Cavan Gaels manager Jason O'Reilly has backed Slaughtneil to go one better than last season and lift the Andy Merrigan Cup.

The Derry champions were heartbroken to lose the All-Ireland club SFC final to Dr Crokes on St. Patrick's Day, but O'Reilly expects them to make amends in 2018.

"You are probably looking at the All-Ireland champions there if they keep their heads," O'Reilly told the Irish News after his side were well beaten by the Emmet's in the Ulster final.

"They play football the way football should be played. We tried to match them and I thought at parts we probably matched them toe-for-toe and they took their opportunities and we didn't. But here, they are a great side. You can't take it away from Slaughtneil. It's in their blood."

The former Cavan star added: "Three years ago, the Gaels ran them to a point and they pushed on and hopefully we will push on from here. We had a good learning experience today and we are a young team." 

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