For the first time since Martin McHugh led the county into the promised land, Cavan's senior provincial championship campaign remained alive and well into July. However, that apart, 2001 was, ultimately, a year of disappointment for the Breffni Blues. A championship year for Cavan which started off with a less than comfortable stroll in the Park against Down, continued on with a workmanlike drumlins derby win over Monaghan, gradually saw leaks show up against the O'Neill County, finally came to an unsatisfactory conclusion at the hands of dynamic Derry in the All-Ireland qualifier. Reflections on a year of expectation followed by unfulfilled promise always has that sort of obituary look about them. Yet, to coin a phrase from local media circles from times past, on the evidence of what transpired in 2001 Cavan football isn't dead, it's just sleeping or is that just being presumptuous considering that the county is divided on whether the former manager made headway over the past year. Either way, Val Andrews' men began their Ulster SFC campaign with what was touted at the time as a tricky, dicey fixture against a new-look, scarcely recognisable Down side - not on their home patch in Newry but in 'neutral' Casement Park - on May 27th. In the event, Cavan got one up on Down, scoring a huge blow in their rivalry with the Mournemen. Cavan's 1-14 to 2-10 quarter-final victory over Peter McGrath's men signalled Cavan's first championship win over the old enemy in 25 years. Cavan should have won by more on the day though. They were much the better team and their winning margin would have been much greater but for the brillance of Down 'keeper Mickey McVeigh. But wasn't a win over Down - albeit away from home - expected by the legions of Breffni Blues fans who travelled to Belfast and the thousands of others who decided to wait for the semi-final? After all, the soothsayers agreed, Cavan had been pitted in the so-called easiest side of the championship draw. And in the aftermath of their win over Down, pundits were suggesting that if Cavan dould temper their predilection for chasing goals and hone up their shooting skills, the team had the potential to go the distance in Ulster. However those who examined Cavan's display in Casement Park with more than just a blinkered, cursory glance would have identified some worrying statistics. For instance, Cavan's need to improve their accuracy was highlighted by the fact that the team shot a massive 16 wides against the Downmen, 12 of them in a profligate second half during a time when they dominated possession (largely due to the efforts of Dermot McCabe). For all Cavan's supremecy in open play, matters were always of the claustrophobic type over the 70 minutes. In the vernacular, the situation was too close for comfort for Cavan's players, mentors and fans alike. The sides were level until just before half-time with Cavan having to work that bit harder to cancel out the effect of Michael Walsh's goal for Down in the 19th minute. Cavan showed admirable grit and determination to break through for a goal of their own when Jason Reilly brilliantly beat his marker four minutes from the interval to net. Then a point from the excellent Mickey Graham gave Cavan a healthy 1-8 to 1-4 lead and everything, it seemed, was rosy in the Breffni Blues' garden. Cavan failed to consolidate their advantage though, leaving the way open for sub. Mickey Linden to get Down back into the game with a typically opportunist goal after seven minutes of the second half. A penalty save thereafter by McVeigh from Peter Reilly compounded the sense of frustration on the sidelines for Cavan and when the Down 'keeper followed up with three more brilliant saves, it seemed as if it wasn't going to be Cavan's day. Larry Reilly then fired a shot off the woodwork as Cavan fans held their head in their hands. However points from Graham, Barry McCrudden and Larry Reilly gave Cavan a three point cushion. Almost as importantly to Cavan, Mickey Linden had to retire injured. The tide, it seemed, was turning. Linden's replacement, Shane Mulholland, proved an able substitute and a brace of points from him had Cavan under pressure once again. It was nailbiting stuff from there to the final whistle but Cavan held firm. A meeting with neighbours Monaghan was next on the agenda. June 24th, Clones. Cavan come good against their 'hosts'. Winning by 0-13 to 0-11 was as much as Cavan could claim. Any pretensions on securing an Ulster title were certainly not made any more credible by the team's display in beating their greatest rivals. Maybe it was the sapping heat which made Cavan and Monaghan look so ordinary. The heat certainly seemed to dry much of the normal intensity of the fixture but, in the end, Cavan proved fitter, more resolute and, marginally, played the better football to ensure their passage through to the Ulster final. Again there were worrying aspects about Cavan's display in terms of their wastefulness in front of goal. The winners-elect cultivated 31 scoring opportunities, took 13 of them and sent another 16 wide (the Monaghan 'keeper saved two shots). It must be said though that the display of Lacken's Finbarr O'Reilly on the day was shorn of blemish. His frees were the one true steady feature of Cavan's fractured play and he embellished his artistry from the dead ball situation with a fine point from play. At the end of a lifeless first half, Cavan deservedly led by 0-7 to 0-5 and although Monaghan were quickest out of the blocks for the second half and popped over two early points, Cavan showed their worth by responding with six unanswered points in as many minutes with Dermot McCabe practically at the heart of each of the moves leading to the scores. However with Monaghan midfielders James McElroy and Jason Hughes getting a handle on the former All-Star, Cavan's domination of the middle began to be diluted and with the introduction of Damien Freeman, Monaghan began to reassert themselves like never before. A brace of points from Freeman levelled the score and when Garry Meehan and Peer Duffy followed up with points, Cavan were patently suffering. Cavan needed to find inspiration from whatever source. Peter Reilly began to up the tempo on the personal front but up front chances continued to be squandered. Two converted frees eased Cavan's concerns though and when Anthony Forde surged forward in the 54th minute to edge Cavan ahead, Monaghan suddenly began to labour. Thereafter two more points from Finbarr O'Reilly and a wonderful free by McCabe was all that was needed to stave off the challenge of fitful Monaghan. Cavan were back in the Ulster SFC decider for the first time since '97 but opponents Tyrone entered the decider as red-hot favourites against the Blues. After a stirring battle, the O'Neill County men justified their tag by winning by 1-13 to 1-11. The final scoreline hardly did justice however to Cavan. In the end, it was Tyrone's greater depth on the bench which arguably made the difference on the day. Cavan made Tyrone dig deep, deeper than most pundits countrywide had predicted. It was said in the run-up to the game that Cavan were not so much as underdogs as lapdogs in the face of the Tyrone challenge. As things transpired, the outsiders blasted Tyrone out of their standing in a fantastic first half. If only Cavan's marksmanship had been that bit better in the second half ... Tyrone led by two points in as many minutes as the game opened up but even when a goal by Cormac McAnallen after 17 minutes put Tyrone three up, Cavan failed to panic and, instead, hunted in packs and responded with a splendid goal of their own, scored by Jason Reilly after 33 minutes. Tyrone came hurtling back almost immediately and Cavan received a let-off when Ger Cavlan's shot ricocheted to safety off the crossbar. Cavan held firm in front of the passionate 35,000-strong crowd and must have felt they had the job half-done as they retired at the interval with a 1-8 to 1-5 lead under their belt. The interval came too soon for Cavan though. Tyrone regrouped and the relocation of men like Cavlan and Stephen O'Neill quickly worked for them on the restart. Between them, the pair were to account for five of their side's eight second half points. With Pascal Canavan becoming increasingly influential around the middle of the field, Cavan had to work hard to find space and time on the ball. Four wides in a 12 minute spell was painful though. Tyrone could hardly believe their luck. Tyrone were, in contrast, much more efficient. That said, it was still level with 57 minutes gone but Jason Reilly's cheeky effort for goal sailed wide and Tyrone were re-energised with subs Eoin Gormley and Brian McGuigan adding greater punch to the O'Neill County attack. Gormley pointed to put Cavan under the kosh and then the two aforementioned super-subs linked up to set Stephen O'Neill up for a brilliant insurance point. Cavan need a goal but Tyrone funnelled back in numbers. There was to be no way through for the Blues. Cavan's Ulster final defeat to Tyrone was to prove the team's Waterloo in 2001. The team that subsequently faced up to Derry in Clones in the All-Ireland qualifier left a lot of its spirit, self-confidence and self-belief behind it in the dressing-room post-Ulster final. Cavan were flattered by their 2-7 to 1-14 defeat to Derry. The Blues snatched an opportunist goal through Peter Reilly to give the scoreboard a more balanced look but, in truth, Cavan were out-played, out-witted and out-gunned by the Oak Leafers. It was always going to be hard for Cavan to bounce back so soon after their Ulster final defeat and Derry were not in sympathetic mood as they rattled off six points before Cavan managed a worthwhile shot on target. Cavan's attack were suffocated on the day. Of the nine men who played up front for the team on the day, only 1-1 was scored by them from play. Of such statistics are championship exits made of. A brilliant goal by Anthony Forde which cut Derry's lead to just two points offered hope to Cavan as they trailed by just 1-2 to 0-8 at the interval. But the bright opening Cavan yearned for on the restart was snapped up by Derry. Tohill goaled after just 30 seconds of the second half. Suddenly Cavan felt the water coming up to their necks. Thereafter even a brace of converted frees from Finbarr O'Reilly and Peter Reilly failed to dilute the sense of desperation among the Blues' fans. Derry proceeded to sail into a 1-14 to 1-6 lead. Peter Reilly's opportunist goal late in the day was all Cavan's supporters could cling to for consolation. The vista of a drawing board suddenly loomed large over the Breffni landscape. And there it remains. Tweet

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