Cavan 2-10
Wexford 0-9

by Daire Walsh

Lauren McVeety and Ellie Brady grabbed goals in either half at the Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda on Sunday as Cavan claimed their third Lidl National Football League Division 3 crown with a seven-point win over Wexford.

A late addition to the Cavan starting line-up, Gowna’s Ellyanna Madden got the scoring underway with an excellent point from a tight angle inside the opening 30 seconds of the action. Wexford had gotten the better of their Ulster counterparts in the group stages of the league and with wing-back Ciara Banville and Chloe Foxe (free) on target either side of an impressive effort from roaming opposition defender Sinead Greene, the Slaneysiders twice found themselves on level terms during the early exchanges.

Yet Cavan were playing with the aid of a breeze in the opening period and Emmet Daly’s side created some daylight in this contest courtesy of two points apiece from McVeety and Aisling Gilsenan. Centre half-back Aisling Halligan responded for Wexford with a impressive score out towards the left-wing, before Crosserlough attacker McVeety fired home a 23rd minute goal after an initial shot by Niamh Keenaghan was saved by Wexford netminder Siobhan Cloake.

Catherine Dolan and Brady also raised white flags to help Cavan establish a 1-8 to 0-3 interval cushion, but the Breffni outfit were left temporarily hamstrung by the sin-binnings of Brady and Micaela Fitzpatrick within five minutes of the play restarting.

Foxe registered a brace of pointed frees during this juncture and she was later joined on the scoresheet by substitute Grace Donovan as Wexford attempted to force their way back into contention. However, while Sherene Hamilton was on hand to trade points with Gilsenan, Brady palmed to the net for a second Cavan goal on 44 minutes - moment after she had returned to the field of play.

This major restored the Ulster side’s half-time buffer of eight points and this cushion remained intact when Niamh McCorry cancelled out an Emma Tomkins score for Wexford.

Foxe added a fourth successful free for the Slaneysiders in the closing stages, but even though Lizzy Kent’s charges can take considerable solace from the fact they had already claimed promotion to Division 2 for 2026, Cavan ultimately came away with the silverware in the County Louth venue on the day.

Scorers – Cavan: L McVeety 1-2, E Brady 1-1, A Gilsenan 0-3, S Greene, C Dolan, N McCorry, E Madden 0-1 each.

Wexford: C Foxe 0-4 (4f), C Banville, A Halligan, G Donovan, S Hamilton, E Tomkins 0-1 each.

CAVAN: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch, S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, E Brady; E Madden, L McVeety, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan. Subs: N McCorry for Keenaghan (45), K McCormack for Gilsenan, A Deneher for Madden (both 49), R McLoughlin for Brady (58).

WEXFORD: S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, K English; C Donnelly, R Murphy; B McDonald, C Murray, O Byrne; A Neville, C Ní Nualláin, C Foxe. Subs: S Hamilton for McDonald (10), A Cullen for Byrne, G Donovan for Ní Nualláin (both 33), E Tomkins for Murray (40), A Power for Neville (48).

Referee: Gerard Canny (Mayo).

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