Cavan titles up for grabs
By Paul Fitzpatrick
The Cavan Senior Football Championship is down to the final round of the group stage, with 10 teams in with a realistic chance of making the last eight.
Due to the fire in the kitchen at Kingspan Breffni last week (see p8), the stadium is out of commission this weekend. Thus, the show goes on the road again which should add plenty of novelty.
The key matches are Castlerahan v Ramor and Mullahoran v Arva. The former has been quite a tasty rivalry for the past decade, with the sides meeting in numerous big matches including two county finals.
Last year, Ramor defeated their neighbours comfortably in the quarter-finals and are favourites to get the win again but their form has been patchy. Jude McNabb’s side have reached at least the semi-finals in the last five seasons but have only one win to date, a one-point victory over Ballyhaise in a thriller last weekend, and look unsure of their starting team.
Castlerahan have been in transition in recent years as their great side who played in five county finals from 2015-19 broke up but they have brought through a number of talented young prospects, with teenage midfielder Jamie Clarke standing out.
However, Ramor should get the job done if Sean McEvoy and Brían O’Connell in particular can replicate their impressive showings from last week.
Arva against Mullahoran in Lacken should be a cracker.
The St Patrick’s rise from junior ranks has been one of the major storylines on the club scene in the last three years but they find themselves under a bit of pressure as of now.
They were highly unfortunate not to get a draw against Crosserlough in round one, defeated Killygarry next time out but fell to Cavan Gaels, with key men including goalkeeper Cian O’Hara, Finbar McAvinue, Johnny McCabe and Conal Sheridan all unfit to start against Declan McCoy’s charges.
Mullahoran may be the youngest side in the competition and after a bright start with a win over Cavan Gaels, they have faded badly in the last two matches. Kingscourt played within themselves to beat them and Killygarry put them to the sword in round three so the Dreadnoughts, who haven’t been past the quarter-finals since 2012, require a response.
It may be forthcoming but Arva, so consistently competitive, look the safer bet. Elsewhere, there are some attractive ties on paper but in reality there is little riding on them.
Elsewhere, the Junior Championship quarter-finals are down for decision on Saturday evening. Outright favourites Lacken and Shannon Gaels meet for the second time in a week, with the Celts having won by nine points last weekend.
Kill Shamrocks, beaten by a point in the final last year, face Redhills in Ballyhaise in a repeat of their round-three clash, which ended in a draw.
Belturbet take on Drung and youthful Templeport meet a seasoned Killeshandra, who have around 10 of their IFC-winning panel from 2013 on board.