The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

I was saying the pretty much the same to my family coming up to HT. When it was 07-04, it was vital we got the next point so we weren’t down double scores. That free Paddy kicked right before half time was huge.

You never know what you are going to get with Cavan. I thought for the first time really this year outside of Kildare game we were very mean in defense. When I watched the game back at one point in the 2nd half they put up stats showing we had more than twice the turnovers that Monaghan had. Our tactics were clever, concede the kick out so as not to prompt Beggan to drive it into our 45 in the 1st half. Paddy Lynch's frees were out of this world,8 from 8. A 45 into the wind in the 1st half which even Beggan could not repeat in the 2nd. One from out on the sideline into the wind just before half time. I thought Oisin Brady (bar a few mistakes) was lively and caused plenty of issues. You could see he wanted to drive at Monaghan. The first two goals were brilliantly worked and spectacular finishes, so good to see. That pass from Holla to Paddy for the last goal was something else and even the finish from Paddy, he made it look easier than it was. Fair play to the Banty for predicting the biggest winning margin in 50 years and fair play to our boys for proving the doubters (me included) wrong. Can we beat Tyrone, well we surely have to beat them some time!

I don't know. I wouldn't over rate our performances against Louth or Meath when comparing to the last couple of games. Louth beat themselves and Meath left enough after them to win 2 games. One thing I'd be fairly certain of though is that we didn't go into the Armagh game indifferent about the result. We would have wanted a big performance but we were punished fairly ruthlessly, unlike previously, for our sloppy play and low energy. The Fermanagh performance I'd be prepared to write off quicker to focus having moved on from league priority.

In any case it's water under the bridge. I expected some turmoil start of year but survival was secured and Monaghan defeated. The latter I hoped for but wasn't expecting 😁. So this is a great position to build on hopefully. Tyrone are a step up and bogey team for us and although they collected 6 points in D1 it was all done in Omagh and against two of the weakest teams. We have them on the road and I would say not peak Tyrone. It's championship football. Squad should be fitter. Get our heads right, go in with the right attitude and it's all on the day. Even old slates can we wiped clean anytime.

Couldn't tell you where it has come from.

I think we have a great chance in the Quarter Final !

I think I'll back Cavan in that one🤣

Gearoid Mckiernan put up a big score against Gowna at the weekend. There had been talking that he was returning to Swad . Conor Madden seems to be playing decent with Gowna.

First year those players wouldn't have been involved in a a County panel in a long time.

Yeah not as a starter, but maybe a impact sub for last 10 minutes. He's 34 this year.

3 of the Monaghan players starting yesterday were older. Karl O Connell is 35, McManus 37 later in the year and Darren Hughes is 37

Tiernan looks like he has bulked up from last year and it doesn't suit his game it seems to have slowed him down.

Have to agree with you. Think Cian was very good and after Lynch and Faulkner he was one of our best players Sunday. Cormac O'Reilly also did well when he came on, and had some big moments. The 1-2 with Gerry for the 2nd goal, caught that high ball and got fouled for the last Lynch free. The Maddens were unfortunately not great alright. Cian had moments like you say, but couldn't believe Tiarnan was caught for that ball, he was just on and well in front with no one between him and the goal and still got caught by 2 backs. That was poor

In one way it is good that we have still significant improvements to make which means with even a few players moe stepping up next day, we can get way better

There's probably a few people on here that still wouldn't back us in that fixture 😀

I'd agree to an extent in terms of where he used to play. However you cannot convince me that Gearoid could not be a wrecking ball if deployed properly in a Full Forward line, even if only for 20 minutes as an impact sub.

I think Cormac O Reilly mixed the good with the bad. Watch it back, he allowed Monaghan men to walk past him when they got the 1-2 to take the lead and he also badly fumbled a ball into him. He nearly cost us the game. However he was then involved positively in the Gerry Smith goal and he won a free winning a dirty ball for Lynch's last free. I would say there was an improvement for Oisin Brady in his league campaign, maybe Cormac will get some confidence up from the few positives I've mentioned. For Tyrone, Paddy will need much more from the other forwards as I think if I am over Tyrone the simple message is "don't foul" and you will have Cavan in bother scoring wise.

I was to mention Oisin too. I actually think he did very well. Yes, made a few poor decisions, a few not great shot selections, but he was very lively and got on a lot of ball and was fit to break at pace. One or two more good decisions for another point, or the long goal chance when Beggan was caught out the field and we'd have been talking about him as one of the best performers on the day. We need lads with that energy, workrate, and pace and the day it clicks he will make hay. He can be that foil to Lynch which is badly needed to take defensive pressure and marking off him and I do feel with more time he's close to doing this

McVeety has gone under the knife and will be out till later stages of All Ireland Series.