The Breffni men take on rivals Monaghan in Sunday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final at Clones
He might have been speaking before last Sunday’s opener between Armagh and Tyrone but Cavan coach Diarmuid Scullion will be hoping his observations on the Ulster Championship continue to be correct this weekend.
The Breffnimen get their 2026 campaign under way with a trip to Clones to face rivals Monaghan in the provincial quarter-final.
Cavan hung on to their Division Two status despite losing to Scullion’s native Derry in round seven and they’ll be joined in the second tier by Monaghan after the Farney men were relegated from the top flight.
Speaking at last month’s launch of the Ulster SFC in Fermanagh, Scullion said League form counts for little when teams cross the whitewash for Championship meetings – something which certainly rang true at the Box-It Athletic Grounds last weekend.
“We played Derry in the last round of the League in Celtic Park and they beat us by four points, but there were periods in the game where I thought we were performing really well and competing really well,” said Scullion.
“We were disappointed that we ultimately lost the game.
“The way the Ulster Championship is, you can’t take it any more than one game at a time. For us, it’s going to Clones to play Monaghan. There’s a huge rivalry between Cavan and Monaghan – it’s always been there – and we know we’ll have to be at our best if we want to get anything out of the game.
“There’s an unbelievable spirit among the Cavan players. Even though there were a few weeks where results went against us in the League, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm. The players still want to pull on the county jersey and get stuck into training.”
He added: “The last few championship games between Cavan and Monaghan – form has gone out the window. We have a number of players in our team who relish these big experiences, and that’s something we’ll have to draw on.
Scullion has also been involved with David McCague’s backroom team with Scotstown in recent years so he knows a lot of the Monaghan players well.
He linked up with Dermot McCabe when he was Westmeath manager last year and followed the Breffni legend to Cavan for this season.
“I’ve been coaching a long time now. I did six years with Scotstown senior football team,” said Scullion.
“I knew Dermot (McCabe) from when I was living in Derry, where I’m originally from. I was heavily involved with Derry development squads and Derry minor teams.
“We got to know each other through challenge games and development squads. When Dermot took on the Westmeath job last year, he gave me a phone call to ask if I’d be interested in getting involved.
“I jumped at the chance. That progressed into him taking the Cavan job, and I’m delighted he brought me with him to work with the Cavan players.
“I’m married and living in Scotstown for 10 years now, so I’m a long time out of Derry. Even at club level, a lot of players I worked with have gone on to represent Monaghan.
“I love working with top players, and the natural progression for me was to move into county football. It’s a big step up, but it’s something I’m relishing so far.”
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