Kavanagh looks to write final chapter

Graham Kavanagh is aiming to write the ultimate happy ending to his own personal fairytale when he returns to Cardiff on Sunday.

Twelve short months ago, the 32-year-old midfielder’s sole focus was on trying to keeping the cash-strapped south Wales outfit out of League One.

Having earned hero status during his four seasons with the Bluebirds, Kavanagh was desperate to help Cardiff achieve stability, on and off the pitch.

The Irish international achieved the aim, although not in the manner intended when he agreed a deadline-day £1m (€1.5m) move to Wigan last March.

It was a deal that not only kept Cardiff afloat but also proved instrumental in the Latics surviving an end-of-season wobble and claiming a place in the Premiership for the first time in their history.

Since then, Wigan have astounded their critics by charging into the top half of the table and booking a place in their first major domestic final.

So, when Paul Jewell’s men stride out under the Millennium Stadium roof to face Manchester United on Sunday, Kavanagh accepts he will have to pinch himself just to believe he is not still living a dream.

“It’s been a fairytale 12 months without a shadow of a doubt,” said Kavanagh.

“I was very settled and very happy at Cardiff and I really thought I was going to end my career with them. But then came the opportunity to join Wigan.

“The dream has only continued because when we got into the Premier League people said we wouldn’t even get into double figures in points terms and we were certainties to go down.

“But, by the end of February, we have already reached 40 points and now we are looking forward to a showpiece final and a chance to get our hands on a trophy. When you look back, you do have to pinch yourself at times.”

Most outsiders would suggest United have the greater incentive to win given the massive expectation which surrounds the Old Trafford outfit and the knowledge that defeat would almost certainly condemn them to a second trophyless season in succession.

But Kavanagh reckons the theory discounts the hunger of the Wigan squad, many of whom know they may never be presented with a chance like this again.

The veteran midfielder is one of them, skipper Arjan de Zeeuw is another. Of the entire Wigan squad, only Stephane Henchoz could claim to have enjoyed sustained success in the higher echelons of the English game through his time at Liverpool.

Kavanagh insists hunger is not going to be an issue in the Latics camp.

“It does mean more because I am older,” he said.

“Before this season, the last time I played in the Premier League was for Middlesbrough in 1996 when we were beaten by Wimbledon.

“Then, I had a kind of arrogance and thought it will happen next week or next season. But it doesn’t.

“If you’re a young kid you might think getting to a final will happen every season. But at my age, I need to savour every single game and that is why I am giving it my all.

“I accept the nature of Manchester United means they expect to win silverware and this is their opportunity to do just that.

“But we have an opportunity to make a bit of history. This club has never been to a showpiece event and a lot of our players haven’t either.

“So you can guarantee our players will be just as hungry as their to get our hands on that trophy.”

With Kavanagh virtually guaranteed to start, Jewell faces a tricky dilemma over who should join the Dublin-born star in central midfield.

Jimmy Bullard has spent much of the season occupying that role but new arrival Paul Scharner has also impressed in that position recently and if Gary Teale and Lee McCulloch are absent, the Austrian is likely to accompany Kavanagh with Bullard moving into a wider slot.