Martin Reilly, we’re not worthy.
Cavan went to Mayo on Sunday fighting for their lives. They’ve been written off in all corners of Ireland, they were supposed to be heading back to Division Two with a whimper, and their confidence is said to have taken a hit trying to mix it with the big boys.
Well Mattie McGleenan is making sure his men go down swinging if they really have to go at all and, with one stupendous result in Castlebar, Cavan have found their pulse and they’re damn well alive and kicking for two critical remaining games.
A 1-14 to 0-15 win over Mayo was enough to secure the two points for the Ulster men in a display of pure passion, raw speed, and Gearóid McKiernan. The midfielder kicked 1-5 of his side’s tally – 1-2 coming from play – as the blue jerseys ran riot around their hosts in a rampant display that never let up until the last.
Now, things are looking a hell of a lot different in Division One.
Cavan welcome Kerry to Breffni Park next with it all to play for before a final day fixture with Roscommon.
Mayo are going to be put through the ringer with Donegal and Tyrone in their last outings.
But, amidst all the glory and the impressiveness of their performance, there was one moment of the game that stood out above the rest and that belonged to Martin Reilly and the pass of the season so far.
The wing forward drove forward in the second half.
He drops the shoulder and checks inside.
He lines it up, squared and all.
With a daring punt pass, he has the audacity to pick out a run going in the other direction.
The follow through is weighted to perfection, even under pressure.
The flight of the ball is glorious.
He’s spotted the run of Tomas Corr over the top and in behind.
The ball drops like a dream right into the path of Corr’s stride.
But Corr has to go for it with one hand.
He hangs onto it remarkably.
All it was missing was the dinked finish to the net.
Corr got the point instead, but they all added up.
Cavan are far from finished. If anything, they’re just getting started and it is looking majestic. Game on.
