For some reason which has never quite been figured out, this corner has always had something of a hidden soft spot for the Cavan Senior Football team. The nearest to an explanation which can be arrived at is that – for a while – during my school years, our jerseys were blue and white replicas of the Breffni County silks. Well, that and the fact that, under the guidance of Martin McHugh at the time, they had a very good team.
An ensemble good enough to win Ulster U-21 FC titles in 1996 and 1997 and for many of those younger players to backbone the team which gave the county the Anglo Celt Cup in the second of those years. A first Ulster SFC title for the county since 1969. Incidentally, having won the first of those consecutive U-21 Ulster titles, they beat a Meath team – after a replay – on which there were eight lads, Cormac Sullivan, Mark O’Reilly, Darren Fay, Paddy Reynolds, Stephen O’Rourke, Trevor Giles, Ollie Murphy and Barry Callaghan, on the county senior panel which annexed Sam Maguire weeks after the Dr Hyde Park defeat. Though it is worth pointing out that Meath had to play both the draw and replay against Cavan minus the services of Mark after the great Summerhill man was taken out off the ball in the senior semi final against Tyrone.
The younger stars for Cavan in that era included Anthony Forde, Peter, Larry and Jason Reilly, Mickey Graham and one of my favourite players of all time outside of Meath, Dermot McCabe. Most if not all of the above have gone on to manage Cavan teams at some level or other.
It is not overstating things to muse that not oonly has Mickey Graham revolutionised Cavan football, he has crafted the template which other teams wishing to progress should follow. Of course, that in itself is only possible because the Cavan Co Board bought into the process.
To an extent, a similar scenario has played out in Armagh. In that, chiefs in the Orchard County had the patience and foresight to back Kieran McGeeney to bring them forward. Having been directing operations in his homeland for nine years, ‘Geezer’ is currently the longest serving manager in inter county football.
If the power brokers for the boys from the County Armagh have any sense they will leave him in situ for another while yet given that their journey is currently heading towards an even greater plateau.
The exact same circumstances currently prevail in Cavan. Except in that case, perhaps there is an even greater case for Graham’s continued endorsement.
Having brought many of the current senior players through from U-21, had the misfortune to see his side relegated to Div. 4 of the National League but delivered a first Anglo Celt since ’97 during the Lockdown year of 2020.
Of greater significance, though, is the manner in which, having seen his charges drop to the bottom rung of the league ladder, he has incrimentally steered them back towards a level more befitting of their abilities.
The latest ascent coming on Saturday last when they finished strongly to get by a typically doughty Fermanagh challenge. Having actually defeated the Breffni boys on their own patch only a week earlier.
Thus, Graham’s gang would have known exactly what to expect. To a wider audience, however, it may have been something of a surprise to see Kieran Donnelly’s team lead by 1-03 to 0-05 at the break with the aid of a Darragh McGurn goal.
We may never know what was said in the Cavan dressing room at half time but they were a transformed team thereafter. With custodian and captain Ray Galligan, the outstanding Padraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke and Dara McVeety giving them the platfom to establish a lead the Erne County were never able to reel in.
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