The tail end of March 2008 heralded the completion of an unwelcome hat-trick of defeats for Cavan football at under 21 level. For the third year in a row, Cavan failed to reach the provincial semi-final. It was a game in which we seemed to have complete control when we were two points in front with seven minutes left and a Tyrone player sent off." Cavan team-manager Donal Keogan's reflections on the latest woe to befall Cavan football's under 21 dreams make for utterly sorry reading, nothing more, nothing less. The Denn clubman used to shoot for points better than most in his hey-day and his succinct analysis of Cavan's latest angst at under 21 level is no less on-the-button. "But then a couple of basic mistakes by us resulted in their goal following a sideline ball," Keogan further opined in the aftermath of Tyrone's win over the Breffni blues at Omagh on March 19th last. "It was a game in which we looked to be cruising to victory in the second half at a time when we dominated the middle of the field. "I suppose it is disappointing but if the young players can learn from their mistakes - because at the end of the day it was the mistakes we made that beat us in the end." Cavan's depressing record at under 21 level was duly cemented by Tyrone's 2-10 to 1-10 win. It marked yet another signal defeat in the annals of Cavan's dismal showing at the much-maligned yet alive-and-kicking competition. Amazingly, Cavan have only won the Ulster U21 FC title on two occasions, in 1988 and in 1998. And yet, once more, it seems - in the best tradition of sporting clichés - no stone was left unturned in shaping Cavan's assault on the competition. Cavan's narrow defeat to the O'Neill County was all the more painful given the promise the squad had shown over the course of their preparations for the Tyrone tie. The blues defeated Donegal in the North-West tournament in Kingspan/Breffni Park by 1-12 to 1-10. Interestingly, Donegal proceeded to win their opening game in the Ulster U21FC with an away win against Monaghan. Other showings in challenge games in the run-up to Omagh added to the feel-good, confidence factors oozing through the Cavan panel. The squad included in its number a few well-seasoned players, some of whom had cut their teeth at senior intercounty level. Full-back Rory Dunne (Redhills), Sean McCormack (Ballyhaise), Raymond Galligan (Lacken Celtic), Barry Watters (Drung), Ray Cullivan (Ballyhaise), Martin Reilly (Killygarry), Conor Smith (Cuchullains) and Cian Mackey (Castlerahan) were all members of Cavan's 2008 senior national league panel. As things panned out, a talented Cavan team - not for the first time - succeeded in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Only three points separated the teams in Omagh at the death but it could have been 13 and the sense of dejection and depression which engulfed the Cavan dressing-room in the aftermath of the match couldn't have been any more pronounced for, late in the day, it really looked like things were going to go Cavan's way. With less than six minutes left to play in normal time at end of the match, Cavan were ahead by two points and seemed to only need to keep their composure and not give away any cheap possession in order to edge their way home. Sadly it all went pear-shaped in the closing minutes for the Breffni side after a lack of concentration in defence allowed Tyrone's experienced ace Colm Cavanagh to latch onto the end of a loping delivery from Cathal McCarron and fist the ball to the Cavan net for the fatal score. Played in perfect weather conditions and on a perfect playing pitch, both teams locked horns in front of the approximate 2,500 attendance and an entertaining evening's sport beckoned. The hosts looked the more accomplished, assured side right from the start but it was Cavan who actually got the opening score after two minutes when Conor Smith was fouled and Martin Reilly converted the resultant free. There was little time for Cavan to rest on their laurels though as Tyrone's first attack ended in a point one minute later from Gareth Devlin. Tyrone began to assert their authority at this early stage and their Donegal-born full-forward Jonathan Lafferty was fouled and provided Cathal McCarron with the opportunity to give his side the lead from the free in the fourth minute. As the pressure intensified the Cavan defence had to deal with more pressure and after Ronan McRory missed the chance of increasing the lead, the pressure on the rearguard finally told in the 7th minute. Four Tyrone players were involved in the move which led to their first goal. It began with Jason McAnulla and was carried on by Aidan Cassidy, Cathal McCarron and finally to Jonathan Lafferty, who had no difficulty in beating the Cavan defence with a well-executed goal for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead. Cavan's response was immediate and Raymond Galligan and Paddy Brady made ground and provided Enda Gaffney with a goal opportunity in the ninth minute which he gratefully accepted. It was a timely score and kept the Breffni side very much in contention. Jonathan Lafferty ended a quick counter attack with a point in the tenth minute to restore Tyrone's two point lead. There were chances for Cavan and Enda Gaffney was again on target this time with a point one minute later. Tyrone were unruffled by their slender lead and despite shooting four wides in the opening quarter they drew further ahead through Cathal McCarron and Shane O'Hagan for a 1-5 to 0-2 lead by the eighteenth minute. Half-back Daniel Graham was injured in a tackle and Raymond Galligan pointed the free in the twentieth minute. Tyrone failed to set the world alight thereafter and Colm Cavanagh, with a point in the 21st minute, executed his team's last score of the first-half which afforded the winners-elect a three point lead. The Tyrone forwards proceeded to shoot their seventh wide with Cavan still to register one. Cavan finished the half on top with three points in four minutes to level the scores at half-time, 1-6 apiece, with Raymond Galligan (free) plus Paddy Brady (a particularly fine effort) and Eugene Keating, his effort just making it over the bar, doing the business. This scoring burst looked like giving Cavan increased momentum as the second-half beckoned. A number of switches by the Cavan think-tank saw the midfield pairing of Raymond Galligan and James McEnroe dis-united with Galligan moving to a corner-forward position and McEnroe being joined in midfield by right-corner forward Eugene Keating while Barry Watters switched from the attack to the defence. Cavan had the first scoring opportunity of the second-half but Raymond Gilligan's effort from a free after three minutes was wide, for his side's first wide of the game. Tyrone regained the lead two minutes later through Ronan McRory but within two minutes Cavan were back on level terms with a Raymond Galligan free. Cavan had no luck when Enda Gaffney missed out on a point and a free from Raymond Galligan hit a post. The aforementioned Galligan redeemed himself with shooting Cavan into the lead from a free in the 41st minute and confidence looked to have been restored. There was a goal chance in the next attack but after passes went astray, the chance was lost. As the game entered the final quarter and Cavan desperately holding on to a one point lead, another free ended wide just as Cian Mackey was introduced into the attack. Tyrone hadn't scored from the fifth minute and it took them a further twelve minutes to score again when midfielder Aidan Cassidy started an attack which was carried on by Gareth Devlin and into Lafferty who shot but was deflected for a 45. The kick was taken short to centre-half back Shane O'Neill who shot the levelling point. Cavan were still very much in the hunt but James McEnroe shot wide from long-range when a pass to a better-placed colleague might have paid greater dividends. This missed opportunity however didn't seem to matter when Cavan were back in front in the space of two minutes from two Raymond Galligan frees in the 50th and 51st minutes. One of these frees came as a result of a foul on Conor Smith which resulted in a second yellow card to Tyrone's Danny Bride, leaving the home side down to 14 players and trailing by two points. Tyrone had their tails up at that juncture and a fine point from Colm Cavanagh saw confidence began to dissipate almost visibly from among the ranks of the Cavan team. Tyrone had the final score of the game from substitute Conor O'Donnell two minutes from the end to stretch their lead to three points. Cavan needed a goal to level the scores and they forced a 45 as the game moved into two minutes of additional time. Raymond Gilligan's kick spiralled towards the square but the ball was cleared by the Tyrone defence and the chance was gone and with it the Breffni side's championship aspirations at Under 21 level for yet another year. Tyrone, and not Cavan, would be facing Down in the semi-final. Cavan Ulster U21 (v Tyrone); Simon Delaney; Niall O'Reilly, Rory Dunne, Sean McCormack; Fionnbharr Jordan, Dane O'Dowd, Daniel Graham; Raymond Galligan (0-6, frees), James McEnroe; Barry Watters, Paddy Brady (0-1), Martin Reilly (0-1); Eugene Keating (0-1), Conor Smith, Enda Gaffney (1-1). Sub. Cian Mackey for Daniel Graham (45 mins). Tweet

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