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This is the strongest Cavan panel I've been part of: Breffni stalwart Raymond Galligan

Raymond Galligan enjoys last Saturday's Division Three final triumph with baby son Rian and nephews Oisin Flanagan (right) and Jack Flanagan. Picture by Mark Marlow
Raymond Galligan enjoys last Saturday's Division Three final triumph with baby son Rian and nephews Oisin Flanagan (right) and Jack Flanagan. Picture by Mark Marlow Raymond Galligan enjoys last Saturday's Division Three final triumph with baby son Rian and nephews Oisin Flanagan (right) and Jack Flanagan. Picture by Mark Marlow
By Neil Loughran

THERE is little Raymond Galligan hasn’t seen since first donning Breffni blue as a teenage full-forward back in the summer of 2006.

The wilderness years, the brink of a breakthrough under Terry Hyland, the almighty high of Ulster Championship glory in Covid times and the inexplicable slide down to Division Four.

Players and managers have come and gone across 17 years, the door revolving more rapidly at some points than others. Now, though, there exists a calming continuity on both sides of the line as Cavan build towards an Ulster showdown with the winners of Saturday’s preliminary round clash between Antrim and Armagh.

Last weekend’s Division Three final victory over neighbours Fermanagh was another step on the road for a side that started the year like a steam train, only slowing up when a second successive promotion was secured.

And as much as goalkeeper Galligan enjoys lifting silverware at Croke Park - especially when baby son Rian is at Croke Park for the first time - it is the bigger picture that pleases him most.

Boss Mickey Graham is in his sixth year at the helm, during which time there has been much more good than bad, while on the playing front Cavan are stacked with experienced and emerging stars – stronger overall than at any other stage since Galligan came onboard.

“No disrespect to previous panels because there have been some fantastic players played for Cavan during my time, but what I feel we have now is a group of fantastic individuals who are playing as a team,” said the Breffni captain.

“We’re very lucky that we have the best players in Cavan playing. Over the last 15 or 16 years, we’d always lose players every year, but at the minute the vast majority are playing for Cavan.

“We have lots of depth, you saw it there today, the freshness coming off the bench really helped and that’s something you’re going to need going into the Ulster Championship because it’s bruising.

“That’s what we learned last year going through the Tailteann Cup, game on game, week on week, you really do need a panel, so there’s going to be lots of players getting opportunities over the next couple of weeks.”

And, with reaching an Ulster final their only possible route to this year’s All-Ireland series, Cavan might fancy their chances on the side of the draw without reigning provincial kingpins Derry or Division One counties Tyrone and Monaghan.

After defeats to Antrim and Fermanagh brought their League campaign to a close, it was important to rediscover some of that early season momentum – with a strong second half showing eventually seeing them past the Ernemen on Saturday.

“We were very lateral and passive the first half,” said the 35-year-old.

“Fermanagh were defensive and our attacks were very slow, it was just quite cagey. We were disappointed we let them out of defence a lot, we weren’t working hard enough up the field.

“Both teams were replicating each other, but in the second half we wanted to start tackling higher up the field, not let them out as easily, and then we were able to pierce holes and make more hard runs.

“We were very disappointed with the defeats to Antrim and Fermanagh - I suppose both teams had more of a purpose, we were a little complacent, and on top of that there was changes and injuries.

“But we have the depth and we probably should have got better results. Today we had no room for excuses, we knew we had to get a result going into Championship.

“Our short-term goal was to get back into Division Two and try and get the work done for next year, because ultimately we want to be in the All-Ireland series. We have the opportunity to go up now and hopefully stay there, but obviously we know Ulster Championship is our only pathway to the All-Ireland series this year.

“Whether it’s Antrim or Armagh, it’s not going to be easy. We got a lesson two weeks ago from Antrim, and we have seen Armagh putting on serious displays in Division One, albeit they came the wrong side of a few results, but they have a fantastic panel.”