These are exciting times in the life of Cavan corner forward Jason O'Reilly. The Belturbet clubman was instrumental in the Breffni County's whirlwind start to the national league, playing a key role in our impressive opening victories over Kildare and Meath. Meanwhile, on the career front, Jason has just taken up a new position with P Clarke & Sons. Even though Cavan have made a convincing start to their 2003 national football league campaign, it must be remembered that everything in the Breffni County's present outlook is geared towards the championship. If they can put in a creditable league showing along the way and develop a winning habit, then that'll be a welcome bonus. Last year, the Breffni Blues reached the final of the NFL but their championship form was disappointing (possibly as a consequence of their exertions during the secondary competition?). Jason O'Reilly's penchant for scoring goals during that 2002 run was nothing short of frightening and the corner forward has commenced the current campaign in a similar vein, netting against Kildare and providing the pass for the only goal of the Meath game. Easy then to see why he's happy with the start Mattie Kerrigan's men have made to the new year: "We trained very hard in close-season, through October, November and December, and we also had our week away together in the Canaries, as a kind of bonding exercise, and that certainly helped bring us all closer together and has helped ease the younger lads into senior county football." Cavan seem to have an abundance of young players, more than most teams in the country. Would this be a fair assessment of the age profile of the side? "It's definitely a young team. I think Peter [Reilly] is the oldest, at 27. Some of the lads who played against Kildare and Meath are only 18 or 19. Mattie's giving everybody a chance and they're all doing well so far. "They're coming in raw and they're not afraid of anything. Indeed, a lot of them will be with the U21s as well this year and I expect Cavan to be strong at that level considering how many of them will have senior intercounty experience. "The championship is obviously our main aim but we won't complain if we keep winning in the league as winning is good for the morale of the team." Last year Cavan were exceptional in the national league and reached the final, but their season went drastically downhill following defeat to Tyrone in an all-Ulster decider. They never got going in the championship and came in for a lot of criticism, which seemed unfair considering the year they'd had. To what extent do they now have a point to prove? "We had shown our worth in the league and we knew we didn't become a bad team overnight. Having said that, it's worth remembering that Cavan were still rebuilding and it was a difficult year for us. We had a young team and, with Mattie coming in late, didn't have a lot of time to prepare. We did well under those circumstances and learned a lot. Of course, the championship was disappointing but championship football is never easy and anything can happen. Everything is going extremely well this year, though, and there is an awful lot of work going in. Hopefully we'll reap the rewards." Expectations were possibly too high last year - on the back of the league run (and their performance in the 2001 Ulster final under Val Andrews) - and people seemed to forget that it was a new regime: "Mattie came in and we tried out a new system and brought in some new players. It was always going to take time - those things don't just happen overnight. We worked really hard in the league and did well, which inevitably led to higher expectations." What will Cavan's approach to the forthcoming championship be? "It can only be one thing - to win the All-Ireland. There's not much point taking part otherwise. Obviously the first game against Antrim is going to be difficult, but every team in the championship wants to be in Croke Park in September and that's what you have to aim towards. You can't focus on just one game and you can't be content just to do well. I want to win an All-Ireland." Is that a realistic objective? "I think we're good enough. The talent is in the squad and the extra fellas we've brought in will make a big difference. There's more competition for places and there's also more cover for anyone who's out injured. The championship is very tight now and there's only a kick of the ball between any of the counties. Armagh proved that last year. "Nobody believed that they could do it but they had faith in their own ability and proved that it can be done. They played loads of hard, close games but refused to give in and got their rewards for hanging in there. Their conviction was unbelievable and they just refused to accept defeat. They're an inspiration to every other county and they've given teams like Cavan a lot of incentive. They've shown us what can be done if we put our minds to it." Jason is also quick to point out that there's every chance Sam will be staying in Ulster this year. The national media seem oblivious to the growing strength of the northern province, but Ulster appears to be coming strong again - just like in the early 'nineties. The Cavan star points out: "They're all talking about the other provinces but all the All-Ireland cups [senior, minor, club] are in Ulster at the moment, with the exception of the U21. Yet some people say Ulster football is going back! Ulster football is very strong and it's very difficult to get out of the province, but whoever does come out has a great chance of going all the way. "Hopefully that team will be Cavan and we'll be doing everything in our power to ensure that it is. We definitely have as good a chance as anyone. On the day, it's 15 against 15 - or often 20 against 20 these days." Jason O'Reilly made his championship debut for Cavan as an 18-year-old against Antrim in 1996 and has been a regular with the Breffni County ever since. He helped Martin McHugh's team to an Ulster championship in 1997, as one of the 'babies' of the side. Things have turned full circle since then and the 25-year-old is now one of the most senior members of the Cavan team. The goalscoring hero of last year's national league campaign carried an injury into the 2002 championship season but is fighting fit and raring to go as we head into another summer of footballing fare. Jason O'Reilly recently took up a new position with P Clarke & Sons Ltd., as a sales rep covering Cavan, Monaghan and surrounding counties. Headquartered in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh and with a second main office in Drung, County Cavan, P Clarke & Sons is a third-generation privately-owned company specialising in quarrying, precast products, macadam, ready mix concrete, blocks, paving, sand and stone. The company also has a contracting division (civil and building) and has recently set up a communications division. It has been chosen as a main contractor for eircom along the eastern seaboard and is also heavily involved in broadband work. P Clarke & Sons Ltd has been trading since 1930 and was incorporated in 1953. It now has offices in Lisnaskea, Cavan, Dublin, Belfast, Sligo, Portlaoise and New Ross. The company has expanded and diversified over the years to meet the ever-changing needs of the construction industry. It has also developed a strong client base within the agricultural and industrial communities as well as the public works sector. P Clarke & Sons is renowned as a supplier of quarry aggregates, ready mixed concrete, concrete blocks, precast concrete products, bitumen macadam and asphalt to the public and private sectors in a number of counties straddling the border. The company also specialises in highway construction, civil engineering, utilities, directional drilling, industrial/commercial construction, agriculture and property development, and stadium development. It was the main contractor for an extensive upgrading of facilities at St Tiernach's Park in Clones (for Ulster Council) and carried out similar work at Markievicz Park for Sligo County Board. Tweet

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