Allianz National Football League Division Three relegation play-off: Cavan 0-18 Wicklow 3-11
WICKLOW’S match-winner Sean Furlong sensed the Cavan footballers disrespected them even before a ball was kicked in Saturday’s relegation play-off in Navan that saw the Breffni men tumble into Division Four.
Furlong grabbed a brilliant 2-3 to help Wicklow claim a two-point victory over the Ulster champions while preserving their own Division Three status.
But the Kiltegan ace, now in his 13th year with Wicklow, felt Cavan looked down on the Leinster men.
“I’ve great respect for Cavan for what they did last year,” said Furlong.
“They were unbelievable. But I just felt we were looked down upon today, even when we came to the stadium, they were warming up on the main pitch and we were put out the back [field].
“I just felt they were up there and we were down here – they just didn’t give us that respect. When I saw that, it drove me mad. Maybe they didn’t but that’s the vibe I got.
“You don’t look down on people. That’s the way I feel about it.”
Wicklow led 1-5 to 0-7 at the break but two majors from Furlong in the 40th and 50th minutes proved decisive.
Furlong admitted that their Leinster Championship tie with Wexford on June 27 was never a priority of theirs.
“This was our Championship. Our season was never about Wexford," the forward said. "There have been a lot of downs but days like today, that’s what you love about it. I’ve friends there for 10 years…We are such a young team while a few of the older fellas are held together by tape!"
