The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

Lemlin

Cavan 4-10
Tipperary 0-14

Another good win for Cavan yesterday and the first away win in over a year in the league.

The one good thing I'm seeing this year is that we appear to be approaching having a settled first 15 to 20 players. Last year, there were too many changes between games and the starting team never got settled. The panel definitely looks a lot more settled and its great to see that seven of last year's U21s started yesterday.

I wasn't unhappy to see James Reilly dropped either. To me, it appears that he has been living off past glories last year and this year. He was poor against Sligo and Keith Fannin had a good game between the sticks yesterday. Playing an outfield club player in goals works for the All-Ireland champions, so there's no reason it shouldn't work for us!

Tom Joad

It's another win on the board which will all help confidence at this stage of the year. It's all baby steps for this team but its another step in the right direction.

Interesting one trying Keith Fannin in goals but is something I would agree with trying in the league - I think it also shows the Andrews is not afraid to try something different especially given that if it went wrong he would have been lambasted. But the way I look at it we need two things above all else from our goalkeeper at the minute:

1. We need someone with a long, accurate kick-out to make the most out of out two midfielders who are showing massive potential.

2. We have a lack of height in the back line and there is no stand out big defender in Cavan football at the minute so we need all the help we can get here and our keeper needs to be coming out and winning the high ball to help the defence out. A keeper who comes out to win ball will also win a fair proportion of sympathy from the referee when it comes to 50-50 frees.

The above is what we need and if it is a traditional out-field player that can do the above I say put him between the sticks.

All in all I am encouraged by what the team and manager are doing to date.

Lemlin

Tom Joad wrote: »

It's another win on the board which will all help confidence at this stage of the year. It's all baby steps for this team but its another step in the right direction.

Interesting one trying Keith Fannin in goals but is something I would agree with trying in the league - I think it also shows the Andrews is not afraid to try something different especially given that if it went wrong he would have been lambasted. But the way I look at it we need two things above all else from our goalkeeper at the minute:

1. We need someone with a long, accurate kick-out to make the most out of out two midfielders who are showing massive potential.

2. We have a lack of height in the back line and there is no stand out big defender in Cavan football at the minute so we need all the help we can get here and our keeper needs to be coming out and winning the high ball to help the defence out. A keeper who comes out to win ball will also win a fair proportion of sympathy from the referee when it comes to 50-50 frees.

The above is what we need and if it is a traditional out-field player that can do the above I say put him between the sticks.

All in all I am encouraged by what the team and manager are doing to date.

I'd have to agree with the above Tom. It's great to see the young players coming through and been given the chance. In previous years, Cavan managers have dispensed with some players and brought in a new panel but this time it really feels like changes are being made for the right reasons and we are moving in the right direction.

Those that chose to walk from the panel I'm not too worried about. If a player leaves a panel because they are asked to play in a different position, then I don't believe they deserve to be in the panel. The same goes for the lads not willing to give the commitment.

The young players are really growing into their roles. One only has to look at Damien Barkey who has been superb this year. Last year, people were saying he was nowhere near an inter county grade footballer.

Lemlin

Big game today against Offaly. A win will almst definitely secure Division 3 football next year:

Allianz Football League Division 3 Team P W D L F A +/- Pts
1 Longford 4 4 0 0 3-57 3-31 26 8
2 Wexford 4 3 0 1 6-67 8-40 21 6
3 Antrim 4 3 0 1 4-45 2-43 8 6
4 Roscommon 4 3 0 1 4-42 2-40 8 6
5 Cavan 4 2 0 2 5-44 5-41 3 4
6 Sligo 4 1 0 3 6-42 2-60 -6 2
7 Tipperary 4 0 0 4 1-47 7-54 -25 0
8 Offaly 4 0 0 4 4-27 4-62 -35 0
Last updated: 14 Mar 2012

cavan4sam

the pressure is back on again to stay up a tough run in , hopefully a win from last 2 games will secure div 3 status for another year , wasnt in breffini today but was disappointed with the result

GERRYMAC65

cavan4sam wrote: »

the pressure is back on again to stay up a tough run in , hopefully a win from last 2 games will secure div 3 status for another year , wasnt in breffini today but was disappointed with the result

A very disappointing 2nd half,from Cavan in a game they should have won.The Offaly penalty was the turning point,they are a bigger side also,with more experience.Cavan could do with more experience,but sure thats another story,it will be a tough run in.:(

Lemlin

GERRYMAC65 wrote: »

A very disappointing 2nd half,from Cavan in a game they should have won.The Offaly penalty was the turning point,they are a bigger side also,with more experience.Cavan could do with more experience,but sure thats another story,it will be a tough run in.:(

Very disappointed with Sunday's performance. The game was there for the taking and Cavan let it slip. After a solid first half performance, the team did little right in the second half. Some are blaming the loss on Gearoid McKiernan going off injured but surely this team aren't relying on a 22 year old to push them on.

Cavan were 9 points to 5 up at the start of the second half when Martin Dunne had a great chance and tried a fancy chip over the 'keeper to hit the cross bar. Mark McKeever then missed another chance going for goal when it would have been easier to fist it over the bar for a point.

Our full forward line are stuggling. Eugene Keating is a big loss. A full forward three of Bud Fitzpatrick, Martin Dunne and Niall McDermott just doesn't have the physical presence required for me. A big man is needed in there. Ray Cullivan mightn't be the best but just stick him to throw his weight around and win some high ball. Martin Dunne has to go for me. A poor man's Sean Johnston. He was shooting from unbelievable angles on Sunday and he misses twice as much as he scores.

Promotion is now gone and we need to work on guaranteeing our Division 3 statuts. I've no problem with Cavan being in Division 3 (it's the level we are at) but I don't expect to be losing to a very poor Offaly team. They really were dreadful and what's even worse is that Cavan weren't any better.

Still, there's an U21 game against Armagh tomorrow. That's a big match. This is the Armagh team that won the All-Ireland at minor and several of them are now in the senior panel. Hopefully the lads can pull out a victory and lift the county like they did last year.

Tom Joad

Firstly, Sunday was a fiasco - there's no other way to put it but at least Andrews put his hands up and admit he got things wrong - he called it "a joke" and hopefully we can move on from this. We do seem to have a problem in closing out games which we need to address. McKiernan injury is a worry as we have little cover at midfield. On the plus side Fannin in goals looks to have been an inspired call.

Not that's Sunday out of the way, tonight the u-21's were fantastic a six point win against the favourites for Ulster was a cracking performance and hopefully the lads can push on and emulate last years side. Just when it was all doom and gloom in Cavan football again the young lads coming through are giving us hope!!

Lemlin

Tom Joad wrote: »

Firstly, Sunday was a fiasco - there's no other way to put it but at least Andrews put his hands up and admit he got things wrong - he called it "a joke" and hopefully we can move on from this. We do seem to have a problem in closing out games which we need to address. McKiernan injury is a worry as we have little cover at midfield. On the plus side Fannin in goals looks to have been an inspired call.

Not that's Sunday out of the way, tonight the u-21's were fantastic a six point win against the favourites for Ulster was a cracking performance and hopefully the lads can push on and emulate last years side. Just when it was all doom and gloom in Cavan football again the young lads coming through are giving us hope!!

I wasn't all that impressed with some of Fannin's kick outs to be honest Tom. He was unlucky with the penalty though. McKiernan will miss the rest of the league anyway. Hopefully he will be back for the Championshiop. He'll be a big loss against Roscommon and Antrim. At least one win is required to guarantee safety.

I agree re the U21s. A fantastic display. Three players went off injured but its great to see that those who came on were just as good. Armagh were heavily fancied so hopefully this will be the start of another good run for the U21s. I just hope people don't get ahead of themselves now. I'd prefer the U21s were talked down rather than up.

Lemlin

A loss at the weekend to the Rossies means Cavan go into the final game needing a win against Antrim to stay in Division 3.

bruschi

Lemlin wrote: »

A loss at the weekend to the Rossies means Cavan go into the final game needing a win against Antrim to stay in Division 3.

tough final game, but I suppose there is some solice in the fact that Antrim cant be promoted now so have nothing really to play for. And Offaly are away to Tipp who had a decent performance against Longford. I'd still expect Offaly to win, so its in Cavans own hands. The loss to Offaly was crucial.

Lemlin

bruschi wrote: »

tough final game, but I suppose there is some solice in the fact that Antrim cant be promoted now so have nothing really to play for. And Offaly are away to Tipp who had a decent performance against Longford. I'd still expect Offaly to win, so its in Cavans own hands. The loss to Offaly was crucial.

Cavan have nobody to blame but themselves for that one. I just can't figure out how they imploded so badly in the second half after a decent first half. The game was very much there for the taking from a Cavan point of view.

cavan4sam

are we not semi safe ? i thought scoring difference will keep us up unless we get hammered by antrim and offaly annihilate tipp ? disappointed with some of the results but not surprised

bruschi

cavan4sam wrote: »

are we not semi safe ? i thought scoring difference will keep us up unless we get hammered by antrim and offaly annihilate tipp ? disappointed with some of the results but not surprised

no it goes on head to head with the team you finish level with, which would be Offaly which is why Cavan could easily go down. hence why that game was vital to win.

cavan4sam

bruschi wrote: »

no it goes on head to head with the team you finish level with, which would be Offaly which is why Cavan could easily go down. hence why that game was vital to win.

not exactly much point in showing the scoring averages on the tables then so

GERRYMAC65

cavan4sam wrote: »

not exactly much point in showing the scoring averages on the tables then so

Well scoring averages would count if theirs 3 teams level on the same points.(i know )lol

bruschi

GERRYMAC65 wrote: »

Well scoring averages would count if theirs 3 teams level on the same points.(i know )lol

yup. cost Wexford 2 years ago. They finished level in first with Antrim and Sligo, and despite beating both of them, they missed out because of scoring difference. doesnt make sense really, but sure thats GAA rules for ya. Hope ye stay up anyway.

cavan4sam

great result 2nite , good boost going into this weekend , well done under 21's lets put them back to back and prove to tyrone that last year was no fluke

Hammar

We should have a Cavan GAA boards.ie whip round and send the Tipp panel a nice big and expensive Thank You gift.
That is the worst overall NFL campaign i have witnessed as a Cavan GAA supporter.

Mardy Bum

On a brighter note, in a sport Cavan can actually compete at in senior level, Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan defeated Meath's Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan 21-20 in the tie braker of the All Ireland Doubles Final in Limerick.

This follows Paul's earlier win in the Singles All Ireland final against Robbie McCarthy two weeks ago.

Tom Joad

Well done to the under 21's - fantastic performance tonight - Roscommon next on Saturday week. It's great to have something to cheer about in an otherwise dark week for Cavan football. Unfortunately it looks like by tomorrow all anyone will be talking about is another mess in Cavan football with Andrews being forced to resign.

cavan4sam

well done to all the under 21's great win last night
it gives hope and belief to the younger generation and to best fans in ireland ye turned out again in your thousands ,
the current situation with regards to management is not pretty but it is essential for change even in this late stage of the season
so val please close the door nice and quietly on your way out and best of luck to your successor,
lets have some home grown management someone that the players can look up to

munchkin_utd

Tom Joad wrote: »

Well done to the under 21's - fantastic performance tonight - Roscommon next on Saturday week.

Wheres that game scheduled to be played and any idea of what time?
Im flying into cork that morning so might make a bust to catch the game if its possible at all.
EDIT: crap. Got my dates mixed up. Wont catch the semi or any possible final despite flying to Ireland twice in the next 3 weeks.
EDIT EDIT: no word yet on venues : http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/cadbury-gaa-football-u21-all-ireland-championship/

Lemlin

Tom Joad wrote: »

Well done to the under 21's - fantastic performance tonight - Roscommon next on Saturday week. It's great to have something to cheer about in an otherwise dark week for Cavan football. Unfortunately it looks like by tomorrow all anyone will be talking about is another mess in Cavan football with Andrews being forced to resign.

The seniors have some timing. What should be a great week for Cavan GAA could now be a disaster. I hope Andrews stays and the reports are incorrect.

If he does go, it leaves only six weeks to find a manager and get the panel sorted. I had wanted Terry Hyland to take over but I doubt he will touch the poisoned chalice.

When will we ever learn in Cavan. No decent manager will touch us with a barge pole now.

Alaska1

Lemlin wrote: »

The seniors have some timing. What should be a great week for Cavan GAA could now be a disaster. I hope Andrews stays and the reports are incorrect.

If he does go, it leaves only six weeks to find a manager and get the panel sorted. I had wanted Terry Hyland to take over but I doubt he will touch the poisoned chalice.

When will we ever learn in Cavan. No decent manager will touch us with a barge pole now.

He is 100% gone.

Lemlin

Alaska1 wrote: »

Lemlin wrote: »

The seniors have some timing. What should be a great week for Cavan GAA could now be a disaster. I hope Andrews stays and the reports are incorrect.

If he does go, it leaves only six weeks to find a manager and get the panel sorted. I had wanted Terry Hyland to take over but I doubt he will touch the poisoned chalice.

When will we ever learn in Cavan. No decent manager will touch us with a barge pole now.

He is 100% gone.

I'd imagine so but anything official?

Alaska1

Lemlin wrote: »

I'd imagine so but anything official?

I am sure a statement will be realeased at some stage.

Awful timing , in a week where Cavan football should be celebrated (2nd U-21 in a row) instead it is overshadowed by this shambles.

premierstone

Hammar wrote: »

We should have a Cavan GAA boards.ie whip round and send the Tipp panel a nice big and expensive Thank You gift.
That is the worst overall NFL campaign i have witnessed as a Cavan GAA supporter.

You can just send it too John Evans Hammar, as we proved in the last two rounds there was one problem there and when removed the upturn in results was startling.

Hammar

Lemlin wrote: »

The seniors have some timing. What should be a great week for Cavan GAA could now be a disaster. I hope Andrews stays and the reports are incorrect.

If he does go, it leaves only six weeks to find a manager and get the panel sorted. I had wanted Terry Hyland to take over but I doubt he will touch the poisoned chalice.

When will we ever learn in Cavan. No decent manager will touch us with a barge pole now.

Why would any Cavan GAA supporter want Andrews to stay?
The man has made a complete balls of the situation and oversaw one of the worst National league campaigns in our footballing history not to mention,driving away a number of players who still have something to offer the county.
Tommy Carr was absolutely woeful in his two years in charge,
Val Andrews has been even worse.

Frank Spencer

RTE reporting that Andrews has indeed resigned.

https://twitter.com/#!/RTESportat7/status/190460849121529856

Edit: Official statement from Cavan County Board

http://www.cavangaa.ie/news/299/Press_Release.html