By Niall McCoy

THE Cavan story could be one of the best of the hurling league season if they can collect a derby win over Monaghan this weekend.

Do that, and they will be assured of a Division 3A league semi-final spot against Sligo or Mayo – quite the achievement for a side that only returned to inter-county action in 2017 and league action a year later.

Ollie Bellew’s side nabbed one of their most notable results in a long time as they downed Armagh to leave them in this positive position.

In the first half, against the breeze, they were nervy, off their game and really couldn’t pin down Alex O’Boyle who, like Bellew, is an Antrim native.

But the second half was a different story with Liam O’Brien, Jack Barry and Nicky Kenny combining for the scores that earned an eventual 2-13 to 0-16 win.

The Breffni Blues have performed well against Monaghan, beating them last year in the Lory Meagher Cup group stages although it was their neighbours who recovered and went on to lift their first All-Ireland title.

It will be tight and tense with Monaghan fighting for survival too, and Bellew will be demanding an improvement on the opening 20 minutes from last week.

Whatever the outcome, Cavan hurling continues to rise.