9 hours ago
Stephen O'Neill reveals a positive update for Cavan ahead of Kerry duel
The former Red Hands forward is coach with the Breffni side under manager Raymond Galligan who rendered tremendous service between the posts to the county before calling time on his career two years ago.
Right now, O'Neill is strongly focused on Saturday's All-Ireland Championship Preliminary Quarter-Final against Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney (3.30pm) where he is hoping the Breffni Blues side can make life difficult for the Kingdom.
Some Cavan players may have called time on their playing careers but there is an experienced core remaining which would suggest that Kerry will not quite have things their own way.
While Cavan were forced to have patience as a handful of players returned to action from injury, the indications now are that the team is ready for battle — something that pleases the affable O'Neill in particular.
'There are always going to be injuries and players unavailable for one reason or another but obviously you like to have your best squad on duty for the matches that really matter,' points out O'Neill, 'I know we might have found things difficult in the League from time to time but you have to go with the resources at your disposal.'
In this respect, Cavan can summon a shoal of hardened campaigners in Gearoid McKiernan, Dara McVeety, James Smith and Cian Madden.
They were without gifted forward Pauric Lynch for much of last year while Cormac O'Reilly and Sean McEvoy are other players who have been coming through strongly.
It was in 2003, 2005 and 2008 when O'Neill scaled the heights with an all-conquering Tyrone team in winning three All-Ireland honours before turning his attention to coaching and management.
But he refused to accept his 2008 All-Ireland medal because he felt he had not been sufficiently involved with the team.
He had stepped away earlier that year but returned shortly before the All-Ireland Final against Kerry. He was introduced as a substitute in that game which Tyrone won by 1-15 to 0-14.
Right now, though, O'Neill, who has pocketed four All-Ireland Masters medals, is fired up for Cavan's joust with Jack O'Connor's men who are still smarting from their 1-22 to -16 defeat at the hands of Meath in their All-Ireland Group Two round three tie last week-end. Kerry's meeting with Cavan will be a first for them in a Preliminary Quarter-final and this could well add spice to the contest.
'Our defeat to Meath last week-end could be said to have been a chastening experience and we have to try and come good now against Cavan,' points out O'Connor.
'We are now at the cutting edge of the All-Ireland Championship and every match is vital. You cannot afford to lose ground at this juncture and that's why I feel both teams will be giving it everything on Saturday.'
Elsewhere on Saturday Dublin host Cork (6.15pm) in the second part of the double helping at Croke Park after the home side's hurlers clash with Limerick in the All-Ireland SHC Quarter-Final (4.00pm).
The second last eight encounter in that competition sees Dublin up against Tipperary (6.15pm).
Dessie Farrell's Dublin will be hot favourites to advance against Cork but Leinster champions Louth may find the going a little tougher against Donegal in Ballybofey tomorrow (4.00pm).
