THERE has hardly been a dull moment in Cavan since Mickey Graham took over as manager for the 2019 season. As a player, Cavan Gaels’ clubman Graham was an all-action forward and he has produced a team in his own image.
In every year of his tenure, the Breffnimen have played in a different League from Division One (2019) to Division Four (2022) and on top of that there was an Ulster title in 2020 and appearances in the 2019 provincial decider and last year’s Tailteann Cup final.
It hasn’t all been sunshine, there have been relegations and disappointments along the way, but life has always been interesting under Graham.
“It’s never straightforward in Cavan,” says Graham with a chuckle.
“There’s always turmoil somewhere, it never seems to be plain-sailing. Lookit, there was obviously a couple of tough years there with the League when we were bringing in different players and trying new things out and we suffered and we went down to Division Four.
“But, to be honest, going down there probably gave us the opportunity to blood new players and this year we have had seven or eight debutants and Division Three was a great place to do that so we’re hoping that will stand to us.
“The League is the League and, yes, you’d like to be playing against the better teams to expose yourself to that level but we’ve competed well in the Ulster Championship in the last five years that I’ve been involved and, on any given day, when we’re in the right mindset we can be a match for anybody I feel.
“We’re always geared towards the Championship, Cavan is traditionally a Championship county and we’re looking forward to getting started.”
The injuries that had begun to mount-up in the closing stages of the League cleared up before the Division Three final and the walking wounded, including Dara McVeety, were back to help Cavan to a six-point win over Fermanagh.
They’ve had three weeks to get everyone right since then and they’ve had nothing else to think about than Armagh for the last fortnight. Graham even had the advantage of seeing the Orchardmen in the preliminary round against an Antrim side that had beaten Cavan, albeit in a virtual dead rubber, at Corrigan Park in the League.
Armagh, even without Rian O’Neill, Andrew Murnin and Jarly Og Burns, beat Antrim at a canter.
“Armagh have been knocking on the door for the last number of years,” said Graham.
“They have been playing at a high level in Division One so we know it’s going to be a tough encounter. I’d say at the start of the Championship Armagh would have been the favourites for Ulster along with Derry and Tyrone.
“They’ll be looking at this side of the draw and thinking it’s a great opportunity for them. They got relegated but I wouldn’t read too much into that, they’re a Championship team.”
Experienced Cavan goalkeeper Raymond Galligan observed recently that this Breffni panel is the strongest he’s been involved with. Graham agrees that there is strength-in-depth in his squad.
“We definitely have a strong squad there,” said Graham.
“We brought in a number of young lads to the squad this year and they have really adapted well. They’re still developing but you’d be happy that there’s good competition for places within the squad and that drives everybody on.
“New lads bring energy and enthusiasm and they’re chomping at the bit and that keeps the lads that have been there for a while on their toes.”
Mickey Graham season-by-season
2019: Relegated to Division Two/Ulster Championship finalists
2020: Relegated to Division Three/Ulster Champions
2021: Relegated to Division Four
2022: Division Four champions/Tailteann Cup finalists
2023: Division Three champions/?
