beggan’s accuracy from the placed ball by also converting his ’45’.

The sides were level four times in the opening quarter, David Garland and Karl O’Connell scoring good points from distance with a strong wind at their backs, with Cavan levelling the scores on four occasions.

Beggan landed a bomb of a free from over 50 metres, and Monaghan followed it up with two points inside a minute from their twin tormenters Conor McManus and Jack McCarron.

McManus skinned Brian O’Connell to cut inside onto his right foot to put two points between them for the first time and within seconds McCarron swung over a left-footed beauty close to the Pat McGrane Stand sideline.

The old hands were doing the business for Monaghan and another veteran Darren Hughes, was influential too, with a great turnover in the corner followed later by a spectacular diving block to win possession back for his team.

Yet in Lynch, Cavan had a star forward they could rely on and his 0-5 from placed balls in the opening half ensured a two-point deficit, 0-7 to 0-5, was far from insurmountable – especially with a wind advantage to follow.

Having failed to score from play in the first half, Cavan grabbed a quick brace in the early second half from Oisin Brady and Gerard Smith, who finished off his jinking run with a fine score.