One game away from the quarters and Croke Park is no longer lost in the haze of a summer that never really arrived.
Derry were six-feet under on Saturday but then the shovel broke.
Cavan had a three point advantage going into the final 15 minutes but their Ulster rivals had a man advantage. It looked like it would never tell until it did – Cavan’s legs went as Derry upped the intensity.
Not for the first time in his excellent career, Mark Lynch was the Oak Leaf catalyst. So often Lynch’s brilliance is not enough but he had support on Saturday. His seven point contribution was complemented by scores from eight other teammates.
Emmett McGuckin got the crucial goal but chipped in with another important point. Finally it looks as though Lynch is not flying the flag alone.
When the final whistle went, the scoreboard looked more comfortable than it ever felt: 1-17 to 0-18. The scenes on the sidelines were wild, as Damian Barton and Tony Scullion, in want of a better phrase, lost their shit.
Sneak attack from Tony ‘The Tiger’ Scullion
Get in!
Barton turns the tables
Who’s next?!
Up next are either Tipperary or the losers of the Connacht final replay between Roscommon and Galway.
Into the final round of the qualifiers and truly starting to believe their summer is far from over.
