It's quiet in here of late so i'm getting a bit nostalgic.

What was your most memorable Cavan victory?

Mine was the 1969 Ulster Final win over the then much vaunted All-Ireland champions Down in Casement Park. I can vividly remember Gene Cusack cutting in from the left and blazing the ball to the Down net. We hammered them 2-13 to 0-6. Down were shell-shocked. It was a very hot and sunny day and myself and my friends traveled by bus. We were all in our early teens and it might have been my first time in Belfast. I remember the very friendly locals coming out to welcome us and wish us good luck. It was just at the beginning of The Troubles. We sat on the grassy hill in Casement with ham sandwiches and bottles of lemonade and enjoyed every minute of it. It took us ages to find our bus after the match.
Those were the days.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 10/05/2016 12:25:19    1853556

I can't remember what year it was slasher, but it was a great 2nd half comeback v down in breffni peter Reilly, Dermot mcabe and Jason Reilly scored 3 goals right after each other.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 885 - 10/05/2016 19:47:28    1853766

The only Ulster Final I've seen Cavan win in my lifetime was 1997 v Derry in Clones. I was behind the goals when Jayo scored. I remember bits and pieces from the game, but not all of it, but I vividly remember the pitch invasion afterwards and Stephen King's speech. Thought we would win Ulster regularly after that but still waiting for another one!

More recent victories;

v Roscommon in 2001 National League semi-final. . .we hammered them i think it was 5-15 - 3-12 in Mullingar. Larry kicked some unreal pints and Mickey Graham scored 3 goals.

v Meath in Championship in 2005. James Reilly saved a penalty. We beat Donegal that year too and eventually lost to Mayo.

v Cork in the league. .circa 2010. Seanie took Canty to the cleaners and big Dermo kicked the winner from around the 45.

v Derry in the qualifiers in 2013. after extra time. Michael Argue got the crucial goal on his debut.

the draw v Tyrone (can't remember the year but Mickey Lyng scored the equalising free with the last kick of the game). That was a serious Tyrone team (as they proved by beating us out the gate in the replay). Not a victory but a good performance by us as huge underdogs.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5193 - 10/05/2016 21:28:41    1853821

Ah memories Slasher !! Your probably of the same vintage as myself but I have faint memories of '69. Remember reading about it in the Celt and these kind of days fuelled my love of Cavan football. My father sent me as a gasun up to an uncle in Dublin for the Offaly semi-final and remember on a wet day that we should have beaten Offaly. But the players on that team still remain heroes in my memory.
Cavanman47 your probably not far behind us and you have the big days well outlined there.
'97 in Clones was a brilliant day and yes remember being on the pitch as Stephen lifted the Anglo Celt Cup. Great days. Also I remember beating Donegal in the semi-final in Clones. A great display and always remember Ronan Carolans side line kick right beside me sailing over the bar.
Another great day was us being beaten in s/f by the great Armagh team when we went down to 14 men in the first few mins. Mark Mc Keever was outstanding and we led them for most of the game and only tired in the last 10 mins. Cant remember the year though.
Derry in Celtic Park in 2013 was another special day. Fantastic excitement on a very hot day. Game ebbed and flowed and the fans just got more excited as the 2nd half went by. The excitement on the pitch after was just special and I remember even Joe Brolly loved it. (no black death that day)
I remember going up to Ballybofey in the 70"s and beating Donegal on a memorable day. Fr. Benny was manager and Olly Leddy and Ciaran O'Keefe ruled midfield. Great day.
Yes Seanies great display against Cork in Breffni , Martin Dunne and Eugene Keatings displays against Armagh in 2013, the goal fest aginst the Rossies in Mullingar and dont forget the 4 in a row Ulster u21 titles. Great victories and just sorry we dident claim an All Irl title. Still bitterly dissapointed how we were robbed in Portlaoise by the ref against the Dubs. I will never forget it !!
But maybe it is time this year to reclaim the Anglo Celt Cup. 19 years is too long a wait !!!

BreffniDub (None) - Posts: 377 - 11/05/2016 11:59:42    1853933

Beating Monaghan in '87 in Breffni and in the semi in 2001 in Clones, in fact anytime we've bet the mushroom pickers!

breffni47 (Cavan) - Posts: 34 - 11/05/2016 13:39:03    1854017

Ha BreffniDub - wishful thinking. .I'm a long way behind you if you were around in 1969! ;)


Think it was 03 Armagh beat us as All-Ireland champs. Could've been 04. Pierce McKenna got sent off before the throw in i think. Ger Pearson had his best game in a Cavan jersey and almost won the game for us - but for a finger-tips save from Paul Hearty. I STILL remember that save. Heart-breaking!

Yes, it was daylight robbery in Portlaoise that day. I think we've got some tough calls in recent big games - the 2013 semi-final v Monaghan is one I think we shaded.

Be great to win another Ulster in the coming years - or even return to being regular visitors to Clones in June/July. Proper Ulster championship days out!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5193 - 11/05/2016 16:48:29    1854126

v Derry in the qualifiers in 2013. after extra time. Michael Argue got the crucial goal on his debut.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts:1475 - 10/05/2016 21:28:41

Cian Mackey

RHF (Cavan) - Posts: 878 - 11/05/2016 17:10:48    1854134

Folks, the win against Down in the replay at the park was 2004, the same year we lost to Armagh in the Ulster Semi Final with 14 men. McKeever was outstanding that day against Armagh as was Ger Pierson. We played Derry in the qualifiers that year and lost in extra time. The late great Eamon Coleman was managing us at the time. It was a sad loss when he had to leave due to illness which led to his passing. In 2005 we played Tyrone in the Ulster Semi Final and drew with them the first day, they hammered us in the replay and went on to win the All Ireland. Did we not lose to Antrim in 2003 up in Belfast and lost again to Fermanagh in the qualifiers, the first time they beat us in Championship football. We played the Rossies in the famous league semi final in 2002, beat them but lost heavily to Tyrone in the league final. I think we lost to Donegal in the first round of the Championship, on the rebound from the Tyrone hiding.

When you look back at the years 2001 to 2005 we had some good days out. The defeat to Waterford in the last round of the league in 2006 was a set back that we never really recovered from until the Championship of 2013. Let's hope 2016 provides us with more good days and a major scalp!

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 578 - 11/05/2016 17:46:14    1854147

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts:1475 - 11/05/2016 16:48:29 1854126

Was it not around 1 minuet 30 seconds or 30 seconds Pierce got sent of in that match I stand corrected, it was a terrible call. I can still see that incident and the referee got that call so far wrong 100%.

Regarding the best bit of football to be seen in a Cavan shirt it had to be the exhibition Dermot McCabe gave us in the last 15 minuets it was either Derry or Down in the Park not sure which of the two teams mentioned but never ever seen better before or anything near it since. Jesus some display.

Best bit of County senior football football had to be the last 15 minuets exhibition M.Lyng gave for Cavan Gaels never seen anyone dominate a game in such a short period after coming on and should have got man of the match it was that good.

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4601 - 11/05/2016 19:43:27    1854190

v Derry in the qualifiers in 2013. after extra time. Michael Argue got the crucial goal on his debut.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts:1475 - 10/05/2016 21:28:41

Cian Mackey

RHF (Cavan) - Posts:478 - 11/05/2016 17:10:48 18


Apologies - I stand corrected . . .think Argue played a part in the goal but now that you mention it, Cian finished it off.


Another crazy day was in the qualifier down in Aughrim where we pulled off one of the craziest comebacks I've ever seen from a Cavan team.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5193 - 11/05/2016 19:47:21    1854193

we were beat in Aughrim in the qualifiers no?

ramor101 (Cavan) - Posts: 289 - 11/05/2016 20:34:18    1854205

maybe one year. . .but in 2011 i think it was, we came from about 7 points down to beat Wicklow by 1. Johnson came on at half time if i remember correctly

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5193 - 11/05/2016 21:51:18    1854230

That was in Breffni we played with 13 men for most of the second half too

ramor101 (Cavan) - Posts: 289 - 12/05/2016 09:37:32    1854253

Cavan V Down in Casement in 2001 was for me close to being big Dermot's finest hour for Cavan. He lorded midfield, scored some great points and made great runs into the penalty area one of which resulted in a penalty (missed by Peter O'Reilly). Jason scored a typical Jayo goal and Paul Galligan had a terrific game too as I remember.

I might be wrong but I recall a great win over Derry in the National League in Croke Park in '89, was it a quarter final and then the Dubs beat us? Great hopes after that for the Championship and then Donegal wiped the floor with us in the first round.

breffni47 (Cavan) - Posts: 34 - 12/05/2016 12:07:38    1854333

Sean, the timing of the sending off seems just about right, those who remained gave it everything.

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 578 - 12/05/2016 12:19:54    1854344

Yeah Sean, think you're right. Didn't he push francie bellew?

Am I mixing my years up or did that game start with a brawl as both teams broke from the parade? Then a 2nd brawl just after throw-in (this is the one McKenna got sent off in)?

Bit of a trend with ourselves and Armagh (2014)? Seems to be a bit friendlier in Breffni!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5193 - 12/05/2016 14:02:55    1854394

Cavanman 47 - you have the memory of a goldfish!

The great comeback against Wicklow was in Breffni not Aughrim. Aughrim was the scene of a defeat, if you were there you'd remember it as it was a soaking day, Breffni game on the other hand was a fantastic day.

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1485 - 12/05/2016 16:02:21    1854449

Regarding Armagh, there was trouble in the warmup area prior to the game. Then a fight at the parade in which Trevor Crowe landed the great mcgeeney on his backside. After throw in McKenna threw a punch at bellew who lay on the ground like he was shot, despite McKenna barely landing the punch. Anyway we were leading at end of normal time, I recall a huge amount of extra time. It was a great performance with 14 men for 80 mins against a top team

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1485 - 12/05/2016 17:49:51    1854478

Another fond memory i have is of the 1978 match when we faced Armagh in Breffni. Again Armagh were hot favourites after reaching the All Ireland Final the previous year only to be beaten well by Dublin. It was a lovely sunny day in Cavan and a crowd of us sat on the hill behind the town goals. There was a big contingent of Armagh supporters sitting in front of us and a bit of banter started near the end of the minor game which Armagh won handy enough. One of the lads with us shouted that he was glad Armagh won the minor because it would be a shame if they lost the two matches. The Armagh lads laughed and jeered and told us we would be lucky to be within 10 points of them by the end of the senior game.
Cavan were rarely in trouble and won easily by 7 points 0-16 to 0-9. There was a good bit of lighted-hearted jeering as the Armagh lads silently skulked out of the ground well before the end.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 12/05/2016 19:30:37    1854495

Another crazy day was in the qualifier down in Aughrim where we pulled off one of the craziest comebacks I've ever seen from a Cavan team.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts:1479 - 11/05/2016 19:47:21 1854193

This match was in Breffni Wicklow had extra players and Micko showed that he had not the ability to use them correctly instead of packing midfield he put's them all on Johnston and not one knew who was going to tackle. Micko lost that match. People seem to forget who made this possible McKeever Flannigan Cahill I forget the other wing half backs name but everyone spoke about one man when these were the stars on the night quality was top notch from them. They were the suppliers people seem to forget these work horses.

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4601 - 12/05/2016 21:19:03    1854526