There was no drama to match Cavan’s shock extra-time win over Monaghan a week earlier, but the Breffni boys got the job done against Antrim to march on to the Ulster semi-finals.
The home side were unconvincing at times and picked up three black cards and at one stage in the second half were down to 13 players when Gerard Smith and Oisin Kiernan were both sin-binned.
Antrim led by a point at half time, 0-6 to 0-5, and had their chances in the second half but poor shot selection cost them a chance at reaching a first Ulster semi-final since 2014.
Cavan scored the opening two points from Stephen Smith and Oisin Kiernan inside six minutes but Antrim hit back with the next three scores.
Two of those were from play with Dermot McAleese with a fine score off the outside of his right boot and the veteran Mick McCann cutting through onto his left to sling over a nice point.
Paddy Cunningham and Kevin Quinn were on target for the saffrons with Cormac Timoney and Ciaran Brady popping up from defence under no pressure to score his second point of the first half.
Antrim didn’t score however for 28 minutes either side of the break with Cavan adding on the first four points of the second half from Killian Clarke, Gearoid McKiernan, Oisin Kiernan and sub Thomas Edward O’Donoghue who made a big impact with 0-3.
Conor Murray threatened up front for Antrim and scored a point late on but Cavan countered quickly on the break after another Antrim attack broke down and O’Donoghue pointed.
McKiernan added the insurance point as Cavan advanced to a last four clash against Fermanagh or Down.
Scorers for Cavan – G McKiernan 0-3 (1f), TE O’Donoghue 0-3 (1f, 1m), C Brady, O Kiernan 0-2 each, K Clarke, S Smith, C Timoney 0-1 each
Scorers for Antrim – P Cunningham 0-2 (1f), C Murray 0-2 (1m), M McCann, K Quinn, D McAleese 0-1 each, T McCann 0-1 (f), P McBride 0-1 (f)
