Cavan take on Meath as promotion charge continues

GAA

Four games in, with three away wins and a one-point home loss to unbeaten Donegal, Cavan are, to use the parlance, going well.

It was felt at the outset of the season that staying in Division 2 would represent a successful league campaign for new manager Ray Galligan and his men but that has been confounded and with Meath coming to town tomorrow (7pm), Cavan will surely have one eye on promotion.

However, a source in Cavan county board has described it as "50-50" that the game goes ahead due to heavy rainfall. Sunday remains an option and it is felt the game will be played on one of those days.

Promotion is now in the Breffnimen’s own hands, given that Armagh and Donegal both dropped a point when they played out a draw last Sunday and that Cavan still have to travel to the Athletic Grounds. There are various permutations but the vital statistic is this: if Cavan win their three remaining games (Meath at home and Fermanagh away book-end the planned Orchard raid), they will play Division 1 football next year for the first time in six years.

In that time, the Blues have spent two years in Division 2, two in Division 3 and one in the basement so it has been an eventful journey and would mark a significant achievement for the long-serving cohort of players who have soldiered through the ups and downs.

All of that, though, could be rendered moot if the Royals spoil the party at Kingspan Breffni – a loss there would probably put promotion beyond Cavan’s reach.

Under Colm O’Rourke, Meath had a poor league last year and were knocked out of the Leinster Championship by Offaly before regrouping to win the Tailteann Cup.

They have been defending better than they’ve been attacking this season thus far. Aside from a bad day at the office against Armagh (leaking 2-14), they have shipped 1-9 against Fermanagh, 1-9 against Louth and 0-9 against Kildare.

On the flip side, they haven’t been scoring freely – with Kingscourt Stars clubman Jordan Morris out injured, they have bagged one goal and have registered 0-10 once and 0-12 in the other three games respectively.

In defence, Adam O’Neill has been doing well in place of the injured Ronan Ryan at full-back, keeping Conor Turbitt scoreless from play against Armagh and also blotting out Louth captain Sam Mulroy. The brilliant Donal Keogan is still delivering too, this year in the full-back line.

Overall, Meath are a very young side and are certainly short on experience, Keogan and Ronan Jones aside. Shane McEntee, Donal Lenihan, Cillian O’Sullivan and Padraig Harnan are not involved at present; neither is Jack Flynn, Man of the Match in the Tailteann Cup final win over Down.

While the talented Cian McBride has returned from AFL club Essendon, he hasn’t hit his stride yet around the middle and picked up a knock last week; he was replaced by Danny Dixon, who may start on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jason Scully returned to the 26 last week and may be in contention for game time against Cavan in Saturday’s ‘Oldcastle-ico’.

In the blue corner, injuries appear to be mounting. Dara McVeety may not be fit to return this week; worryingly given the paucity of ball-winners at midfield, Killian Clarke also went off with a niggle in the win over Louth.

Cavan will be hoping to have Conor Brady back sooner rather than later but otherwise, they must make do on Saturday. While the Louth game was littered with errors, Cavan fronted up in the physical stakes and once again, the work-rate and effort was not in doubt.

Cavan are 4/7 favourites to make it four wins from five over the Royals, having won the league meetings in 2013, 2016 and 2018 while Meath came out on top in 2015.

Interestingly, Cavan’s last drawn National League match was in the first round against Clare in 2018.

They have now gone 48 league games without a draw; in the previous 50 prior to 2018, Cavan recorded five draws so, it seems, stalemate is long overdue.