Hi All,

It would be good to get some perspective and comment on the role of reserve team football for 2015 within Cavan and within your clubs.
I know that some clubs cant field a second team, but that is not the focal point of this post.

I have been playing a mix of reserve and 1st team for a few years but this year was very disheartening.
Certainly 2014 was a non-runner for the reserve teams in the Reserve 1B, definitely within my club.
Out of the 16 games played by the 1st team, there were only 8 games scheduled for the Reserve team of which I think only 4 took place…… the remainder were walkovers.
And as for reserve Championship, it never gets out of first gear as the reserve matches are played before the 1st team championship so it effectively turns into a championship trail for 1st team players to get games under their belt rather than being a true reserve championship.

I think this is having a big impact on clubs; training is suffering as a result.
With so few games scheduled and even fewer played, training is less intensive and players are complacent about their places.
Reserve players are just pulling on the jersey knowing that they are cannon fodder in the reserve championship and don't bother training for reserve league as the games may not be played at all.

It's a shame that the Reserve football league(s) and championship are taking a hit as these have always been very competitive and tough fought games.

I'd like to hear how other clubs have found the format this year and should a different approach be taken next year.
I have my own thoughts o a new approach but I'd like to throw it out to the forum for comment on reserve football within their clubs.

Cheers.

Play_by_ear (Cavan) - Posts: 24 - 29/09/2014 15:02:49    1658134

The county board has a lot to answer for in the decline of reserve football in the last few years.
Championship started three months and stil not finished.
It seems to an inconvience for them

tom84 (Cavan) - Posts: 334 - 29/09/2014 20:51:53    1658326

Yes the reserve league and championships are a joke last year or two but i would put the blame more on the clubs after all its them who give walkovers etc. Alot of clubs are concentrating on their 'elite' 20 or so players and dont want less committed/talented/older players near their training sessions or matches. Gone are the days where players who have less ability etc are encouraged to play reserve football

cavan4ever (Cavan) - Posts: 234 - 30/09/2014 10:07:12    1658415

cavan4ever, I can't agree, sorry.
The reality is that clubs have no power to force guys to play if the players are only going to get a handful of games in the year. The walkovers are a symptom of decisions at a higher level rather than at club level.
If there were reserve games after every 1st team game and the reserve championship started after the 1st team championship, like was always the case until recently, a lot of players (less talented or lack of available time to commit) would put a lot more effort in.

Are we getting to the stage where grass roots is being killed off?
I fear for underage teams coming through and not having some sort of competitive adult football before they potentially cut their teeth in 1st team football.
Ultimately doesn't bode well for adult football, whatever the grade, in Cavan.
I'm not saying that this will be the main cause but it can only add to a growing problem within clubs and this, in my view, will have a knock on effect up the food chain.

Play_by_ear (Cavan) - Posts: 24 - 30/09/2014 13:08:43    1658548

wait till they make the GAA professional, there'll be no club football then...

wishfulthinkin (Cavan) - Posts: 1679 - 30/09/2014 13:18:05    1658555

Don't kick any football in Cavan anymore but I used to enjoy the reserve games immensely.Is the decline of reserve football due to emigration/lads leaving Cavan for the city, or are numbers in the clubs holding up ok? Was a great competition even a few years back, shame the way its gone.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 30/09/2014 18:44:27    1658719

Cavan CB only care about the County team and their allied sides U21s Minor and "Junior". Club football is neglected and Junior football in particular has almost been killed off. In fact they might aswell pack it in rather than the farce of 3-4 games like this year.

jacknoff (Cavan) - Posts: 163 - 02/10/2014 11:44:39    1659281

Maybe with a new chairman at the end of the year it might see new ideas. Joke re the Junior championship, the final was played in August last year - what is the big delay for

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 02/10/2014 12:49:47    1659315

I feel so sorry for the JUNIOR B footballers who hardly kicked a ball as reserve football was a joke this year. I was talking to a lad who trained every week since February 2nd and he has played just 4 hours football (4 matches) in 8 MONTHS!!! He said he is not going to bother next year and he is not alone as I imagine this is the case within most clubs. May I make a suggestion! Why not have a junior B League consisting of 8 or 10 teams during the months of Feb,March and April. Games to be played every Sunday at say 11.30. This allows students time to have a bit of dinner with their families before they head back to college. No Junior B player is involved with the County so no conflict there. Also managers can have a good luck at these players and can select the best for the Senior team. At least they would get 8 or 10 games and their league would be over before the Seniors season really starts. In fact with the climate getting milder you could start the JB league mid Jan. Its amazing how 'average'players can improve IF they play on a regular basis. But 4 games a year...is an insult to these lads. Wake up County Board and do something...NOW!!

mardon (Cavan) - Posts: 16 - 02/10/2014 21:57:37    1659598

Its prob been worst year of Fixtures yet? Who ever you are or whatever commitee please step down.

As Regards Junior B League & Champ. It should be a seperate competition. Only clubs with enough players to list a 2nd twelve should participate. Cavan geals would be favs but so what at least there d be games..

Denn Man (Cavan) - Posts: 413 - 03/10/2014 11:39:02    1659665

Have to agree with ya's lads. I've been following my own club for the past 20 years, hardly missed a game involving my Senior & Junior side and have to say this year is by a long distance the worst yet for Junior/Reserve football. At least last year the Reserve Championship was over by now and lads have a good few more League games aswell. I dunno why it has been held up this year, obviously put to the back of the County Board's list of priorities and look fair enough it's not the MOST important grade that they have to look it at but at least give the average lads a chance to enjoy some football and not to be slogging it out for 8/9 months for a handful of games. We know alot of clubs have suffered with numbers the past 2/3 years and now this is just gonna kill of interest from the rest of the lads that are about and looking for games. As a poster said above, ya can be quietly surprised by how much an "average" footballer can improve with a constant run of games, but unfortunately as they are getting 1 or 2 games here and there that is the height of it. There's only so much interest and commitment these players have and at the end of the day everyone wants to play games. Ultimately in the end, they will get tired of it and that will leave the rest of the clubs with enough players for Reserve football wanting not to train anymore. Which is a sad state of affairs. They whole set up of Reserve/Junior football needs a radical shake up next year, only the clubs with enough players at the start of the year should be put into a League of whatever 12/15 teams or 2 groups of 6/8 each to fairly even it out as much as possible and at least there will be games and something for these lads to look forward to. Then come summer time, look at the clubs with enough players and who are fielding teams to build a championship around them and you will have competitive games. Just my opinion on the subject which has really annoyed my this year, i hope it changes for the better next year!

Champion2011 (Cavan) - Posts: 230 - 03/10/2014 14:13:16    1659765

Some good points being raised here and the theme is strong.
Is there a forum for these type of credible discussions to be tabled at the county top table...... and please don't suggest via my club rep for reasons I'm sure you can guess.

Just in terms of clubs losing players, I think every club has been hit in some way, but this year I have heard of players from my own club suggesting that they will transfer to get more football, not necessarily because they are top players but more for the love of the game. Guys travelling are most likely to transfer to another county where they work so that they will get game time.

Transfer time will show this as a key problem and when they move they wont be coming back.

Play_by_ear (Cavan) - Posts: 24 - 03/10/2014 15:25:50    1659805

Really glad this debate has been brought up as I feel it is a huge issue in Cavan football currently. As previous posters have said my own club is in a situation where their reserve team has played 4 league games and I think 2 championship games. That's not enough for any player at any age and now the club as a whole is suffering because they can't get lads to train.

There definitely needs to be a re-structuring of the competition next year (probably along with the senior leagues as the Breffni League was a disaster) or we could see a scenario in a few years where no Reserve football is played! This could have a knock-on effect on Senior teams who could see numbers dropping and may then find it hard to field teams themselves!

gaa365 (Cavan) - Posts: 18 - 05/10/2014 13:48:49    1660322

I see the games for the reserve championships have been scheduled. Would a player(s) from any of them clubs in the final on the forum care to comment on how many 1st team players will line out / start in the game.

Play_by_ear (Cavan) - Posts: 24 - 07/10/2014 13:49:48    1661056

Hi All,
Killygarry 2-7 Cuchulainns 0-13 in the reserve championship final.
Just wondering how many reserve players actually played or was it 1st team players that were fielded.
If anyone knows, can you post, please?
Cheers.

Play_by_ear (Cavan) - Posts: 24 - 28/10/2014 13:25:50    1667736

I was at that match play_by_ear and I had the players list and to be honest with you I don't think neither of the two teams had any senior players that started in the senior 15s play but I could be wrong for none of the names registered with me from team lists when they played in the senior matches on the main pitch. I stand corrected however.

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4601 - 29/10/2014 11:55:09    1667993

That was a reserve semi final and there was 5 players who played,that had started against Gaels in senior semi final.in the 1a semi on Friday night 7 that played for ramor had started or came on against kingscourt in quarter of senior c'ship.a lot of ramors reserve squad had fell away like most clubs due to no games been played

CR7 (Cavan) - Posts: 125 - 29/10/2014 20:35:14    1668190

Thanks Sean & Thanks CR7 - useful info.
My guess is that the full impact of the reserve games not being played by reserve players will have a major impact next year.
The impact to club and the county team should not be underestimated.

How can this be tabled for review by the County Board?...... or is that even possible?

Play_by_ear (Cavan) - Posts: 24 - 30/10/2014 13:22:46    1668330

Have to agree with you Play_by_ear this will have a serious detrimental affect on football as a whole in Cavan if something isn't done. I was just having a look at my own clubs reserve fixtures from this year and they played their last league game (of which they have actually played 5) in MAY!!! With only 2 championship games since then.

How can you expect 7 games in a year to be enough for any player? Of any age? At any grade? It is no wonder teams can't get squads of players out to train with a situation like that!

The county board really need to take a look at this for next year with some sort of re-structuring needed to give players of all levels games and not just suit the "elite" few. Hopefully with a new chairman coming in at the end of the year changes may happen. I for one will be bringing it to my own club to have this issue raised at the county board convention this year and I hope other clubs will be doing the same

gaa365 (Cavan) - Posts: 18 - 30/10/2014 19:48:53    1668486