Goalkeeper Raymond Galligan has been one of many success stories for Cavan this year, but the Lacken man isn not expecting Armagh to roll out the red carpet

IF IT doesn’t work out between the sticks, Raymond Galligan can always make his case for a return to a more advanced position in the Cavan line-up.

The Lacken man wears the number 14 jersey for his club and can boast of the rare distinction of scoring 10 points in an inter-county match – landing six frees, three 45s and a point from play in a League game against Roscommon in 2010.

With so many strings to his bow, it’s unlikely that Galligan will be displaced between the posts any time soon – his free-taking, distribution and shot-stopping have all been out of the top drawer heading into Cavan’s Ulster Championship campaign.

In that respect Galligan is the prototypical modern goalkeeper, and his assured performances have began to reverberate on a national level, with Dará O’Cinnéide describing him as one of the most underrated goalkeepers around.

A social worker based in Dublin, the long journeys have been eased by Cavan’s eye-catching form, earning promotion back to the top-flight for the first time in 15 years.

The Breffni cast threw off the shackles after opening round losses to Derry and Tyrone, racking up huge tallies during a five-game winning run. Galligan pinpoints their third round win against Meath as the catalyst for Cavan’s rich vein of form.

“There’s been a marked improvement since we played Tyrone and Derry at the beginning of the year,” he said.

“I suppose the boys have got a lot fitter and with the wins we’ve got a good bit of belief back. The win over Meath back in round three helped a lot.”

The prospect of playing with football’s nobility next season is all well and good, but it’s the Championship where reputations are truly cemented.

First up is a provincial quarter-final tie against Armagh at Breffni Park this Sunday. Kieran McGeeney’s side were demolished by Cavan in March (by 3-18 to 0-10) and were subsequently relegated a month later, but they improved in the latter stages of the League, finishing with two draws and a win in their final three fixtures.

Cavan and Armagh have previous as well – most will remember their brawl as they lined up for the pre-match parade in their provincial quarter-final in 2014. Armagh went on to win that particular encounter by six points, and Galligan anticipates another full-blooded encounter.

“This year we took every match game by game. On the one hand beating Armagh was great at that time because we really needed the two points. Looking toward the Championship now, that game will have no bearing.

“Armagh were missing a lot of key players and they proved in the last three or four League games that they’re a good team. They got a draw against Tyrone and Galway and beat Derry so we know it’ll be really irrelevant when we play them in the Championship.”

One of the game’s sleeping giants, Cavan are record Ulster Championship winners with 37 titles – their last in 1997. Galligan says manager Terry Hyland will keep the side grounded should they attempt to make waves in this year’s main act,

“Going out into the first round everybody wants to win, but Terry will ensure it’s not something we’ll think about until we get there – we’ll try to get Armagh out of the way first.

“Terry’s been absolutely brilliant with every one of us. He’s very straight and to the point, he’s a great character, he’s a real father figure for most of the players.”

The stars appear to have aligned for Cavan this year – returning stalwarts Seanie Johnston, David Givney and Eugene Keating all had productive League campaigns, while the cream of their recent successful u-21 sides are also making their mark at senior level.

Cavan clinched their fourth Ulster u-21 championship in a row in 2014, and of the team that started the final against Tyrone on that occasion, Killian Clarke, Padraig Faulkner, Conor Moynagh, Killian Brady, Michael Argue and Liam Buchanan have all graduated to the first 15. According to Galligan, that injection of youth has been key.

“They’ve brought great experience having won four Ulsters in a row, they have massive belief and confidence. There’s a marked contrast compared to previous seasons.

“This year there was no fear factor competing with the likes of Derry, Tyrone and Armagh.”

It’s a sign of the times that a free-taking goalkeeper is no longer a novelty – Stephen Cluxton, Niall Morgan and Rory Beggan are its most high-profile exponents. As for Galligan, he claims that he has been aided by playing outfield for Lacken.

“I’m enjoying this year. Last year I wasn’t even playing in the league, so I’m lucky things are going well.

“It’s nice to get to get out the field and take a few frees but the defence is holding up very well which helps too.

“I would’ve been better known for playing out the field.

“The free-taking aspect has helped with my kick-outs, it’s added a different dimension to things this year.”