Cavan vs. Down

Lemlin

I know there was a discussion about this on another thread but I'd prefer if each game with was given its own.

Basically, for a start, I wasn't impressed with the punditry from RTE at all yesterday. All they could talk about was Cavan losing to Waterford, completely ignoring the fact that this team reached the last 12 in Ireland this time last year.

They also talked about James Reilly as if they didn't have a clue who he was. Look up your stats there lads, he was one of the three best 'keepers in the Championship last year.

All Brolly and O'Rourke seemed interested in talking about were Derry and Meath respectively. Save it for when they're playing lads. Although I imagine O'Rourke wouldn't be too interested in talking about Cavan or he'd realise that this is the same team who beta his beloved Meath last year

Other than that, Cavan were poor. Seanie Johnston looked to be the only forward capable of kicking a point and the whole team lacked cohesion. Down were there for the taking but we hadn't got what it took. Anthony Forde was a big loss, no doubt about it.

I can only hope that our vital players like him will be back in a month or so. All is not lost just yet. The backdoor is still very much open.

And watch our minors 3 players on the Aussie Rules panel this year and Virginia College were the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Champions.

Waylander

Down were there for the taking, but only because reilly made several good saves in the first half. I felt Down should have been a good bit ahead at half time, and Cavan were a weak team. I thought Cavans Full forwards were decent and their goalkeeper was good, but the full backs did him no favours.

I think the most positive thing Cavan can take from yesterday is that they dont have another match for 6 weeks (I think) which gives them some time to pull themselves together.

Lemlin

Exactly. Time is needed to get our proper first team in order and injury free. The backs were missing key players like Anthony Forde and Darren Rabitte.

I'd also like to see Ronan Flanigan get a run-out in the next game. Can't understand why Mackey was brought on ahead of him yesterday.

Culchie

I thought O'Reilly had a good game in goal, although he would have been disappointed if he didn't save all of the shots bar one (his second save diving to his left was excellent), his other saves were down to good basic positional sense.
He was badly at fault for the goal, when you come off your line, you have to get the ball (or the man failing that), he did neither.

I thought the lad Johnston looks like a good footballer with real promise, and I believe there is a good minor team in Cavan...they are badly needed to come through, because the present team appear to flatter to deceive, there's no mettle or substance in the team.

Down reminded me of a green 3 year old racehorse after it's debut on the track... I think they will improve and come on significantly for the run out, and have a very bright future ahead of them, although not to be expected of better than having a good run this season.
Coulter was excellent and (you heard it here first) I think Michael Walsh is going to be one of the All Time GAA legends, he looks absolutely brilliant.

Waylander

I agree with some of what you say Culchie, although I think the goalkeeper should have more help from his full backs for the goal, I would not attribute all the blame to him.

I do not think Down were as good as you make them out to be. They needed to be more clinical, and although Coulter was good, he had not scored before the goal, but he had made other peoples scores for them.

Culchie

Waylander wrote:

I agree with some of what you say Culchie, although I think the goalkeeper should have more help from his full backs for the goal, I would not attribute all the blame to him.

I do not think Down were as good as you make them out to be. They needed to be more clinical, and although Coulter was good, he had not scored before the goal, but he had made other peoples scores for them.

They're a team for the future (and with a future), that's all I mean, as I said a decent run is all they can expect this year.

Disagree on the goal, it was 99% O'Reilly's fault. He had plenty time to collect that ball, he had the best position to make the decision....if he was unsure, he should have waited on his line, and then approach Coulter to close down the angle.

Don't get me wrong, he had a fine game, but was caught out there.

Lemlin

I also thought James Reilly was to blame for the goal but he has saved us that many times in the past that it could easily be forgiven.

Cavan started slowly last year against Antrim and I'm hoping it'll be the same next year. Hopefully we'll get someone easy in the qualifiers like Longford.

opa01_2000

Down were poor but Cavan were even worse. Can't see much light at the end of the tunnel. The goal should not have happened, even though it was the best move of the match. James Reilly should have made sure the ball was his or not come out at all - he was too hesitant on that occasion but he had kept Cavan in the game in the first half. Cavan could have sneaked it had they taken their scores but would not have deserved it.

Hannon played Coulter pretty well and Pauric Reilly was impressive. Johnstone took some good scores but kicked some awful wides at the beginning of the second half when it mattered. McCabe got plenty of the ball but didn't use it. Larry had a good start but faded. Peter just wasn't ready for the game. Gaynor defended well but distribution is poor and is still prone to putting the elbow in when it's easier to win the ball fairly. Paul Brady was probably Cavan's best player. Bringing Eddie O'Reilly on just shows how low we've sunk - at least he didn't catch any Down player with his back to him to do the same as to the Westmeath lad. Sean Brady impressed me.

I can't see Down getting past Donegal.

cruiserweight

This didn't take long

CAVAN'S defeat by Down in last Sunday's Ulster football championship has had immediate fall-out with a call for a vote of no-confidence in the team management.

However, Martin McElkennon will continue in charge for the rest of the season despite the proposal by the Lacken club that the team management's position be reviewed.

Lacken handed in a letter to Monday night's county board meeting, proposing a vote of no-confidence in the team management and while its contents were read out no discussion took place.

It has also emerged that Lacken club member Finbarr Reilly, who is Cavan vice-captain, did not travel to Casement Park after learning on Friday that he would not be on the starting line-up.

Cavan County Board chairman George Cartwright said yesterday that the letter from Lacken was handed to the county secretary shortly before Monday night's meeting was due to start.

"It couldn't be discussed because a matter of this nature would have had to be flagged in advance. As it was, delegates were not mandated to deal with it," he said.

The letter will now be discussed by the county board's Management Committee but Cartwright said that as far as he was concerned, the team management would stay in place and get down to work immediately planning for the first round qualifiers on June 17.

The next county board meeting isn't due until the Monday before the qualifier game so it looks as if McElkennon, who has Damien Cassidy, Ronan Carolan and Michael Reilly as selectors, will be allowed to continue.

However, there's clearly growing unrest in Cavan after two poor performances in which the team first failed to beat Waterford in a crucial promotion tie in April, followed by last Sunday's defeat to Down.

Martin Breheny

mchurl

Would like to see a few cavan opinions on this. Came as a bi of a surprise to me, he really hasnt been given much of a chance imo. They didnt ave that bad of a league campaign minus the defeat to Waterfordwhich meant they missed out on promotion, and even though they didnt perform to the best of their ability aginst Down, they werent disgracd at all. They also have a lot of injuries at the inute which cant be helping.

cournioni

I think it was the manner in which Finbar O'Reilly was dropped which is causing all of this unrest in the camp. Mark McKeever and Peter Reilly were called back onto the panel only two weeks ago after McKeever was kicked off for disciplinary reasons and Peter was just taking a break.

These two players were picked to play for the game after only two weeks on the panel. And neither had a good game. Both looked unfit, especially Peter Reilly who gave away one or two balls that could easily have been Cavan scores if he had played the ball in.

Taking Finbar O'Reilly out of the team also left Cavan with no free or 45 taker. This was evident on several occasions where Cavan missed good chances from both frees and 45 situations. I lost count of the amount of scoring oppertunities that McCabe blasted wide from parts of the pitch where O'Reilly would put frees over with ease.

The fact that Finbar was Cavan's top scorer in last years Championship should tell its own story. So why he was dropped for such a big game, I don't know. He may have had a bad day at the office against Waterford, but surely that is no reason to drop a man that can get you scores on the day for you. Especially not when you don't have anyone to replace him with.

Cavan may have lost the game against Down, but it could easily have been won if the management had to play it right. But whatever problem is there, I hope that it will be sorted out very soon, or we'll be seeing a very short championship.

By the way, if Dermot McCabe decides to grab the ball off a Cavan player for a free again I will physically go onto the pitch and kick him around the place.

opa01_2000

By the way, if Dermot McCabe decides to grab the ball off a Cavan player for a free again I will physically go onto the pitch and kick him around the place.

Very brave for a Shercock boy

Lemlin

http://www.hoganstand.com/cavan/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=60748

Vote of no confidence was thrown out. Doesn't surprise me. McElkennon did well last year. Apparently this is just sour grapes from Finbarr and someone from Lacken told me the GAA club around there revolves around him because he made the county team.