A case of deja vu
December 30, 2010The never-ending story that is Cavan's misery at minor level once again provided jaw-dropping fare in 2010 as the nightmare on Ulster street continues to burrow away at Breffni's psyche.
The mother and father of sad tales relating to Cavan football had another chapter added to it in the past year with an all-too familiar, upbeat introductory paragraph penned last March.
At that juncture, the national ban on collective training had been guillotined and team-manager Micky Graham eagerly set about preparing his charges for a tilt at the Ulster MFL.
A provisional panel was put in place for the league which, it was hoped, would showcase the work carried out by the players individually during the close season.
With a handful of players on board who'd tasted the cold steel of championship battle in 2009 (and some eight to nine from the outgoing squad), Graham and his selectors at least had some foundations to build upon.
"Some of the lads can improve and disimprove over a year," Graham pointed out last February,"but it's a nice number to have and they'll have that bit of experience as well, so hopefully that will rub off on the other lads that have come in for the first time this year."
The 30-strong squad tasted their first piece of competitive action on March 13th with the commencement of the Ulster MFL and from there 'till their Ulster MFC bow against Fermanagh in late May, it was a case of full steam ahead.
A solid 1-10 to 0-9 win over Meath at Kingspan/Breffni Park made for a bright opener in the blues' bid for the league title.
One week later, visitors Dublin - managed by Val Andrews - were put to the sword on foot of a 0-11 to 0-10 scoreline with the hosts conceding just one point from play over the hour.
Ultimately the wheels were to come off Cavan's league juggernaut with a 1-10 to 0-14 defeat to Monaghan in Ballybay on April 10th.
The adage that 'leagues are for playing in, championships are for winning' richocheted around the Cavan dressing-room amidst the post-mortems. For the first time all year, Fermanagh now loomed on the horizon.
Manager Graham - in his third year at the helm of the county minors - placed great emphasis on his players' strength and conditioning work and hoped for a change of fortune in the championship;
Dame Fortune hadn't smiled on the 1997 Ulster SFC medallist one jot since taking the tiller in 2008. That year would-be All-Ireland champions Tyrone wriggled off the hook courtesy of a late penalty.
In 2009, Cavan exited the race for provincial and all-Ireland glory by losing by a point to eventual Ulster champions Down. Sound familiar?
Just where do we stop in listing the hard-luck stories? Don't forget how the creme de la creme of Cavan's minor brigade pushed would-be Tom Markham Cup winners Down to a replay in the Ulster championship.
The following year Cavan downed the Mourne County but came up short (0-6 to 0-12) in their subsequent quarter-final clash with a less than dynamic Donegal at Brewster Park.
Woe, woe, thrice woe and multiply that again 12 times 'till you get to 1974, the year of Cavan's last glorious minor provincial championship title triumph.
In 2010, it was deemed, a group of players was brought together by Graham and his think tank which had more of the spirited squad hue about it as opposed to a collection of individuals tag.
Honesty and hard work were to be the key words in the lexicon of the Cavan minor contingent in 2010. Would such traits be enough though to deliver the holy grail?
Bolstered by a vaunted contingent of players from St. Michael's College, Enniskillen, the Fermanagh minors were fancied to bypass Cavan's challenge last May.
Cavan did a lot of good things in St. Tighernach's Park, Clones as they advanced to the semi-final of the championship on the back of a convincing 2-16 to 1-10 victory.
While there may have been some truth in the notion that Cavan's winning margin was a tad flattering, there was no question that the superior team scooped the spoils of war.
A ring of confidence enveloped Cavan's display as they worked dervish-like for each other in the course of constructing some textbook moves which invariably spawned scores right out of the purist's video collection.
In perfect playing conditions, Cavan displayed a relentless hunger, zest and eye for goal which was seldom seen from any Cavan team at any grade in recent times.
The game was evenly contested throughout but the blue and whites got a significant leg-up in the 8th minute when Conor Gilsenan, Paul Graham and Chris Conroy combined to put Jack Brady through for a wonderfully crafted goal.
Brady's belter steered Cavan into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead but approaching the end of the first quarter Fermanagh broke through for a goal which gave them the lead for the one and only time in the match.
Like all good teams, the response from Cavan was instant and telling with Turloc Mooney and Fergal Flanagan combining to set up Paul O'Connor for a close range goal.
It was at that juncture that Shannon Gaels ace Nevin O'Donnell was introduced and moments later he shot the first of his four point tally.
Leading by 2-5 to 1-6 at the start of the second half, Cavan kicked on particularly classy points from Chris Conroy and Paul McEvoy helped catapult Cavan into a 2-11 to 1-10 lead with 50 minutes on the clock.
From there to the finish, Cavan kept their boot on Fermanagh's throat and sealed a polished performance with points from messrs. O'Donnell, Brady and McEvoy. Happy days.
In the days that followed the win over Fermanagh, the crown of laurel leaves sat easily on the heads of Cavan's young guns.
Could the provincial minor title which had proven as elusive as a wily old mouse in a barn be heading Breffni-way?
Certainly on the basis of what they showed against Fermanagh, it did seem that the Class of 2010 did at least have the will-to-win, work ethic and character to earn a little star dust for themselves.
Meanwhile in the other end of the draw, Armagh ensured there would be no local derby duel for Cavan by overcoming Monaghan but not before a fight to the final whistle.
Armagh went onto achieve their goal of making the Ulster final by scoring the only goal of the game in Clones and beating Cavan by 1-10 to 0-11.
For 24 minutes of the second half, Cavan toiled with just 14 players after Andrew Dewart picked up a second yellow card.
For the all-important Armagh goal, Cavan had claims for a 'square ball' but Armagh's vital score 20 minutes into the second half stood.
With Cavan full-back Jason McLoughlin excelling himself in his task of policing Armagh ace Paul McGeown and Aidan Moran doing likewise in the face of the threat from Ryan Rafferty, the Breffni blues were solidity itself at the back in the first half.
The Cavan midfielders, Paul Graham and Turloc Mooney, led by example as they worked like beavers while the Cavan forwards harried and hassled their direct opponents as if their lives depended on it.
After a claustrophobic, see-saw first half, the teams went in at the break tied at 0-6 apiece. It was obvious by that stage that the execution of a goal by either side would be of huge importance.
The teams were still on level terms 17 minutes into the second half after a converted free by Nevin O'Donnell. Then disaster struck with Conor Gough palming team-mate Barry Seely's free to the net when it looked as if he had been waiting in the small square for the ball's arrival.
Cavan rolled up their sleeves though and Nevin O'Donnell (free) and Fergal Flanagan (59th min) cut Armagh's lead to a solitary point, 1-9 to 0-11.
Tension richocheted like the wind around the ancient ground as Cavan rushed forward in a bid to gain parity.
Sadly in the dregs of the game, a pass too many was made; inadequate support for the man in possession was in evidence; and a lack of composure coloured Cavan's play.
Armagh took one last deep breath and raced up the field and Rafferty earned a free. Seeley sealed it with a free.
The defending All-Ireland minor champions were able to wriggle free off Cavan's hook - the same old refrain showing 34 years on the clock.
The scoreboard at Clones on July 3rd smacked off an executioner's signature on a US state prison's electric chair.
Coalmine-black thoughts still abound. Tweet
