Preview: Cavan v Dublin – A battle of looking for tomorrow

By Michael McMullan

THE last-chance saloon is exactly that. In footballing terms, there is no tomorrow for the loser of Cavan and Dublin. It becomes a story of next year.

At first glance, Cavan’s season was been one of possible relegation to the third division.

Kieran McArdle’s goal was enough to sink Kildare instead as Cavan fell to a final day defeat to Derry.

Dermot McCabe’s season could have looked so different. Ciarán ‘Holla’ Brady passed up two goal chances that day when Derry were unconvincing.

Earlier in the campaign Cavan were inches from beating both Cork and Meath, who were eventually promoted.

In terms of championship football, they need a first win of 2026 to maintain their interest in the All-Ireland race.

After a slow start against Monaghan in Ulster, they never looked like reeling their neighbours in.

For McCabe, there was another familiar face that imposed defeat – the Westmeath team he managed last season. It included his nephew Eoghan.

Cavan went into the game without injured trio Jason McLoughlin, Oisin Brady and Gearóid McKiernan.

It was Cavan’s impact from the bench that hauled them back into the frame. Darragh Lovett, Dara McVeety and Conor Casey came off the bench to work their magic.

Goals from Paddy Lynch and Paddy Meade were vital with Casey’s monster kick from the wing sending the game to extra-time.

A turnover from John Heslin was the final pendulum swing, leading to the Westmeath goal that broke the game.

McCabe has since confirmed serous injuries to Evan Crowe and Conor Casey from the Westmeath encounter. That leaves him looking up another hill.

While Dublin are still struggling for consistency themselves, they will have manager Ger Brennan back along the sideline following his ban.

Con O’Callaghan is back fit. Cormac Costello and Paddy Small are on-form in attack. They still have experienced players in Ciarán Kilkenny, Brian Howard and Niall Scully.

The loss of Evan Crowe will be felt when Cavan stitch together marking arrangements. Brian O’Connell and Niall Carolan now hold even more value.

Attacking defender Lee Gannon is back in the Dublin fold and Sean Bugler has been one of their key players in recent seasons. Charlie McMorrow looks a fine addition.

Luke Breathnach and Killian McGinnis had moved up the pecking order but they’ll miss with injury.

Spark

Having the Dubs coming to town always adds a spark and McCabe hopes thart the Cavan fans come out in force. On the field, it is the kind of occasion that must inspire the Breffni blues.

While Westmeath played their football in Division Three and failed to gain promotion, they are deserving Leinster champions having beaten Meath and Dublin on the way.

That paints the Cavan performance in a different light against them but they need to attack this game for exactly what it is – knock-out football. There are no more ifs or buts.

In the absence of Conor Casey, Paddy Lynch is pivotal. Cassey’s absence will also tempt the management to throw Dara McVeety or Darragh Lovett in from the start. Or perhaps both.

The Cavan home advantage has to count for something other than more familiar voices.

Knowing the width of the pitch and having a feel for it is immense for goalkeeper Liam Brady when he surveys his options.

Having retained 70 per cent of his restarts against Westmeath – in a cauldron – will be something to build on.

On the other side, Dublin are still in the middle of deciding who plays between the posts – Hugh O’Sullivan or Evan Comerford.

Eight of the Dublin team that put five goals past Cavan at the same venue two years ago will step into the Kingspan Breffni tunnel this weekend.

It’s a small detail but means this is not an entirely new venture. Most of the cameras will be flickering on Ger Brennan. In a way the game could turn into the sideshow.

Neither team can afford that. The race for Sam Maguire is a Croke Park story. The winners will be 70 minutes away.

The return of Con O’Callaghan, combined with Cavan’s injury list, could tip the scales in favour of the visitors.

For Cavan, they know the drill. Win or bust. They will need to throw everything at this. That’s what Dermot McCabe will be drilling.

Last Meeting

2024 All-Ireland SFC Cavan 0-13 Dublin 5-17

Cavan hung with Dublin for around 20 minutes before being dismantled by Dessie Farrell’s men.

The sides were level four times early on – both also squandered a handful of chances each – but when Cormac Costello hit the net in the 24th minute, a gap emerged which Cavan were unable to close.

Dublin: S Cluxton; E Murchan, M Fitzsimons, D Newcombe; B Howard, J Small, S Bugler (1-1); B Fenton (0-3), K McGinnis (1-0); N Scully (0-1), C Costello (2-5, 1-0pen, 1 45); C Kilkenny, P Mannion (0-2f), C O’Callaghan, P Small (1-2).
Subs: C Basquel (0-3) for C O’Callaghan, T Clancy for E Murchan, L O’Dell for J Small, P Ó Cofaigh-Byrne for B Fenton, G McEneaney for P Small.

Cavan: L Brady (0-1 45); C Reilly, K Brady, L Fortune; P Faulkner, N Carolan, O Kiernan (Denn); Ciarán Brady, B O’Connell; O Kiernan (Castlerahan), Cian Madden (0-2), G Smith (0-1); R O’Neill, J Smith (0-1), O Brady (0-7, 4f).
Subs: M Magee for C Reilly, P Meade for K Brady, T Madden for O Kiernan (Castlerahan), R Brady for O Kiernan (Denn), D Lovett (0-1) for R O’Neill.

Last Five Meetings
2024 All-Ireland SFC Cavan 0-13 Dublin 5-17
2020 All-Ireland SFC Dublin 2-14 Cavan 0-12
2019 Div 1 Cavan 1-10 Dublin 1-16
2017 Div 1 Cavan 0-11 Dublin 0-18
1997/98 NFL Group C Dublin 2-14 Cavan 0-8

Season So Far

Cavan

NFL
Cork 0-24 Cavan 2-17
Cavan 1-18 Meath 2-17
Tyrone 2-23 Cavan 1-14
Cavan 0-16 Kildare 0-13
Cavan 1-12 Louth 1-22
Offaly 3-15 Cavan 2-20
Derry 1-20 Cavan 0-19

Ulster SFC
Monaghan 0-27 Cavan 2-14

All-Ireland SFC
Westmeath 1-31 Cavan 3-21 AET

Dublin

NFL
Dublin 0-20 Donegal 1-20
Mayo 1-18 Dublin 2-9
Dublin 1-18 Monaghan 0-17
Dublin 1-10 Kerry 1-16
Roscommon 2-7 Dublin 1-21
Dublin 1-25 Armagh 2-24
Galway 0-20 Dublin 1-15

Leinster SFC
Wicklow 2-14 Dublin 2-16
Louth 0-10 Dublin 0-20
Dublin 0-26 Westmeath 2-18 AET

All-Ireland SFC
Dublin 1-24 Louth 4-18

Top Scorers

CAVAN
Paddy Lynch 1-35 (6tpf, 10f, 1tp)
Gearóid McKiernan 0-24 (9f, 2tpf)
Oisin Brady 1-20 (2f, 1tp, 1tpf)

DUBLIN
Paddy Small 2-29 (3tp, 1 sideline)
Cormac Costello 0-32 (10f, 3tp, 1tpf, 1 45)
Sean Bugler 0-31 (5tp)