Another big test for Cavan

By Niall Gartland

DID the wheels come off the wagon for Cavan last weekend? Zero points on the board after three matches leaves Dermot McCabe’s side mired in a battle for survival, but the most disappointing element of their defeat to Tyrone was the manner in which they fell away in the second half at Omagh.

The host’s four-point lead at the interval was flattering – Cavan had played well and showed no signs of trepidation in their quest to record a first league victory over Tyrone since all the way back in 1997.

The second half made for difficult viewing for the Cavan supporters who had made their way to Healy Park, however. Tyrone dismantled their kick-out and poured forward in numbers and the scores duly followed. At full-time the scoreboard read 2-23 to 1-14, but it could have been worse: on another day Tyrone could easily have banged in four or five goals (Liam Brady made three fine saves and on another occasion, Tyrone nearly walked it into the net but a slightly mis-timed pass saved Cavan’s blushes).

So that’s the context for Cavan’s fourth-round tie at home to Kildare this weekend (it doesn’t get any easier). The Lilywhites will be smarting after their narrow defeat to Derry and that spells danger for a Cavan side that need to pick up a result of some description, and fast.

Of particular concern is their defensive frailties: Cavan have coughed up tallies of 0-24, 2-17 and 2-23 to date – though to be fair they should have sealed the deal against both Cork and Meath before their challenge eventually unraveled against the Red Hands.

Summing up a chaotic encounter against Derry, Kildare manager Brian Flanagan said that inexperience took its toll against what he considered a more streetwise Derry team. They weren’t far away though – and they’ll learn as much from that game as any win, given how eventful it was. In saying that, you can’t entirely write off Cavan. Perhaps the Tyrone game was anomaly, but it will take a serious effort to notch their first win of their Division Two campaign this Sunday.