'There's a lot of good work going on in Cavan'

GAA news

Cavan minors advanced to the last four of the Ulster Championship for the first time since 2018 but they didn’t have things all their own way against a physically strong Antrim side.

The visitors, who had beaten Monaghan by six points earlier in the competition, pressed hard at times and Cavan needed goalkeeper Cillian Brady (Gowna) to pull off three super saves to keep their noses in front.

However, the Breffni lads also played some fine football themselves and were deserving winners.

“It was a workmanlike performance, you’d like to be out of sight a little bit earlier but in fairness, they kept at it and in fairness to Antrim, they kept at it too,” commented Cavan minor manager Seanie Smith after the match.

“Antrim are a really, really good team. At this age group, you never know but we knew coming in here it was going to be difficult. They had some really, really good forwards but to be fair to our lads, I thought our defence was very good and overall I’d be happy with where we are at.

“As you know, in the last two games we have been conceding goals and it was something we were mindful of coming in here but Cillian was brilliant today and his kick-outs were also excellent as well.

“The men in front of him were very good, I thought Oliver had a great game at centre-back. Nathan was on Conor Johnson who’s a really good forward so overall, we are delighted. In fairness, to Cillian, he kept us in it.

“Nathan is a really tight marker and Conor was on form as well. On our side, Cian Keaney was Man of the Match for us today and last week Lorcan was very good and the week before it was Matthew Smith so we are lucky that our forwards are stepping up in different games.”

Cavan landed four points from attacking marks and the rest of their tally came from open play. Notable about the home side’s performance was the quality of their kick-passing, which the manager said comes down to having skilful players who can identify situations in games and take the right option.

The Mullahoran clubman also praised the coaching which has been going on at club and development squad levels in recent years.

“That’s not just down to coaching, the players love to kick the ball and we have really good forwards who love to kick. Is it something that we’re honing in on every night? Not at all but the lads out there themselves could see where the opportunities were and if the kick is on, it’s on.

“In the first half, there were some good marks taken. I have to say they were good today.

“There is a lot of great work going on in Cavan. I think in the background, we have to say there is great work going on in development squads and in the clubs, there is really, really good work going on there.

“You’d have to be impressed with some of those lads and I’m delighted that they were able to go out there and express the skills that they all learned from they were young.”

Cavan take on Derry in the semi-final this Saturday (5pm, Athletic Grounds). At the time of speaking, the opposition was unknown.

“Next Saturday we’re back out again. Derry and Tyrone are two top class sides, they’re among the hot favourites but we’re really looking forward to that game. We’ll definitely be going in as underdogs.”

Should Cavan win, they will obviously qualify for the Ulster final but there is also the added incentive of a back door in the All-Ireland series, meaning one more win would guarantee a minimum of two extra matches against quality opposition.

Cavan last reached the Ulster final in 2017 and although they lost to Derry on that occasion, they bounced back to defeat Galway in Carrick-On-Shannon to seal an All-Ireland semi-final place in Croke Park against a David Cliffford-inspired Kerry.

“It’s a massive opportunity, these young lads have put in a lot of hard work in the last number of weeks and months. It’s good that there’s a back door, that makes total sense, but it’s also very rewarding if you make the Ulster final that you do get another day out as well. Look, we’ll look forward to next Saturday and see how we go there.”