Paddy Lynch loss ‘a massive blow’ for Cavan ahead of Tyrone clash, says Seanie Johnston

THE continuing absence of Paddy Lynch is “a massive blow” to Cavan’s Ulster Championship ambitions as they prepare to face familiar foes Tyrone on Sunday, according to former Breffni forward Seanie Johnston.

The 25-year-old sustained a season-ending ACL injury during a training session last April – just days after a stellar showing in Cavan’s extra-time defeat to the Red Hands – and hasn’t worn county colours since.

Breffni boss Raymond Galligan revealed the Crosserlough ace “took a wee setback during the middle of the League”, therefore ruling him out of their provincial Championship opener, while it remains to be seen what part he plays in the rest of Cavan’s campaign.

It is understood that fellow forward Cormac O’Reilly is also a doubt for the trip to Omagh, potentially leaving Galligan light on attacking options as they bid to build on a promising Division Two campaign.

However, Johnston feels the loss of a player like Lynch is one most counties would struggle to absorb.

“It’s a massive blow because he was really just getting himself into that elite category of forward; Paddy has that X-factor about him, and he’s a player Cavan need.

“You could see his stock rising every time he played – even in that Tyrone game last year, [Padraig] Hampsey picked him up, but in the second half Paddy was excellent.

“I don’t even think it’s a case of could’ve done [thrived under the new rules], he would’ve done. The way he’s able to manipulate space to pull the trigger, and obviously his accuracy is at a really high level. Comparing him to a lot of the top forwards in the country, his striking is phenomenal off left and right.

“You see him off the ground, out of the hand, he has that star quality. There’s more space now than there was before, and he would have been able to find those pockets… especially with the two-point rule, that would have been a huge advantage.

“He’s a big lad as well, Paddy, that’s the thing people maybe don’t realise. Inside forwards are maybe pictured as small, nippy… he has that agility, but he’s over six foot and built like a sh**house, so he has all the attributes to be top level.”

With Tyrone finishing second bottom of Division One, and Cavan ending up fourth in the second tier – just a point off promotion – Galligan was quick to dismiss any talk of a gulf between the counties ahead of their Championship meeting.

Johnston, though, isn’t buying that rational.

He feels that, despite suffering relegation, the Red Hands will be in the mix for Ulster and All-Ireland titles later down the line – especially with Malachy O’Rourke, who had a stint over Johnston’s Cavan Gaels, at the helm.

“I’d take that with a pinch of salt because Tyrone were relegated on seven points, which is a decent performance in Division One.

“Cavan played Tyrone in Breffni Park last year, it went to extra-time. It was an extremely tight game, a brilliant occasion. Cavan maintained their management group, Tyrone changed theirs, so from that point of view you would imagine Cavan would be further down the line than Tyrone – the problem is that Tyrone brought in Malachy O’Rourke.

“Everybody knows his credentials, he’s such a calming influence and you just know the Tyrone players are going to be completely bought into exactly what he’s going to do.

“That’s why being relegated from Division One is not going to be a disaster for them because they know they went down with seven points, they know they won their last two games and drew with Galway in Salthill before that.

“I don’t feel Tyrone are in any way coming into this Championship in a bad place. In fact, because the All-Ireland is so open, I actually think they have a chance of being right there – I really don’t think they’ll be far away.”