The future is bright for Cavan and an Ulster SFC title is not too far around the corner, former Breffni star Raymond Cunningham tells John O'Brien. 

This Sunday sees Terry Hyland's Cavan embark on their Ulster championship campaign when they face underdogs Armagh at Kingspan Breffni Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

A key element in the last Breffni side to lift the Anglo-Celt Cup, ex-forward Raymond Cunningham gave his view of the current crop that have achieved promotion to Division One after five consecutive wins in the National League's second tier, before mixing it with newly formed provincial favourites Tyrone last month at Croke Park.

"They are up and coming, they have a lot of young players," Cunningham pointed out. "It's the first year they have given the young players a real chance. They play defensively which I wouldn't be that fond of. They seem to be expressing themselves a bit more and they have a nice youthful team.

"They have a really good chance in Ulster, I feel. Whether they win it or not I have my doubts but I can see them getting to an Ulster final."

Having lost out to the Red Hands and Derry in their first two league outings, Meath, Armagh, Fermanagh, Laois and Galway would all fall all the Blues' sword as they secured top flight status for 2017.

Amongst those impress Cunningham most during the successful campaign were fellow Kingscourt man Padraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke and Dara McVeety. 

"McVeety is a super footballer, he is an all-rounder, and I just think he links the play. He's a halfback but he can really play anywhere. He has a brilliant engine in him and he uses the ball well," said Cunningham.

"They have a couple of good forwards this year, Michael Argue and Eugene Keating are back also. They are not just dependent on Seanie Johnston upfront. They have a good free taker in Martin Reilly and they just strike me as a team, a very young team.

"A lot of them have won Ulster titles at Under 21 level. They have a winning mentality about them, they are not out drinking and they are totally focused on training which helps. They are going to need a lot of luck along the way as well."

Like so many Breffni diehards, Cunningham cites the seven-point turnaround against Meath in Navan at half-time as what "turned Cavan's season around".

"Had they lost that game they wouldn't have got promoted and the whole momentum it's a completely different change. That in a nutshell can tell you how your season goes, 30 minutes turns your season around," he said.

Next up is another defining 70 minutes against Kieran McGeeney's Armagh.

The Orchard County's last visit to Cavan town ended in a 17-point loss and it's something the hosts will need to be wary of, according to Cunningham.

"Everyone probably thinks Cavan are odds-on favourites because they beat Armagh well in the league. I think there will only be a couple of points in it," stated the Ulster SFC winner.

"I'd fancy Cavan to win because of home advantage but in Ulster it just wouldn't surprise me what way the game would go. If they beat Armagh I'd fancy them to get to the Ulster final to be honest, I think they have an excellent chance."

He continued: "If Cavan concentrate on football they should win the game. If Armagh can break it up and make it a stop start game that will suit Armagh down to the ground. I'd be hoping Cavan will keep to playing football. 

"They are after getting promoted to Division One and Armagh are after getting relegated to Division Three. You have to think Cavan are going to win but then again I wouldn't be putting my house on it."

The winners on Sunday will face new Anglo-Celt Cup favourites Tyrone on June 19th in the semi-finals, following the Red Hands' 11-point mauling of Derry on Sunday.

While he acknowledges that Hyland's side will be underdogs, Cunningham still feels that the Ulster championship is a platform where anything can happen.

"If they got to the Ulster final it's all on the day so even if you lose your still in the last 12," said Cunningham, a native of Kilmainhamwood in Meath and former multiple All-Ireland handball champion.

"It's like everything else I think there is Dublin and I think everybody else will feel they have a chance. It's all about momentum and the luck of the draw. All it takes is one big win to help you get over the line. In Ulster anybody can beat anybody and that's the beauty about the Ulster championship.

"Most teams in Ulster feel they have a chance of winning Ulster whereas in Leinster everybody is talking about Dublin and there is no chance for anybody else. Munster is Kerry and Cork and Connacht is Mayo and Galway maybe Roscommon this year. Ulster is really like the Munster hurling championship, there's only really the Munster hurling championship and Ulster in the football."

So the burning question is: Will a first Ulster senior title in 19 years be coming back to the Breffni County this July?

"Definitely if they don't win it this year, they have a chance within the next two, three years," Cunningham offered.

"I wouldn't expect them to win it this year but I would expect them to win it within the next two, three years. Because of their league form and getting up to Division One will make a huge difference to them in the next year or two."

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