Published: Thursday, 3rd June, 2010 11:08am

'Fermanagh said that we outworked them'

by Paul Fitzpatrick

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Delighted: Mickey Graham

Great days. There's nothing harder to change than a losing culture but Cavan underage sides are making light of it this season.

On the pitch, in the breathless aftermath of another encouraging big game win - following from the Under 21s run to the provincial decider earlier in the season - Cavan manager Mickey Graham soaked up the back-slaps and, while stressing the need not to get carried away, admitted that we're finally heading in the right direction.

"The attitude in Cavan I think has changed, if we can keep building on this, the future looks bright for us," Graham stated.

Cavan's victory against vaunted opposition who, to their credit, came prepared and to win, was built on a fierce work ethic, according to the manager.

"As I said to you last week, this team... there are no superstars on it but by God they will work for you," said Graham.

"They'll get stuck in and they'll give it everything they have. I said to the boys before the game, look, go out, empty the tank, be honest...

"If you get tired, we have fresh legs willing to come on and lads willing to work just as hard as you and I have to say the work ethic today was just unbelievable."

So much so that Fermanagh manager Mark Curry admitted as much after the game, revealed Graham.

"Fermanagh, don't get me wrong, are a very good team. I was talking to their manager there and he rated them highly, he said it was the best team they have had in a number of years and he said that we just out-worked them. Our workrate and determination was unreal... That's coming from the opposition."

The important thing, you suggest, is to keep the players' feet on the ground...

"Of course...It's only one game, we know that. I've experienced the last two years about winning games, we're not going to get carried away.

"We've Armagh now, All Ireland champions and favourites for Ulster again but we've nothing to lose, we'll come here and give it everything we have and that's all I can ask for."

Discipline in the tackle and pace of movement, said Graham, was key.

"The tackling was excellent and when we turned the ball over, we got out quickly and we moved ball quickly and I thougth our forwards had great movement as well," he stated.

"We chipped in with scores from all over the place, they had a lot of men behind the ball at times and our half-backs came and helped out and kicked a couple of points... Paul McEvoy, Chris Conroy from long range. And it's great to have lads to step up to that."

With a panel of 32 players, Cavan have two teams worth of talent and unloaded their bench to great effect, with Nevin O'Donnell and Karl Duke both impressing on their introduction.

"The substiutions we made worked a treat for us," admitted the manager.

"I always say, you should always have somebody who can come in and make a difference. I said that to the lads. Every one of them did their part and made a contribution. As I said to you, we have a panel of 30 and there's a lot of lads not togged out there. "