Preview: U21FC semi-final - Cavan v Cork
April 20, 2013Cavan made it three Ulster wins in a row when overcoming Donegal by 0-13 to 1-6 while Cork achieved the same feat courtesy of their 1-17 to 0-9 success over Tipperary.
Despite their respective wins at provincial level, neither county has managed to get their hands on the All-Ireland silverware in that time frame.
The Breffni County came close to a first ever outright success in the grade when contesting the 2011 final against Galway but Roscommon ended their ambitions at the semi-final stage last year.
The Rebel County top the All-Ireland U21 roll of honour with 11 wins but the last came in 2009.
Manager John Cleary can call upon nine of the team that lost the 2010 All-Ireland MFC final to Tyrone.
They are David Hanrahan, Alan Cronin, Tom Clancy, Jamie Wall, Damien Cahalane, John O'Rourke, Mark Sugrue, Dan Mac Eoin and Brian Hurley. Brian Cuthbert and Luke Connolly were introduced as substitutes in the final defeat by the Red Hand County and both featured in the 2-14 to 0-11 semi-final win over Limerick.
Cork commenced their campaign with a 0-14 to 2-7 win over a Darragh O Se coached Kerry side.
Cavan will look to the experience of captain Fergal Flanagan, Jack Brady and Turloc Mooney who all have three Ulster medals in their collection.
The Breffni County - under the guidance of manager Peter Reilly - progressed to the provincial final by virtue of wins over Monaghan (1-16 to 1-12) and Down (1-12 to 1-6) in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.
The county's football mad supporters will travel to Tullamore in big numbers to cheer on the team but Cork are fancied to justify their favourites tag.
Verdict: Cork
Cavan - TBC
Cork - David Hanrahan; Conor Dorman, Damien Cahalane, Alan Cronin; Brian O'Driscoll, Tom Clancy, Jamie Wall; Sean Kiely, Ian Maguire; Alan Cadogan, Mark Sugrue, John O'Rourke; Dan MacEoin, Brian Hurley, Luke Connolly.
Odds: Cavan 9/4, Draw 15/2, Cork 4/9
Match Details: O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 3.45pm Saturday 20 April Tweet
