Lynch: Cuchulainn’s club excited by Clonoe challenge challenge

By Shaun Casey

THE entire Cuchulainn’s club is looking forward to Saturday’s Ulster Intermediate Championship semi-final against Tyrone champions Clonoe, says manager Niall Lynch ahead of the big showdown.

The pair lock horns as part of a double header in the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, with Down kingpins Kilcoo taking on Erne Gaels of Fermanagh in the Senior Championship semi-final afterwards.

But intermediate football is all that concerns the men from the Breffni County this weekend as they hope to qualify for a very first Ulster final in the club’s history, and be the third Cavan team on the trot to reach the decider at this grade.

“It’s the reason why we train and play – to get opportunities to play in a game like this,” explained Lynch. “It’s an Ulster semi-final in Armagh and our club and our players are really excited by it.”

Clonoe stand in their way, and the Red Hand representatives have been in flying form this season, having already collected a domestic league and championship double.

They proved much too strong for Saval of Down the last day out as well, while Cuchulainn’s edged out Fermanagh’s Irvinestown, with goals from Niall Magee and Adam O’Reilly helping them through with three points to spare.

Lynch admits that Clonoe are “a huge challenge” but has been able to track down some information on this weekend’s opposition and knows the quality of player they will have in their dressing room.

“It’s going to be a huge challenge,” the Cuchulainns manager continued. “You don’t actually look at the other teams until you get yourself into a semi-final, but Clonoe would have been one of the teams outlined before the competition started as potential winners.

“They’ve had an unbelievable season to date. They’re on an unbeaten run in the region of 20 games so they’ll be coming in with their confidence high.

“It’s that bit trickier when you come out of your own county, but we know there’s a strong pedigree in that Clonoe team of players. Quite a number have played for Tyrone seniors in the past and others would have represented Tyrone u-20s.

“Obviously you find out bits and pieces about teams and players like that, and you look at past matches, but it’s way more difficult than playing your average intermediate championship game in Cavan where you practically know everything about the opposition.”

Cuchulainn’s earned a first championship title in 20 years this season and are hoping to extend their run with another victory. Having a fully fit squad to choose from is a massive help to Lynch, who hopes his side can do enough on the day to get over the line.

“We’re coming into the game with a full deck to pick from. That’s all you can hope for when you reach knockout football, that you have everybody available, so training is going really well, and the players are excited by the opportunity.”