GAA - Cavan v Derry preview

Saturday 6 February: Cavan v Derry (Breffni Park, 7.00pm) DERRY’S first away day is a potentially nasty looking trip to Breffni Park to face Cavan. Cavan manager Terry Hyland is the wiliest of foxes and he will have learned plenty in his side’s defeat at the hands of Derry two week’s ago in that McKenna Cup semi-final. Several mediocre seasons in the National League’s third tier concluded in 2014 when the Breffni men topped the table and rightly won promotion to Division Two. Last year’s mid-table finish bedded them in nicely and the question remains now – can Cavan push on? Their Ulster Under 21 championship success in recent times bodes well for the future, but under-age success does not always copper-fasten silverware at senior level. Cavan gobbled up four successive Ulster titles at that foundation level up until 2014 which suggests that serious remedial work has been undertaken at county grass roots level. At midfield David Givney and Geroid McKiernan form a giant partnership that’s as good as any in the province, and McKiernan’s ability to convert points from difficult angles this season, as Derry discovered at Armagh, is a further added bonus. The defensive hub of Cavan’s back six is still wet behind the ears, however, and other than centre half back Conor Moynagh who was outstanding when Derry and Cavan last met, they have yet to reach anywhere near the peak of the powers individually or indeed collectively. Cavan finished that McKenna Cup game much better than they began it thanks mainly to the introduction of a few of their more experienced campaigners such as the returning Eugene Keating in the second half. Strike partner Seanie Johnston is also back from his ill considered time with Kildare and forms a strong looking attack force that includes Niall McDermott and the experienced Martin Reilly. Jack Brady and goalkeeper Raymond Galligan share the free-taking responsibilities. Wins over Laois, Westmeath and most impressively over Galway in Pearse Stadium were the highlights of the Cavan calendar in 2015. They took Monaghan to the brink in that exciting Ulster Championship first round contest before agonisingly losing 0-16 to 0-15. A straight forward win over London was followed up by a seven point defeat at home to Roscommon, which heralded a premature end to their summer. Defensively Cavan conceded by far the least amount of points in the division, but their inability to create and indeed score goals at the other end was their Achilles heel. One goal in 490 minutes of league football tells its own tale. They appear to have remedied that particular ill if their McKenna Cup form is anything to go by. The Breffnimen banged home five goals in their wins over Armagh and Jordanstown, before their 0-14 to 0-14 draw with old foes Monaghan confirmed safe passage from the group stage. Their semi-final performance was by far their worst display of the season so far, but woe betide anyone that reads too much into that 70 minute shadow-boxing charade. The Cavan that Derry meet on the 6th February will be a different animal – sharper, nastier and out for some measure of revenge. Terry Hyland’s men drew the short straw with an opening day National League a trip to Healy Park on Sunday. Cavan lost, but did more than enough to suggest that they won’t lose too many in the highly competitive Division Two. Indeed, they led briefly in the second half against league favourites Tyrone before eventually falling to a two point defeat. Martin Reilly, Cian Mackey the totemic Gearoid McKieran all impressed for the blues.