The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

We are in bad shape at all levels. What have we, 1 win from our last 8 games at Minor U21 and Senior?

The future looks as grim as the present, the ever optimistic Damien Donohoe was left trying to spin a 7 point loss for our minors against Derry as having hopeful signs.

There's a huge knot of problems and even if it was known how to untangle it, I'm not sure if the desire is there to do it.

Depressing, depressing stuff.

Maybe the focus should be back on the county development set up. Here is a thought...

Ballyconnell/Kildallon - one fringe player on the panel, when is the last time they had a starting player on county team

Belturbet - No player on the county panel, last regular? Jason O Reilly?

Killeshandra - No starting player with Cavan since Stephen King in 1997. Shocking

Cootehill - I am thinking no player on current panel

Bailieboro - No one since Michael Argue and even he hasn't featured as a regular since He was about 21/22

Kingscourt - Bar Faulkner, not enough from a large population area

Virgina/Ramor - Poor return from there considering one of best club teams. Seems like a real apathy towards county

Ballinagh - I don't think anyone on the current panel

Cavan Gaels - One player on county panel, shocking return for once kingpins

These are major population areas in the county

So if I am county development officer is this not where the problem is in the county and why are these clubs producing so little? Maybe something is being done and it will come in time but Cavan seem to be pulling a team from only half the clubs of the county which is a very poor reflection on how things are being done.

I don't think the point is that there are great players out there and they are being ignored. I think at club level, in these larger population centres, the required quality of player is not being produced. This is a question 1- of participation levels and 2- the quality of coaching being provided in clubs and I suppose in schools.

Paddy Meade from Kingscourt, and Evan Finnegan from Ballinagh also on panel. But yeah agree with your overall point

Kildallon were beaten by Arva last year in the Junior Quarter final 17 pts to 1. O Neill does his best, but when playing at a low level it's a big ask.

Ryan Tobin with the U20s plays with Maghera They do well to win 1 or 2 games in a year.

Co Board should be looking at 3 or 4 Divisional teams in Seniors championship.

There was never an acknowledgement of Martin Reilly finishing. He probably didn't want the publicity,but something to show he was finished with County.

The same with Gearoid Mckiernan. Or did he finish on his terms?

The County board are doing a good bit of work with club coaches at the moment with running work shops and are going into the clubs and taking sessions with the kids to give ideas to coaches on how to run a training session. They can probably do no more than that but i don't believe they have gone to that level in others years.

Someone mentioned the quality of coaching in schools and clubs, the majority of clubs are doing their best but anyone who is involved in any club committee will know that it isn't easy to get people involved and go out and do the coaching and those that do are often getting abused by parents of kids who do noting for the club other than use it as a drop off center. In relation to the schools does any other school get the same level of coaching as St Pat's?

The website has the 2023 Committee, Gareth Fitzpatrick Development Officer. I don't see a 2024 version.

https://cavangaa.ie/county-committee/

Club coaching, minor county co-manager, club first team manager. Much more extensive than current county senior team manager.

I can't recall any but maybe someone else can clarify.

Underage feels very different now than under the days of Highland and Tom Reilly. There seemed to be real intent, structure and investment into the setups with large well drilled squads and no stones unturned. But lots weren't happy and wanted a more off the cuff approach with more focus on bringing "flair players" through. I even heard some lament they were sick of underage successes and just wanted a marquee forward on the seniors!

In any case we are where we are and there's plenty of apathy around again in regards to our county teams with both fans and players. I really have no faith in the current chairman or decision makers.

I think this the last year of the current chairman's term? Many the new man won't be as corporate focused

I'd say they will they are committed to the polo grounds and that won't come cheap.

There was fella from Fermanagh too, Shaun Doherty. He is back working as coach in the Fermanagh schools and development Squads.

Some off those lads are still coaching in St Pats and around the clubs are they not involved with development squads anymore?

Given they have been the coaches throughout some terrible years underage, would there not be questions over the quality of coaching they are delivering?