By Shaun Casey

GETTING one over the old enemy will be the objective for both Cavan and Monaghan this weekend as they do battle at Kingspan Breffni Park in the final round of the National League.

Neither side has anything to play for at this stage, outside of bragging rights. Promotion to Division Three is out of reach for both at this stage, but that doesn’t mean they won’t want to win the game.

With the Lory Meagher Cup just around the corner, and another derby day clash on the horizon in a month’s time, Cavan and Monaghan will be keen to lay down a marker and finish the campaign on a high.

Cavan gained the upper hand, at the same venue, in last year’s championship meeting and picked up a nine-point triumph on their way to topping the group and reaching the decider, where they fell short against New York.

Monaghan’s campaign finishing in a similar fashion as they tasted defeat at the hands of New York in the semi-final, after a run of three unbeaten games following their loss to the Breffni Blues.

In fact, Cavan have won the last three encounters, against the Farney County, including the 2023 Lory Meagher Cup group stage game, before Monaghan went on an won the competition at Croke Park later than year.

In fact, Monaghan haven’t tasted victory over their old rivals since 2022, the last time they faced them outside of Kingspan Breffni Park, so they’ll want to overturn that record.

The form of Arthur Hughes’ men has been poor of late, and they have suffered three successive defeats to Longford, Leitrim and Warwickshire since their most recent win.

Their one and only victory came in round two when they recorded a 1-23 to 2-16 victory over Lancashire at Abbottstown, following a first-round defeat to league leaders Sligo.

Cavan’s campaign has been a little more positive as they managed to win two of their five games, picking up points against Warwickshire and Lancashire but head into the game off the back of a heavy 8-19 to 0-12 beating to Sligo.

Both of Cavan’s win have come on home turf and they’ll hope to make that a hattrick on Saturday afternoon. Monaghan will of course be fighting against that and will aim to down their neighbours to finish the league on a high.