Can Ulster champions hit heights so soon again?

Preview

Ten days have passed since Cavan’s momentous Ulster final success and the small matter of Dublin, lying in wait in Croke Park, is only beginning to be discussed among the supporters. 'Ulster senior champions' has a nice ring to it and it has been chiming around the county since.

The manner of the victory over Donegal – outplaying such a vaunted side, overcoming dubious refereeing into the bargain – was stunning and, in truth, many fans, so accustomed to disappointment, are still stunned.

It was an extraordinary victory. A football team came of age before our eyes and so many experienced players were vindicated, delivering on the big stage.

From today on, we reckon, the hype will shift from the Ulster final to the All-Ireland semi-final.

First things first: Dublin go into this match as 1/100 favourites. Without a doubt, a Cavan win would be the biggest upset in the history of the All-Ireland SFC.

Does that mean it can’t happen? Of course not. Most of the pre-match predictions for the Ulster final were completely wrong and the same pundits are now doubling down, as are the bookmakers.

Cavan, of course, should be underdogs against the five-time defending All-Ireland champions, especially when facing them in what is, for all intents and purposes, their home ground, where they play all their home league matches and almost all of their championship games.

Yet Cavan were cute in how they handled the issue of the venue. The GAA got a black eye when they were forced to back down over the ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ saga a couple of years ago and given that the precedent is there for playing All-Ireland semi-finals at HQ for many decades now, there was going to be no budging in relation to this.

Cavan did the right thing in pouring cold water on the subject, which was mostly a media invention in any case. By issuing a short statement saying it would be “an honour” to play at Croke Park, they drew a line under it, ensuring no emotional energy was drained with speculation and also, more significantly, sending out a clear and assertive message that Cavan would be travelling with confidence no matter where the game was to be played.

And that is important because the mindset in which a team approaches Dublin is crucial. Most are beaten before they take the field. Witness the body language of the Laois defenders when an early goal went in or the total collapse by a good Meath team, who were so spooked by the opposition that they couldn’t execute even basic skills.

Sides who show some belief in their own ability have proven that Dublin are human after all. Witness the Dubs’ performances in All-Ireland finals when they have met teams brimful of confidence and faith; Dublin have rarely won by more than a point and have even been taken to replays.

The question is whether or not Cavan can back up their performance. We can think of no precedent for a team delivering such a groundbreaking display, already being spoken about as the best in a generation or two, and then immediately repeating it or even surpassing it.

Cavan’s win was built on pure desire, allied, of course, to tremendous skill. A loss may have defined that side and marked the end of some players. Defeat was simply not an option.

Now, things have changed. Regardless of what happens against Dublin, this is a year which will be remembered fondly. The terms of engagement are very different and that is concerning considering that the foundation for Cavan’s Ulster final victory was that almost desperate desire to win that cup.

The other way of looking at it is that Cavan have nothing to lose and the world to gain. The panel are fit, the celebrations didn’t go on too long.

Their last championship matches in Croke Park were in 2013, when Gearoid McKiernan was injured, meaning only Killian Clarke, Jason McLoughlin and Martin Reilly have started a championship match there, while Killian Brady has featured briefly as a sub. That is a deficit of HQ experience but then again, with no crowds, that may not be as big a factor as normal.

Managers always talk about character, usually to mask a poor performance. Cavan, though, have shown real character. There are too many stalwarts there to allow this to turn into a dismantling.

A win would spin the football world off its axis but as much as we dearly would love to see it, it’s unlikely. Still, unlike in 1997 when experienced players retired and the manager stepped down, there are no major disruptive factors on the horizon.

This won’t be the last game in Croke Park for this Cavan team and whatever happens on Saturday, it will stand to them the next time.

Back in 1960, Cavan dug their heels in over venue and got Dublin to Navan for a league semi, which Cavan won. How sweet would it be to repeat that result this time on Jones’ Road? Here’s hoping.