Football

Cavan and Offaly do battle for automatic quarter-final place

Paddy Lynch will be Cavan's chief scoring threat against Offaly Picture by Philip Walsh
Paddy Lynch will be Cavan's chief scoring threat against Offaly Picture by Philip Walsh Paddy Lynch will be Cavan's chief scoring threat against Offaly Picture by Philip Walsh

Tailteann Cup Group 1, round three

Cavan v Offaly (Saturday, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 3pm)

CAVAN can progress to the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup with a win over Offaly in Pearse Park today and continue their fine run of form.

Mickey Graham’s side, who reached the Tailteann Cup final last season but lost to Westmeath by four points, are favourites to collect silverware this year.

Their displays against both Laois and London weren’t always top-notch but the Breffni Blues made it through both encounters unscathed.

Wrecking-ball full-forward Paddy Lynch has led the way in terms of scoring as Cavan limped through large periods of those games, but eventually came good to show their class and climb to the top of their group.

The Crosserlough attacker slotted home a spot-kick in the first game against Laois to give his side a narrow two-point lead at the halfway stage, but the home side sprinted over the line after the turnaround, to win 2-20 to 1-14, conceding just six points in the second period.

A trip to London in round two posed its own problems, and again the gap was minimal at the break, with Cavan leading by just one point, but Graham’s men stormed to a 0-18 to 2-6 victory in the end with Lynch nailing a personal haul of 0-7.

Offaly have had a decent campaign too and like Cavan, are unbeaten in the competition after the opening two rounds. A nine-point victory over London was followed up by an even 1-11 apiece draw away to Laois.

The Faithful county, who were devastatingly close to reaching the Leinster final this season, only to be knocked out by Louth after extra-time in the semi-final, have been motoring well in the Tailteann Cup, recording three goals in two outings.

Youngster Cian Farrell was responsible for both of their three-pointers against London, while Joe Maher’s late major helped snatch a draw from an unlikely position against Laois.

On the scoring front, David Hyland and Nigel Dunne have been keeping the scoreboard ticking over, while Farrell claimed 2-4 in the first round. Ruairi McNamee and Anton Sullivan are quality players in the half-forward line, and Cavan will be well aware of their threat.

This afternoon’s meeting won’t be the first time these two teams have crossed swords this season, having clashed during the Division Three League campaign. Cavan were seven-point winners in Tullamore back in February, on their way to collecting the league title.

The 2020 Ulster champions have been around the block and know what it takes to win on the big days. And they have household names that would feature on many teams throughout the country such as Raymond Galligan, Killian Clarke, Lynch and Gearoid McKiernan.

They will be without midfield James Smith, however, who started both games against Laois and London but has recently left the panel due to work commitments.

A win will allow Cavan to have an extra week’s preparation ahead of the last-eight battles and even in defeat, they’ll still qualify for the preliminary quarter-finals, though that notion won’t enter their minds.