Cavan call on handball ace Brady
Cavan have called on the services of world champion handballer Paul Brady for tomorrow's Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC Preliminary round clash with Down (Casement Park, throw-in 3.30pm).
The Mullahoran man, who has spent much of the year on the Pro Handball circuit in America, has been selected at left half-back by Cavan boss Martin McElkennon.
The return of Brady, who is currently second in the US Pro Handball Championship Series rankings, will be a timely boost for the Breffni men as they have been hit by a rake of injuries and suspensions.
Full-back Darren Rabbitte (cruciate ligament), midfielder Nicholas Walsh (ankle), centre forward Michael Lyng (groin) and full-forward Jason O'Reilly (hamstring) are all sidelined, while centre back and captain Anthony Forde is out due to his three-month suspension for a red card earned against Sligo in the National League. Midfielder Lorcan Mulvey is also banned.
All that means that Gowna giant Dermot McCabe, who turns 30 on May 17, will skipper the side from midfield tomorrow. Pauric Reilly is in at full-back, and Larry Reilly takes over at full-forward having shaken off a knock.
Cavan's half-forward line includes Mark McKeever and Peter Reilly, who both only recently returned to the panel. McKeever was dropped five months ago for disciplinary reasons. Reilly, the older brother of full-forward Larry, will hope to rediscover the form which saw him have a key role in Cavan's last Ulster title win in 1997.
The winners of tomorrow's tie will face Donegal in a June 4 quarter-final.
CAVAN (SFC v Down) - J Reilly; M Hannon, Pauric Reilly, K Fannin; M Cahill, A Gaynor, P Brady; D McCabe (capt), C Collins; M McKeever, Peter Reilly, S Brady; G Pierson, L Reilly, S Johnston.
