Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BREFF LEOPARD
Will Cavan change their spots?
Donegal Cavan
CAVAN have rousing comebacks and heroic match-winning subs to thank for helping them to back-toback Ulster SFC finals against Donegal.
And heading into tomorrow’s final in Armagh, they now must decide whether to stick or twist as they chase a first Anglo Celt since 1997.
Bref fni boss Mickey Graham must weigh up whether to start high-impact players like Thomas Galligan and Conor Madden – who were the difference when sprung from the bench in t h e i r wi n s o v e r Monaghan and Down respectively.
Cavan’s poor first-half displays against Monaghan, Antrim and Down have been a feature of their run to the final – and while they brilliantly chased down a seven-point deficit against Monaghan and an eight-point deficit last weekend against Down, they can’t afford to let Donegal get away from them.
Starting their best team might deny themselves a couple of weapons later in the game, but ex-cavan player Cian Mackey says they have no choice.
“You need to go with Donegal early,” warned Mackey, who retired after last season. “Sides like Donegal, Dublin,
Kerry and Mayo do not let you back in games. It is a matter of playing with no fear.”
After suffering relegation to Division Three last month, not a lot was expected from Cavan in the Ulster Championship but they have given us some of the best entertainment.
The extra-time drama against Monaghan and last week’s second-half comeback against Down were taxing and even though this will be their sixth game in six weeks, Mackey refuses to believe they are war weary.
He said: “Against Antrim and in the first half [against Down] they looked leggy and then look at the second half th ey produced , so that momentum is huge. There is already talk about Donegal playing Dublin in the All-ireland semi-final and Cavan will love that.
“They have nothing to lose and if they can get a good start you never know what can happen.”
Donegal are the model of consistency, appearing in their 10th final in 11 years and going for their first threein-a-row of Ulster titles.
In a straight knockout and given Kerry’s shock exit to Cork, the AllIreland contenders will be more wary than ever not to get caught on the hop.
Mackey admitted: “We really need Donegal to play below par and us to play very well, we will definitely have the fight to hang in.”
Counties like Donegal will not let you get back into games again