Football

Lavey are favourites to beat Aidan McCarron's Mullahoran

Former Cavan player Raymond Cullivan believes Lavey have what it takes to beat Mullahoran  
Former Cavan player Raymond Cullivan believes Lavey have what it takes to beat Mullahoran   Former Cavan player Raymond Cullivan believes Lavey have what it takes to beat Mullahoran  

BEATING defending champions Kingscourt in the opening round of this year’s SFC has given Lavey the belief they can go all the way this year, former Cavan star Raymond Cullivan says.

The 28-year old Lavey midfielder is expected to be an influential figure on Friday at Kingspan Breffni Park (8.15pm) when his side seek to book a semi-final berth by disposing of the challenge of 2012 SFC winners Mullahoran, who are managed this year by former Tyrone star Aidan McCarron.

“We’ll probably go in as favourites, which is strange considering they’re a Division One team and we’ve been operating in Division Two all year, but I suppose the win [2-10 to 1-10] against Kingscourt changed the minds of a few people,” said Cullivan, whose father Ray also played for Cavan seniors.

“It was a real bad night for a game and there wasn’t a whole lot of good football played, but beating them [Kingscourt] was a great confidence booster. I think we can go on now and fulfil our potential this year because the talent is there.”

Lavey followed up their opening round win over the Stars with a 0-16 to 1-11 win over Crosserlough, before cruising past already-doomed Killeshandra in their final group game. Cullivan believes Friday night’s duel with a Mullahoran crew backboned by county defender Killian Brady will be a tough and closely-contested one.

“We beat them in the opening round of the championship two-years-ago, but practically all the fellas that were playing when they won the title in 2012 are still there, so they know what they’re about and they know what’s needed to win big championship games. They have a great championship tradition and they won’t fear us, but we don’t fear them either. I think it’ll be hell for leather stuff and it won’t be a game that’ll be won easily, no matter who comes out on top.

“Last year, we hadn’t got Gerard Smith or Chris Conroy [2016 senior county panellists] available to us, but we have a full squad this year. That and the form we showed against Kingscourt leaves us with no excuses this year.”