By Shaun Casey

AFTER their Division Three league title last season, few would have predicted that with two games left to play in the 2024 National League that Cavan would be one of three teams battling for promotion to the top flight.

The poor form of Meath, Cork and Kildare, all expected to challenge at the top end of the table, has possibly assisted Raymond Galligan’s men but they are where they are purely on merit.

And with two Ulster teams left to play in the form of Armagh and Fermanagh, the Breffni Blues will be confident of landing one of the top two spots in the table and contesting the Division Two league final.

It’s all about Armagh this weekend and Kieran McGeeney’s men are currently unbeaten, with Donegal the only team to take any points off the Orchard County in their round four draw.

Cavan showed in their one-point defeat to Donegal that they are well fit to mix it with the best this division has to offer and won’t fear that orange jersey despite having to travel to Armagh on Saturday evening.

Having lost a lot of experience from the four walls of the changing room, a number of players have really stepped up to lead Cavan’s push for promotion, none more so Paddy Lynch, who is the top scorer in Division Two with 0-36.

Gary O’Rourke pulled off two point-blank saves to earn Cavan a share of the spoils against Meath in their last outings while Jason McLoughlin, Padraig Faulkner and Killian Clarke have all been there and done that.

Armagh proved too strong for Cavan when the sides clashed in the Ulster Championship last season but Galligan’s side will only be focused on the here and now and while Armagh are the favourites, it’s certainly not as easy as that to call.