Allianz Football League Division Two: Laois v Cavan (tomorrow, MW Hire O'Moore Park, 2pm)
LAOIS have been heralded for their excellent start to the League season while question marks hang over Cavan. A win for the Breffni county tomorrow, however, would take them above their opponents. Welcome to life in Division Two.
Mickey Graham’s side travel to O’Moore Park to take on the in-form hosts who bossed Armagh in round two a couple of weeks ago. The fact that the Orchard county were so dominant against Cavan in their first League game perhaps demonstrates the difficulty of the challenge.
Cavan have stabilised from that nightmare start at the Athletic Grounds, and whether the unexpected extra week off due to Strom Ciara was a bonus or a hindrance will only become clear tomorrow afternoon.
The mood of the travelling Breffni party should certainly be fairly positive after their comeback win against Westmeath in their last game.
Another tough night at the office looked on the cards until they overturned a five-point interval deficit with Ciaran Brady and substitute Thomas Brady driving them on to a 1-17 to 1-13 win. Their second half football was excellent.
Laois’s pre-season analysis was similar to Cavan’s. Player exits were the main talking point with the Kingston brothers, Paul and Donie, and former captain Stephen Attride opting out.
Michael Quirke’s side hit 2-1 in injury time to earn a draw against Roscommon in their first game and they completely controlled matters against Armagh the next day.
Evan O’Carroll, one of the goal-scorers against Roscommon, caused Kieran McGeeney’s side all sorts of problems and, in truth, bar a brief period in the second half the Leinster side cruised to the points.
It was a surprisingly weak challenge from Armagh but Laois can expect a tougher examination from a rejuvenated Cavan side. Laois don’t lose too often at home in the League and have won seven of their last 10 games in front of their own support, but they should be made to work for the points tomorrow.
