Derry battle back to beat Cavan in All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers

When Derry lost heavily in the Ulster quarter-final, they looked set to end their summer early, but this 1-17 to 0-18 victory over Cavan was their third qualifier win in a row and they are on a roll heading into the Round 4.

Derry registered a one-point win in Round 2 of the national league at Breffni Park on February 6, but they finished sixth while Cavan were promoted to the top tier. However on Derry's return they were too good again.

Mark Lynch kicked seven points, with another masterful display as he looked back to his best, and Emmett McGuckin scored the first-half goal, while Cavan had Feargal Flanagan sent-off.

He got a straight red when he appeared to strike Mark Lynch in the third minute of injury-time, at the end of the first-half and although they trailed by four at half-time, Derry overturned their 0-11 to 1-4 deficit.

Michael Argue, Martin Reilly and Jack Brady were brought into the Cavan side before throw-in and they made a fast start to the game, although Flanagan had to clear of the line in the fifth minute.

James Kielt then slotted a wonderful score off the outside of his right boot for Derry, but Cavan hit three points in a row from Cian Mackey, Dara McVeety and Gearoid McKiernan.

The next score was crucial however, and Derry exploited Cavan's weakness under the high ball in the defence. Ciaran McFaul pumped in a high ball and McGuckin fisted the ball to the net, past Raymond Galligan in the Cavan goal.

Argue and Reilly reeled off two points for Cavan before Lynch got his first point of the day, and Cavan moved 0-8 to 1-2 in front with efforts from Seanie Johnston, McVeety and Reilly.

They looked in control when McKiernan scored his second point, but Christopher Bradley hit back.

McKiernan and Lynch traded scores before Flanagan got a straight red when he was involved with Lynch off the ball in the 38th minute.

McKiernan eased the pain with a point just before half-time, but the four-point cushion was always going to be tested in the second-half.

Conor McAtamney and Lynch scored in the first five minutes as Derry made their move. Galligan halted it momentarily but Lynch was on fire. He scored again, before Galligan scored his second free and Moynagh gave Cavan a four-point lead again.

However, Derry hit six of the next seven points and took a 1-13 to 0-15 lead with four minutes of normal time remaining. That was only the second time Derry had led in the match, and McVeety quickly equalised.

But Derry pushed for home, McGuckin, Enda Lynn and Niall Toner pointed, while Lynch secured the win in injury-time.

Derry: T Mallon; G McKinless, C McKaigue, K McKaigue; C McFaul, B Rogers, C Mullan; C McAtamney (0-1), N Holly; D Heavron (0-1), C Bradley (0-1), E Brown; J Kielt (0-1), E McGuckin (1-1), M Lynch (0-7, 0-4f).

Subs: E Lynn (0-1) for Kielt (24, black card), N Loughlin (0-1, 0-1 '45) for Brown (31), N Toner (0-3) for C Bradley (48), E Bradley for McAtamney (51), L McGoldrick for Rogers (57), N Forrester for McFaul (72).

Cavan: R Galligan (0-3, 0-3f); K Brady, R Dunne, P Faulkner; F Flanagan, C Moynagh (0-1), M Reilly (0-2); T Corr, G McKiernan (0-4, 0-3f); D McVeety (0-3), J Brady (0-1, 0-1f), K Clarke; C Mackey (0-1), M Argue (0-1), S Johnston (0-1, 0-1f).

Subs: N Murray for Argue (35), Ciaran Brady for Faulkner (46), J McLoughlin for Cillian Brady (53), T Hayes for Johnston (57), G Smith (0-1) for Murray (67), N Buchanan for Mackey (72).

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).