Cavan fancied to make it five wins in succession

Preview

After the first two rounds of the National League, Cavan were priced as odds-on shots to be relegated and, if we’re honest, it wasn’t hard to see why.

Cavan played poorly against both Monaghan and, in particular, Meath in those matches but, in the interim, all has changed utterly. The Blues rode their luck a little against Louth but ground out the win, showing that refusal to lose which is key for all successful teams.

Against Westmeath next time out, they were 14 points behind at one stage on a day when a gale blew in Cusack Park but they tore into the home side after half-time and won, going away, by four points.

The confidence gleaned from those two crucial ones was apparent against Down. In a match which was close all through against opposition who were scrapping for their lives, Cavan put in their best performance of the first five rounds, with superb individual showings across the pitch.

Suddenly, the dream of promotion – an aim Cavan have had since the outset, although it wasn’t said publicly – was back on but, to keep it alive, they would have to do that rare thing for the Breffnimen over the last 15 years or so and beat Roscommon.

Last Sunday, they did that and in some style too. Despite a lengthy injury list, which got worse as the game itself wore on, Cavan pushed on and beat the promotion-hunting Rossies with a couple of points to spare.

The Blues have only conceded one goal in the last four matches and, to a man, all are playing well. It’s hard to believe that the team who defended and attacked so well in ‘the Hyde’ last week were the same group who were so out of sorts in Páirc Tailteann exactly six weeks earlier.

That’s football, though, and momentum, whether it’s for you or against you, is a very powerful thing. Cavan will seek to surf that wave today against Cork, who make the long journey north.

Cavan have turned things around spectacularly and the county's support, dormant at times, is beginning to erupt, which is testament to how this side have captured the public's imagination in recent weeks.

Cavan have a positive record against the Rebels in the last 20 years; a heavy qualifier defeat in 2010, a year in which a brilliant Cork side subsequently brought Sam south, aside, Cavan did win league matches against the ‘blood and bandage’ in 2008 at today’s venue and twice since in Páirc Uí Chaoímh.

The Rebels sit on six points and, while their talent is not in question, for some reason they have struggled for consistency in this campaign.

They beat Meath, lost to Down, beat Westmeath, lost to Monaghan, lost to Roscommon and beat Louth. Cavan are one of the only teams in the country currently on a four-match winning streak but consistency has traditionally not always been the Blues’ strong suit either so predicting the winner of today’s match is not easy.

However, Cavan are favourites and will surely put their best foot forward as they chase a win and hope results elsewhere go their way and catapult them back to the top flight for the first time since 2019.

Ray Galligan and his backroom team and players will be well aware that Cork are a very good side who have championship wins over Donegal, Mayo and Roscommon in the last two seasons while also running Kerry close on two occasions.

But Cavan are improving game on game and if their injury problems clear up and hopefully roared on by a large home crowd, they will be confident of making it five wins in succession.

Promotion feels like an after-thought but, for Cavan, it's still a libe possibility.

Cavan will be promoted, essentially, if three things happen: they beat Cork, Meath fail to beat Louth and Down fail to beat Monaghan. If all three criteria are met, Cavan will be promoted.

There are other permutations. Cavan will also be promoted if these three things happen: they beat Cork, Meath fail to beat Louth and Roscommon fail to beat Westmeath. If all these three criteria are met, Cavan will be promoted.

With championship just around the corner, it’s all to play for.