By Niall Gartland

BALLYHAISE rounded off their Division Two campaign with a league final victory over Shercock last weekend – but their manager Gerard O’Kane is conscious that they’re set for a big step up in the upcoming Cavan Senior Football Championship.

They did extremely well in last year’s championship campaign, bowing out at the quarter-final stage following a commendable showing against Gowna, but it must be borne in mind that they were steeled by their experience of playing Division One football.

They’re managed this year by former Derry footballer Gerard O’Kane, who has steered them back to the top flight at the first time of asking. It isn’t his first time involved with a Cavan club – he lives in the county and was part of the Ramor backroom team before a stint at Killinkere.

Reflecting on their season to date, he’s happy with their progress but knows it’s set to get a whole lot tougher in the championship.

“Like Derry, Cavan decouple their league and championship. We played Intermediate League and now face Senior Championship, which can be difficult. If you look at Ballinderry last year, they played Senior League and Intermediate Championship which is probably an easier proposition.

“Having played intermediate for the last four months, we know have to step it up in the next four weeks to play at Senior Championship level. Ballyhaise were unfortunate to be relegated last year, they finished fourth from bottom and were hit by a suckerpunch in a one-off play-off which probably wasn’t a true reflection of their standing.

“The players were very determined to get back to senior league football to give the young lads coming through a taster of it. That was the goal from early on in the season – we stuttered a bit at the start but in fairness to the boys they pulled it together and they’ve only been beaten once in the last 13 games.”

First up in the group stages of the championship is a Laragh side recently relegated from Division One. O’Kane is wary that their opponents could still get things right in the championship.

“They did the first round draw four months out from championship, then the next one it six days in advance of your next game. We play Laragh, who by their own standards probably had a disappointing league campaign. They’re relegated so we’re bypassing them in that sense.

“They’ve lost a few players through emigration and injuries but it’s like anything, they can use this four-week period to regroup. Sometimes a break like that can do a team a world of good.”