Senior hurlers seek opening National League victory

Hurling

Kevin Óg Carney

Cavan’s senior hurlers will attempt to keep their recently penned feel-good story going this Saturday when they open their National Hurling League Division 3 account in Castlebar (1pm).

Ollie Bellew’s charges will go into this weekend’s first round tie as hot underdogs on the basis of every statistic, naked tradition and every ounce of investment that has traditionally separated the game of hurling as pertains in Mayo with that which has pock-marked the national sport in Cavan.

Traditionally, Mayo and Cavan hurlers have operated in parallel universes over the years but in recent times what was an enormous chasm has morphed into a walkable bridge as the westerners’ erstwhile decline has been mirrored by a clear upturn in the fortunes of Cavan’s premier hurling team.

Indeed, when the sides met in their corresponding NHL Division 3A clash at MacHale Park last spring, the hosts got more than they bargained for and their eventual seven point (2-17 to 1-13) winning margin flattered them somewhat.

The game was evenly-contested throughout, played at a high tempo and replete with some quality scores in both halves and even though Mayo stole a march on Cavan in the first half and managed to lead by 1-9 to 0-7 at the interval, the blues never looked in danger of being cut adrift.

Indeed when former Cuala player Nicky Kenny plundered 1-1 for Cavan in the early minutes of the second half, Mayo found themselves more and more on the back foot and they went onto be out-scored by 0-1 to 0-6 in the third quarter.

Mayo bent but failed to break though and they showed their hurling nous and inner belief to weather Cavan’s gutsy challenge en route to topping the league table with 10 points from their five games.

The scorers and line-outs in the teams’ 2024 NHL Division 3A meeting in Castlebar was as follows:

Scorers

Mayo: Liam Lavin 1-3, Adrian Phillips 0-5, Cormac Phillips 0-4f, Daniel Huane 0-3, Michael Farrell 1-0, Eoin Delaney and Sean Kenny 0-1 each.

Cavan: Nicholas Kenny 1-6 (0-1f), Liam O’Brien 0-4f, Canice Maher, Jack McGuinness and Dairmuid Carney 0-1 each.

Mayo: Davog Freyne; Luke Connor, Eoghan Collins, Sean Mulroy; Conal Hession, David Kenny, Danny Hill; Daniel Huane, Sean Kenny; Liam Lavin, Adrian Phillips, John Heraty; Michael Farrell, Cormac Phillips, Eoin Delaney. Subs: Conor Murray and Oisin Greally(for Connor and Heraty ht); Joseph Burke (for Mulroy 43); Bobby Douglas (for Freyne 46); Jack Doocey (for Farrell 68).

Cavan: Niall Clerkin; Shane Briody, Gavin Fitzpatrick, Philip McCabe; Liam Óg Cooke, Diarmaid Carney, Dillon Mulligan; Canice Maher, Jack McGuinness, Liam O’Brien, Jack Barry, Thomas Leonard, Rian Delaney, Nicholas Kenny Matthew Hynes. Subs: Brian Fitzgerald (for Delaney 49); John Carney (for Leonard 58); Oisin Gaffney (for Briody 67); Rory Farrell (for McGuinness 68); Conor Masterson (for Barry 71).

Ultimately, Cavan’s league campaign in 2024 ended with them finishing in third spot, four points behind Mayo and one point behind second placed Sligo. Cavan’s subsequent league semi-final defeat (1-14 to 0-22) to Sligo brought an end to what was a relatively successful campaign ahead of their championship (Lory Meagher Cup) outings.

Last May saw Cavan complete their 2024 season with a whopping 7-19 to 0-18 win over Leitrim in the final round of the Lory Meagher Cup. Sadly, Cavan failed to make the final by dint of scoring difference.

Aside from Mayo, Cavan will also face London, Wicklow, Roscommon, Sligo and Armagh in this year’s Division 3. All bar none of the nation’s turf accountants will be tipping Cavan to slide back down a division after their back-to-back promotions over the last two years.

In recent weeks the squad has had run-outs in challenge matches against Louth, Derry U21s, Leitrim and Fermanagh with the inclusion of a couple of ‘guest’ players from Antrim a notable point of interest as the panel takes shape.

Backed by players from perennial provincial title (Intermediate) challengers, Toureen, Mayo will take some handling this Saturday but if Cavan can hit the ground running and believe in themselves, the issue could go right down to the wire.