Padraic O'Reilly has denied that player-power led to Val Andrews' resignation as Cavan football manager.

Andrews stood down last month following a desperately disappointing Allianz League campaign which almost culminated in relegation to Division 4, but Breffni County captain O'Reilly insists that the players didn't force him out when they met the Dubliner after the final round.

"It wasn't the players' decision to get rid of Val," O'Reilly is quoted as saying in The Irish Daily Star ahead of Sunday's Ulster SFC opener against Donegal.

"We weren't happy with our performances in the league and the purpose of the meeting was to address that. The fallout to the meeting took its own course but I've spoken to Val since and we're on very good terms. He's wished us the best against Donegal and the rest of the year."

O'Reilly said the players requested the meeting in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's disastrous championship campaign.

"We felt this year was taking a very similar path to last year and we didn't want it to end up the way last year did. We didn't want another home championship loss to Donegal because we all walked off that pitch last year feeling dejected. In Cavan it's compounded because it's such a football-mad county and you know the hurt the supporters are feeling. We just wanted that to change. We don't want this year to end the same way as last year." Tweet

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