Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 3:54pm

From the Archive: March 6, 1987

Pic by==: 97

It is rarely that supporters come away from a football match, satisfied although their team had been defeated - but such was the case on Sunday last at Croke Park when Cavan lost by six points - 3-6 to 0-9 to Dublin in a vital Div.2 national Football League match.

The big Cavan support in a crowd estimated around 16,000 were proud of the team, who rose to the occasion in fine style, and gave their faithful supporters plenty to shout about in a game that was at times played at championship fervour.

Cavan, entering the match as complete underdogs if you were to believe the sports commentators, were not prepared to lie down to this highly-rated Dublin side, and right from the opening minutes they showed their intentions when a 50/50 ball between team captain, Mel Bouchier and Dublin's Ciaran Duff, saw the Cavan player win out this tussle in fine style, and so set the tone for the remainder of the hour.

The Breffni side competed with their opponents for everything, and as the match progressed many of the 'Dubs' big names began to look ordinary as a mixture of wholehearted competitiveness and constructive football had their opponents reeling. Their 'trump-card' was a bang-in-form Stephen King at midfield, who gave a top-class display in this vital midfield sector throughout the hour, and as many Cavan supporters would no doubt agree, his display alone was well worth the admission price. Time and again he outjumped a succession of opponents, and for long periods in the game it looked as if there was a surprise result on the cards.

The side as a whole benefited from his inspirational play, and as the game progressed you could see that confidence throughout the side.

However, to their credit the 'Dubs' continued to play themselves back into the game, and in the vital closing stages when it seemed as if Cavan were going to overhaul them, they upped the tempo of their play - and top-class marksmanship by one of the countries top attackers, Barney Rack - proved the difference between the teams at the finish.

Cavan can take heart from this display, and build on it for the forthcoming Ulster S.F. Championship. Team-manager, Eugene McGee, no doubt, while praising their efforts, will point out to them that there still is a lot of hard work to be done, if they are to realise their ambition, and take the Ulster S.F.C. this season - thereby assuring themselves of another appearance in headquarters in 1986.

While it was very much a team effort on the day, there were some outstanding individual displays notably from defenders, Mel Bouchier, Aiden Watters, Jim Reilly and Sean Kiernan. Midfield proved the powerhouse of the side, and really clicked on the day with Ray Cullivan (what a great competitor) and Stephen King gelling well together, and proving an excellent springboard for many of the teams attacks. Up front, all six forwards tried hard against a close-tackling Dublin defence, with Derek McDonnell, Paddy McNamee and youngster Ronan Carolan conspicuous at times. Overall, this sector will have to show greater improvement if the teams ambitions are to be realised, but to their credit they competed throughout the hour, and if the 'rub of the green' hadn't gone against them on a few occasions we could well have been celebrating a memorable victory.

Overall it was an encouraging display by Cavan at Croke Park, especially when you consider some recent past experiences at this venue - and, it had no doubt given the team and their supporters a taste for more - hopefully, in the very near future!

• First published on Friday March 6 1987

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