Tomorrow afternoon in Ballinagh, in Cavan, the masters of the game from Mayo and Cavan will do it again with the All Ireland Masters Championship up for grabs after their first final meeting ended in a stalemate after extra time. The masters from Mayo will be hoping to fare better than their senior counterparts who also went to a replay in the All Ireland final only to come undone at the end of the game by the narrowest of margins.
The undoubted star of the show in the first game in Cloonberne was Castlebar Mitchels' Kevin Filan who went home with a dozen points to his name, including the all important equalising score deep into injury time in extra time to tie the game up at 0-18 to 1-15. Filan who is in his first year with the masters side and as recently as St Patrick's Day 2014 saw action in the All Ireland Club final, is one of many familiar names still enjoying, but taking very seriously, their football at the masters grade, with Kenneth Mortimer, Fergal Kelly, Aidan Higgins, and Declan Sweeney all instantly recognisable names.
Mayo will be pleased to have got out of the first game with a draw after Cavan edged ahead late in the contest in a game that Mayo kicked far too many wides in and looked to have won in normal time, after Declan Sweeney had put them in front only for Cavan to level it up through a Tommy Maguire pointed free, the Breffni corner forward would finish up with six points from six frees in the drawn game.
Pat O'Neill's men have had two weeks to prepare for this one as they go looking for their first masters title in seven years, and despite having to head into their opposition's back-yard, they will be fairly confident of having what it takes with the likes Michael McGarry, Noe Stagg, Gerry Jennings, Declan Doyle, and Eddie Conroy all more than capable of having a major influnce on the outcome of this game.
