The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

It's common enough around the Country. Cork do it and I think Galway.

I don’t remember the Gaels team of the noughties being angels when they were dominating Cavan football.

Hopefully nothing like this happens with the last rounds in Cavan this weekend, some mess to sort out!

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/longford-football-championship-thrown-into-chaos-over-disputed-half-time-score-as-tv-footage-reviewed/a120797114.html

I always find that the players who play on the edge are the biggest gentlemen of pitch and wouldn't say boo to anyone.

What happened with the transfers of the Maghera players to Cucu's? Are those players playing any football currently or in the reserve championship?

Never said they were. Never said they didn't lose their discipline and take the bait at the weekend. Never said Gowna were wrong.

I said the referee was a disgrace and ruined the game.

Seems a messy enough situation. Adam Reilly would have played underage with Maghera and switched to Cuchulainns after Minor level. I don't think there was an issue then.

Maghera & Corlough are both playing in the junior shield. Mountnugent loosing all 4 games and conceding 16 goals in 2 games plus Killeshandra loosing their four games has to set alarm bells ringing in the county board. Teams and clubs can get into trouble very quickly - playing numbers are down and if there isn't a meaninful action more and more small clubs will fall by the wayside and we'll be left with just the big town teams fielding huge amount of underage teams and 2 or 3 adult teams.

Let’s call a spade a spade here, Munterconnaught and Maghera have no excuse. They are in an area of huge population growth with large, well attended schools in both parishes.

For clubs like Corlough, the population just isn’t there and we are going to continue to see demographics come into play in the coming years.

The first thing that should be done is regrade the league to give more teams a chance of actually winning something. To many club players from every club go through their whole playing career without actually winning a medal. I can't remember the last time a club like Shannon Gaels, Kildallan, Mountnugent won anything at senior.

I would open it up to at least 8 divisions in the same style that Meath do so that clubs can find their level. Clubs like Maghera & Corlough may end up in Division 5 or 6 but at least then they would be competitive and can move up the leagues if they improve. Other clubs that haven't won anything in 30 years may find themselves winning a league title. Larger clubs second teams can also have meaningful league which would enable them to hold on to the age group just after minor where they loose so many that have no chance of making their senior teams.

I would also have 4 championships 12 clubs in senior, 10 in Intermediate 10 in Junior and 8 in Junior B. teams in Junior B could also look at amalgamations for senior championship like in Kerry to allow their best players get a good crack at playing a higher standard.

I would also look at the current transfer system that is in place and see if there is something that could be altered within this system - Make it easier for reserve players from larger clubs to go to smaller rural teams to gain first team football. I'm not sure how something like that would work but a smaller club acting as a feeder club within the same parish might enable the smaller club to gain more playing numbers..

There may not be any answers in the short term but not just in Cavan the GAA are walking blindly into a problem of playing numbers. we see it at underage with more and more amalgamations. Something needs to change in my opinion.

Just looking from outside are Killeshandra in trouble?

Donegal use a similar system and seed teams

Maghera had Graham Reilly the ex Meath player managing them this year. They must have been offering good money because I don't know how he took on that role.

I see the GAA are pulling the plug on the pre season competitions next year. No standing in the cold in the first week in January for a McKenna Cup game.

Killygarry seem to crumble when the pressure is on. They were coasting against Ballinagh in League Semi. 5 up against Gowna today and Gowna hit 5 or 6 without repay.

A poor championship for Kingscourt after a decent start against Gowna

Ryan Donahoe made a few great catches in the second half. Conor Casey was good when introduced. Both players are over 6f. Killygarry lack a bit of height.

Arva look the team to beat in Intermediate.