A crunch weekend for Cavan

By Michael McMullan

CAVAN’S survival in Division Two is still in their own hands but they must beat Offaly in Tullamore.

Dermot McCabe’s side already have the head-to-head on fellow strugglers Kildare and will finish their campaign in Derry on the final weekend.

Cavan can’t even think about their clash with the Oakleafers yet. This week and Sunday are collectively about one thing – beating Offaly.

Cavan folk outside the four walls of the dressing room will be praying for Cork and Louth victories over Kildare.

Inside the bubble, McCabe and his management team will be hoping for a return to the form that almost saw them turn over Cork and Meath in earlier rounds.

The Cavan story of earlier in the league was all about being close without getting any league points.

The trio of Paddy Lynch (0-21), Gearóid McKiernan (0-18) and Dara McVeety (0-13) lead the league scoring charts. Another of their ever presents, Oisin Brady, has chipped in with 11 points.

There have been enough shoots to suggest Cavan can keep their end of the bargain by winning this weekend. It’s getting as close to a consistent 70 minutes that they need.

Offaly have been a mixed bag in recent outings on the road. Derry hit them with early goals and the game was over well before half-time.

The following weekend, they asked Tyrone plenty of questions in Dungannon’s O’Neill Park before the Red Hands pulled clear.

Their play went through Cormac Egan and Cavan will have to occupy him enough to keep up on the back foot.

Six points wasn’t enough to save Down from relegation last season. Louth’s edged them out on head-to-head last year by virtue of victory in Drogheda when Odhrán Murdock missed a late chance to level matters.

Six points won’t come into Cavan’s radar for now. Offaly will be scraping to give themselves a chance of surviving on the last weekend.