Cavan leapfrog Kildare out of the bottom two with this superb 2-20 to 3-15 victory over Offaly in Tullamore.

The hosts fought to the end in a pulsating end-to-end encounter but their sixth straight defeat means they have been relegated.

Despite having played with wind advantage, the Faithful County led by only two points at half time, 1-9 to 1-7. It was all-square after a lively opening ten minutes, 1-2 apiece, Aaron Leavy with the Offaly goal after Oisin Brady had netted fortuitously from distance for the visitors.

Dylan Hyland’s second two-pointer and another two-pointer from Darragh Flynn, with both players also hitting a single, made it a five-point game after 20 minutes, 1-8 to 1-3. Gearoid McKiernan cancelled out Ciaran Murphy’s point with Cavan’s first score in 13 minutes, followed by points from Tiernan Madden, Brady and Peter Corrigan to leave just two in it at half time.

Cavan drew level through a Dara McVeety two-pointer but Offaly replied with points from Jordan Hayes and Hyland before Diarmuid Egan sent the home support wild when blasting to the roof of the Cavan net on 45 minutes – 2-11 to 1-9!

A Ryan Donohoe goal followed quickly by a Madden two-pointer tied things up again, Keith O’Neill cancelling out the next two Cavan points in a thrilling finish. The visitors hit the front again when Donohoe belted over a brilliant two-pointer but it swung back the other way instantly when up stepped Leavy with the midlanders’ third goal of the day – 3-14 to 2-16 with four minutes remaining!

Eoin Clarke fisted Cavan level and match-winner Donohoe landed another two-pointer after Hayes had restored Offaly’s advantage. Emmanuel Shehu sent over the insurance point – if such a thing exists anymore! – at the death as Cavan claimed a vital victory.

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