By Michael McMullan

THERE isn’t much of a break for Ballyhaise after their win over reigning champions Gowna.

Last year’s intermediate kingpins have just four days to brace themselves for Thursday’s Round Three game against Castlerahan in the Cavan Senior Championship.

Goals from Martin Conaty, Michael and David Brady helped Ballyhaise into an early league before they were left to fend off a strong Gowna comeback to earn a one-point win.

It has been a return to the top table after last year’s run to the Ulster final where they went under to eventual All-Ireland intermediate champions Cullyhanna in a game they kicked themselves out of.

“The league this year…it’s good to play in the top flight,” said Damien Keaney, who was on board last season in the club’s run to the Ulster final and has returned after the county season to lend a hand to manager Ciaran Owens and fellow selector Brendan Lyons.

“I have been back after being in with Cavan (seniors under Raymond Galligan) to see if I can help in some way. There have been a number of new players blooded and have been developing since that game with Cullyhanna.

“It’s not easy after such a long year last year. Fellas have really settled down and are getting into good form for the championship.

“I think the lads started a little bit later and while the (2023) year was amazing, you have to keep going, the club has to keep going.”

After an opening championship defeat at the hands of 2021 champions Ramor United, last weekend’s win over Gowna will have done much for the confidence.

But it’s only one game. Thursday means Round Three, it means Kingspan Breffni and it means a date with Castlerahan, winners in 2018 and 2019 having playing in five of the last 10 deciders.

Castlerahan were winners in an exciting game with Lavey last weekend and it will pose another challenge for Ballyhaise.

“There’s a brilliant team there (in Ballyhaise) and some excellent players,” said Keaney.

“The combination of younger players and more mature players, it’s working really well. Fellas are really delighted to be playing at this time of the year and taking on the county champions was always going to be a challenge.

“It’s an opportunity for fellas to see where they’re at and see how they’re getting on.

“They did really well in the first half and were lucky to get in and score three really good goals. They then held on to win by one point and it really could have gone any way in that second half,” Keaney summed up of the Gowna win.

“We don’t know who we play in our final group game but it’s Castlerahan on Thursday evening.

“You can’t look beyond Thursday so, yeah, the fellas are looking forward to it.”