The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

Lemlin

celt262 wrote: »

It was the worst performance i have seen in a long time.

Left the game with 8 minutes to go i couldn't look at it any longer.

Must rival the Offaly game last year so. Paul Fitz in the Celt blog said it was bad alright.

Syferus

Some of our supporters were doing hand wringing about this game but I felt we were in a better place (even with a huge number of absentees) than we were when the two teams met last year and that was a five point win for us that could have easily been more. Cavan were fading a little after a hot start while we were gaining momentum as the league progressed.

I didn't expect a ten point win but I thought plenty of observers might be confused by the way the game would go.

I wouldn't worry too much about it from your perspective. Both counties are building from grass roots up, we've just been in that process longer. Hopefully we'll both make it to D2 in the coming years because you can only grow so much playing at this level.

Redsoxfan

Howdy lads and lasses. Really looking forward to the U-21 Final on Wednesday night. I'm not here as a spy, genuinely interested in your team - who should I look out for? What's the feeling - ye are relatively short odds - does that reflect the mood in Cavan?

We are surprised to be there and it's hard to know how fit the McHugh cousins will be on the night. Luke Keaney made his Senior debut on Sunday and didn't look out of place. Marty O'Reilly and Odhran MacNiallais will be important as well, and Conor Gibbons can take a score, especially from a free. But of course, if Paddy McBrearty doesn't play well, I doubt we have a chance. Not quite doing it at Senior level, but can be a star at this level.

I see that the winners will face either Cork or Tipperary in Tullamore - bit of an easier journey for Cavan.

Lemlin

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Howdy lads and lasses. Really looking forward to the U-21 Final on Wednesday night. I'm not here as a spy, genuinely interested in your team - who should I look out for? What's the feeling - ye are relatively short odds - does that reflect the mood in Cavan?

We are surprised to be there and it's hard to know how fit the McHugh cousins will be on the night. Luke Keaney made his Senior debut on Sunday and didn't look out of place. Marty O'Reilly and Odhran MacNiallais will be important as well, and Conor Gibbons can take a score, especially from a free. But of course, if Paddy McBrearty doesn't play well, I doubt we have a chance. Not quite doing it at Senior level, but can be a star at this level.

I see that the winners will face either Cork or Tipperary in Tullamore - bit of an easier journey for Cavan.

The main Cavan players to watch out for would be the captain Fergal Flanagan who will probably line out CHB, the full back Killian Clarke and corner forward Jack Brady. All of those have played for the seniors.

Two players who haven't appeared for the seniors yet are Turloc Mooney who'll be on the 40 and Enda O'Reilly who is corner forward. They should also feature strongly.

This Cavan team hasn't many big names but they work tremendously hard for each other.

That said, Donegal will be a daunting task. Ye are the only team to have beaten us at U21 level in the last 3 years in Ulster.

Redsoxfan

Lemlin wrote: »

This Cavan team hasn't many big names but they work tremendously hard for each other.

This Donegal team seems to be built along much the same lines, but with a few McHughs and Paddy McBrearty, it does have some names.

That said, Donegal will be a daunting task. Ye are the only team to have beaten us at U21 level in the last 3 years in Ulster.

I hope we put up a good challenge, regardless of the result. After beating Tyrone and Derry, you'd like to think so anyway. However, the 2010 team was almost certainly better than the current team. Michael Murphy alone would make that the case. Don't forget ye beat us in 2011!

Very close game we have on our hands here. Both teams would appear to be evenly matched but with Donegal having McBrearty as their ace in the hole. Cavan have no player of that standard and he will have a bearing on the game no matter how well he plays, we will be set up to limit his impact on the game and that in turn will allow more opportunities to the rest of the Donegal side.

We have been extremely solid in defence thus far, disciplined in the tackle and willing to put bodies on the line when necessary. Up front we are little more than functional, no marquee forwards as such, although Enda O'Reilly is usually brilliant from dead balls. Paul O'Connor while not as physical as our previous full forward, is playing very well and has bagged a goal in both games so far.

For the first time we enter the final as favourites, an unusual position, no longer the spirited underdogs. Donegal have the mental edge here.

I think this will be a low scoring, dogged affair, don't expect Cavan to score more than 12-13 points so we can't let Donegal run up a big score. It will be decided by some small margin, a mistake or a moment of class. Hopefully we can bring a great crowd, I know Donegal will. I'm looking forward to what will be another special night in Brewster, win or lose.

Tom Joad

I would say that this years under 21 team is the best of the last 4 years but would agree with keepthefaith that this will be a tight game and not much between the two teams. I'd read nothing into the bookies odds or favourites tags as they simply don't mean anything at this level.

Expecting a big crowd in Brewster -our second home..

Lemlin

Tom Joad wrote: »

I would say that this years under 21 team is the best of the last 4 years but would agree with keepthefaith that this will be a tight game and not much between the two teams. I'd read nothing into the bookies odds or favourites tags as they simply don't mean anything at this level.

Expecting a big crowd in Brewster -our second home..

The one big advantage Cavan have is our bench. For example, Joe Dillon was starting last year but is on the bench this year. That's a sigh of the strength in depth that's there.

In a tight game against Monaghan, it made all the difference and it could again tomorrow night.

munchkin_utd

I presume this isnt on tv anywhere?
No mention on TG4 anyhow.

Always_Running

All Ireland semi final and final is the only U-21 games shown live. Tg4 will have highlights on Monday.

bigtimecharlie

Breffni boys won 0-13 to 1-6 for Donegal.

Cork up next on Sunday week in a double header in Tullamore.

shiibata

Fair play to Cavan tonight, by far the better team on the night.

Thank God Paddy McBrearty played or we might not have scored at all..

Syferus

Well done Cavan, three Ulsters is a serious achievement. Hopefully we get a repeat of the 2011 AI final.

Lemlin

shiibata wrote: »

Fair play to Cavan tonight, by far the better team on the night.

Thank God Paddy McBrearty played or we might not have scored at all..

I don't know about that. Cavan were the better team and controlled the game but Donegal had a fair few goal chances.

I don't think we'll get away with that against Cork. I hate to be on a downer after such a great win but I think we could exit again at semi final stage like last year, which is a pity.

Congrats to captain Fergal Flanagan and Jake Brady particularly. They have played 9 games in Ulster at U21 level and are unbeaten.

shiibata

Lemlin wrote: »

I don't know about that. Cavan were the better team and controlled the game but Donegal had a fair few goal chances.

I don't think we'll get away with that against Cork. I hate to be on a downer after such a great win but I think we could exit again at semi final stage like last year, which is a pity.

Congrats to captain Fergal Flanagan and Jake Brady particularly. They have played 9 games in Ulster at U21 level and are unbeaten.

Ye, first half, we had 2 goal chances but yez wasted a lot yourselves in front of goals in the 1st half... we got to within 2pts in 2nd half, we took a quick free on sideline and gave it straight to a Cavan lad and it led to a free which yez converted and that finished the comeback

Some great points by the no.11 for Cavan, 2 of them with the outside of boot..

Lemlin

shiibata wrote: »

Ye, first half, we had 2 goal chances but yez wasted a lot yourselves in front of goals in the 1st half... we got to within 2pts in 2nd half, we took a quick free on sideline and gave it straight to a Cavan lad and it led to a free which yez converted and that finished the comeback

Some great points by the no.11 for Cavan, 2 of them with the outside of boot..

Christopher Conroy. He got man of the match. He played for the Cavan Junior team in the Leinster Junior Championship for the last couple of years.

Still looks a bit light for the step up to senior. Two years ago I saw him play for his club Lavey against Kingscourt, the then county champions, when he would of been only just out of minor.

The game was a draw at the end, 11 or 12 points all, can't really remember. What I do remember is Conroy giving a master class and scoring 8 or 9 of Lavey's scores.

Hammer Archer

Congrats lads. It's very depressing seeing so many of our neighbours with absolute quality underage teams coming through.

Syferus

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Congrats lads. It's very depressing seeing so many of our neighbours with absolute quality underage teams coming through.

Jesus man, I know last year's Meath minor team were nothing amazing but they did still make the AI final.

All but the very best underage systems in the country would bite your hand off to have that alone.

Tom Joad

Fantastic achievement by Cavan - got a bit nervy towards the end and McBrearty is a fantastic footballer but always felt that Cavan were the better team and wanted it more. 3 in a row at this level is a great achievement. Cork have also won 3 in a row so should be interesting.

cavan4sam

well done to all involved
a fantastic achievement by an exceptional group of players

tremendous atmosphere once again by the huge cavan support
brilliant discipline by the team to never lose their shape while under severe pressure in the 2nd half
while it may not have been the prettiest to watch for the purists our gameplan against donegals system worked and we reaped the rewards for it

however i would have concerns about meeting a cork team that i'm sure will be playing open football and i cant help casting my mind back to last years semi against roscommon where when we encountered a team playing non ulster like football we were found wanting

hopefully lessons were learned from this and we can push on and challenge for the all ireland glory that we have been starved of for so long in this football mad county

once again congratulations to peter and all involved 3 in a row in ulster at any grade is a brilliant achievement and it can only help bring confidence to every other team in the county

looking forward to saturday week and once again i'm sure we will turn out in our thousands

An Cabhan Abu

Redsoxfan

Well folks, just dropping in to say congratulations on your three-in-a-row.

Felt you could have been out of sight at half-time. Donegal played very poorly at times and it was only in the last 10-15 minutes that they exhibited the kind of intentsity that needed to be shown from the start. Losing the two McHughs (neither of whom looked fit enough to start with) didn't help our efforts, but that's taking nothing away from Cavan who were full value for their win IMHO.

All the best against Cork - I'd say it will be a bigger challenge than last night.

Lemlin

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Well folks, just dropping in to say congratulations on your three-in-a-row.

Felt you could have been out of sight at half-time. Donegal played very poorly at times and it was only in the last 10-15 minutes that they exhibited the kind of intentsity that needed to be shown from the start. Losing the two McHughs (neither of whom looked fit enough to start with) didn't help our efforts, but that's taking nothing away from Cavan who were full value for their win IMHO.

All the best against Cork - I'd say it will be a bigger challenge than last night.

The thing about last night is that we played poorly and still won. They say that's a sign of a great team and I'd hope so. I wasn't at the Down game but speaking to people who were they seemed to say that the majority of the Cavan team didn't play half as well last night.

There was alot of pressure on the team last night to achieve the three in a row. It can't have been easy for them and at times it showed. For example, Enda O'Reilly, and I'm not singling him out, missed frees that he wouldn't have in the previous two games.

I definitely think Cork will be favourites in the semi and you only have to look at the teams left in it - Galway, Cork and Kildare - to see we're the underdogs. Those three counties have more than three times our population and have some pick.

It would be great to see us pick up some silverware or even make the final but it is going to be a big ask.

Gallant_JJ

Highlights

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/22106269

Nailz

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

Highlights

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/22106269

Is that working for anyone else? For me it says "Content doesn't seem to be working. Please try again later", I even tried a UK proxy server and it done the same thing. Would love to see the highlights of it.

Edit: Nevermind, got it working! Good viewing from a Cavan perspective.

Anyway, was delighted for the lads last night, even stayed up late here to keep track of how all was going in the match via Twitter and Northern Sound online, Great to see the boys from my neck of the woods growing into such good players for the county, hard working fellas and I'm sure they won't stop any time soon! Great to get 3-in-a-row, now to focus on getting past Cork in the AI semis, it'll be great to get to Croker again for the second time in three years.

Tom Joad

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

Highlights

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/22106269

Thanks for sharing - very interesting what Jack Brady said in that interview about the belief and the use of sports psychologists - its something I've been saying for a while - the footballers are there in Cavan - its mainly about attitude and belief. These young lads have the attitude and belief in spades.

I'm sure they won't mind getting written off by their own again - the amount of clowns (most who weren't in Brewster) who I met today saying that Cork would trash them - really bugs me. :rolleyes:

Anyway rant over..

willabur

I was chatting to a friend of one of the players from the u21s. They lads didn't take a drink after winning their ulster title the other night. Focus is totally on the semi-final against Cork. Regardless of the result of that game this represents a sea change in attitude in a Cavan team that has lifted a trophy.

willabur

The recent success at U21 level in the county is clearly not an overnight thing, it is something which was borne out of some reflection about how football was organised at county level. It is fantastic to see that they had the ability to identify deficiencies, come up with solutions and execute them.

I think it would be a good time to introduce a system for tracking every player in the county from 14-15 years of age up. I am currently in australia on holiday and I reckon we can take some notes from the way they organise underage sports and athletics here. Too often in the past you would hear of a club or a player not getting a fair go in on the county, it would be good to have something to back this up with. Have stats on the player, how fast can he run from the 21 to the 50. How far can he kick off hand, off the ground. How high can he jump? Test reaction skills etc all these things can be measured and could possibly used to identify players who would otherwise slip through the fingers of simple human perception. Just an idea

Second thing that needs to be addressed pronto is the current apathy from clubs around the county towards the board with regards the complete haims that they have made off the club competitions this year. Its not good enough really, a healthy club scene more often than not makes for a healthy county team. PLayers playing at higher levels pushes our elite players to higher levels again. Thats said the county should be the priority, clubs need to understand that it is the greater good, the county needs to understand that the likes of mountnugent or munterconnaght who while small clubs provide massive players for the county need to be looked after also, i dunno how exactly that would happen but suggestions would be welcome.

Now it is no time to rest on laurels with the recent success. The Objective for the county should be to see a lad from the breffni lift sam in croke park within the next ten years. We don't want another 10 years in the wilderness of provincial quarter finals and the odd trip around the country to take in the odd qualifier. It would be a golden opportunity squandered

Tom Joad

willabur wrote: »

Second thing that needs to be addressed pronto is the current apathy from clubs around the county towards the board with regards the complete haims that they have made off the club competitions this year. Its not good enough really, a healthy club scene more often than not makes for a healthy county team. PLayers playing at higher levels pushes our elite players to higher levels again. Thats said the county should be the priority, clubs need to understand that it is the greater good, the county needs to understand that the likes of mountnugent or munterconnaght who while small clubs provide massive players for the county need to be looked after also, i dunno how exactly that would happen but suggestions would be welcome.

Now it is no time to rest on laurels with the recent success. The Objective for the county should be to see a lad from the breffni lift sam in croke park within the next ten years. We don't want another 10 years in the wilderness of provincial quarter finals and the odd trip around the country to take in the odd qualifier. It would be a golden opportunity squandered

Too many vested interests at the top table unfortunately and no courage to bring about the changes needed. They county board paid a lot of money to commission the report into the county championship - they then accepted the recommendations (sensible stuff) which would have seen teams aside from the top few competitive club teams amalgamate to play senior championship. A few clubs revolted so the county board backed down and allowed anyone to apply to play senior - ludicrous situation.

Only two counties have more senior clubs than head of population than Cavan (Leitrim and Offaly - both Division 4 teams btw) and until this is addressed we won't make the breakthrough. Of course some of the clubs can't see beyond their own selfish interests so the county board should do their job and implement the report - all they have to do is watch the county champions embarrass themselves in Ulster year after year to get an idea of where Cavan club football is at..

Thinkstoomuch

The U21 game should be a good game and close on Saturday,weather is meant to be good as well.Their a lot of expectation with our bunch of players,I'm sure yere the same.
Cork team to be announced tommorrow night,their seems to be a clean bill of health.
Stand tickets have been reduced to only 20 euro,their should be a big crowd from both counties,and the fact it is a double header.
Any news on yere team???

Lemlin

Excellent article on the work done at underage level in Cavan:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/putting-life-back-into-cavan-football-228687.html#.UW-c-bHCebZ.twitter