Cavan team named for acid test against Down

GAA news

Paul Fitzpatrick

Cavan face the acid test in the Tailteann Cup today as they take on Down in the quarter-final of the Tailteann Cup (5.15pm, Kingspan Breffni).

The Cavan starting team is unchanged from the win over Offaly, with Dara McVeety, Jason McLoughlin and Gerard Smith, who are all returning from injury, named on the bench. Of course, there is the possibility of late changed to the starting line-up, with doubts over the fitness of a couple of those named to start.

The Blues are rated as favourites to win the competition outright, with Down having been installed as second favourites from the outset. Down, who defeated Donegal in the Ulster Championship before losing the semi-final heavily to Armagh, finished second in their group following a round three loss to Meath, which increased the chances of meeting Cavan given that Mickey Graham’s men could not face group-winners Limerick, Antrim or Meath nor Laois, whom they had already played.

Two goals from Paddy Lynch helped Cavan beat Down by seven points in the league back on March 5 but that game was close for long spells, with Cavan just two points in front with 65 minutes played.

A win would catapult Cavan back to Croke Park and leave them just two wins away from banishing the spectre of 2022, when they lost the inaugural Tailteann Cup final to Westmeath.

Down came from five points down to comfortably beat Longford last weekend in the preliminary quarter-final.

Meanwhile, there will be a double-header at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday as Dublin meet Sligo (1.45) and Tyrone face Westmeath (4pm).

Cavan: Ray Galligan, Cian Reilly, Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Ciaran Brady, Oisin Kiernan, Conor Brady, Gearoid McKiernan, Killian Clarke, Cian Madden, Jonathan McCabe, Tiarnan Madden, Brandon Boylan, Paddy Lynch, Oisin Brady.

Subs: Liam Brady, Conor Moynagh, Evan Finnegan, Jason McLoughlin, Dara McVeety, Gerard Smith, Conor Rehill, Ryan O’Neill, Tristan Noack Hoffman, Ryan Donohoe, Caoimhan McGovern