Faulkner hopes Cavan can ink their place in the history books
Cavan footballer Padraig Faulkner is pictured at a GAA promotional event for the final of the inaugural Tailteann Cup between Cavan and Westmeath at Croke Park.
By John Harrington
The question most asked about the Tailteann Cup before a match was played in it this year was, ‘will the players buy into it?’
Back then a straw poll of answers would have thrown up some mixed opinions but now there’s a consensus.
Such has been the competitive nature and quality of the matches in the inaugural Tailteann Cup this year that there is no doubt now the competition has been an instant success.
Cavan were competition favourites at the outset and have justified that billing by making it to Saturday’s Final against Westmeath.
According to key defender, Padraig Faulkner, the key to their progress was that every player was fully invested in the competition from the start despite the disappointment of their Ulster SFC semi-final exit at the hands of Donegal.
“There was a players meeting after losing the Ulster campaign,” says Faulkner. “There was talk of was there lads going to go abroad? You’re hearing a lot of lads playing football in America at the minute, so as a collective unit we sat down and we said, ‘Look it, this is something we really want to win.’ And everyone stuck at it, and there was no drop-off and everyone really, really went wholehearted at it.
“It’s really linked boys together. When something like that happens, you will generally have lads that throw their hat at it. Even maybe players that don’t actually get game-time.
“But since I’ve started with Cavan, the drop-off has been at a minimum where boys are really sticking together. And people in Cavan know that there’s something special coming.
“We’ve seen the highest highs and the lowest lows in the last three or four years! As a collective, it’s really gelled players together.”
Michael Murphy of Donegal gets past Padraig Faulkner of Cavan during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Cavan and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan.
It was perhaps a little easier for the Cavan players to regroup and go again because there were a lot of positives to take from their Ulster SFC semi-final defeat to Donegal.
They played some great football in that match and looked like they might even win it until two late goals from Donegal settled the tie.
“We really had our homework done on Donegal, and we played a good game,” agrees Faulkner.
“Two sloppy goals just knocked the stuffing out of us in the last ten minutes. If that first goal maybe hadn’t gone in … I know ifs and buts, but it really probably would have been a completely different game. That’s the way football goes. Sometimes you need a bit of luck.
“It’s funny, you could see the support that we had that day. It’s not only the players that’s believing, it’s the fans and Cavan people in general, that there is something there. It’s not all negative!
“Every year we see development, even though league campaigns may not have reflected that. Since I started, even the younger lads coming in, they’re so much more athletic and stronger than we were at that age. There’s something building, and it’s just developing that on.
“I suppose my years in Cavan, there’s not too many left and I just want to leave Cavan in a real good place. I’m turning 28 next month. Becoming an auld lad now!”
The core of the team that won the Ulster Championship in 2020 is still there but they’ve since been buttressed by an influx of talented younger players who will surely benefit from the experience of playing two matches in Croke Park this year.
Niall Murphy of Sligo in action against Padraig Faulkner of Cavan during the Tailteann Cup Semi-Final match between Sligo and Cavan at Croke Park in Dublin.
It’s actually a venue Cavan have grown quite accustomed to – Saturday’s Final will be Faulkner’s sixth time to play in headquarters.
“Yeah, it’s a good sign,” he says. “We used to get slagged when we were younger. We’d be on the Meath border in Kingscourt, and the Meath lads used to offer directions to get to Croke Park!
“I think I’ve had four appearances in Croke Park in the last three years, so it’s great and the experience that you get from that is invaluable.
“We’re getting used to playing here, and for the younger lads coming into a county set-up and getting a chance, even to be a sub, but to be playing in a competition such as the Tailteann Cup, to get two run-outs in Croke Park is a really good experience.”
“It’s unlike any other stadium. You just feel so enclosed. I do find that, when you stand on the ‘45’, it just feels like it’s a wee bit further away than maybe on a normal pitch. It can be a daunting experience, and I like standing beside young lads that haven’t actually had a chance to be on the pitch and seeing their experiences on the first time stepping out.”
If this Cavan team get to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Tailteann Cup in the competition’s inaugural year, it will surely be an inspirational moment for every player, both young and old.
Winning the competition assures a spot in next year’s Sam Maguire championship, but that’s not the only benefit.
The experience of lifting a Championship cup in Croke Park could only be an empowering moment that would act as a launch-pad for the 2023 season.
“We, as Cavan, want to make history by being the first team to win it,” says Faulkner.
“We want teams to look back and say, ‘Well, that’s what Cavan did to get to where they are now’ so it’s something we really want to progress in.'
“I'm excited to see how far the stepping stone of the Tailteann Cup might bring us next year if we get over Westmeath on Saturday.
“I'm looking forward to the journey."
Cavan's Tailteann Cup Final statistics.
