In Cavan, championship is king and the draws for the SFC, IFC and JFC have ensured some very interesting tussles ahead next July In the first weeks of 2007, the grass roots of the GAA in Cavan gave the green light to the recommendation that the senior, intermediate and junior championships revert back to a knockout competition, with just one back door option. Club delegates voted overwhemingly for the new format at their inaugural monthly county board meeting of '07. The first get-together of the county board marked Kingscourt clubman Philip Smith's maiden voyage as the newly-elected county board chairman. It is understood his personal support for the re-think on the make-up of the championships was a significant factor in persuading club delegates to weigh in behind the radical move. "From the outset, I personally believe that the restructuring of the leagues and championships in '07 very much added to the sense of enjoyment of players, mentors and supporters alike," Smith opines. "I feel that the new systems generated an increased appetite among everyone involved, encouraged teams to go all out for the win and helped produce a higher standard of football all-round than what prevailed in recent years." Everyone with a genuine interest in Cavan football will be hoping that the 2008 SFC, IFC and JFC competitions will indeed mirror chairman Smith's high praise for the 2007 version. With surgical precision, the draw has kept those at the head of the race to lift the blue riband senior crown apart with defending champions Cavan Gaels pitted against Lacken Celtic. One imagines draw is probably the one new Lacken boss Joe O'Connor least wanted as, apart from being arguably the toughest assignment, it pits him up against his own club. Lacken are a team with a strong spine but they were caught up in a relegation play-off last year and it's difficult to see how they will turn things around to the extent that they will overcome the hot favourites for this year's title. And one wonders will the sum of their weaker parts be enough to upset the odds against a team with so much talent in depth and the nous to get out of tricky situations. Even allowing for O'Connor's inside knowlege of the county town side, one suspects that the Gaels will need to have an off-day to lose their way at the first hurdle. The SFC first round draw also sees arguably the tie of the round with wannabes Belturbet going head to head with 2006 championship winners Mullahoran. Belturbet impressed in the championship last year and were slightly unlucky to lose out to Cavan Gaels in the penultimate round but will need Jason O'Reilly to be on fire. Mullahoran have more strings to their bow up front and with the novel tutoring of new boss Pascal Canavan may just be that bit more motivated and so get the nod. Up-and-coming Castlerahan will be an interesting team to follow in this year's championship and their opening round tilt with Kingscourt should give us a pointer as to their potential. On foot of back-to-back U21 FC title wins - and in particular their hammering of Cavan Gaels in the 2007 final - one suspects the maroon and whites will be nobody's push-overs. Castlerahan should beat a Kingscourt team with a lot to prove after their relegation from division one last year and their priority may well be to effect a return to the top flight. Meanwhile, the Denn versus Knockbride first round clash has draw stamped all over it although both sides will harbour genuine hopes of bagging both points. Knockbride's reliance on Larry Reilly for scores has never been so pronounced and Denn are experienced enough to block enough avenues for him to exploit so they should triumph. Thirty years ago Ballinagh won the IFC, the Under 21 championship and the senior league division two title all in the space of a couple of months. But how will they do in 2008? After last year's Cavan and IFC successes, there's no doubting Ballinagh's pedigree and potential and it will be a sorry blow to their ambitions if they lose out to Killygarry. Killygarry play a lovely brand of football but, sadly, there's too often more style than substance about their efforts and unless they can convert more of their flowery football into the hard coinage of scores then it should be the Saffrons who are celebrating at the final whistle. Crosserlough have been one of Cavan football's great under-achievers but a win in the first round over Gowna would be a terrific tonic and a timely leg-up for them. Are Gowna on their last legs? Pundits have been saying that for years but they remain at the top of the peleton chasing competition favourites Cavan Gaels. With match-winners such as Dermot McCabe, Mark McKeever, Gerald Pierson and Niall Madden on hand, Crosserlough will be hard-pressed to deny the men from the Loch victory. Top derby duel of the first round sees Cuchullains taking on a rejuvenated Ramor United with the town team looking a good bet to keep their renaissance on track. Cuchullains are a match for any team on their day but they lack physique and they tend to flatter to deceive in going forward. Ramor's early season league form suggests that they have a lot going for themselves up front in particular and they should notch a win here. The clash of fellow parishioners Cootehill Celtic and Drumgoon is the stand-out opening round fixture in this year's IFC first round ties. Drumgoon's form to date this year has been far from impressive but league form come July will likely go out the window anyway. The Eire Og side has the heavyweight names like Hannon (two), Fannin, McNally, Jackson, McDonald (two) but Cootehill's hunger will be hard to match and under former Clontibret and Monaghan star Kevin Carragher look capable of at least winning their first round tie. Lavey and Killinkere also meet in another tasty derby match with the first-named tipped to make amends for their 2007 disappointments. Bailieboro will feel they drew the short draw in coming up against Killeshandra but the 2007 JFC winners will not be over the moon either and it will be interesting to see if the Leaguers can make the step up but battling Bailieboro may just edge this one. Neither Laragh Utd and Redhills will go into their tie in over-confident mood and both may have to be content with one win apiece so this game could represent their best chance in that respect. Drumalee and Ballyhaise are both middle-of-the-table sides and the odds are that they won't be separated at the final whistle in this one. League fare rather than championship glory may concentrate Swanlinbar and Kill Shamrocks' minds more but that'll not stop both teams going hell for leather to notch an opening win. If Pierse McKenna is on fire, it could be Kill's day. Drumlane and Ballymachugh also has the look of a win about their meeting but the last-named look more likely to grab the spoils. The JFC retains its lottery hue but keep an eye out for Munterconnacht who could go the distance this year, starting with a win over Kildallan. Drung will be looking to bounce right back this year and should have too much guile and craft for Butlersbridge. Shercock have been mooted as possible championship winners and anything less than a win first time out against Mountnugent would be a major setback to their title hopes. Shannon Gaels will seek to go one step further this year after their 2007 final defeat and Maghera don't look like being good enough to hold them up. Cornafean have a proud championship record over the last ten years and while their team is getting no younger, they still should have too much in their locker to lose out to Templeport. Arva's form in the league has been erratic but it's difficult to see them slipping up against an albeit improving Corlough crew. The full championship draws are as follows; SFC : Belturbet v Mullahoran; Denn v Knockbride; Ballinagh v Killygarry; Crosserlough v Gowna; Castlerahan v Kingscourt; Cuchullains v Ramor Utd; Cavan Gaels v Lacken Celtic. IFC: Killeshandra v Bailieboro; Laragh Utd v Redhills; Drumalee v Ballyhaise; Kill Shamrocks v Swanlinbar; Lavey v Killinkere; Ballymachugh v Drumlane; Cootehill Celtic v Drumgoon. JFC: Templeport v Cornafean; Arva v Corlough; Butlersbridge v Drung; Mountnugent v Shercock; Shannon Gaels v Maghera; Munterconnacht v Kildallan. All the championship competitions are scheduled to commence between July 24-27th but may be altered depending on Cavan's progression in the Ulster and All-Ireland series. Tweet

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