After an injury-ravaged 2004, Dermot McCabe is well on his way to regaining full fitness and hopes to play a big part in Cavan's championship campaign this year. It was the news all Cavan football supporters had been waiting for. After missing most of last season with a knee injury, Dermot McCabe made his return to inter-county action when playing the entire second half of a challenge match against Roscommon on February 20 last. The former All-Star has suffered more than his fair of injury setbacks in recent years but, as another championship campaign approaches, things are suddenly looking up again for the gifted Gowna clubman. McCabe's problems started in 2001 when he suffered an ankle injury which ruled him out of the International Rules series against Australia. But no sooner had he recovered from that injury when his groin started giving him problems. Then, in a National League game against Limerick in February 2004, McCabe damaged medial ligaments in his left knee which restricted him to a bit-part role in Cavan's Ulster championship campaign. "I haven't had much luck on the injury front over the past few years," McCabe laments. "Since I did my ankle in 2001, I've had nothing but problems. 2004 was a particularly frustrating year for me because I was only able to play a handful of games for the club and the county. "But since having a scope on my knee in November, I've been gradually easing my way back into things. My aim is to be fully fit for the first round of the Ulster championship against Antrim and hopefully I'll get a few league games under my belt before then," he adds. McCabe's rehabilitation began in the gym before Christmas and he was able to resume light training in January. He has since stepped up his training and his return to action against Roscommon would suggest that he is well on his way back to full fitness. "I have been very careful not to rush things. I know better than anyone that injuries need time to heal. My policy has been to take it one step at a time. In hindsight, I should have taken my time in getting back last year instead of rushing back for the championship. I was meant to have the scope in the summer, but put it off until November. That was probably a mistake," says McCabe, who is employed as a sales and marketing manager with Safety Solutions which is headed by Crosserlough man Ciaran McEvoy. When Cavan drew with Down in last year's Ulster championship quarter-final at Casement Park, McCabe wasn't even togged out. But in the replay at Kingspan Breffni Park, he made a huge impact after coming off the bench and scored a vital goal as Cavan recorded a memorable victory. The Gowna man was listed to start the Ulster semi-final against Armagh at full forward, but withdrew beforehand and despite coming on as a substitute, couldn't save the Breffni County from a narrow defeat. Cavan subsequently suffered an extra-time defeat to Derry in the All-Ireland qualifiers and now McCabe is hoping that they can amends in this year's championship. "I thought we were very unlucky not to have beaten Armagh and we also had our chances to beat Derry before they eventually got the better of us in extra-time," he reflects. "Against Armagh, we played nearly the whole game with 14 men and I suppose we ran out of steam a bit near the end. If we had held on, we would have had a great chance against Donegal in the Ulster final but unfortunately it didn't work out like that. "While last year was disappointing, I would be very optimistic for the coming year. We have a lot of talented young players coming through at the moment and the future looks bright. There is a window of opportunity there for us in this year's championship with Antrim coming to Breffni Park for the first round. But on our day, we are capable of beating any team in Ulster." Eight years have passed since a youthful McCabe played a starring role in Cavan's first Anglo-Celt Cup success in nearly three decades and it's hardly surprising that he craves a return to the winners' podium. And, having played under Eamon Coleman for six years at Gowna, he is convinced that the former Derry All-Ireland winning boss is the man to lead Cavan back to the Promised Land. "Eamon is as good a manager as you can get. I've known him for a long time and I would rate him very highly. He has great enthusiasm for the game and is a brilliant motivator. I think we are lucky to have someone of his experience and ability in charge of Cavan." 2004 was also a disappointing year for McCabe at club level with Gowna's hopes of an eighth senior championship success since 1988 being ended at the penultimate round stage by Mullahoran. Under the guidance of Davy Nelson, who won a senior championship with his native Navan O'Mahony's in 1997, Gowna easily qualified from the group stages of the championship following victories over Castlerahan, Killygarry, Ramor United, Denn, Drumgoon and their eventual conquerors Mullahoran. Against Kingscourt Stars in the quarter-final at Killygarry, Gowna's greater experience and physical strength proved decisive as they powered to a 2-12 to 1-9 victory. McCabe - in one of his few appearances for the club last season - was in magnificent form, finishing with a personal tally of 1-7. Gowna entered the semi-final against Mullahoran at Kingspan/Breffni Park as favourites to advance to yet another county decider. However, Mullahoran refused to be overawed and despite playing against a strong wind, led by 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval. Gowna upped their game at the start of the second half and by the 40th minute, had restored parity courtesy of points from McCabe and Gerard Pierson. But Mullahoran quickly regained the upper hand and held on for a two-point win, despite coming under incessant pressure from the Gowna attack in the closing stages. While conceding that a number of Gowna's top performers have a lot of mileage on the clock, McCabe is nevertheless confident that they can wrest the title back from Cavan Gaels in the coming season. "We had a terrible time of it with injuries last year and we can't be as unlucky again. Apart from myself, the likes of Mark McKeever, Patrick Brady and Bernard Morris also had injury problems. "Some people seem to think that our best days are behind us and while some of us have a good few miles up, it is by and large a young Gowna team. I don't think we'll be too far off the pace this year," he concludes. Tweet

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