Cavan will be fresher and hungrier

UNDER-21 FOOTBALL ULSTER FINAL: Cavan v Tyrone:THEY MAY have won five Ulster Under-21 titles in the last 12 years, but Tyrone will certainly face a difficult test against Cavan this evening.

Cavan comfortably beat a well-fancied Donegal side in their semifinal last month, thus making up for losing last year’s final to the same opposition, while, in the meantime, Tyrone had to come through a second replay against Down in their quarter-final, before just about getting the better of Monaghan in their semi-final only a week ago.

It’s likely, therefore, that Cavan will be fresher, and indeed hungrier – they have only won two titles in the past, in 1988, and again in 1996 – the same year they went on to lose the All-Ireland Under-21 title to Kerry. Tyrone’s last title was in 2006, while they also won in 2000, ’01, ’02 and ’03.

What is certain is that the winners won’t have much a breather, as whoever does come out on top is in action again on Saturday evening against newly-crowned first-time Leinster champions Wexford, with that game set for Parnell Park at 7pm.

The other All-Ireland semi-final will feature Cork against Galway, also on Saturday, in Ennis, with a 6.30pm start.