Cavan minors left Mourn(e)ing once again
March 01, 2010The Breffni boys went into their quarter-final clash with Down with high hopes but those hopes were extuinquished in agonising fashion after 60 minutes-plus of pulsating football.
Year after year, the Breffni county's finest crop of under 18s have failed to work the oracle and it's now gone past 25 years since Cavan last lifted the provincial title. Monkeys on backs anyone?
Last Summer, at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh, Cavan's football stock at underage level once again nosedived on the back of a 2-7 to 1-11 scoreline.
Cavan were well and truly left in Mourn(e)ing.
The more things change, it seems, the more they stay the same.
In May 2007, Cavan exited the championship on foot of a 2-5 to 1-10 defeat to Down. Last year, eventual all-Ireland champions Tyrone triumphed by 1-11 to 1-9.
So is it physical frailness, mental weakness or just sheer bad luck that has constructed an iron chain of championship exits for two decades and more now for the young blues:
Outgoing Cavan minor boss Mickey Graham has been there, done that and worn the jersey. His take on Cavan's latest tale of woe at minor level?
"It just seems to be the same old story doesn't it, every year, just a hard luck story," he reflected.
Certainly the ill-luck which saw key Ballyhaise attacker Kevin Tierney marked absent from the Down game due to a bout of glandular fever was yet another example Dame Fortune looking the other way.
"It's a blow but we have time to get our heads around it," said Graham upon confirming the news that young Tierney would not make the Down game.
"It's up to the other lads to step up to the mark. Championship football, particularly at minor level, is a big opportunity for players and the most unlikely player can be a hero."
To beat Down, Graham's charges would have to overcome a team apparently on top of its game and cock-a-hoop on the back of a 1-12 to 0-4 trouncing of Fermanagh in the preliminary round of the championship.
On the positive side though, Cavan had earlier beaten the Mourne lads convincingly in the Ulster Minor League.
"The Down we face in the championship will be a different team altogether from the one we played in the league," the former county ace cautioned.
"I think only of the team that day played against Fermanagh. I thought they looked very strong and any team that wins an Ulster Championship match by that much deserves respect.
"They will be coming into this game high on confidence with one full competitive game under the belts; whereas most of our boys are facing championship football for the first time."
And yet bowing out at the first hurdle was not something anyone belonging to the Cavan camp even contemplated ahead of the visit to Armagh city.
Sadly, as things panned out, it was the turn of Down to underscore Cavan's miserable record in the blue riband minor provincial competition.
Not for the first time, Cavan enjoyed no favours from the gods with Down half-back Kevin McClorey popping up at the death to deliver a dagger into the hearts of the gallant Cavan youngsters as they almost universaly slumped to the ground on the sounding of the final whistle at the Athletic Grounds.
And yet it had seemed like Mickey Graham's charges were about to book a place in the semi-finals after Shannon Gaels starlet PP O'Hara had bagged his second goal in the 55th minute against the equally determined Down side.
O'Hara's goal served to propel Cavan into the lead for the first time since the 10th minute and the chequered flag beckoned.
Sadly Cavan's worst nightmare unfolded in the subsequent minutes of the match with a free from Ross McGarry being followed up by McClorey's dramatic last-gasp winner.
The game was a tentative though high-quality affair with the sides deadlocked at two points apiece before an excellent score from David McKibben edged Down ahead.
Cavan played some pacy, intelligent football but too often promising moves were sacrificed on the altar of over-elaboration and the wrong decision being taken at the crucial time.
That said, Raymond Lynch's point in the 10th minute did give the blues the lead but the response from the black and reds was almost immediate.
Sadly, Down's goal was the result of the some Cavan players simply 'switching off'.
A quickly taken Robbie White free for Down created a goal chance for young McKibben and, with the bounce eluding the back-peddling Cavan full-back line, the Down starlet got the crucial touch to squeeze the ball past the advancing Cavan 'keeper Conor Gilsenan for a crucial goal.
And with the wind behind them, Down went onto dictate the exchanges for the most part in the remainder of the opening period and Cavan's goal came under some consistent examination.
Down's confidence soared on foot of the goal and they almost goaled again four minutes later when McGarry cut inside but fired his shot just inches wide of the Cavan goal.
Still the black and reds went onto record four unanswered points to steer their way into a 1-6 to 0-3 interval lead.
Cavan introduced Darragh Sexton and Conor Moynagh after the restart and were a more focussed, deliberate side in the third quarter.
The chasing team's resusitation was kick-started by a 36th minute goal from the opportunistic O'Hara after two converted frees from Jack Brady and Barry Reilly had Cavan well and truly back in contention.
Down had to work overtime to defend their two point lead but a Matty Bagnall point in the 40th minute served to keep Cavan at bay.
Leading by 1-9 to 1-6 approaching the final ten minutes, Down had to roll up their sleeves once more at the back as Cavan pushed forward with renewed intent.
Kingscourt starlet Barry Reilly showed great leadership and good work by him resulted in O'Hara netting for a second time to level matters for just the second time in the match.
Cavan were in full flow now and a brillant point from Christopher Shiels put them ahead and in the driving seat as they battled hard, in 25 degrees heat, to reach the finishing line in pole position.
Sadly that was as good as it got for the underdogs as Down threw everything forward in a bid to pull the fat from the fire.
And the Mourne lads got their due reward with McGarry drawing his side level after 58 minutes and then, four minutes later, Kevin McClorey firing over the winner from 35 metres.
Cavan had a late, late chance to get out of jail but the move broke down and seconds later, the final whistle was sounded.
The famine would continue.
And the team-manager's parting words to his deflated squad?
"I just told them to remember days like this and when they do finally make that breakthrough it'll be well worth the wait.
"The last two years I have been over two great bunches of players who want to play for Cavan and it's something Cavan football probably needs coming through at the minute, lads with the right attitude and will to win."
Roll on 2010! The ending of Cavan's nightmare at minor level can't end quickly enough.
Cavan Ulster MFC quarter-final (v Down);
Conor Gilsenan; Aidan Moran, Killian Brady, Cian McPhillips; Paul McEvoy, Michael Brady, Conor Tierney; Martin Walsh, Packie Leddy (0-1, free); Christopher Shiels (0-1), Barry Reilly (0-2, frees), Raymond Lynch (0-1); Jack Brady (0-2, frees), Fergal Flanagan, PP O'Hara (2-0). Subs; Darragh Sexton for McPhillips; Conor Moynagh for Tierney; Darren Smith for Lynch. Tweet
