CAVAN’S TRACK RECORD of results at intercounty level and the fact in the county’s two previous Cadbury’s All Ireland U-21 Football final appearances have ended in defeat has done nothing to dampen hype in the Breffni County ahead of Sunday’s assignment against Galway at Croke Park.

Even Cavan captain Gearóid McKiernan has already experienced disappointment in an All-Ireland final at Croke Park this year, with his Swanlinbar club mates beaten in the AIB Junior Club Championship final by St Mary’s, Caherciveen last February, but there is still optimism that new ground can be broken in gaelic football for the county.

Cavan’s defeat of Tyrone in their provincial decider and their dismissal of Wexford just three days later has led to widespread praise for the brand of football developed under manager Terry Hyland ahead of Sunday’s hugely-anticipated meeting with Galway (throw-in 2.00pm).

Huge numbers of Cavan supporters travelled to Parnell Park to shout them onto victory in the semi-final win over Wexford and are expected to flock to Dublin once again for only the second appearance by a Cavan team in Croke Park since the 1997 All-Ireland SFC semi-final (the other being the Allianz Football League Division 2 final defeat to Longford four years ago).

However Galway’s defeat of a fancied Cork team in Ennis after the rebels had unceremoniously ended Kerry’s involvement means the Westerners carry the favorites tag in many people’s eyes but finals can be unpredictable and a great tussle is in prospect.