PREVIEW: 2019 IFC is wide open again

Paul Fitzpatrick runs an eye over the 15 teams taking their chances in this year’s Hotel Kilmore Intermediate Football Championship.

Drumlane

Drumlane were always a hard team to beat in intermediate ranks for the guts of two decades, reaching the final in 2010, but slipped through the relegation trapdoor at the end of the season before last.
They regrouped impressively, storming to glory in the Junior Championship last season, lifting the Sean Leddy Cup with a replay win over a fancied Killinkere in the final.
The form of attackers Darragh Dolan – who came from nowhere and was one of the stand-out players in the championship – along with the well-established Gary Tubman and Ryan Connolly was crucial to that success, with Connolly in particular a very impressive ball-striker with a glittering underage CV.
Drumlane’s real strength, though, lies in their back nine. Goalkeeper Gareth ‘Patch’ Corrigan is rock solid and in front of him, the long-serving John O’Dowd is as safe as they come. Donal Monahan is a very athletic defender who was breaking into the Cavan senior team before opting out of county football this year while midfielders Kian Monahan and Dane O’Dowd (below) would not be out of place in senior ranks.
Even though they had a disappointing league campaign – much of which can be attributed to a hangover from last year’s championship triumph, a first in 19 years – it’s notable that the Sons of O’Connell had the best defensive record in Division 2.
They open their account against Swanlinbar and will be fancied to win that west Cavan derby. If they can gather some momentum in the early rounds, Fintan Reilly’s men could well enjoy an extended championship run.

Manager: Fintan Reilly
Star man: Ryan Connolly
Last year: JFC winners

Ballinagh

In terms of league football, Ballinagh are the highest-ranked side in the Intermediate Championship. They finished eighth in Division 1 while managing four draws – had they converted those into wins, they would comfortably have made the semi-finals.
Holding Ramor United, Castlerahan and Crosserlough to stalemates is evidence of a side who are well fit to last the pace against the best teams in the county, too. Under manager Adrian Maguire and trainer Brian Donohoe, there has been a renewed focus this season as they look to replicate the recent feats of Lacken (2012) and Mullahoran (2018) by bouncing back to senior ranks at the first time of asking.
Certainly, there is no shortage of experience in the side. The likes of Padraic O’Reilly, Declan Beard, Niall O’Reilly, Killian McBride, Thomas Moore, Kevin Smith, David Finnegan and Patrick Carroll were all key starting players on the 2013 Senior Championship-winning team and all have been going well.
Carroll has been a tower of strength at number three, Moore is playing his best football in a few seasons and Smith has excelled in free-taking duties. Throw into the mix Cavan senior player in waiting Cormac Timoney, who missed out last season through injury, and this is a formidable looking side.
Since the senior success, a number of new faces have come into the team, notably Gavin Smith, Evan Finnegan, Shane Finnegan and Thomas Smith which has freshened things up and provided a real energy to complement the battle-hardened veterans.
Of course, the man missing from the list of old hands is former county star Niall McDermott, who was consistently one of the most outstanding club players in the county before emigrating to Australia. Rumours abound that McDermott may return in time for championship but understandably, all involved are keeping tight-lipped – marginal gains and all that!
Ballinagh open with a tough assignment against Belturbet, who have been there or thereabouts for a few years now, but on all known form, they will start as favourites to win the title for the fourth time in the club’s history.

Manager: Adrian Maguire 
Star man: Padraic O'Reilly 
Last year: Relegated from SFC

Ballyhaise

The Annalee Park men parted company with manager Laurence Brady before a competitive ball was kicked, which is never a good sign, but the new management have done an excellent job since taking the reins for the beginning of the league.
Having waited so long to win the Intermediate Championship, they were unlucky to go straight back down in 2016, losing a replay to Killygarry and then – in a freakish turn of events – running into Cavan Gaels of all teams in the relegation final.
The following year, they regrouped and returned to the final where Shercock stunned them. Last season, then, they seemed to be running on fumes and were well below par when ending up in another relegation final, seeing off neighbours Redhills in the ‘One Tree Clasico’ to save their status.
This term, Ballyhaise have been very impressive, losing just twice in their 13 regulation league games – and those losses came against Killinkere, by a point, and Bailieborough, a reversal they later emphatically avenged in the promotion play-off before they went on to claim the title on Sunday last.
This squad have been light on defenders in recent years and top heavy with forwards and that situation was not helped by the absence of key men Mark Brennan and Shane Briody, both in Australia.
However, Aaron Watson has really found his feet and the relocation of Sean McCormack to full-back has worked out brilliantly. At midfield, Conor Lyons has been his usual consistent self, assisted at times by the promising youngster Eoin Clarke who has been a real find.
And up top, there is an impressive spread of scorers. David Brady has had some injury problems but he is a thoroughbred and will be a huge addition when he returns to the team.
In his absence, the likes of younger brother Michael and Martin Conaty have been going very well while Kevin Tierney, who turned in an exhibition against Bailieborough recently, is fit again and has been scoring prolifically as per his normal standard.
All in all, things look very promising and with the league title secured last Sunday, confidence will be high going into championship, where old friends Bailieborough await. Ballyhaise are good enough to win the title outright and are hitting their stride at the right time but there is a lot of football to be played yet.

Manager: Aidan Watters, Pat Duggan, Noel Walshe 
Star man: Kevin Tierney 
Last year: Group stages

Arva

Arva have been on a remarkable and eventful journey for the last seven years or so. It’s hard to believe that since 2013, they have played in two Junior Championship finals, two Intermediate finals and enjoyed a year in senior ranks as well as playing in all four – when there were four – divisions of the All-County Football League.
A young side rose to prominence together and stuck with it, through good days and bad, bouncing back from losing a junior final to Kill and an intermediate decider to Ballyhaise to win those titles in the following seasons.
That spoke volumes for the spirit and dedication present among their panel but in their first year at the top grade, they were handed an extremely tough draw, pitting them against Cavan Gaels, Ramor, Lavey and Castlerahan, who were three of the previous year’s semi-finalists and that particular season’s eventual champions.
So, they tumbled back down to intermediate level and seemed to run out of road when they were unexpectedly beaten by Butlersbridge at the quarter-final stage last year. Momentum is a powerful force in football and it can work both ways as Arva found out at the start of this year – when the ship starts to sway, it can be hard to correct.
Minus a few regulars, Arva were beaten in their first seven matches in the league but aside from the heavy loss to Knockbride in round four, they lost their first six matches by a goal, three points, a point, a goal and a point respectively.
They stopped the rot then against Swanlinbar but their form remained patchy. A big win over Cuchulainns in the final group game wasn’t enough to save them from a relegation play-off.
But this team’s record in championship football is a good one and while on the face of it they may appear vulnerable, nobody will want to face them in the next few weeks.
While Jonny McCabe is in Australia, the attack still packs a punch; forwards such as Conal Sheridan, Brian Ellis and the outstanding Kevin Bouchier are senior standard. Dermot and Fergal McGlade have both been away on a year's travel and there are a lot of new faces but Arva should but be discounted.

Manager: Stephen McCoy 
Star man: Ciaran Brady 
Last year: Quarter-final

Ballymachugh

Under the management of former Crosserlough selector Raymond Reilly, the Hughs have already achieved this year's core objective by topping Division 3 and gaining automatic promotion.
The introduction of minor stars Darragh Sheridan, Patrick Goldrick and Ryan Smith has offset the loss of Dillon and Darragh Kiernan to travel and injury respectively.
The return of former county man Liam Buchanan to the middle of the field has allowed James Smith and Mark Kiernan to supplement the attack along with Padraig Galligan (above).
In the championship they will look to consolidate their intermediate status but are more than capable of causing a shock or two on this year's league form.
Ballymachugh made the breakthrough at Junior Championship level in 2017 but had a poor enough campaign last year. This term, they appear to have their mojo back, losing just once (away to Drumgoon) in the regular league before falling to the same side in last Sunday’s final.
The Hughs have a bye in the first round of the championship.

Manager: Raymond Reilly 
Star man: Mark Kiernan 
Last year: Group stage

Bailieborough

The Shamrocks have been building incrementally for the last few seasons. Last year, they had a big win over eventual champions Mullahoran in the group stages before losing to Laragh in a replayed quarter-final and they will be aiming to go a couple of steps better this time round.
A number of players have been in outstanding form. While Alan O'Mara is currently in America, the defence has been settled with Philip Clarke and Sean Cooney excelling.
At midfield, Christopher Dunne has been superb, with Rhys Clarke, Luke Gilsenan and Gary Daly very impressive up front.
Gilsenan has missed out of late due to injury but is nearing a return while county man Michael Argue, who has played just one full game and didn't see much game time with Cavan, is also close to full fitness and will be a massive addition when he is.
The mystifying collapse in their form in recent weeks does not inspire confidence, however. After a slow start in which they lost two of their first three games against Shercock and Killinkere, they won eight of their next nine, culminating in victories over Ballyhaise and Swanlinbar in which they hit a cumulative total of 10-26.
Four points up at half-time in New Inns against Lavey and a return to the top flight after 15 years away beckoning, they conceded four goals in the second half and lost – and then Ballyhaise, whom they had beaten by 13 points three weeks earlier, thumped them in the resulting play-off.
They open their championship campaign against the same opponents in Cootehill, a match which should tell us a lot more about both teams. In a wide open championship, it is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility that the Shamrocks would go a long way. A club with their history, tradition and population base should be in senior ranks and they are putting in an almighty effort to get there. Don't rule them out!

Manager: Michael O’Rourke 
Star man: Rhys Clarke 
Last year: Quarter-final

Butlersbridge

The ’Bridge have been threatening a major breakthrough for a few years now, having first emerged as a 'coming team' when rattling eventual winners Ballyhaise in 2015.
Three championships have passed since and under the management of Leitrim native George Dugdale, progress has been made, with the club qualifying for the semi-final of the Intermediate Championship last year for the first time since the late 1970s.
Their recent league campaign was up and down – a terrific opening day win in Killinkere followed by a loss to Drumlane, a victory over Lavey and three winless matches before they strung four wins together and, status secured, finished with two defeats.
The return of former Cavan stalwart Feargal Flanagan has been a huge boost. He is the fulcrum of the side and is well supported around the middle by the classy John Fitzpatrick, a quality ball-player who is always good for a few scores.
Patrick Flynn has been doing well at full-back with Peter Conaty now on free-taking duties. The Leddy brothers, Jonny and Killian, are both out injured with back and knee (cruciate) injuries which is a blow as both are exceptionally skilful footballers.
The return of Caoimhin O'Reilly, who missed out due to injury and county commitments for most of the league (bagging a hat-trick in the only match he played, against Cornafean) should have a transformative effect on the attack.
O'Reilly's brawn is needed because if there is one area in which the Bridge are lacking it is in terms of physique. Their first round match is against Ramor United's second string, who will, naturally, be something of an unknown quantity but there is potential in this side, as they showed when toppling Arva to make the last four in 2018.

Manager: George Dugdale
Star man: Feargal Flanagan
Last year: Semi-final

Drumgoon

Like Ballymachugh, the Boyle Park men have achieved their primary goal of securing promotion in the league and lifting the cup on Sunday was the cherry on top.
The driving force of their team has been captain Keith Fannin whose commitment to the cause – for a player who has won numerous county medals before now and represented Cavan at all levels – is extraordinary.
The former Cavan utility man is based in Inverness and flies home for matches, driving a couple of hours to Edinburgh before even catching a flight. The captain's drive has been a real source of inspiration to the younger players on the panel, with the likes of defender Donal Keappock and half-forward Caolan Jackson really growing as the year has gone on.
A county senior player is worth his weight in gold at this level too and Conor Moynagh (above) has also been outstanding all year, bringing leadership and class to the starting team. Elsewhere, midfielder and right-sided freetaker Conall Farrell has also been motoring well.
Ciaran O'Malley has proven himself to be a very astute manager who is popular with and can get the best from players and the canny Meath native will feel that qualifying for the last eight – with promotion secured – would mark a very good season for the Eire Ógs.
What won't help their chances, though, is a hectic run of matches in the lead-in to championship. The first round of the championship against Laragh United on Friday evening will be the fourth match in 13 days, each of them potentially season-defining at the time.
Several of the squad also lined out in a reserve game last Friday evening, meaning they have five games in 13 days. It could be argued that a club with small numbers is being punished for doing so well in the league.

Manager: Ciaran O'Malley 
Star man: Conor Moynagh 
Last season: Group stages

Laragh United

Laragh have been building with a young team for a few years now and have been knocking on the door at intermediate level.
In 2016, they were beaten by a point in the semi-final by Killinkere, who themselves lost by the final by the same margin after a replay against Arva. In 2017, Laragh again lost by the minimum, this time to eventual winners Shercock in the quarter-final while last year, they were beaten by two points in the semi-final by Cuchulainns.
On the evidence of those results, they have been very close and that feeling was underpinned when they gained promotion to Division 1 of the ACFL for this year.
Their league campaign in the top flight started poorly. They began their season with three defeats, had a good win over Kingscourt and then lost three more and seemed to be heading for relegation but their revival started with a fantastic 2-16 to 2-15 victory over Cavan Gaels five weeks ago.
A narrow loss to Castlerahan was followed by an away success in Cootehill (not an easy place to go, with the Gaels, Lacken, Kingscourt and Gowna all failing to win there) and another in Mullahoran.
They say the table does not lie but in this case, it’s certainly telling fibs. Laragh’s slow start was a result of a horrendous injury list; as players began to return to the fold, performances picked up and results followed.
The current side, under former Meath star Jody Devine, is a well-balanced one. MacRory Cup medallist Fergal O’Rourke is one of the top goalkeepers around while wing-backs Lee Reilly and Ian Leddy love to bomb forward.
Shane O’Rourke and Fergal McKenna form a physically powerful midfield with the likes of Paul Smith and the tall, rangy and athletic Jack McKenna among the stand-outs in a mobile front six.
Playing in Division 1 will stand to them and they are expected to make a bold bid for championship honours.

Manager: Jody Devine 
Star man: Jack McKenna 
Last season: Semi-final

Swanlinbar

Swad found themselves rooted to the bottom of Division 2 of the league after just one win in their 13 matches. Injuries were an issue and, worryingly, they continued to leak goals at an alarming rate.
They shipped 27 three-pointers in last year’s All-County Football League (13 games) and another 13 in five championship matches, bringing the total to 40 in 18 matches.
That trend continued this year. In the 11 fixtures the St Mary’s fulfilled in Division 2 of the league, they conceded 32 goals. One clean sheet – a league game against Butlersbridge last year – and 72 goals conceded in 29 games makes for ugly reading and puts serious pressure on the team to post a big score at the other end.
Their single victory this year was against Cornafean on an evening when talisman Gearoid McKiernan scored 0-10. He, along with Cliftonville soccer star Chris Curran, will once again be crucial to their hopes.
If they can get everyone on the pitch, they will be no pushovers. There is plenty of ability in this Swanlinbar team and they have traditionally been able to lift their game for championship.
They will be targeting the opening game against Drumlane as one where they could pick up points but their defensive record will have to improve greatly if they are to go deep in the draw.

Manager: John Cunningham 
Star man: Gearoid McKiernan 
Last year: Group stage 
 
Belturbet  

The Rorys finished seventh in Division 2 with six wins, five losses and two draws and struggled for consistency at times. Their wins against Swanlinbar and Butlersbridge in the last two rounds of the league marked the first time they put back-to-back victories together, with their patchy form reading LWLWLWDLLWW. 
However, when evaluating the championship, an asterisk can be placed beside this form as the Rorys have been able to peak when it matters in recent years. They have consistently performed well in the Intermediate Championship, only failing to make the knock-out stages once in the last four renewals. 
Belturbet lost narrowly to eventual winners Arva in the 2015 semi-final, were beaten by a point after a replay against Ballyhaise in the 2017 semi-final and lost out in a replayed quarter-final against would-be champions Mullahoran last year. 
They have lots of experience in the likes of veterans Kevin McConnell and Eoin McGuigan while they have brought through a wave of talented young players of late, including Fionan O'Reilly among others. 
Conal McGinley has emerged as an outstanding player with an eye for a score while Enda Henry, a very accurate freetaker, is consistently among the highest scorers in the county. 
Throw into the mix team captain Brendan Fitzpatrick up front and Cavan U20 midfielder Cormac Donohoe and they have quite a potent mix. They have been handed probably the toughest possible draw in the opening round against Ballinagh but unless they are unlucky and have to face two or three of the other leading sides, it would be a surprise if they did not advance to the quarter-finals or better. 
 
Manager: Padraig Dolan 
Star man: Conall McGinley 
Last year: Quarter-final

Cornafean 

Having won the Junior Championship in 2016, Cornafean's aim would have been to consolidate in the higher grade and they have managed that in the last two seasons. 
In 2017, they made the quarter-finals but last year, they ended up in a relegation play-off, recording an impressive win over Ballyhaise which saved their status. 
This time around, the aim will have been to make further progress although league form was hit and miss. Only three teams in Division 2 conceded more, with the concession of goals a problem area (in five of their 13 games, they leaked two or more). 
That said, there are reasons to be optimistic. The emergence of young poacher Jack Trainor has taken some of the scoring burdern off the reliable Barry Doyle and the spine of the side remains in intact, with the three Wharton brothers influential figures up the middle. 
They take on Cuchulainns, whom they beat well in the first round of the league four months ago, in their first game and they will be hopeful of getting a positive result there. 
 
Manager: Paul Lynch
Star man: Barry Doyle 
Last year: Group stage

Cuchulainns 

Inconsistency was Cuchulainns' problem in the league but there is no doubting their talent, particularly in attack. They stormed to the final of the Intermediate Championship last year and were well in the game before Mullahoran ran away with it in the final quarter. 
This year, under the management of Michael Tynan, they have been excellent at times and poor at others, as shown by the fact that they finished fifth in the table while managing to beat two of the teams ranked above them in Killinkere and Lavey and draw with another (Ballyhaise). 
Eugene Keating has retired and Adam O'Reilly has opted out but the attack remains potent, with teenagers Sean and Micheál Kenny showing promise. The talented Evan Doughty, whose hamstring injury was a big blow in last year's final, is the go-to man in attack with the powerful Bryan Magee as usual a forceful presence around the middle and oustanding on frees.  
Adrian Taite is another who can be relied upon when the chips are down while David Carolan has recovered from a cruciate ligament injury and brings a real goal threat and Conor Smith is always a handful. 
At the back, options are not as plentiful. To win this championship for the fourth time in the club's history, they will have to tighten up at the back but any side with firepower up top and plenty of experience has to be respected. If they click, it would not be a major surprise to see them return to the final at least. 
 
Manager: Michael Tynan 
Star man: Evan Doughty 
Last year: Finalists
 

Killeshandra 

Operating in Division 3 is not ideal preparation for an assault on the Intermediate Championship but the Leaguers, who last won the title in 2013, have the benefit of having built up a lot of confidence-boosting wins. 
There was a gap in that division between themselves, Drumgoon, Ballymachugh and then the rest and the promotion places were always going to be decided by the outcome of those head-to-head meetings. 
They lost just once in the group stages of the league, beating eventual winners Drumgoon, although the Boyle Park men ultimately turned them over in the promotion play-off last week. 
The Leaguers bagged 33 goals in their 12 games (two games were conceded by opponents) but it is a big step up. However, key men such as goalkeeper Joe Masterson and Shane O'Reilly, Dara Tighe, Paddy King, Tomás O'Reilly and Daniel Luby have tonnes of experience at senior level and the emergence of young forward Eoin Brady last year gives the side some much-needed ammunition in the forward division. 
Killeshandra meet neighbours Arva in their first game which should tell a lot about where the Leaguers, a traditional championship team, are at.
 
Manager: Michael Murphy/Ciaran Owens
Star man: Dara Tighe

Ramor United 

The Virginia boys are something of an unknown quantity. They originally applied to take part in the Junior Championship but were facilitated in the higher grade. 
Their senior side is out first against Mullahoran and any player not used in that game is eligible. The pedigree of their young players has been well-flagged and there is plenty of experience there too which is likely to be utilised on the second string. 
All in all, Ramor's inclusion is a very interesting development and it will be fascinating to see how what will effectively be their reserve side will perform in this grade.