Published: Wednesday, 28th October, 2009 2:41pm

Cavan to face Erne men once again

For the second successive year, Cavan have been drawn to face neighbours Fermanagh in the first round of the Ulster Senior Football Championship.

Tom Carr's side upset the odds to defeat the Ernesiders by a point on June 6 last and county board PRO Mark Gillick admits that the 2010 draw is "probably the best we could have hoped for".

"We have avoided all the big guns and I suppose Fermanagh are at a similar level to ourselves so you would be happy enough with the draw but equally Fermanagh would also be happy getting Cavan in the draw," said Gillick.

"It gives the winner a chance to build and move forward in the championship. Both teams are in the same group in the league and the two teams will meet each other in one of the later rounds of the league.

"Overall you'd be happy enough, a home draw. Both counties would know each other quite well and we know what we have to do from last year to repeat our win. In saying all that, Fermanagh will know where they want wrong last year as well and what they need to do to correct that, so it's an intriguing fixture."

Neighbours Monaghan play the winners of Derry and Armagh in the first quarter-final, with Antrim facing Tyrone and Donegal taking on Down.

Cavan will meet Down in Breffni Park on March 24 in the quarter-final of the Ulster Under 21 championship, with the winners set to face either Antrim or Monaghan on March 31.

The fixtures for the National Football League were also revealed recenty, with Cavan away to Roscommon in the first round of a division which also includes Offaly, Fermanagh, Louth, Wexford, Roscommon, Antrim and Sligo.

In the Lory Meagher Cup, Cavan hurlers have a bye in the first round of a grade which also includes Warwickshire, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Non Ards, Donegal and Longford.

Meanwhile, Cavan manager Tom Carr has revealed that he is "investigating the possibility" of bringing St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh forward Gareth Smith into the county senior panel.

The highly-rated Dublin native has strong Cavan connections in the Mountnugent area (both his parents are originally from this county) and would qualify for Cavan under the parentage rule.

"He's had a session or two with the team," said Carr, "but we've still got to go through all the legalities. He's scored consistently in the Dublin championship, but we're just going to have to wait and see what happens."

Smith captained the northside outfit to a Dublin senior league title two years ago. The senior team included Redhills man Michael Brides, as well as well-known inter-county players such as Alan and Bernard Brogan, Anthony Moyles and Jason Sherlock.

"There was a bit of surprise that he wasn't in on Pat Gilroy's panel, for whatever reason Gilroy doesn't seem to rate him," said PRO Mark Gillick on Smith.

"He would be recognised as a good club footballer in Dublin.

"Cavan are a designated county so if he wants to transfer he can, he qualifies to transfer."