RAYMOND HANDLER

Cavan goalkeeper detects a desire within panel to put awful League campaign into a Big Sleep before writing another thrilling chapter in Breffni’s history

RAYMOND GALLIGAN insists Cavan won’t be burdened by history – recent or otherwise – when they hit Healy Park today.

Relegation to Division Four just four weeks ago is still fresh in their minds as they face opposition they haven’t beaten in the Championship since way back in 1983.

The shock loss to Wicklow which sealed their relegation last month was a significant dent to the county’s pride, particularly when their stock had been so high after last year’s Ulster Championship success.

“It was more hurt rather than a shellshock, because we had given Wicklow the respect we would give every other team,” said Galligan.

“We had done our work on Wicklow, but it was just very disappointing because there is a lot of hurt from dropping down the Leagues.

“But we can’t dwell on it and we really do have to utilise our time as best we can and once we went back training we had to really look forward rather than behind us because there were lots of positives from the game.

“We created many attacks and it’s just unfortunate that we didn’t score enough to win the game.

“It’s a harsh lesson for every one of us, and it’s given us the appetite to question ourselves but work that bit harder over the next few weeks so that those lapses throughout the field don’t happen again.”

Galligan is in bullish mood as they set about defending their provincial title today.

He says:

“Once we cross that white line in

Healy Park, the League will quickly go out the window.

“We feel we definitely have a chance, we know it will be difficult, but the League will have very little impact when we arrive in Healy Park.”

While that’s pretty much what you’d expect the team captain to say in the circumstances, Cavan do have previous in this respect.

They were arguably in a tighter corner after a madcap finish to last year’s League saw them enter the last day with a chance of promotion only to end up being relegated after losing at home to Roscommon as Laois went on a late goal spree against Fermanagh.

A week later, they saw off Monaghan – with Galligan kicking the winning point at the death to avoid a penalty shootout – and were beating a path towards a first Ulster title in 23 years.

“No different than last year, we will really be based on how the Championship goes, in our view. And preparing for Tyrone is now all we can look forward to.

“We have to park what has happened in the League and we’ll go back to that next winter.

“It was disappointing, but we really have to draw the line and look towards Tyrone. It’s a huge game and a very difficult challenge.”

While their record against Tyrone may not be a source of encouragement, Galligan points to how they managed to turn their Ulster final beating from Donegal in 2019 – which was more comprehenthan sive the five-point margin suggested – on its head against them in last year’s provincial decider.

“We knew when the draw was done it was going to be a very difficult opponent, and we’re under no illusions that it’s going to take a massive performance to get the result.

“The one thing we did last year, we stopped looking behind us, because I think it’s a habit that a lot of teams can do, and think too much about the past.

“When we played Donegal in the Ulster final, the talk was about the beating we had got the year previous.

“So that’s one thing we’ve learned, is that it’s all about the present moment, and what has gone on before will have very little relevance come game time.

“So we know we have to put in a massive performance to be in with a shout on the day.”