Masters footballers take on Mayo in Ballinagh

Paul Fitzpatrick


The Cavan Masters (Over 40) footballers will have home advantage this afternoon (Saturday) when they take on Mayo in the replayed All-Ireland final in Ballinagh (throw-in 2.15pm).

The sides played out a thrilling 1-16 to 0-19 draw three weeks ago in Clonberne, Co Galway and hopes are high that they can go one better this time round. The support of a home crowd will be vital and Cavan manager Jimmy Galligan encouraged supporters to turn out for what is a very attractive fixture.

“The drawn game was a very high quality match and it will more than likely be the same this time so I’d ask supporters to come along,” stated the Lacken clubman, who is joined by selectors Seamus Donohoe (Lavey) and Kevin Madden (Gowna).

“It was a good game, it was hell for leather the last time. It was very competitive and very entertaining,” Madden told The Anglo-Celt.

“Who stood out for Cavan? It would be hard to single out anybody but Raphael Rogers scored four massive points and Tommy Maguire stood up when we wanted him on the frees. Art McSeain and Mickey Clynch also came on and did well.”

A tremendous goal from midfielder Christy Sheils was one of the highlights the first day as well.

“And Mark Rehill [team captain] kicked an inspirational score when we were four down early on, he came up from centre-back and got us going,” added Jimmy.

“It will be a 50-50 game again on Saturday, theer’s nothing between four or five teams at the top of the Masters competition and I think there’ll probably only be a point or two in it again this week,” said Kevin.

“We are at home but that won’t count for very much, they will come with all guns blazing. We would ask football followers to turn out and see the game on Saturday, we’ve been doing our best to promote it and it is growing now. The more support we get, the better it can be.

“The boys are so committed and so dedicated and nothing less than a win will do for any of us at this stage.”

Cavan earlier knocked out Galway, one of the pre-competition favourites, by 0-12 to 1-8 in the semi-final.