As Cavan surprised Monaghan and clinched victory in a pulsating Ulster Senior Football Championship opener, a host of great scores were seen as the game was decided in extra-time.
Monaghan's championship came to an end on Saturday afternoon as they eventually succumbed to Cavan after extra time was required in Clones.
Although Mickey Graham's Cavan side started the stronger, Monaghan hit their stride in the first-half and it looked as if there would be no stopping them when a Conor McManus goal left his side 7 points clear at half-time.
Brilliant movement by Conor McManus finished in a GOAL for @monaghangaa before half-time! pic.twitter.com/i9eB4CyLWA
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
This came after he had picked off a brilliant score from distance to keep Monaghan in touch after Cavan's superb start.
Superb skill by Conor McManus with this point for @monaghangaa pic.twitter.com/vdH8x0z5nk
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
Yet, McManus' brilliance hardly told the game's full story. Early on in this tense encounter, Oisin Pierson grabbed the first goal of the contest to give Cavan a dream start.
.@CavanCoBoardGaa's Oisin Pierson with a fantastic finish in the bottom corner to get an early goal for the side! pic.twitter.com/9WckviyU5V
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
With a 1-11 to 1-4 lead at half-time, Monaghan appeared content to hold onto what they had as the second-half kicked off. It contributed to a third-quarter of the game that afforded the viewer very little.
Although Cavan chased the game in fits and bursts, even the occasional score from distance didn't signal much by way of a sustained comeback.
Excellent score by Oisin Kiernan for @CavanCoBoardGaa to open the second half of the game! pic.twitter.com/45jDa8C13I
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
Lovely score by Luke Fortune for @CavanCoBoardGaa pic.twitter.com/KJvoxWcbfq
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
Graham's men kept things ticking over though and eventually found themselves within a point of drawing Monaghan level. The task to complete the comeback fell to Gerard Smith who wonderfully executed this score from distance.
.@CavanCoBoardGaa's Gerard Smith kicks an absolute beauty to level the score and send the game to extra time! pic.twitter.com/xfGI1ekPU8
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
Conor McManus would be presented with an opportunity to seal the win late on from a dead ball but his shot veered to the right and wide.
At 1-13 each, this preliminary Ulster clash went to extra-time. After 15 more minutes of play, Monaghan had restored a two-point lead and were once more in control.
Yet, mid-way through the second-half, with Monaghan down to 10 men, a goal for Martin Reilly pushed Cavan one-point ahead. Although Monaghan quickly equalised, the game seemed to be going in Cavan's favour.
In the end, it all came down to two monster kicks from the side's respective 'keepers.
For Rory Beggan in the Monaghan goal, he had to sink a free-kick from distance for a levelling score late on. Successfully converted, it fell to his Cavan counterpart to try and steal the victory with a greater kick shortly after.
.@CavanCoBoardGaa's Raymond Galligan steps up and executes this crucial point to win the game for the side in the dying moments of extra-time! pic.twitter.com/zkxR22YcTF
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 31, 2020
A tremendous start to the Ulster championship, Cavan will now take on Antrim in the quarter-final stage.
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