Young Cavan side will have to learn quickly

A Wednesday night a few weeks back and no sooner had the lights dimmed in Breffni Park than a tweet popped up from a wizened Cavan fan.

The Blues, fresh from a first win over Tyrone in 17 years which they followed up with victory over Donegal, had just walked into a haymaker thrown by the students of Jordanstown and were out of the McKenna Cup. No big deal, right?

“Shows where we are, can’t beat a bunch of kids, waste of time,” snarled the disgruntled tweeter. Never did 61 characters illustrate so clearly the condition of the Breffni follower — reared on tales of glory yet starved of success, they are equal parts fickle, loyal and ferociously demanding.