These are exciting times for Cavan football supporters.
Pitted against 2018 All-Ireland semi-finalists Monaghan in the Ulster SFC quarter-final, most observers expected the Breffni men to be part of the draw for the first round of the qualifiers, in part due to their early season form – Cavan finished rock bottom of Division 1– but also owing to the high calibre opposition.
Mickey Graham’s men however simply hadn’t read the script and Martin Reilly’s penalty was instrumental in their four-point victory.
That put them just a win away from a first Ulster final appearance in 18 years. With just provinical titles in the past 50 years, the excitement was building nicely ever before the epic contest with Armagh.
Extra-time couldn’t separate the sides in Clones and they will have to do battle all over again this weekend.
Reilly, the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for May, admitted that while they were "hopeful" against Monaghan, confidence quickly grew.
The absorbing draw with the Orchard County put both sets of supporters through the emotional wringer, but faced with adversity following the dismissal of Ciarán Brady, Reilly was proud of how Cavan battled for a draw.
"There was nothing really in it and it was a fair result," he told RTÉ Sport.
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"We possibly could have won it in the end. Looking back on the last 10 minutes, we were a man and four points down so to get the draw was a great result in the end."
Reilly has been impressed by the new man at the helm, with Graham coming on board following Mullinalaghta’s fairytale journey last year in the club championship.
Against Armagh we kept plugging away, didn’t panic and stuck to the plan
Despite just one win in the league, the Killygarry man says there have been green shoots throughout the season.
"We have progressed over the year. Against Monaghan we were under pressure in the second half, but we kept going and kept chipping away at the scoreboard. We got over the line, we didn’t give in.
"Against Armagh we kept plugging away, didn’t panic and stuck to the plan. It showed great character so we’re just looking to build on that.
"We are pretty happy going to the replay."
A haul of 39 Ulster titles is nothing to be sniffed at, but these were mainly accumulated in the first half of the 20th century.
Big days out have been few and far between for Cavan in recent times, notwithstanding the memorable summer of 1997, so what would it mean to the county to reach the decider this year?
"It would be huge. It would be great for us players, the supporters sand there would be a great buzz around the county."
Follow all the football action this weekend via our live blogs on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app, listen to live national commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 and watch live and exclusive TV coverage of Tyrone and Donegal in the Ulster SFC semi-final on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player this Saturday
