For those who are inclined to believe the whole GAA thing is only a racket, well point in them in the direction of Armagh men this week who have played something in the region of 200 minutes this summer and still haven’t made it into the Ulster final after a draw including extra-time here.

Newcomers and championship debutants aside, Cavan have waited a long time to give #futureisblue a runout at senior level.

Last summer Galway provided us with a 21-point spread against Sligo. Yesterday, a spirited and youthful Sligo team managed to keep the score respectable for the majority of the game.

There are occasions when referees make life difficult for themselves and yesterday’s first half in the Gaelic Grounds was a prime example of that.

Cavan sprang a shock with a four points Ulster SFC quarter-final victory over neighbours Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Ailing attendances, the strong getting stronger and the weak getting weaker, the Ulster championship finds itself at a crossroads.

Mickey Harte declared himself satisfied with their new attacking strategies after his side moved a step closer to Division One survival with an Ulster derby win over 14-man Cavan.

Late in the first-half at Kingspan Breffni, Sean O’Shea seized possession for Kerry near the halfway line, spun away from his man and instinctively kicked the ball up the right wing.

Cavan 1-14 Down 0-15

Cavan led throughout, as they delivered a strong performance, coasting to a 14-point qualifier win over Wicklow at Aughrim.

Mattie McGleenan says there is “no logic” to the Ulster Council’s revamp of their provincial senior football championship.

On their previous visit to Croke Park, the Roscommon footballers conceded four goals during a 22-point humiliation.

It hasn’t been the happiest of starts to life at the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the Cork footballers.

Cavan maintained their grip on top spot in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League with a deserved three-point win away to Cork, writes Stephen Barry.

Clare 1-12 Cavan 2-9: A pointed free by Cavan full-forward Bryan Magee two minutes into extr- time shared the spoils on league opening day. But Clare will feel they left this Division 2 tie behind them.

Our writers tackle the talking points for a busy weekend of Allianz League action in hurling and football.

The compelling story of this season’s National League took another dramatic twist in Castlebar yesterday when the Cavan footballers ended a 13-year wait for a win in the top division.

Tyrone 0-19 Cavan 1-9: Tyrone’s unbeaten record in this Division 1 campaign never looked in any danger, even when they trailed by four points at Healy Park.

Tyrone turned on the power in the second half to take over the leadership of the Division One table and send Cavan crashing into a relegation dogfight.

Cavan 0-18 Derry 1-17: Dynamic Derry timed their run to perfection to put 14-man Cavan to the sword in a pulsating All-Ireland SFC Qualifier at a sun-kissed Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday.

Derry made it a hat-trick of competitive wins over Cavan this year and, in the process, booked themselves a place in the last 12 of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers after a cracking match at Kingspan Breffni Park.

David Givney's injury-time goal earned Cavan a replay in a thrilling Ulster SFC semi-final against Tyrone at Clones.

The risk/reward ratio didn’t appear to be in his favour, but Seanie Johnston says he’s glad he “took a chance” by returning to the Cavan football squad.

Meath 1-13 Cavan 1-20: The coalition Government weren’t the only ones facing meltdown over the weekend.

Cavan 2-8 Armagh 0-11: Any lingering notion that the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup is nothing more than a gentle preamble into the more serious business of the GAA season was emphatically kicked into touch in this turbulent, fractious encounter at Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen yesterday.

London 0-11 Cavan 2-22: Cavan’s trip to London proved more routine than expected but victory came at a price for Terry Hyland’s men.

Cavan recorded their second All-Ireland SFC qualifier win over London in three years as Gearoid McKiernan and Dara McVeety both found the net in a 2-22 to 0-11 success at Ruislip.

Meath 0-14 Cavn 0-12: Meath took the honours against neighbours Cavan at Pairc Tailteann but the spoils were shared out elsewhere as victories for Down and Roscommon ensured top tier football for both in 2016.

There were a trio of away wins in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League this afternoon, while Meath and Laois shared the spoils on Saturday night.

Roscommon 1-11 Cavan 0-14: Allianz Football League Division 2: Roscommon manager John Evans felt opening day nerves got the better of his side as the home team were pegged back by Cavan at Kiltoom.

Holders Tyrone will meet Cavan in a repeat of last year’s Dr McKenna Cup final, after easily beating Armagh in last night’s semi-final at the Athletic Grounds.

Cavan 1-13 Monaghan 0-13

SHANE WALSH fired Galway into an All-Ireland MFC semi-final with a top class second-half display against Ulster champions Cavan in the Pearse Park in Longford on Saturday.

AFTER Mayo’s domination of the Connacht minor football grade over the last three years, both Galway and Roscommon will be eager to seize the opportunity to claim success in tomorrow’s provincial decider at Dr Hyde Park.

GOALKEEPER Sean Whitty’s sudden-death heroics earned De La Salle, Waterford their first FAI Schools Tony O’Neill Senior Cup title at Tolka Park yesterday.