Colm McFadden (1-6) inspired Donegal to a 1-16 to 1-10 preliminary-round win at Breffni Park.

Donegal led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break, thanks largely to McFadden's 32nd-minute penalty. Cavan had offered stern resistance in the opening quarter, moving ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 before the visitors took control to reel off 1-5 without reply before the short whistle.

With 12,847 paying customer in attendance, the holders started as 1/6 favourites and they duly slotted over the opening point courtesy of midfielder and centurion Rory Kavanagh.

But the Tir Chonail men had a lucky escape when Cavan corner forward Brendan Fitzpatrick struck the crossbar - a goal there would have really set the cat amongst the pigeons.

However, the home side kept plugging away and they were soon in front thanks to excellent long-range points from Jack Brady, David Givney and Eugene Keating (that's how to beat the blanket defence!).

Colm McFadden's free closed the gap but Keating nonchalantly slotted over his second before Jim McGuinness' men drew level through McFadden and Neil McGee - 0-4 each at the end of the first quarter.

McFadden's third converted free had the favourites back in front and they also hit the next two points to lead by 0-7 to 0-4 after 28 minutes, Kavanagh and Leo McCloone on target.

When Paddy McBrearty was fouled, Donegal were awarded a penalty and McFadden made no mistake to make it a six-point game.

Neil Gallagher had a goal effort saved before McFadden and Mark McHugh added to the Donegal tally with Niall McDermott on target for Cavan, 1-9 to 0-5 ten minutes into the second half.

The next two points were shared by corner back Frank McGlynn and Givney - 1-10 to 0-6 at the three-quarters stage.

It was all too easy now for the defending champions as Neil Gallagher popped over their eleventh point, putting them eight in front.

The winners grabbed two out of the next three points before Cavan were awarded a late penalty: McDermott squared up to Paul Durcan in the 59th minute, calmly placing the ball to the corner of the net, 1-13 to 1-7.

Four points were exchanged - Keating bringing his tally to 0-4 from play - but McFadden's free made it 1-16 to 1-9 with three minutes left.

The impressive Keating notched the last score of a game where Cavan were beaten but certainly not disgraced.

Donegal - P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee (0-1), F McGlynn (0-1); A Thompson, K Lacey, Declan Walsh; R Kavanagh (0-3), N Gallagher (0-1); R Bradley, David Walsh, M McHugh (0-2); L McLoone (0-2), C McFadden (1-6), P McBrearty. Subs: M O'Reilly for Bradley, M McElhinney for David Walsh, D Molloy for Gallagher.

Cavan - J Reilly; K Clarke, P O'Reilly (capt), K Meehan; J McLoughlin, D Reilly, M McKeever; D Givney (0-2), G McKiernan (0-1); F Flanagan, R Flanagan, R Moloney-Derham; J Brady (0-1), E Keating (0-5), B Fitzpatrick. Subs: T Corr for Maloney-Derham, N McDermott (1-1) for Fitzpatrick, N Smith for F Flanagan, K Tierney for McKeever, R Galligan for Brady.

Ref - C Reilly (Meath). Tweet

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