Even with my blue-tinted specs on, we were far the better team. Some big performances when it mattered and credit to the lads when we went behind, heads didn't drop but in fact they upped the intensity. Wasn't a complete performance but they've just dumped the two favourites out. And again, blue-tinted specs on but the ref wasn't giving us much.
Made tough work of that. Brilliant second half performance, feel the scoreline flattered Derry in the end. The two O'Rielly lads look to have massive potential.
HON CAVAN!!!!!!!!
Very cagey affair. Going backwards so often and far too slow on the turnover to get forward. Playing right into Derry's hands letting them get back and set the defence..
Couple.of sloppy wides could cost us here.
It's very cagey. We've made a lot of unforced errors and are having no joy at kick outs. But those are things that can change. Derry not going to let Lovett get in behind them. We need Madden further up the field. Strangely I think we have more in the tank if we sort out a few things and cut out the sloppiness. Hope I haven't just hexed us.
Dara registered with Crosserlough a few weeks back. As for Conor Rehill, as I've stated previously, he had a very bad fall out with a senior player who is still a part of the panel so I don't think he'll be returning. In fairness, the argument was because he felt the training expected was too much so I don't think it's for him.
And mark Stuart and pierce smith if the latter hadn’t injury problems would probably be comfortable at that level also.
Two Smiths actually, James and Stephen who I think had his best game for Cavan on Saturday, pity Conor Rehill is not involved anymore, was very comfortable at this level
If he gets back to playing Senior with Crosserlough it wouldn’t be a huge step to then get up to speed for Cavan fitness wise, it might be more that he won’t want to get back on that Intercounty treadmill. What an addition he would be though, great leader and can play in so many positions, playing with his clubmen Smith and Lynch in the forwards might be tempting for him and would transform us so here’s hoping!
So would i, but it would be some ask. I know he was doing rakes of different sports down under, but it's almost three years since he played an inter-county game and that is a huge gap in time. Also, i remember when he did a local podcast a while back where he promptly skirted around whether he would play for Cavan again but was clear that he would 100% play for Crosserlough again.
He was absolutely superb for Cavan for years and ended up being a brilliant full forward. Always gave 100% and I really felt for him in 2020. He was completely burned out by the burdens placed on intercounty footballers, training and commuting but yet during lockdown a lot of that burden would have been removed from him and he would have gotten those long awaited Ulster and senior club championship medals.
i hope we do see him in the blue again he was on exceptional player.
I initially read that as being about McVeety and was thinking "Jaysus, that could be THE surprise Mickey Graham will spring on Antrim" 😀
Ok that makes more sense.
I think Graham's comments were that he'll be back training in some capacity this week. I don't think he'll be near ready for the Antrim game.
The JMac podcast very critical of Mickey Graham and Cavan management, particularly Kevin McGourty. Not surprising however because McGourty is from Antrim I believe. Heap the pressure on Graham and Cavan ahead of the game in 3 weeks. Eamon McGee was allowed do similar on the GAA Hour a week or so ago where he went to town on Armagh and described them as having a lack of ambition whilst talking up Donegal and the players they have to come back. For anyone wants to listen and skip the rest of the discussion, Cavan chat happens around the 50 minute mark in.
He was due home in April alright.
The fact that some lads are let play with their clubs and Ciaran Brady hasn't played for Arva makes me think he isn't near fit. Surely he would be getting all the game time in that he could seen he has been out for a year.
The U20 game on Friday evening is being shown on the TG4 app and their YouTube channel.
The match review is up on WAC and Paul Fitzpatrick mentioned Christy O'Connor writing an article for the Sunday Times stating that Cavan had 40% conversion rate and Tipp had 68%. Perhaps it was because emotions were running high at the time but I didn't realise just how many missed chances Cavan had until I watched the TG4 coverage back.
Fitzpatrick also mentions something alluded to on here as well - moving Killian Clarke into the full backline. However, he suggests taking Faulkner out when doing so. I'd agree with putting Clarke back in there but I would leave him in with Faulkner for extra cover. Our backline has really struggled with marquee forwards over the past twelve months - Quigley from Fermanagh, McGuigan from Derry, McCurry from Tyrone and Sweeney the other day. It's unfair to leave Faulkner so isolated against these players. Clarke has the pace and athleticism to really make a difference in there. Faulkner being one on one means these lads have the time and space to knock the ball down to themselves or someone else with nobody hovering up in front of them.
Interesting that the lads mentioned Martin Reilly played for Killygarry at the weekend, along with Oisin Brady. Antrim will have seen plenty of images of Martin running around in a tracksuit and not named at the weekend. I still think Graham has something up his sleeve to hit us on the blindside. For example, who last year expected Breen O'Connell to come in from nowhere and start vs Tyrone?
I would like to see the stats on chances created, but at a guess Tipp hit three wides and missed two goal chances (three if you count the first minute attack). Realistically the goal chance in the first half wasn't on, Faulkner, Galligan and McLoughlin dealt well with that. Let's say 2-3.
We easily missed 1-4 in the first half and then at least 5 wides in the second half. That doesn't take into account dropped short or attacks created (especially in the first half) that broke down through careless hand passes, poor kicking or decision making. Tipp sat back, hit us on the break and had a ridiculously efficient return. Missed no frees, kicked very little wide and as good as Russel is, he's not kicking 4 amazing points from four chances like that every outing.
So can't really see how Tipp were the better team. More economical perhaps.
On what basis do they feel the better team lost? In fairness I had thought something similar leaving Croke Park but when I watched the coverage I realised the amount of missed chances that Cavan had - we should have had that game tied up long before the end.
I do agree that Cavan fell over the line and are not playing near their potential.
The GAA Hour said very little about the game. About 2 minutes discussion, if even that, with all 3 people - Finian Hanley, Darren O'Sullivan & Eamon McGee - saying that Cavan and Tipp will still both be below their level next year in Division 3. O'Sullivan also mentioned that in previous years he felt Cavan could match Division 1 teams for 60 minutes but fell at the final hurdle in the last ten minutes of games. He referenced it re the Rossies now trying to stay in Division 1.
I haven't seen the Division 3 final yet but a friend from Armagh did comment that he felt the Division 4 final was a better game and that either Cavan or Tipp would beat Louth or Limerick.
A free taker to keep the scoreboard ticking over is huge. The more distance you can put between yourself and a team coming back at you the better - it allows breathing space. I've seen other counties getting their keeper to take even some of the handy frees - Meath for example with their new goalkeeper Harry Hogan. Should Cavan be doing the same? Is it unfair to expect Ray to come up for long, difficult kicks only and boom them over?
We Are Cavan also mentioned Holla as being near a return and I'm almost certain that Graham mentioned him as a returning name in his interview with them. He might get a light run in some of the challenge games I would expect they have organised for the next few weeks.
I'll engage with this now as it's a slow day in work. I don't know who the tournament favourites were - I didn't look up the odds. Were Monaghan? I'd imagine it was a great performance by Cavan given the result but they need to follow it up against Derry. I haven't had time to sit down and watch it yet but I'm not a huge fan of streams as I've previously kept repeating to you, particularly ones where it's one man with a camera trying to follow the action. I would love nothing more than Donohoe to prove his detractors wrong and for Cavan to perform superbly in the U20 championship - I don't think anyone mentioned them needing to win it to do that other than your goodself.
In relation to watching games, I love watching games, especially live. Over the weekend, I was at a minor game Friday evening, then called into a senior club game on the way home, attended the Cavan game on Saturday and was at my club game on Sunday. How many games did you attend over the weekend? You don't seem to reference the club game much other than streams. Do you attend games other than county games?
You have good points to add on this forum but I don't see the need for the catty remarks. As with many supporters, I'm not able to attend absolutely every game so I will speak to others - the recent London game being a prime example. You referenced teachers telling you Chris Conroy was a good coach. By your own rule, you should only be accepting their opinion if you've seen Conroy coach yourself.
Graham directly after the Waterford game on We Are Cavan. Specifically mentioned Martin Reilly, Conor Brady, Holla, Conor Smith and Oisin as all being close to being back on the panel (which I assume is Oision Brady as it don't think Oisin Pierson is near fit and he had already said in that interview that it looked like Oisin Kiernan would be 3/4 weeks). So Brady obviously came on, Reilly was togged out (but not named) but must be close. He said after the Tipp game that a couple of players would be back this week. Massive ask for anyone to be out for more or less a year and be championship ready but I wouldn't put it past the Holla!
I would have my doubts about Holla been anywhere near fit? Is that coming from what Graham allegedly said to MT or is there another source?
I definitely think you are right that come the Antrim game there will be some rabbit out of the hat and a change to the way we have played in the league- whether it is personnel or tactics.
It could mean Finnegan or Fortune missing out but wouldn't be surprised to see Clarke back into the backs, Moynagh as a sweeper as opposed to centre back (he excelled in that role in 2019) and possibly left of centre a starting role for Martin Reilly or the Holla. If it was the former, I wouldn't be surprised to see Gerry Smith back a a half back. I know neither the Holla or Martin are going to be fit enough for 70 mins but it wouldn't be unlike Mickey Graham to have something up his sleeve for an Ulster championship match.
I'll wait till closer to try and predict the unpredictable 😀
It effectively cost us relegation to division four. Yes, we were poor and sluggish and Fermanagh clearly had a few weeks (at least!) training on us, but we kicked two poor wides from frees at the end that at least would have salvaged a draw for us. That's just one game of the top of my head! On Saturday, it was just the scoreboard that was impacted by those misses. One goes over and you suspect that Tipp would lose momentum. Whereas we missed three placed balls and it just added to the pressure. Having done some trojan work in turning the ball over and winning frees / 45 we needed to kick at least one of those to stem the tide. Anyways, we got there!
I wouldnt have Rock and O Se in the same category on frees...yes Rocks stats are impressive but he had a range....anything out near the sideline he never took on, where as SOS and Cillian O Connor for instance take them from anywhere.
Seanies freetaking in Breffni a few years ago was exceptional.....if Dublin had been in Breffni that day, Rock wouldnt take on a lot of what O Se attempted.
But the main point remains, a reliable freetaker is crucial at the top level, or indeed any level
I still think we look open at the back when run at and that Clarke would be far better at the back than in midfield. I fully expect to see Brady take up a role in midfield like he did in 2019.
