Team of the Year Finalist: Arva’s treble of major titles
ARVA’S achievement in winning county, provincial and All-Ireland junior football honours captivated the county as they did what no other Cavan club or county men’s team has done in 72 years – went all the way to Croke Park and won an All-Ireland final. Arva opened their championship campaign with a 3-18 to 0-2 win over Munterconnaught in early August.
They followed up by beating Mountnugent (3-15 to 0-11), Drung (1-11 to 0-10) and Shannon Gaels (0-17 to 1-9). In the knock-out stages of the county championship, Arva defeated Kildallan by 1-17 to 0-1 and returned to the final by virtue of a 2-20 to 1-6 win over Drumalee. On the big day, they were 2-11 to 0-9 victors over Knockbride and they carried that form into the Ulster campaign.
A 2-17 to 0-8 away win over Derry champions Ballymaguigan was followed by a 1-11 to 0-4 victory over Lisnaskea. In the Ulster final, Arva had seven points to spare over Monaghan’s Blackhill, running out 0-13 to 0-6 winners, and they followed this up with a 2-8 to 1-3 win over British champions Wandsworth Gaels in the All-Ireland quarter-final at Kingspan Breffni to set up a crack at Leinster champions Milltown from Kildare.
Arva won that game by 2-16 to 1-9 to book their place at Croke Park, where they were to take on the might of Listowel Emmets from north Kerry. The Kingdom have dominated this particular competition since its inception but despite a slow start, the Cavanmen were not to be denied as they turned things around in the second half to win by 0-13 to 0-10 and bring the All-Ireland title home.
WATCH THE MOMENT ARVA WAS NAMED TEAM OF THE YEAR FOR 2024
In their 13 championship matches throughout the campaign, Arva scored 19-187 and conceded just 4-91. Having lost the county final by a point to eventual Ulster runners-up Drumlane in 2022, Arva were always strongly fancied by most to go a long way in 2023 (and, as it transpired, into 2024) and they realised their goals, overcoming injuries and adversity en route to glory at Croker.
However, there is a big difference between expecting and actually delivering, as Cavan football followers will be know too well, and Arva’s performances have been most impressive all season. What made their form even more striking is that they carried injuries into most games all year, with the likes of key men Conal Sheridan, Johnny McCabe and Kevin Bouchier all carrying knocks at various stages. However, they have made light of any setbacks encountered along the way, with different players stepping up at different times when needed.