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Cavan will have to shed his recent habit of starting matches slowly if they want to challenge the reigning champion Donegal in the Ulster final next weekend, according to manager Mickey Graham.
Graham spoke after witnessing his team overcome a ten-point deficit to record a single win over Down in a provincial semi-final at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
It is not the first time that Graham’s team has regained a significant lead in this year’s championship, having also rallied from a seven-point deficit against Monaghan in the first round.
“We left ourselves a mountain to climb in the second half of games, and today was no different,” he said, “but that’s not going to get away with the Donegal machine.
“If we let them do that, they will put us to the sword, so we have a lot of work to do.”
Graham told RTÉ Sport that he wonders if his team will ever be ahead at half-time, but added that he has warned his players not to be surprised if they find themselves in that position.
He said that at halftime, with his team eight points behind, he highlighted a lot of “nonsense” from Breffni’s men.
“We said at halftime that we were doing a lot of stupid things, that we were making a lot of mistakes and that we weren’t pushing Down.
“We said that if this is going to be the last 35 minutes of the year, let’s go out and fight and try to give them a game.
“That’s what the guys did and they showed great determination,” he added.
Graham paid tribute to his players, highlighting the contribution of Padraig Faulkner and, in particular, half-time substitute Conor Madden.
With just a week to go to the provincial final in this year’s packed championship, Graham admitted it will be a big question for his players, who will face a sixth game in six weeks, go out and face a chasing Donegal team. a third title at the trot.
“I thought we looked tired in the first half, and the games could be catching up to our level,” he said.
However, he added that the urge to reach another Ulster final will hopefully give his players “an extra push.”
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