By Michael McMullan

WHAT a difference a year can make. Cavan u-20s were on the wrong end of a 14-point hammering at the hands of eventual winners Down last season, but Derry now stand in their way of an Ulster final berth.

From the moment Darragh Lovett shot to the net for the game’s first score, the Breffni blues were on their way to victory over Monaghan in Inniskeen.

“We thought we’d be in the shake-up, it was a strongly fancied Monaghan team,” outlined Cavan selector Peter McGinnity

McGinnity, who is also the goalkeeping coach, is part of Damien Donohoe’s backroom team that also includes former Cavan forward Mark McKeever.

“If you’d told us beforehand that would’ve been the scoreline, we wouldn’t have believed you,” McGinnity offered of the most eye-catching result in the quarter-finals.

“Listen, a couple of the breaks went our way at crucial times and it opened it up a wee bit more and they had to chase us, but we were confident enough coming into the game.”

Now in their second season in charge, the management team put in a lot of work this season.

“It meant we were in a good place and a derby against your neighbours is never a bad thing,” McGinnity added.

They’ve had to do it without the injured Ryan Brady in the long-term with McGinnity happy with their preparation.

“It is a good group of lads,” he stressed. “The biggest thing that came out of last year was the honesty and work rate.

“They are a good grounded group of players and it makes it a bit easier to work with.”

The management will have to assess Jack Tully’s hamstring injury that saw the Cavan Gaels withdrawn as a “precaution” just before the throw-in on Friday night.

“We were trying to look after the lad, it was a hamstring so you’d hope he’d be able for it this week,” he said, while announcing an otherwise full squad to pick from.

“That’s the gamble we took. It was one of those things, we left it to the last minute and he wasn’t 100 per cent,” McGinnity added.

The Cavan camp feel they are “up against it” against a strong Derry team and will be surveying Paddy Bradley’s line-up for any of their returning players from injury.

“You have Lachlan Murray, there is Dan Higgins at midfield and they don’t miss frees. We will have to be disciplined,” said McGinnity of their approach to Friday’s game, with Tyrone and Donegal in the other side of the draw.

“We have had a week to prepare from the Monaghan game. It’s a happy camp, but I’m sure it is the same in Derry because these are the days you play football for.”

Getting players in the best possible position for progression to senior level is an important part of the Cavan plan, with McGinnity highlighting how success can always be judged on trophies.

After winning Ulster in 2020, the Cavan senior found themselves in Division Four this year, but they are on the climb.

“Mickey (Graham) and Damien (Donohoe) are in contact with each other,” McGinnity explained. “That’s the transition, so there will hopefully be lads that can step up to senior.

“Last Friday would’ve helped by beating Monaghan and it will have given them a bit of experience.

“The big picture, please God, is that some of these lads will make that step up in the next year or two.”