By Niall Gartland

THE Cavan ladies are in the last chance saloon in Saturday’s relegation play-off clash against a strong looking Waterford team (Crettyard 2pm).

Gerry Moane’s side came out second best in their relegation clash against Laois last weekend but they’ve got a second bite of the cherry. In this case though, if they lose, they’ll be consigned to Intermediate Championship football in 2024.

Waterford also find themselves in a precarious position following defeat in a relegation clash against Tipperary at the weekend. It had a somewhat surreal ending as the game was eventually decided with a free-kick taking competition with Tipperary running out 6-5 winners in sudden death.

It hasn’t been a straightforward season for Cavan from the offset. Their team refused to field in their final league match against Tyrone due to some issues with their county board behind the scenes, while they were pitted in a group of death alongside Kerry and Dublin in the group stages of the All-Ireland. So it isn’t really that big of a surprise that they find themselves in relegation peril but they’ll be disappointed that they only mustered 1-5 (with only three girls finding the scoreboard) in their two-point defeat to Laois last weekend.

Waterford are favourites to save their bacon in this instance but a Cavan win isn’t beyond the realm of possibilities. If they do manage to stay afloat in the senior ranks, it would be a serious morale-booster after a difficult and at times turbulent season.

Meanwhile, the Breffni County’s u-16 team have had a much better time of it as of late and played out a draw in their All-Ireland ‘A’ final against Cork last weekend. They have another week to prepare for the replay encounter which will take place on Friday week at MacDonagh Park in Tipperary.

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