By Colm Shalvey

Lory Meagher Cup Final 2021

Cavan v Fermanagh, Saturday, 6.30, Croke Park

Saturday’s Lory Meagher Cup Final is an Ulster derby between 2020 runners-up Fermanagh and first-time finalists Cavan.

Fermanagh’s loss to Louth last November was their third defeat from four Lory Meagher Final appearances, with their only title to date coming in 2015. Lisbellaw have been the only senior hurling club in Fermanagh over the last couple of years, but another two amalgamated teams have taken steps towards rectifying that. Cavan didn’t field a senior hurling team between 2011 and 2017, but they have been slowly building since their return and they have now made a long-awaited breakthrough by reaching their first final at this level. Antrim man Ollie Bellew and Galway native Tomás Mannion have helped speed up Cavan’s development since taking charge in 2019.

The neighbouring counties have met regularly in recent years, including in the 2021 Allianz Hurling League, where they finished joint-second in Division IIIB, and in the Lory Meagher Group B decider last month, which Cavan won by two points. Cavan went on to dethrone holders Louth in the semi-finals, while Fermanagh bounced back with two knock-out wins against Monaghan and Longford, who had both been relegated from the Nickey Rackard last year.

This is new territory for Cavan, but they can call on the experience of Cuala’s Brian Fitzgerald and Cillian and Colum Sheanon. Free-taker Fitzgerald carries much of the scoring threat for the Breffni side, with Seán Keating and Diarmaid Carney also capable of contributing, while Anthony Sheridan and Jack Barry are other key players.

Joe Baldwin is taking Fermanagh to Croke Park for the second time and he can call on the vast majority of his 2020 panel. Seán Corrigan has been in inspired form over the last few games, while John Duffy, Tom Keenan and Caolán Duffy can also chip in with scores for the Erne County. Barney McAuley, Ryan Bogue and Daniel Teague should also play central roles for Fermanagh.  

Five Lory Meagher Cup Finals have been decided by one-point margins. Recent history suggests a close finish is in store again, as these sides have played out two draws inside the last nine months, as well as that narrow win for Cavan in the group stage.

Cavan’s Lory Meagher Cup scorers 2021: Brian Fitzgerald 1-18 (0-14f, 0-1 ‘65); Seán Keating 1-4; Cillian Sheanon 0-4; Diarmaid Carney (2f), Jack Barry 0-3 each; Philip Brady 0-2; Kevin Conneely, Caoimhín Carney, Anthony Sheridan 0-1 each.

Fermanagh’s Lory Meagher Cup scorers 2021: Seán Corrigan 2-17 (0-1f); John Duffy 0-13 (10f, 1 ‘65); Tom Keenan 1-5; Caolán Duffy 1-3; John Paul McGarry 0-4; Barney McAuley 0-3 (1f); Kevin McGarry, Francis McBrien 0-2 each; Conor McShea, Ryan Bogue, Dylan Bannon, Mark Slevin 0-1 each.

Lory Meagher Cup top scorers 2021:

Joe O’Brien (Longford) 1-28

Darren Geoghegan (Louth) 0-30

Fergal Rafter (Monaghan) 2-21

Seán Corrigan (Fermanagh) 2-17

Brian Fitzgerald (Cavan) 1-18

Longford’s Joe O’Brien leads the 2021 Lory Meagher Cup scoring charts ahead of Saturday’s final, a single point ahead of last year’s top scorer Darren Geoghegan of Louth. Monaghan’s Fergal Rafter is in third place, with two players involved in the decider – 2020 runner-up Seán Corrigan (Fermanagh) and Cavan’s Brian Fitzgerald – poised to move up the standings.