Antrim v Cavan: WHEN THE "opportunities of the draw" were politely mentioned before the Ulster championship, it was generally envisaged Down or Donegal would be the beneficiaries. Or even Fermanagh.
That Antrim and Cavan now have a provincial final place between them would not have been in many people’s minds. But both progressed deservedly, playing to their strengths and pulling off considerable surprises. Donegal were especially caught cold by an Antrim side picking up a first championship win in six years.
Donegal manager JJ Doherty was particularly impressed by the work rate of the visitors to Ballybofey but believes it will take more to reach the Ulster final.
“They’re a really hard-working team but their style may need to be reviewed. Against us they played a very defensive style and won a low-scoring game. I think they’re going to have to push out against Cavan but they’ve plenty of good footballers and some very athletic players.”
The success of St Gall’s at club level in recent years has lifted morale in the county as well as furnished an indicator of the quality of players available. Their hard work and steady nerve against Donegal only worked in the end because the home side were so wasteful, blowing 18 wides, against opponents who belied their inexperience by returning just a third of the Donegal total.
Cavan emerged from a humdrum league season to lead from the front against Fermanagh and never relax control of the game even when their opponents came back at them.
The high-energy work rate of Fermanagh’s game was negotiated again by efficiently taking chances – just four wides. But this evening will be a different challenge because although Antrim’s pressing game will be familiar their forwards will pose more of a threat than Fermanagh’s.
ANTRIM:P Graham; C Brady, A McClean, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey; M McCann, A Gallagher; T O'Neill, K Brady, N McKeever; P Cunningham, S Burke, T McCann.
CAVAN: J Reilly; M Hannon, D Sheridan, M Brides; J McCutcheon, E Keating, P O'Reilly; N Walsh, C Galligan; S Brady, R Flanagan, C Mackey; M Reilly, R Cullivan, S Johnston.
Referee:John Bannon (Longford).
In the last episode:Last year in Casement Park Cavan emerged as winners by 1-19 to 1-14. Cavan also won the 2005 meeting after a replay but Antrim's last championship win previous to the quarter-final defeat of Donegal was against this evening's opponents in 2003.
You bet:Cavan are clear favourites at 8/15 Cavan with Antrim good value on 19/10. The draw is 15/ 2. [Boylesports].
On your marks: It's a cliché by now but Seán Johnston is the key to Cavan's prospects. His three points from play against Fermanagh included a calmly dispatched score from an acute angle that effectively won the match. When they met last year he defined the difference between the sides, kicking six points from play in a five-point win.
Gaining ground: Cavan have to go back four years and a qualifier victory over Meath for their most recent championship trip to Clones but, according to the Ulster Council, Antrim haven't played championship in St Tiernach's Park since the provincial final of 1970, which ended in defeat by Derry, as Monaghan's home matches were until relatively recently played in Castleblaney, including the most recent meeting with Antrim 19 years ago.
Just the ticket: Stand: €25/£20 Terrace: €15/£13.
Crystal gazing:The reason Tom Carr's team are favourites is their forwards were able to survive the close attentions of Fermanagh's hard-working defence and take enough scores to win. That will again be the likely difference.
