Dublin eliminate Cavan from All-Ireland SFC

Dublin advanced into Round Three of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with a commanding second-half performance seeing them eliminate Cavan at Kingspan Breffni with a 1-24 to 0-16 win.

Despite leading by a single point at half-time, Dublin were clinical and punished a series of Cavan misses including over 10 wides for the Breffni men to see out an 11-point victory.

In a lively opening half, the sides were level on several occasions in an end-to-end contest with Dublin taking a narrow 0-13 to 0-12 lead into the break.

However, Cavan’s wastefulness in front of goal proved costly, with a series of wides allowing Dublin to stay in touch before gradually taking control after the restart.

A key moment came when Ciarán Brady was penalised for a foul on Colm Basquel, allowing O’Callaghan to convert a penalty as Dublin’s lead became unassailable.

The Breffni men were unable to mount a sustained comeback and bow out of the championship, while Dublin progress to Round Three and await their opponents following Monday’s draw.

Dublin edge ahead at the break

In a tense, high-tempo opening period, there was little to separate the sides early on as both teams traded scores in an absorbing first half.

Cavan made a bright start on home soil, with early contributions from Paddy Lynch and Gerard Smith helping them settle, but there were already warning signs as the hosts registered six wides inside the opening 10 minutes, while Dublin proved more clinical and strung together a series of unanswered scores.

However, Conor Brady’s two-point effort sparked the Breffni men into life midway through the half, levelling matters, before Paddy Lynch soon followed with a two-pointer of his own to edge the hosts ahead as they enjoyed spells of momentum in front of a vocal crowd of 14,486.

Dublin, though, responded strongly and finished the half on top. Con O’Callaghan was central throughout, adding a crucial two-point score and finishing the contest with an overall tally of 1-9, underlining his influence on proceedings.

The game remained finely poised throughout the opening half, with the sides level on several occasions as both defences were put under sustained pressure amid a relentless exchange of possession.

In the closing stages of the half, Dublin began to assert greater control, and Lee Gannon’s fisted effort at the near post following a quick break ultimately edged Ger Brennan’s side into a slender half-time lead.

Clinical Dubs pull away

The second half began with Cavan attempting to respond, but their early momentum was blunted by a combination of sustained Dublin pressure and their own inaccuracies.

Con O’Callaghan continued to dictate much of Dublin’s attacking play, while substitute Ross McGarry made an immediate impact after his introduction, contributing vital scores to stretch the visitors’ advantage.

Cavan continued to battle, with Emmanuel Shehu and Tiernan Madden both registering scores to keep the contest alive.

However, despite flashes of quality, the hosts struggled to consistently break down a disciplined Dublin defence, with opportunities frequently ending in turnovers or rushed finishes.

In contrast, the strength of Dublin’s bench told as Colm Basquel added to the scoreboard with a well-taken effort following a driving run, while Paddy Small also chipped in as the visitors steadily pulled clear.

The defining moment arrived when Ciarán Brady was adjudged to have fouled Colm Basquel inside the area.

Con O’Callaghan stepped up and emphatically dispatched the resulting penalty into the top corner, effectively sealing the result and underlining his influence on proceedings.

From there, Dublin managed the closing stages with composure and control, retaining possession and dictating the tempo as Cavan’s challenge faded.

O’Callaghan continued to orchestrate matters in attack, while Dublin’s bench played a key role in maintaining their dominance throughout the second half.

Cavan’s early promise and periods of attacking threat were ultimately undermined by costly errors and an inability to sustain pressure at key moments, with the hosts managing just four scores after the interval.

For Dublin, the result marks a significant step forward in their championship campaign under Ger Brennan, who returned to the sideline following a 12-week suspension.

His side will now await Monday’s Round Three draw, with potential heavyweight opponents in store following shock defeats for Armagh and Donegal over the weekend.

For Cavan, meanwhile, it is the end of the road in the 2026 championship. Their exit will be tinged with frustration after failing to capitalise on their early platform in a contest that gradually slipped from their grasp.

Teams and scorers

Cavan: Liam Brady; Paddy Meade, Brian O’Connell, Jensen Tynan; Gerard Smith (0-3), Ciarán Brady, Jason McLoughlin; Conor Brady (0-2), Ryan Donohue; Tiarnan Madden (0-2), Niall Carolan, Emmanuel Shehu (0-3); Barry Donnelly, Patrick Lynch (0-5), Darragh Lovett (0-1).

Subs: Oisin Brady for Donnelly (42), Dara McVeety for Donohoe (50), Cormac Brady for Tynan (61), Ryan Tobin for McLoughlin (65), Cian Madden for Lovett (66).

Dublin: Evan Comerford; Greg McEneaney, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow (0-1), Lee Gannon (0-2); Theo Clancy, Brian Howard; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Con O’Callaghan (1-9), Niall Scully (0-1); Paddy Small (0-3), Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello (0-2).

Subs: Colm Basquel (0-2) for Costello (21), Ross McGarry (0-3) for McEneaney (39), Eoin Kennedy for Howard (47), Sean Guiden (0-1) for Paddy Small (63), Tim Deering for Gannon (69).

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)