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Football

WATCH: Cavan are the Ulster Football Champions after shock win over Donegal

Sometimes history is just meant to repeat itself.  In the year of Bloody Sunday the last four te...



Football

WATCH: Cavan are the Ulster Football Champions after shock win over Donegal

Sometimes history is just meant to repeat itself. 

In the year of Bloody Sunday the last four teams in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship were Mayo, Tipperary, Cavan and Dublin.

And 100 years later - you guessed it - the same sides will be the last four to contest Sam Maguire.

Cavan were the final side to make it to the semi-final line up on Sunday evening with an impressive 1-13 to 12 point win over Donegal at the Athletic Grounds.

The win for Mickey Graham's side ends their provincial drought and they won the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time since 1997.

Conor Madden with the goal from play in stoppage time of the second half.

A special mention must also be given to goalkeeper Raymond Galligan who made two excellent saves to deny Donegal.

Going into the game, Donegal were heavily expected to win their third successive Ulster Championship with very few tipping a surprise win for Graham's side.

Many were already looking ahead to the possible pairing of Donegal and Dulin in the semi-finals.

Cavan though did not read the script and came into the game with a refreshing optimism about themselves.

By the 10th minute, they were 0-5 to 0-2 in front before Donegal found their rhythm to lead by two points at the break.

Midway through the second half, the game was tit for tat and it was hard to see who was going to pull away and win it.

With 10 minutes of normal time left to play a Gearoid McKiernan free edged Cavan in front 0-12 to 0-11.

Then Madden’s goal as well as a late Michael Murphy volley flying wide meant it was Cavan's day to make history.

The fact they played the game with 14 men for 20 minutes after receiving two black cards makes it even more impressive.

The Breffni men will now face champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.


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Bloody Sunday Cavan GAA Ulster Senior Football Championship