'Today is for every single player, manager, family member'
November 22, 2020
Cavan captain and goalkeeper Raymond Galligan lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Goalkeeper and captain Raymond Galligan dedicated Cavan's stunning Ulster SFC final victory over Donegal to their supporters.
With all sporting fixtures being currently played behind-closed-doors in line with Government restrictions, the Breffni County's football-mad fans had to watch the game from their armchairs as their heroes bridged a 23-year gap.
"We've had so many unbelievable players and managers that have gone through the system over the last 24 years that unfortunately haven't been as lucky as we have been today," an emotional Galligan told the BBC.
"Today is for every single player, manager, family member that's from Cavan. It was them that drove us on because they have been starved of days like today. We just wanted to make them proud.
"We knew from the support online over the last week and the backing we got after Monaghan (in the first round) that there were thousands and thousands of Cavan people all over the world dressed in their Cavan jerseys supporting us, screaming for us.
"We knew in the last quarter that every single mother, father and child was at home driving us on. That got us over the line. The support has been relentless for years.
"We had doom and gloom over the last number of months with COVID. Fantastic members of my own parish have passed away. My own community has had a lot of hurt. I hope we put a smile on everybody's face back home today."
Galligan felt Cavan were ready to go toe-to-toe with the hot favourites after their earlier wins over Monaghan (after extra-time), Antrim and Down.
"We felt after the victories over Monaghan, Antrim and Down that we were slowly creating something special," he continued.
"We said last Tuesday night when we got together that no matter what happens, we're going to leave everything on the field.
"We were fully aware that we could not give Donegal the start we gave Down last week. We put massive emphasis on a good start and that every single opportunity that arose, be it a battle out the field, a scoring opportunity, that we would go for it."
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