Longford footballer Mickey Quinn spoke to OTB Sports after Cavan won their first Ulster Senior Football Championship title in 23 years.

Cavan beat Donegal 1-13 to 0-12 in the Ulster Senior Football final to book their place in an All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin.

Heading into the final, nobody expected Cavan to challenge for the Ulster title, however these upsets are why Quinn loves sport.

“It is something that we would never have said before the game or at the start of the year, but this year keeps throwing up a few surprises,” Quinn said.

“That is the joy in sport and that is why we all follow it; for that hope that the underdogs are going to win.

“We are still hoping that underdog is going to come through and win an All-Ireland somewhere.”

The match itself, for Quinn, was one of the classic matches.

“It had everything,” Quinn said. “I was just waiting for a red card or a penalty, that is all it was missing. It had everything apart from that.

“The first half just started helter-skelter; it was [Cavan 0-07 Donegal 0-09] at half time, and then it only finished 1-13 to 0-12 points, so a lot of the points were scored in the first half.

“In the second half, the mistakes started to creep in between fatigue and just probably poor decision making.

“But, it was a cracking game. It was nip and tuck the whole way through.

“With the black cards, everyone thought, ‘this is it now, Cavan are finished’, a goal chance or a point for Donegal, ‘Cavan are finished here’.

“But actually, they just hung in in there and then the goal came at the right time.”

Ciaran Brady of Cavan celebrates with manager Mickey Graham following the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Final match between Cavan and Donegal at Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Dublin awaits for Cavan

With their Ulster title in hand, Cavan will keep their underdogs tag heading into the All-Ireland semi-finals, as they will meet the dominant Dublin side.

Quinn hopes that Cavan will put it up to the capital and make it to the All-Ireland final.

“We are just waiting for the big upset; we are just waiting for someone to take the Dubs,” Quinn said.

“The way Cavan and Mickey Graham are going, who knows? Ulster was there for Cavan and that was their goal.”

With the hunger in the panel, Quinn isn’t writing Graham’s side off completely against the mighty Dubs.

“Everyone is living that fairy-tale dream with Tipperary and with Cavan,” Quinn said.

“You just want, heading into Christmas, to think, ‘maybe, maybe it is possible, it might happen.’

“I don’t know, I think we have to enjoy these upsets as it is. I am not sure if anyone is in a position to catch Dublin yet.”

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