Scullion hails 'unbelievable spirit' of Cavan players
The Cavan team stand for a team photograph as a Waning Gibbous moon rises alongside the floodlights before the 2026 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup match between Cavan and Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
Cavan team coach Diarmuid Scullion has hailed “the unbelievable spirit” among the Breffni County players.
Scullion, who coached with manager Dermot McCabe in Westmeath and followed him to Cavan, knows they’ve had setbacks this year.
But he says it hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm, or hit the resolve, of their squad.
Cavan, who face Monaghan in Ulster Championship Quarter-Final action this weekend, survived in Division 2 with wins over relegated sides, Offaly and Kildare, enough to keep them up on four points.
“The way the Ulster Championship is, you can’t take it any more than one game at a time,” said former Scotstown coach Scullion.
“For us, it’s going to Clones to play Monaghan. There’s a huge rivalry between Cavan and Monaghan. It’s always been there and we know we’ll have to be at our best if we want to get anything out of the game.
“There’s an unbelievable spirit among the Cavan players. Even though there were a few weeks where results went against us in the League, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm. The players still want to pull on the county jersey and get stuck into training.
“The last few championship games between Cavan and Monaghan, form has gone out the window. We have a number of players in our team who relish these big experiences and that’s something we’ll have to draw on.
“But I’m very aware of how good Monaghan are as well. You can’t underestimate the role of someone like Rory Beggan in the new game. The importance of a goalkeeper, kick-outs, and his ability to kick two-point frees. They certainly have a lot of good players that we’ll have to do our homework on.”
Scullion has years of coaching experience behind him: “I’ve been coaching a long time now,” he explains. “I did six years with Scotstown senior football team.
“I knew Dermot (McCabe) from when I was living in Derry, where I’m originally from. I was heavily involved with Derry development squads and Derry minor teams.
“We got to know each other through challenge games and development squads. When Dermot took on the Westmeath job last year, he gave me a phone call to ask if I’d be interested in getting involved.
“I jumped at the chance. That progressed into him taking the Cavan job and I’m delighted he brought me with him to work with the Cavan players.
“I’m married and living in Scotstown for ten years now, so I’m a long time out of Derry. Even at club level, a lot of players I worked with have gone on to represent Monaghan.
“I love working with top players and the natural progression for me was to move into county football. It’s a big step up, but it’s something I’m relishing so far.”
Paddy Lynch of Cavan kicks a free during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup match between Cavan and Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
The return of Paddy Lynch has added to Cavan’s scoring options - from both dead balls and play.
“Under the old rules, Paddy was a massive scorer, so we’re working with him to get back to that kind of form,” said Scullion.
“Coming back from a cruciate injury is difficult. It’s a season-long injury. Paddy has had a few niggles that have come about from pushing himself to get back to full fitness and that’s affected him at different stages throughout the League.
“But against Kildare, he came in and kicked nine or 10 points. He had a massive performance to get us over the line.
“We know that if we’re going to challenge Monaghan we need the best from Paddy. He is one of the players when you get the ball into his hands, he knows where the scoreboard is.”
