King hopeful Cavan will test the Dubs

Former Cavan captain overjoyed at latest Ulster win

Stephen King was never as happy to see a record broken as he was when Cavan got the better of Donegal in the Ulster final. The Killeshandra man was the last Cavan captain to lift the Anglo-Celt Cup in 1997 and, 23 years on, he was overjoyed to see Raymond Galligan do likewise.

“Words can’t explain the joy I got out of Cavan winning the Ulster Championship. It’s just very hard to put it into words. Such a performance as well,” King told The Anglo-Celt this week.

“It started off from a poor base against Roscommon, take Monaghan out of it and you struggled against Antrim and in the first half against Down but then the way they manned up against Donegal. It was absolutely fantastic, nobody was giving them a chance, but I always said if they were within touching distance at half-time we would have every chance of winning the Ulster title.

“The sheer skill and determination and guts. They applied themselves so well and looked so composed on the ball, they didn’t look like the underdog at all. They were such worthy winners of this championship and they came through the hard way – not many teams win from the preliminary round.

“I am just over the moon, I have been raving about it since. It’s a fantastic lift for Cavan and it’s just a pity that we weren’t able to celebrate it and clap the players on the back as we’d like to with the times that are in it but we are Ulster champions and in an All-Ireland semi-final and that’s a great place to be.”

Like most Cavan football followers, but even moreso given his status as a public face of the last successful Cavan side, King’s phone was hopping with texts and calls from well-wishers after the match.

“I’m not big into social media but it was red hot and the amount of texts I got from past and present players and the amount of texts I got from Donegal was amazing. They are a great bunch of people, they were so gracious in defeat and there’s a great affinity there with Cavan people and Donegal people.

“In the times that we are living in, the Twitter feed, texts and Whatsapp were the small bit of connection we had that evening. Everyone is sorry that they weren’t there to witness it but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Cavan are Ulster champions and playing in an All-Ireland semi-final.”

Already, parallels are being drawn with 1997.

“In terms of comparisons, in ’97, we knew we had something and I reckon this year’s team felt that as well so there was great fight in the dog.

“They were on the offensive and really went for it which was typified by Oisin Kiernan’s massive late point, that was one of the scores of the championship. In other years, sometimes players wouldn’t have taken on those shots.

“What made it for me so much was the spirit. Thomas Galligan’s performances have been well documented. He wore that jersey into battle heroically, the more they hit him, the better he got! The likes of Padraig Faulkner, every time he pulls on that jersey he does it proud. A guy like Ciaran Brady the same, with Arva and with Cavan, when they put on the jersey they carry it into the fight.

“Gearoid has always had big games, Martin Reilly, my God, he probably doesn’t get half the praise he deserves. Raymond Galligan, what a year he has had, [pinpoint kick-outs, long-range free against Monaghan. There were so many admirable performances. Jason McLoughlin was another who tackled brilliantly, took the ball from Michael Murphy a couple of times while watching Ryan McHugh.

“Those particular guys that I named really took the game to Donegal. They showed marvellous composure. There was a wee bit of youth and a lot of experience. The way these guys played was a credit.

“They got a chance to express themselves fully within their clubs as well. Their mind was free, they weren’t serving two masters and then when the county season returned, they were fully engrossed in that, back with their mates and enjoying it and they had kept themselves in shape too.

“They have carried themselves well too, their interviews have been excellent. This is a really good bunch of guys.”

As for Saturday (5.30pm, Croke Park), will Cavan give a good account of themselves?

“I think they will. If they can keep within a few points of Dublin, we’re going to be in for an enthralling second half. Obviously they can’t let them get away from us but it’s a tremendous opportunity against a brilliant Dublin team.

“That’s where you want to be, playing against the best, and that’s where Cavan are now. I think we will give a really good account of ourselves and if we’re there within touching distance, never say never.”