How are Cavan feeling heading into the final round of fixtures?
They’ve already secured promotion to Division Two and ticked that box, so they may treat their clash with Fermanagh this weekend as a chance to get some minutes into the legs, try out some new things and rest players that need to put their feet up.
Or they could be smarting from their surprise defeat to Antrim last weekend, their first, and to date, only loss of the campaign.
Up to that point, Cavan were untouchable at the top of the table, but Antrim shot their unbeaten record to pieces.
And almost did it in style too. Cavan were 10 points adrift at one stage but rallied with goals from Paddy Lynch and Conor Madden to close the gap to two by full-time, but it wasn’t enough to extend their winning streak.
Gearoid McKernan and James Smyth both only came off the bench, and the pair are due a start at some stage. Perhaps this weekend Mickey Graham will spring the two from the first whistle.
Cavan face another Ulster derby, with high-flying Fermanagh coming to town to demand two points, the final promotion place and a spot in the Division Three final.
Kieran Donnelly’s men have produced some sterling performances over the last number of weeks and are one of the stories of the League so far. Very few had them noted down as promotion candidates at the beginning of the year.
But that’s the position the Erne county find themselves in and it’s all in their own hands.
Win on Sunday, and Fermanagh won’t have to worry about other teams and other results. And they’ll be determined to dictate their own destiny.
If that doesn’t work and the Breffni Blues get back to winning ways, then Fermanagh can still go up, but only if Down overcome Offaly.
But should Fermanagh lose and Offaly win, the Faithful county will be promoted through the head-to-head rule.
So it’s all to play for and given Fermanagh’s run of form, they’ll be confident of producing the goods. They’ve only lost once, in round two to Offaly, and head to Breffni Park on the back of a four-game winning streak.
Lady luck has been in their corner for some of those games, or perhaps it’s a case of Fermanagh making their own luck?
Two late Sean Quigley goals saw them pick up maximum points against Down and Antrim, while last weekend they earned their third
one-point win of the season, defeating then promotion challengers Westmeath.
Quigley seems to be employed in more of an impact sub role this season and what an impact he has made! Fermanagh have serious quality in their ranks, players good enough to cause any team trouble.
Ultan Kelm, Darragh McGurn and Ryan Lyons are all scoring threats, while Ryan Jones and Che Cullen are experienced campaigners.
Fermanagh’s want and need to win will be stronger than their hosts, and that could guide them to victory and promotion.
