“It was a game we were looking to since the draw was made especially since it was on our home patch. We targeted a good start and we said we weren’t going to take a step back and see what Monaghan were going to bring.”

Mickey Graham’s game plan worked a treat as Cavan derailed Monaghan’s Ulster SFC ambitions.

“I’d be the first to say that Cavan deserved it. They were the better team on the day. I’m very disappointed with our own performance.”

Farney County boss Malachy O’Rourke was magnanimous in defeat.

“It was massive. That was the target, and that's what drove me on. I wasn't thinking about too much else.”

Cavan star Oisin Kiernan got the all-clear from cancer last February and he revealed that a return to the county jersey was a big motivating factor for him during his illness.

“To be honest, absolutely no comment.”

Galway manager Kevin Walsh didn’t allow himself get dragged into the tier 2 football debate following his side’s 13-point Connacht SFC semi-final victory over Sligo.

 “I feel it is something that is probably around the corner. We would all like to be up there with the big teams but, at the moment, there are five or six teams that are probably going away from everybody else.”

Walsh’s Yeats County counterpart Paul Taylor gave his tuppence worth on the subject.

“Rory Grugan talked about the monkey off the back. People talk about the win for the county, for themselves and for Kieran because he has put so much work in over the last number of years but the bottom line is we just needed to get a win and move forward.”

Relief was the overriding emotion for Armagh assistant manager Jim McCorry after the Orchard County secured a first provincial championship win in manager Kieran McGeeney’s five years at the helm.

“Caolan's our vice-captain and one of our most consistent players this year, and to lose him was a big blow to the team. There were similar tackles which went on and they were only yellows. I don't know, I would have to view it again.”

Caolan Mooney’s first-half sending-off had a major bearing on the final outcome in Newry according to Down manager Paddy Tally.

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