There have been plenty of unexpected happenings in 2011 but, perhaps, the most surprising of all has been the reincarnation of Cavan football.
For the past number of years football in the Breffni County has been wallowing in self-pity like a washed up alcoholic, whose father was a very successful man, sitting in the corner of a pub. He sits there thinking about what he is going to do in the future to change and restore his family’s pride. However, no matter how hard he focuses his brain and conjures up plans he always reverts to type and will be back in the same corner again the next day thinking instead of doing.
He just can’t break his rut. At this stage he has sat in that miserable corner for too many years listening to people tell him that he is no good and as a result has lost his genuine inner-belief that he is capable of better.
Just because that is his lifestyle though does not condemn his children to the same fate. These kids have grown up looking at their father’s mistakes and his misfortunes and they have a choice. They can accept that what the monkey will see, the monkey will do or they can be different, recognise his mistakes and try to navigate their own path in life.
Thankfully after years of disappointment this year has produced some hope for Cavan folk. A first Ulster u21 title since 1996 had the county buzzing back in April and when the squad reached Croke Park for the All-Ireland final the Breffni supporters flocked to HQ like those stuck in purgatory had discovered the gates to heaven were open for a limited period.
However, since that day Cavan’s fortunes have sharply nose-dived once more. Galway cruised past Cavan in that decider and that disappointing end to a fairytale journey was swiftly followed by two disastrous results at senior level at home to Longford and Donegal.
In two foul swoops, all the positivity and the good feeling that had been built-up around the county through that u21 journey was eroded. Pessimism, disappointment, anger and frustration invaded the mindset of general supporters who were bewildered by the senior team’s shortcomings once more. And then it came, like a knight in shining armour. Another beacon of hope was lit as the minors gallantly marched to Sunday’s Ulster final – a first since 1988.
Is this a coincidence that both teams have broken through onto unchartered (well, more like forgotten) territory within a couple of months of one another or is there something more there?
Having grown up watching his father consistently come up short has this sibling drawn inspiration from his older brother and realised what is possible with the right application?
They have developed as teenagers watching their father sitting despondently in that corner with everyone looking down on him, belittling him and giving him no respect. They don’t know how their father got to that place and they don’t blame him for it. It just happened over time. It was a gradual decline – a whole series of unfortunate events.
Both the u21’s and the minors have shown this year that they are willing to work extremely hard to alter the general perception associated with Cavan football nowadays. Making that conscious decision to be different takes a lot of courage and effort but the initial decision is only the beginning of the work ahead if this county’s reputation is to be truly restored.
These two boys have already tasted relative success in their respective areas but what they really want is one successful family organisation with their father because that is what they have dreamt of since a young age.
Perhaps the tide is beginning to turn in Cavan but all the children can do is keep the faith and try to consistently improve. They key question the father has to ask himself is, is he happy to slump in that murky corner or is he willing to take a step towards the light? The children can help him make those initial strides forward as he looks to rediscover his ambition and drive to be successful once more but is he willing to go through all the battling that will get him on the road to that place where he has dreamed of getting to for years?
