Anticipation grows ahead of Ulster final derby clash

Ladies football

Damien Donohoe

Back-to-back Ulster Intermediate titles, local rivalry, familiar opponents and the promise of another fierce derby battle - all the ingredients are in place for a compelling provincial decider when Cavan and Monaghan clash in the Ulster Ladies Intermediate Championship final at Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Saturday evening (5pm).

For Cavan, it is an opportunity to retain the crown they captured last season, while Monaghan arrive determined to halt their neighbours’ momentum and claim the title for themselves.

The sides know each other inside out. They met twice last season and once already this year in the league, with little separating them on each occasion. That familiarity has only added to the anticipation surrounding Saturday’s showdown.

“It’s always a tight battle,” said Cavan manager Emmet Daly.

“Last year we won one and lost one against them, and this year we’ve won one so far. There’s never anything between the two teams, especially in a local derby. It adds a bit of excitement and bite to it as well.”

Monaghan boss Enda Flanagan echoed those sentiments and expects another fiercely competitive encounter.

“I know how good Cavan are and I know the quality of players they have,” he said.

“It’s definitely going to be a tight battle for us. It’ll be a hot affair, but we’ll give it our best shot and that’s all we can do.”

Daly and Flanagan both arrive into the final after important semi-final victories. Monaghan impressed in their win over Down, while Cavan overcame a stern examination from Fermanagh before eventually pulling away late on.

Flanagan admitted Monaghan were delighted with their response against Down after a mixed league campaign.

“We definitely didn’t look any further than Down because we knew how good they were,” he said. “To get that performance last Sunday, we were delighted with it.”

The Monaghan manager also pointed to the importance of the break between league and championship in allowing his side to regroup.

“We got two challenge games in during that period and it gave girls game time who had been injured,” he explained. “It was good to get that bit of downtime and take a look back at the league and learn from it.”

Monaghan appear to have strengthened in depth since the league meeting between the counties, though Flanagan admits injuries remain an unavoidable reality.

“We’re definitely stronger in terms of depth in the panel,” he said.

“But that’s football. You’re always going to be without one, two, three or four players on game day, but other girls step up and take their chance when they get it.”

Cavan, meanwhile, continue to build steadily under Daly, who insists his side are still evolving despite contesting a second consecutive Ulster final.

“When you look back to where we were maybe 18 or 19 months ago and now we’re contesting our second Ulster final, there’s absolutely no pressure,” Daly said.

“We’re still building. We’re not exactly where we want to be yet in Cavan ladies football and there’s a lot more in this group.”

That calmness has become a hallmark of Daly’s management and he insists there has been no mention within the camp of the possibility of back-to-back Ulster titles.

“Not one bit,” he said when asked about pressure.

“One game won’t define us, win, lose or draw. It’s about the girls going out, enjoying themselves, putting in a performance and letting the result look after itself.”

Tactically, Saturday’s contest promises to be fascinating. Daly expects Monaghan to continue with the defensive structure and counter-attacking style that has served them well throughout the campaign.

“They defend very well in numbers and rely a lot on the counter-attack,” he said.

“I wouldn’t expect them to change too much from what we’ve already seen this year. I don’t think either team will change a whole pile. It’ll come down to whoever performs best on the day.”

Castlerahan clubman and former Cavan footballer Flanagan, meanwhile, believes the derby element and the opportunity to claim silverware will ensure both teams empty the tank.

“The reason you play football is to win finals,” he said.

“It’ll be no different on Saturday evening. Both teams will go all-out for the Ulster Championship.”

Cavan’s semi-final win over Fermanagh highlighted both their resilience and areas they will look to sharpen before Saturday. Daly admitted his side were wasteful in the opening half against Fermanagh but was encouraged by the fact they continued creating opportunities.

“We probably started poorly enough and missed a lot of chances in the first half,” he said. “But the positive was that we were creating those chances. We’re not changing much. It’s just about sharpening up on the basics and trying to master them.”

The Breffni boss was especially pleased with the composure his players showed late in the game as they pulled away in the closing stages.

“The girls showed real maturity to win it in the end,” he said. “If we get into a similar situation on Saturday hopefully they’ll be able to do the same again.”

One major boost for Cavan is the availability of key forward Catherine Dolan, who recently got married but altered her travel arrangements to ensure she would be back for the final. “Oh yes, that was in the pre-nup,” Daly joked.

“In fairness to her, she changed her flights to come home for the game, so she’ll be available.”

Daly also stressed the importance of squad depth and believes Cavan’s collective strength has been a major factor in their progress. “Every game there seems to be somebody different putting their hand up and making a difference,” he said. “I don’t think there’ll be one player who wins the game for us — it’ll need to be a full team performance.”

The occasion itself is expected to attract a substantial crowd to Enniskillen, with support for the Cavan ladies continuing to grow significantly over the last two seasons.

“The support has been brilliant,” Daly said.

“Even for games in Tempo or Killinkere, the crowds have been massive and very vocal. You can see it getting bigger all the time and seeing more kids at games is fantastic too.”

Flanagan is equally aware of the significance of the occasion and the role an Ulster title could play heading into the All-Ireland series.

“It’s definitely a big opportunity,” he said.

“The reason you play football is when you’re in a final you want to win it.”

With two evenly matched teams, familiar opponents and provincial silverware on the line, Brewster Park is set for another engrossing chapter in the growing rivalry between Cavan and Monaghan ladies football.