All set for championship's moving weekend

Round 3 throws in tomorrow (Friday)

The third day in a golf Major is known as moving day, where the contenders and pretenders begin their ascent up the leaderboard in earnest.

Round three is down for decision on the local club championship scene and could well be termed 'moving weekend' as clubs begin to assert themselves.

At senior level, Cavan Gaels, Castlerahan, Kingscourt, Crosserlough and Ramor United are the early pace-setters with two wins from two. One of those teams' perfect record will go down this weekend when the Gaels and Ramor clash in Crosskeys in what is undoubtedly the tie of the round in the race for the Oliver Plunkett Cup, last held by those sides in 2017 and 2016 respectively.

Elsewhere, Gowna, who drew with Lavey last weekend in a thrilling game in Kilnaleck, meet Killygarry, who have suffered narrow losses to the Gaels and Kingscourt and need at least a point to keep their hopes of qualification for the knock-out stages alive.

Cavan Gaels look set to be without Niall Murray while Gowna will be missing Murray's county team-mate Conor Brady after both players picked up what are believed to be quite serious leg injuries.

Castlerahan, who welcomed back Paul Smith and Ronan Flanagan last week, face Mullahoran, who have had one big win and one equally big loss, with the Stars taking on winless Laragh United and Shercock meeting Lavey.

While there was a fear that with no relegation due to the Covid-19 disruption, some teams may lose motivation after two losses, it is worth noting that four points was good enough for sixth place in the group stage table for the last three years; there will, then, be no dead rubbers in round three at least.

At intermediate level, Drumlane v Cootehill could well be the pick of the matches in is, as always, an extremely competitive race for the Gilroy Cup.

Butlersbridge, who have seen off Drumlane and Cootehill, are the only team of the 15 with two wins to their name so far; they have a bye this weekend.

While a couple of matches took place last weekend, notably Swanlinbar – bolstered by the arrival of a cohort of players from Corlough – picking up a win over Drung, the Junior Championship will also get into full swing.

The meeting of Knockbride and last year's finalists Shannon Gaels in Milltown on Saturday looks like the best of the games.

In total, there are 19 matches down for decision.

Three in the running for U20 manager role

In other news, three individuals have been nominated for the role of manager of the Cavan U20 football team by the clubs after the deadline closed on Monday last.

Outgoing manager John Brady (Ramor United), former Cavan senior goalkeeper Darragh McCarthy (Ballinagh) and former U16 county manager Damien Donohoe (Drumalee) have all been nominated for the position.

The management committee of Cavan county board will appoint a sub-committee at its meeting next Monday after which an interview process will take place.

The sub-committee will also have the power to speak to other potential candidates should they see fit.

“The sub-committee will further the process, the manager may be one of those nominated by the clubs or it may not as per the process originally sent out to the clubs,” stated county secretary Liam McCabe.