Cavan’s Faulkner revelling chance at silverware

Winning the Tailteann Cup could be a great stepping stone for next year, according to Cavan defender Padraig Faulkner.

The comments come as his side prepare to battle Westmeath on Sunday at Croke Park to become the inaugural winners of the competition. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Faulkner made clear the value of the chance at winning some silverware.

“This is important to win for younger lads on the panel and for those who have great experience. It is a chance to win something and my friends think this a great competition, “he said.

“There are a lot of lads playing football in America at the minute, but we sat down and said, ‘this is something we really want to win’. And everyone stuck at it, there was no drop-off, added Faulkner.

The former All-Star winner talked about the team putting everything into the competition this year saying it could be a stepping stone for next year and that the panel has put 100% into the competition.

The Breifne men exited the Ulster Championship back in May at the hands of a six point loss to Donegal, and Faulkner has enjoyed the added opportunities that the Tailteann Cup has proposed.

“It’s a good competition and I enjoy the way it was run this year. To be here in a final, playing football in the Summer with all the team invested in it- that’s really good.”

Faulkner went on, pointing out that the final is a nice reward for the demanding life style of an inter-county player. “It is like a second job. That’s why it’s nice to still be playing at this time of the year in competitive games with crowds and a chance to develop.”

Their opponents Westmeath cruised past Offaly in the Tailteann Cup semi-finals, and Faulkner is well aware of the challenge they pose.

“Westmeath really made Offaly look average, and Offaly are a good team, so that says a lot. We just have to look at ourselves now in the final. But that’s the nature of it.”