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…

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.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered to your phone

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics