Although 1997 still looms large in the memory around Cavan, it doesn't really matter any more. After the easy days of the mid-century, Ulster titles became an elusive acquisition for the county team, which is why the late win over Derry four years ago was treated as a breakthrough. Peter Reilly was one of the young guns that day and on Sunday he will captain Cavan as they set out for their first Ulster title since that famous win.

"There's only four or five of us left from that time. We were on a high but even then we knew it was going to be difficult to repeat what we had done. Look at Meath in 1999 - All-Ireland champions and then Offaly knock them out in the first round last summer. That's what happens. And we were a mature team then and a lot of calibre players began to take their leave. You don't replace those overnight."

Cavan have not been helped by a draw which has paired them with Derry for the past three seasons. "We undersold ourselves badly in those matches . . . once they (Derry) get ahead of you and sense you are worried, they'll just destroy you. It never came together for us. So it is a relief not to be up against them, because even though you wouldn't fear them, the events of the past few years would be in the back of your mind. Now, I wouldn't mind meeting them in an Ulster final. That would be a different matter, when we'd have a few games behind us."

Not that Reilly considers Down an easy touch. "Down always produce fast, skilful players and they have a great championship record. But we are going to just concentrate on our own game. Val (Andrews, the Cavan manager) will have instructions about marking and what to look for."

Cavan's attack still bears a familiar, promising look, while the formidable Dermot McCabe is back at midfield. However, there are championship debuts for defenders Tomas Prior and Michael Brides, half backs Edward Jacobs and James Doonan, and midfielder Barry McCrudden.

"It will be a test for them," reckons Reilly, "but they are up to it. It's the only way to gain experience. And more and more it is becoming a young man's game." Whatever happens in Casement Park, Cavan will get another outing this summer. "I think the new system is a terrific idea. Look at Donegal last week, terribly unlucky and they are still there. It'll be hard for them to pick it up but if they get a handy draw, who knows how far they'll go. "Now, it would be tough on a team if a side they beat early on came back later and got revenge, but so be it. But we obviously want to progress the traditional way. I don't know how far we can get because we have not looked past Down."