The last time Cavan clinched the Ulster MFC title was in 1974. Last year, that barren period was extended another notch with the blues getting the blues once more. No stone was left unturned. Sadly, Down proved a rock that the amalgam of Cavan's minor team-management and their charges couldn't crush when the Mourne county came calling last May for their Ulster MFC encounter at Kingspan/Breffni Park. With eight survivors from the corresponding 2006 championship clash on hand plus a further six of the squad, Cavan began their 2007 odyssey certainly not lacking in experience, expectation or football nous. The 35-strong panel which had been assembled back in January were rigourously put through their paces by team-manager Jodie Clarke and his think-tank of John Mulvanny, Paddy Sheanon and coach Terry Brady. Challenge games in the New Year against the likes of Meath, Wicklow and Roscommon (defending All-Ireland champions) plus a serious of tests in the Ulster MFL were sorted. The squad's league campaign proved to be a real rollercoaster affair with a win in the opening round against Meath (4-16 to 1-8) backed up by a win over Carlow (2-22 to 1-4) next time out. A hat-trick of victories was later completed when the young blues conquered Armagh by 1-11 to 0-12 in Crossmaglen. Happy days, it seemed. Then came the championship dress rehearsal against Down at Kingspan/Breffni Park which saw the hosts concede three first half goals and lose by 1-13 to 3-8. Cavan's final game in the league was against Monaghan and at the end of a thrilling contest, Jodie Clarke's charges had one point to spare, 2-13 to 2-12, with, interestingly, the All-Ireland winning schools contingent from Virginia on board. And so the championship clash on May 13th at Kingspan/Breffni Park. "We are happy with our preparations after playing five matches in the league, the one defeat being against Down," team-manager Clarke said on the eve of the championship tie. "We watched Down in the league final and they are a good side and we are quietly confident." Sadly Cavan's miserable record in the Ulster MFC would see the county's latest ambassadors demonstrate a fatal degree of profigacy as the blues went under by 2-5 to 1-10 to the red and black brigade. Cavan were their own worst enemies as they kicked 17 wides to let Down off the hook in a game in which Cavan's vaunted attack never quite ignited. Just how much Cavan's bid for victory would be stymied by the inability of key midfielder Eugene Keating (Lurgan) to start the match was one of the main imponderables which hung over proceedings as the game got underway. In truth, Down's ability to win clean ball in the vital diamond area of the field and run at Cavan's defence was particularly telling over the hour plus. In the opening stages of the match, it was obvious that Down were able to get into their stride more quickly and were the more relaxed, composed side. In perfect playing conditions, save a slightly influential breeze, the visitors began the way they meant to progress as they led the way with three points at the start of the match with impressive half forward Paul Devlin notching two points as the Mourne lads went 0-3 to 0-0 in front after just four minutes. Down, as is their wont, played with a typical swagger and confidence while, in contrast, Cavan looked inhibited, tense and uncertain. Of course, Cavan worked their socks off to get out of the starting blocks and their cause got a timely leg-up when Cavan Gaels clubman Niall Smith goaled in the 6th minute in opportunistic style to level matters. However the visitors proceeded to gain the major part of possession and a lovely point from Devlin had Cavan in arrears once more. Cavan's play was more perspiration than inspiration though and a touch of nerves and a distinct lack of backing from the home support seem to lend them a lethargic, heavy-legged look as the first half progressed. Sadly Cavan failed badly in their attempts at consolidating the feel-good factor brought on by young Smith's major but, fortunately, Down laboured as well despite having the wind at their backs in the first half. The Cavan defence did come under some consistent pressure though but they emerged with reputations intact for the most part. The Down pressure continued and in the 19th minute, Down full-forward Sean Murdock got through but when faced with a one-on-one with 'keeper Alan O'Meara, the number 14 fired wide. Cavan were struggling somewhat to garner a decent amount of consistent possession in the vital diamond area of the field and with Conor Smith roaming deep from his full-forward berth to lend a hand, Cavan's offence wasn't cutting the dash as anticipated. The blues used up a lot of energy to get back in front but it wasn't until the 25th minute when Mark Cunningham goaled in sweet fashion that Cavan actually managed to edge their way in front, 2-1 to 0-6. With the prospect of the wind at their backs on the restart, Cavan had every reason at half-time for believing that they were now in the driving seat and would be able to put behind them the galling statistic of nine first half wides. Sadly it was the visitors who proceeded to show the greater degree of economy around the pitch, especially in the final third of the field. Mark Turley's charges quickly went about eating into Cavan's 2-1 to 0-6 interval lead with Eamon Toner palming home a goal for Down barely 50 seconds afer the restart. Down retained the intiative and a Paul MacPolin point emphasised their increasing self-assuredness as the third quarter gathered pace with a neat point from Christopher Killen in the 36th minute adding to Cavan's anxiety. The introduction of Eugene Keating at that juncture promised much and when Martin Dunne converted a free to leave the blues just two points adrift, 2-3 to 1-8, expectations among the home fans almost palpably increased. Cavan tried desperately hard to reel in their opponents but wide after wide followed as Down circled the wagons. Nonetheless Cuchullains ace Conor Smith fetched brillantly in front of his man, turned and drove the ball over the bar to leave the minimum between the sides with 19 minutes left to play. Amazingly, Cavan's one and only further score was an incredible 18 minutes later with a plethora of wides in between times serving to undermine Cavan's cause. Meanwhile a tremendous free into the teeth of the wind by Devlin in the 25th minute served to underpin Down's victory aspirations as they circled the wagons in expectation of a late Cavan surge of scores perhaps. Sadly that surge wasn't forthcoming though and, instead, frustration was the name of the game for the Cavan camp. Good work by Barry Watters four minutes from time saw Conor Smith run in on goal but his half-blocked shot was well saved by the Down 'keeper. Two minutes later sub. Eugene Keating fired over a free and then Adrian Cole's shot for goal went narrowly unrewarded. Cavan threw everything bar the kitchen sink at their opponents in the dying seconds but in the end they failed to derail Down's championship aspirations. Cavan v Down (Ulster MFC); Alan O'Meara; Raymond Farrelly, Rory Dunne, Oisin Moynagh; Daniel Graham, Thomas Reilly, James McAvoy; Barry Watters, James McEnroe; Niall Smith (1-0), Declan McKiernan, Adrian Cole; Mark Cunningham (1-2), Conor Smith (0-1), Martin Dunne (0-1, one free). Subs; Eugene Keating (0-1) for Declan McKiernan; Joshua Hayes for Raymond Farrelly; David Givney for Martin Dunne; Michael Reilly for James McEnroe; Niall McDermott for Niall Smith. After the game totally dejected Cavan team-manager Jodie Clarke was in no mood to proffer any excuses for his team's shattering preliminary round defeat. Clarke said the statistics of the game didn't lie and Cavan's failure to do the necessary at the business end of the field served to undermine their cause greatly. "We're gutted but I think we shot 17 wides so what more can you say," Clarke said rhetorically. The Shercock clubman scotched any suggestion that the wind was a factor in Cavan's poor marksmanship. Instead, Clarke said the elements were the same for both teams but he wasn't of the view that the wind was an influential factor in the game either way. "In fairness to Down they did better in the area where it counts most and it's scores that win matches at the end of the day. "We had been scoring freely this year but it didn't come off for us today and that's what it boils down to." Cavan selector Paddy Sheanon disagreed with the suggestion that Down perhaps caught the home side cold at timely stages in the match. "We knew quite a bit about them having played them in the league and they went on and won it so we knew how good they were. "We can't have any complaints about the result but unfortunately not enough of the players performed to their best on the day." In tandem with the rest of the Cavan think-tank, Sheanon was convinced before the game that the blues' attack would outgun their opposite numbers. "Our defence played well and if someone had said to us before the game that we'd concede 1-10 we'd have accepted that because we felt that on a dry day we were capable of scoring more than that. "We were upset by the loss of Niall Murray before the game but Oisin Moynagh did well and we were happy overall with what happened at the back. "The lads put in a great commitment and no stone was left unturned in preparing them." "At the end of the day when you shoot 17 wides from no more than 30 yards out and hit a couple more off the upright, you're going to struggle to win a championship game and that's what happened." Fellow selector John Mulvanny couldn't fathom why the Cavan forwards had hit such a bad patch collectively given the form they had shown in the run-up to the game. "We're all very, very disappointed but we didn't take our chances on the day and you'd have to say the better team won. "Down played the best football over the hour but it's hard to understand how a team that scored 2-20 and 3-21 in two recent challenge games could only score 2-5 and hit 17 wides into the bargain, most of them from scoreable positions." The Ramor United clubman also fingered Down's goal just after half-time as key to Cavan's defeat. "I think their goal gave them a massive psychological boost and unsettled our lads as well. "Down are a formidable team and we knew that from our game with them in the league but there was always only going to be a kick of the ball in it and unfortunately things went against us whereas another day we'd play a lot better up front and come out on top." Tweet

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