Football

Cavan will give everything in semi-final showdown against Dublin says Thomas Galligan

Thomas Galligan scored three points when Cavan battled back to beat Down in the Ulster semi-final. Pic Philip Walsh.
Thomas Galligan scored three points when Cavan battled back to beat Down in the Ulster semi-final. Pic Philip Walsh. Thomas Galligan scored three points when Cavan battled back to beat Down in the Ulster semi-final. Pic Philip Walsh.

CAVAN will give everything they have in Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final to cause what would rank among the biggest upsets in GAA history, says Thomas Galligan.

In their first All-Ireland semi-final since 1997, the Breffnimen are up against the all-conquering, six in-a-row chasing Dubs and are, not surprisingly, rank underdogs. But they’re used to that and must have cost bookmakers a fortune during a thrilling Ulster Championship run that saw them come back from the dead against Monaghan and Down and then deservedly dethrone Donegal.

That accomplished display in the Ulster final proved beyond doubt that the Breffnimen are worthy provincial champions but the bar has gone up several notches for Saturday’s Croke Park clash.

“I think the whole country would have thought that Donegal were just going to turn up and tune in and they’ll get themselves ready for Dublin,” Lacken Celtic clubman Galligan admitted.

“But you’re always going to give everything you have anyway.”

Galligan has played the best football of his career in this Championship run. Strong and aggressive, he has gone shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in Ulster and come out on top. Like others in this Cavan team, he attributes the spectacular turnaround in the county’s fortunes to the arrival of former Breffni forward Mickey Graham as manager.

“Mickey is obviously a top-level manager, you saw what he did with Mullinalaghta (the Longford club that won the Leinster senior championship) with such a small pick and they won a Leinster final,” he said.

“His record proves how good he is, he doesn’t really have to try and talk about how good he is - he has shown how good he is.

“He just instils a bit of belief in all of the players that we are good enough to win, and I think maybe last year we were maybe a bit cautious or shell-shocked in the final. But maybe this year we naturally showed that we are as good as any team in Ulster. It’s nice to get some respect back and give Mickey the credit he deserves, because he’s a top-level manager.”

The Cavan team received a heroes’ welcome when they returned with the Anglo-Celt Cup 10 days ago and, in any normal year, hordes of supporters from the football-obsessed county would be preparing to descend on Croke Park to cheer Graham’s men on against the Dubs. On Saturday the stands and the Hill will be empty but the entire county will be glued to the action from their homes.

“I’m sure it has really lifted spirits,” said Galligan.

“I got messages after the Monaghan game about how things were bad and we were after getting relegated and it was all doom and gloom, but after we beat Monaghan it just lifted everyone. “There’s been lots of messages and you meet people in shops and they are just so proud of what we have done and how it has brightened their days and they can’t wait for Saturday because it is getting them through the week. It’s nice to hear that, because it kind of makes it all worthwhile.

"The Cavan supporters are passionate. If they were there you’d give you that extra step, make you make that extra run or put in that tackle.

“You can’t belittle the amount of time and effort that the fans give to the GAA and to the team. Realistically, that’s why we’re playing as well, to try and do them proud. It’s a blow not having them at the games but we still go about our business.”