Flanagan craving overdue Ulster success for Cavan

IF the record books were anything to go by nobody from Fermanagh would even bother with the short hop across the county border to Kingspan Breffni Park this evening.

Armagh and Tyrone may be the market leaders in Ulster this past decade but Cavan could go another generation without winning a single title and still be miles ahead in the provincial role of honour.

The county has claimed the Anglo-Celt Cup 39 times – Armagh are second with a dozen – and their five All-Ireland titles make them Ulster’s most successful side come September in Croke Park.

Unfortunately, the crown has long slipped from their heads. Martin McHugh led the county to their last provincial title back in 1997. That was their first since Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin were rocking Woodstock back in 1969.

If anything, the decline has gathered pace. The last time Cavan defeated an Ulster team other than Antrim in the provincial competition was in 2004 when Down were beaten after a replay.

Their last campaign of any note came a year later when, after a draw and a 21-point replay defeat by Tyrone, they accounted for Donegal and Meath before bowing out to Mayo in the last round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

In fairness, they are far from alone in having enjoyed their best days beyond the bounds of Ulster in recent years. Derry, Monaghan and even Tyrone have all prospered once free from the province’s suffocating grasp.

Despite those stats Cavan centre-forward Ronan Flanagan is a huge fan of the provincial championships.

He reasoned: “There’s eight, if not nine, teams who are equal enough in terms of talent but there’s no point complaining. Every team is trying to raise the bar to where Tyrone and Armagh are. Monaghan are a good example and Derry the same.

“It is time for the rest of us to step up. The other provinces are a little easier but only a little bit. I still feel the Ulster Championship has a massive place in the GAA calendar.

“I’d far rather go well in an Ulster Championship than maybe in an All-Ireland championship.”

They have not been whipping boys despite their shortcomings. Cavan’s biggest defeat in the last three summers was that six-points reversal to Mayo but the steady stream of defeats has engendered a mood of pessimism among supporters.

“There’s definitely negativity out there,” Flanagan continued. “When I was growing up, back in 1997 when Cavan was going well, it was brilliant going to matches. The support was massive but it’s just not there anymore.

“One or two wins and Cavan supporters will be back out, I can guarantee you that. I’m in three years now but it’s time to move on. We’re on the nicer side of the draw.”

That draw has resulted in a scenario where Tyrone and Derry will meet in one semi-final while Cavan, Fermanagh, Donegal and Antrim will all scramble for the other last four berth and a possible place in the final.

History would suggest that Cavan’s omens are good for today at least. They have never lost a championship match to Fermanagh but, then again, the Erne County have made a habit of ripping up similar scripts lately.

Beating Cavan would put that unwanted anomaly to bed but the main monkey hanging around Fermanagh’s neck is the fact that they have yet to win an Ulster senior football championship.

They come to this fixture in rude health with leading lights like Barry Owens and Mark Murphy back in the mix after injury and a spell abroad respectively while the rest of the panel has already sharpened their blades.

The preliminary round win over Down was no classic but it again brought to the fore all the traits with which Fermanagh have managed to punch above their weight ever since the early part of the current decade.

Cavan come to the contest cold.

Says Flanagan: “I don’t know if that matters because every year we seem to be (playing) in the preliminary round. We seem to win the preliminary and lose the next round but, no, we have a lot of players who’ve played championship football before so we’re happy enough.”