The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

Fergal Reilly from Castlerahan. Maybe Paul Smith. He's a guard so can't commit i think.
Adam O Connell Ramor. He's working in Cork so non runner. Mark McGee and James Brady
Ado Cole but he can't commit either.

They had a bigger panel last year, over 40 players. There was only really McVeety and Rehill from Crosserlough who were regulars. Pearse Smith and Stephen featured in a couple of league games.

Some clubs had players on the County panel who weren't getting game, time and still not playing League football with the club.

Yevon wrote: »

The WeAreCavan pair talk about Stephen Smith as if he's a beast of a player physically. I thought for a minute I had mistaken who he was, saw him in the first McKenna Cup game and he looked decidedly average in size with a lower than average level of aggression and willingness to get stuck in. The same goes for Connolly, he was easily outmuscled a few times in that game by Armagh defenders (more willing to get stuck in though).

I'm very worried about that starting team. I don't think Paddy Meade has shown anything to suggest he's capable of being a corner back at this level. I don't think relying on Martin Reilly as an inside forward will work out. I think Armagh will dominate us physically and rack up a big score against that defence. The handicap is Armagh -3 and i'd be very surprised if they don't cover that with some ease.
Hope the lads can pull something out of the bag because Armagh are an extremely dislikable team both on the field, on the line and in the stands. I won't make it on Saturday but I would dearly love to see them silenced.

Re Smith, I think its a case of the We Are Cavan boys building up players again and Paul Fitz having a particular soft spot for handballers.

I can hear the shrill cries about ''Soupy'' now! If there was ever a player I hated just because of his nickname, its Stefan Campbell. It must be the sunshine supporters but it seems as if he's the only player some Armagh supporters know!

I was fairly optimistic about our chances until I heard Graham's interview and then saw the starting team. I had hoped that at least McLoughlin and Smith would be in the backline to shore it up and add some experience. Add the pair of them and Killian Brady and I think we have a decent backline with Faulkner, Brady and Kiernan.

That said, I'll travel down and support the lads. This is what we have as a county. These are the lads willing to put on the jersey. You've posters even here talking about needing more Ramor and Crosserlough players and then listing out names that it's well known won't commit.

These are the 33 lads willing to give it their all and so be it. I still think we'll remain in Division 2, I just can't see promotion. Armagh, Roscommon and Kildare will be the top three, in whatever order I don't know, but two of that three will be promoted and I'd hope we'll be fourth.

rrs wrote: »

It's not well known. Do you know if James Brady and Mark McGee can commit. I didn't see it published in the Celt..

Obviously the 33 are there deserve the support and willing to put in the work to be there.

It's debatable whether those two lads should be in there. Of all the others you named - Wright, Reilly, Smith, Ado Cole, O'Connell - and that should be in there, all were offered the chance and rejected it.

The only player I can think of worth getting in that would go from what I hear is Enda Flanagan. Mickey had been in contact with him last year when he was injured so I'm not sure why he isn't in now.

Cavan_King wrote: »

It's debatable whether those two lads should be in there. Of all the others you named - Wright, Reilly, Smith, Ado Cole, O'Connell - and that should be in there, all were offered the chance and rejected it.

The only player I can think of worth getting in that would go from what I hear is Enda Flanagan. Mickey had been in contact with him last year when he was injured so I'm not sure why he isn't in now.

Never mentioned Wright. And i don't think Flanagan is any better then what's in there.

No Burns in the Armagh team. Jamie Clarke starting either.

Clarke is supposedly suspended from being sent off in a challenge game v Carlow.
Armagh full back line isn't great. If Cavan take advantage of the advance mark they could do damage.

Its embarrassing now at this stage

Listening to it on Northern sound. was thinking at half time when i heard terry hyland interviewed after the leitrim derry game that this man will be back managing cavan again in the future. taking us out of division 3 maybe??

Cavan_King wrote: »

I wouldn’t go that far. We were in it until half time despite a silly first half black card for Stephen Smith.

Then it all went to crap, McKiernan fumbles a ball and they get a goal from it. Faulkner black carded and then James Smith cane on and joined him two minutes later. Cavan down to 13 men just when we needed to try and launch a comeback.

Our naivety is a huge problem. We were just stupid. Armagh were much more schooled at the dark arts.

The next couple of games will tell.
I didn’t have much hope after the hammerings from Donegal and Tyrone. Wide open in those games and players leaving since.

Glad that one is over, it sounded bad on the radio

God that looked shocking on the Sunday game, the mistakes looked really really poor
Onwards and upwards

Next week is massive now, lose that and Cavan are in serious bother.

Cavan_King wrote: »

If we can’t beat Westmeath at home next weekend, we don’t deserve to be in the Division.

The worry now is injuries. Niall Murray didn’t start tonight and it was clear Conor Smith should not have played.

Beating anyone in the division is not a given.

Cavan struggled with Armagh in last year’s Championship with a full confident team before receiving hammerings from Donegal and Tyrone. Saturday night was another hammering.
Confidence is very low.
Some people lose the run of themselves thinking Cavan are better than they actually are, especially some of the players.

Crash Bang Wall wrote: »

That was as poor as Ive ever seen. 10-5 at ht but totally outplayed....was told before the game that Cavan had done something like 50 sessions this season already....yet Armagh were faster fitter and stronger.

Their forwards were working to a plan, and got on the ball a lot easier. We didnt seem to have any sort of a plan when we had the ball......apart from keep wide and recycle back.

We will be lucky to survive Div 2

I wouldn't read into all the negativity. I know a good few Armagh people from my work and Armagh have been training since before Cavan. As I stated on here before, its a big year for McGeeney because a lot of Armagh people want to see one of the McEntees managing them.

We have no forward that can kick points like Turbitt or Riain O'Neill. Some of the scores they kicked were unreal.

We actually did well from about minute 12 to 35 because they had 7 points by 11 minutes and only scored 3 for the rest of that half.

You also have to remember that losing Niall Murray on Thursday evening had to be a huge blow. Not too mention losing two of your full forward line in Madden and Conor Smith. Madden had looked good when on the ball.

A big performance is needed on Saturday evening and the likes of Gearoid, Martin Reilly and Ciaran Brady need to deliver. None of them were good enough on Saturday evening.

Yevon wrote: »

Anyone else hear that our All Star selector has parted ways with the management team?

That would be good news if true. Wonder if we might get some people back after that!