Cavan U-21 captain coping with 'very busy' schedule

These are heady times for the Cavan Under-21 footballers who have qualified for the county's first All-Ireland final at the grade since 1996. Team captain Gearoid McKiernan is resting up ahead of next weekend's decider against Galway.

The Swanlinbar clubman missed last night's Cavan press briefing ahead of the final, after deciding to rest for a few days.

He trained with the Cavan squad on Wednesday night, but admittedly felt 'very tired' after leading the Breffni youngsters to Championship wins over Tyrone and Wexford in quick succession.

"While we are delighted to get to the final on Sunday week. It has been a very busy schedule for us all," he said.

McKiernan led by example in Cavan's first Ulster final win in 15 years. They beat Tyrone 1-10 to 0-10 in Enniskillen with their skipper's display earning him the man-of-the-match award.

Four days later, Cavan were pressed into All-Ireland semi-final action at Parnell Park and they emerged as 1-10 to 0-08 victors over Wexford.

There had been calls from Cavan for officials to try and postpone the semi-final, but this fell on deaf ears.

"I have had a lot of football over the last few months, and I am just going to take a break for a few days before the final," explained McKiernan.

"Other than that, everyone is fully fit, and hopefully it stays that way.

"I will be back to action next week and hopefully we can do the business at Croke Park, and claim a first ever All-Ireland U-21 title for the county."

Cavan U-21 manager Terry Hyland outlined McKiernan's heavy run of training and fixtures with club, college and county.

"Gearoid is after having a lot of football in him. He has been going since this time last year," he said.

"He got to an All-Ireland final with his club which carried him on after Christmas and he was in the middle of our training, and playing with his college DIT.

"That is probably the burnout factor that people talk about. In the middle of that age group they are being pulled left, right and centre.

"He had the added one of his club being involved as well, never mind his two county teams and his college. He ended up probably trying to satisfy four masters in the one week."