News round-up: Keith Duggan talks to Eamonn Coleman who is relishing his task as Cavan prepare for their replay with Down

Ambition is relative. Eamonn Coleman has done it all as a manager, but right now, in mid May, he is merely happy to be again facing Down, in Breffni Park on May 30th, in the first-round replay of the Ulster championship.

Down, he reckons, are one of the four real contenders for the provincial titles. Cavan are not on Coleman's public shortlist. "Ah, that would be wishin', " he says.

"Right now, we would be real dark horses in a championship with the likes of Armagh and Tyrone and Donegal and Down. Any one of those four could come through. We are a young team. Maybe if I had Dermot McCabe and Larry Reilly fully fit I would fancy my chances, but without our two senior players, we are up against it a bit. Maybe this season has come around a few months too soon for us. We'll see."

Sunday's draw in Casement Park, however, was a significant turning point for Cavan. They were relegated in the National League, but when Coleman reviews those games he believes every game was winnable other than Sligo and Limerick. The rest were close affairs that eluded Cavan because of experience.

Coleman also observed after the final whistle on Sunday that had his players been more seasoned, they would have denied Down's Aidan O'Prey the late score that levelled the match deep into injury time.

"These are the things we are learning. During the league, we suffered because we gave away soft goals here and there and because we lacked our regular free-takers, Dermot and Larry. Like, big McCabe would be worth five points a game to us in terms of his free-taking and general play. It is hard to compensate for that. Our young players are doing very well - Michael Lyng played with great confidence for a young fella. And every game brings these fellas on."

League relegation brought an air of despondency around Cavan, but the spirit and dash of Sunday's display means it will feel like old times when Down come to Breffni Park. For many years, Coleman went to the famous midlands ground as leader of a Derry side setting the tone in Ulster. Now, he is operating on a more modest scale but is as enthusiastic as ever.

"Oh, I'm enjoying it. I know there is plenty of good young players to come through in the next season or two. Like Paddy Brady, a big strong lad of six feet three who was with us last year but has been out injured for a while. He will be coming back to us.

"Getting relegated was a disappointment for the team and we will be determined to get back to the first division next year. In terms of the championship, we would love to get a run in Ulster, but we are at that stage where we have to go out each Sunday and discover a wee bit more about ourselves."

It was noted the Down-Cavan game was notably different to stereotypical Ulster fare: it was open and fast and clean.

"Aye, it's hard to keep people happy. When Ulster games are dragging and pulling, they give out about that too. It was a skilful game, both sides attacked and it was clean and hard. It was the way football should be played. I thought it was excellent entertainment for the fans. And I thought the referee was excellent. And whoever thought you'd get me saying that."