By Michael McMullan

AISHLING Sheridan is loving being back in the Cavan jersey this year and feels the experienced core has helped their younger guns.

They added the Ulster title to their promotion and league honours from earlier in the season.

Next up is Sunday’s visit of Westmeath with an All-Ireland semi-final spot up for grabs.

It’s a busy time for Sheridan but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Back from a stint in the AFLW with Collingwood, there was a march to the Ulster title with her club Mullahoran.

There is the flexibility with being her own boss, mixing teaching pilates with an online health and nutrition business.

She is excited about the growth of football in Cavan with the underage production line feeding into the experience above them.

“There has been a lot of experienced players that have come back, myself, my sister Mona, Sinead Greene, Shauna Lynch, girls who have always been involved in the county panel,” Sheridan said of what has helped created the perfect mix.

Last season was Sheridan’s first away from the Breffni blue in a decade. After her time in Oz, family time was important. She also needed to get accustomed to the round ball again.

A refresh before getting the head down ahead of 2025. And it’s been a successful one so far.

It was also useful having a background in professional sport to tap into. Coaches and teammates would bend her ear.

For Sheridan, the key was standards and bringing an elite approach to an amateur environment. Even down to how a timeline looks for a player for an away game. The routine, the rest and the nutrition.

There was also an awareness of the talent coming into the Cavan senior camp from the underage county and school scene.

“Even look at last year’s u-16 panel, the captain was from my club and the vice-captain was from my club,” she said.

“We’ve always had a good cohort of girls and it’s been amazing to see every year how successful Cavan has been. I’ve always kept a close eye on it or been at some of the games.”

Coaching is one important aspect. The other is ambition. Sheridan can see a group of girls wanting to play at the highest level.

They are helped with the exposure from streamed games and visibility. There is access to strength and conditioning.

“I feel like that’s really helping the younger girls flourish as well,” Sheridan added.

“They’re training probably at a higher standard, knowing that in the next few years they can hopefully be representing their county at senior level.

“I remember when I first came on to the senior panel, I was doing my leaving cert and there was no such thing as strength and conditioning or the nutrition.”

That’s the longer-term outlook. For now, an extension of Cavan’s season hinges on Sunday. It’s win or bust. In the league and in Ulster, there was always something else over the horizon.

“You think of the trainings back in January and this is what you’ve been training for,” Sheridan pointed out.

“It’s been great to win league and obviously the Ulster Championship. At the end of the day, I think everyone’s goal is that All-Ireland.

“Even though there is that little bit more pressure I think it’s what everyone has been working towards.”

They’ve not met this year but there has always been a history. Westmeath were champions in 2021.

Ten years before that, they saw off Cavan in a replayed All-Ireland final. Two years ago, Cavan were winners in a relegation battle with Westmeath dropping to intermediate.

A 20-minute drive takes Sheridan from home, through Finnea and into Westmeath. She’ll hope it’s the Cavan side of the border that are in the semi-final hat on Sunday evening.