Cadbury Ulster U21 Football Championship Final Preview
Wednesday, April 10Cadbury Ulster U21 Football Championship FinalCavan v Donegal, Brewster Park, 8pm
Cavan make the short trip to Enniskillen on Wednesday night with history in their sights. Victory over Maxi Curran's Donegal team in the U21 final would be their third in a row, something they have never achieved in the grade before.
The Breffni County have been surging in the underage grades over the last two years. The Ulster U21 successes of 2011 and 2012 were complemented by an Ulster minor triumph in 2011. After years of barren underachievement, Cavan suddenly find themselves with a large collection of players with Ulster medals, many of whom will line up to face Donegal in Brewster Park.
Peter Reilly's side got to the final with wins over Monaghan and Down. They beat Monaghan 1-16 to 1-12 after extra-time in what was a very competitive quarter-final, and last week booked their place in the final with a comfortable 1-12 to 0-6 win over Down at the Athletic Grounds.
Donegal's last U21 title came in 2010, when, with current senior captain Michael Murphy at the apex of their attack, they defeated Cavan in the final. This season, they got to the final courtesy of wins over Tyrone in the quarter-final, and Derry in the semi-final.
The win over Tyrone, champions at this level three years ago in the minor grade, was impressive. Senior star Paddy McBrearty insprired them to a 0-15 to 1-6 victory, scoring 0-7. Last week's semi-final was a much tighter affair against Derry. Despite leading for long stages, Donegal only had two points to spare in the end after a nail-biting finish, winning 2-11 to 0-15.
Both Cavan and Donegal have quality throughout their teams. Killian Clarke is the lynchpin of the Cavan defence at full-back, and he has an outstanding half-back line in front of him, including Feargal Flanagan and the tireless, roving sweeper Dara McVeety.
In attack, Enda O'Reilly and Jack Brady are the main threats. Donegal's marquee name is the wonderkid McBrearty. Still just 19-years-old, McBrearty incredibly will still be an U21 next season, but already he has won two Ulster senior medals and an All-Ireland senior medal.
McBrearty certainly isn't Donegal's lone threat though. Ryan McHugh, brother of All-Star Mark and already a Donegal senior, is a lively presence in the half-forward line although he is an injury doubt with a calf injury, while Caolan Ward and Conor Gibbons are other central figures.
The winners of the Ulster final will play the winners of the Munster final in the All-Ireland semi-final on April 20. Tipperary play Cork in the Munster decider tonight.