Mission accomplished as minors record amazing Ulster final victory

"You wait 15 years for one, and then two come along in a couple of months," muttered one Cavan supporter as he exited St Tiernach's Park last Sunday evening. It summed up the feelings of the majority of the 2,000-strong travelling Breffni support, who had just watched their minors tear up the script to defeat raging hot favourites Armagh to secure a second Ulster title of the year following the Under 21s' win back in March. It's Wednesday morning at the earliest as you read this and chances are, it still hasn't sunk in. To overcome a four-point half-time deficit, and to hold a vaunted Armagh team scoreless in the entire second half, was the stuff of fairy-tales. Cavan supporters, especially those who have watched a succession of talented underage teams freeze and forget their lines on the big stage, have learned the hard way that fairy-tales don't come through, but this side, to a man (or should that be boy?), proved that hard work and belief can conquer the odds. Not that joint manager Dermot McCabe was getting carried away with such poetic notions. The Gowna man, along with colleague Gary Donohoe, has been hugely-impressive in the run-up to this final and his unflappable demeanour was in stark contrast to the delirious scenes on the pitch after the long whistle. "The second half was phenomenal," he said, "I don't think Armagh scored in the second half and they [Cavan players] were doing just so exceptionally well. Great honesty, work rate, just all the things you want in players. Once you're putting that into a game and into a performance, hopefully the result will go your way. I could not and no-one could ask for any more from that bunch of lads, they're a great bunch of lads." When the statement was put to him that this was "a magical day and a great lift for Cavan football", McCabe admitted that the only thing he, the management team and the players focused on was winning the match. "I don't know about that, it's a great lift for these lads today and their families and the clubs they're from," he said. "We've a great tradition in Cavan and we can't forget that. We're delighted to win the game and we weren't thinking about anything else only winning the game." And win it they did, and in some style. Had Cavan taken their first half chances, they'd have won it with a little more to spare but as it was, the new champions won pulling up, reeling off the last seven points to stun a clearly shell-shocked Armagh. Next up, fittingly after the Under 21 defeat in Croke Park, is a tilt at Galway, who were beaten in the Connacht final by Roscommon. That match will throw in at 3pm on Saturday July 30 in Pearse Park, Longford. Before that, though, Cavan's players and maangement are entitled to reflect on a mission well and truly accomplished. The Orchard has been sacked - bring on the Tribesmen!