kildare blue
County: Cavan
Posts: 272

Compared to Croke Park in April, almost deserted, things should be tingling next Saturday / Sunday week.

Hopefully the atmosphere at this one will be a lot better, that game should never have been played at Croker IMO, c. 10,000 in a vast empty stadium, it was eerie. Tullamore would have been far more suitable, but I understand the idea of lads getting a run out at Croker, especially the likes of Clare and Tipp, whatever about our own two teams. Its hard to know what sort of crowd Roscommon will bring, the minors are playing a Connacht final at midday on the Sunday which might put people off travelling if its a late throw-in in Breffni and the game is on the box. What sort of a crowd was there at the Westmeath game?

decky (Roscommon) - Posts: 384 - 02/07/2014 18:10:23    1612786

If the Rossies beat us then I will wish them the best of luck afterwards and hope they go on a long way in the All Ireland series and I will be cheering for them.
They have brought loads of young players on and do things the right way.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 02/07/2014 18:33:27    1612806

Ned, you talk about our big men at 8,9 and 12, and i do admire Givney, GMAC and Argue, they are all fine footballers, but i cannot recall any of them ever dominating a game from midfield for Cavan. They all have the ability to do so but to date they have never cleaned out the opposition, i think they are all more interested in going forward and getting on the score-sheet. For real inter-county footballers playing midfield the only yardstick to measure them by are clean catches, utilisation of possession and domination of the opposing midfield. These guys have the ability to do that, so it will be a great tragedy if we never get to see them deliver on their potential. They are young, granted, but should be in their prime, now is the time to see them deliver!!

bunnoe1 (Cavan) - Posts: 60 - 02/07/2014 20:02:57    1612870

Decky Roscommon

We had just over 7000 in Breffni Park last week; but there were hardly any Westmeath supporters. I'd expect good Roscommon support so you'll probably have 10-12,000 I'd say. Breffni holds close to 30,000 though.

I agree with post from Bunnoe about mid-field not performing. GMac did give a master class at mid-field against Meath last year but he never repeated it. David Givney never repeated his Sigerson or Railway Cup performances at midfield for Cavan since. Michael Argue is developing all the time and he can kick good scores but he needs another year to bulk up a bit more and he took some heavy hits against Westmeath even at No 12. I think Damien O'Reilly doesn't get enough credit for all the ball he wins and carries at speed and I think he's the perfect partner for a high-fielder like GMac. Still I think we have an ongoing problem there and it's disappointing that 4 years of good U-21 midfielders haven't come of age yet.
On last weeks performance I can't see Cavan winning; it doesn't compare with the Roscommon performance against Mayo. If we get a bit more adventurous I'd say we have a reasonable 50/50 chance, other wise we'll come up short again because we're far too predictable this year.

RoyalBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 198 - 02/07/2014 20:37:43    1612892

The chap that claims this upcoming competive senior championship game is a dead rubber needs to have a long hard look at himself. Cavan has a great to progress with this draw you can't ask for much more than a home draw and avoided kildare,monaghan or rematch with Armagh. Cavan will be driven by revenge for losing the div 3 final and the rossies go into this game without man of the match donie shine.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 02/07/2014 20:49:48    1612899

This should be a good game and a real test of where we are at, win this we emerge with some credibility for the year, sorry but promotion while welcome is not enough. Given the pool of talent that has emerged through minor and under 21 in the last five years we should be far more advanced in our development. There are a lot of players on the panel and indeed the management too who need to deliver a solid gold performance against Roscommon. Westmeath was a start but we need to deliver a 70 Minute sustained performance from everyone . If we do we are in with a real chance of genuine progress and will command the respect of pundits and the GAA public, it's in our own hands. No excuses about injuries or absences, the panel is big enough to put out a good team , properly motivated and tactically smart to win. I am not the biggest fan of the current management, don't like the style of play, but I wish them we'll and want to see them succeed. Cavan by 4, yes we can.

shannon414 (Cavan) - Posts: 228 - 02/07/2014 21:10:17    1612913

For some reason a lot of emphasis seems to be placed on donie shine been missing thinking this will effect the result
Imo he has had a poor year yet again and although can score a long long range free or two he has over the years become less reliable at them
His general play although improved immensely since evans became involved is still not intercounty standard no where near as vital to roscommon as mackey to cavan or a flying Cathal Cregg playing well again to roscommon
Actually believed it was lazy journalism to give him man of the match in league final

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 03/07/2014 08:47:33    1612969

Would have to agree with above poster, to much emphasis on Shines absence.
To me, Roscommon have a stronger panel than us.
More physical than our team.
I feel the performance they put in against Mayo was excellent and if they introduced their. U21s earlier it might have been a different story.
If Cavan win this it will be a great achievement and who knows after that!
Big if though!

desagov (Cavan) - Posts: 208 - 03/07/2014 11:36:05    1613065

Donie shine was given man of match because without him Roscommon would have lost that league final.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 03/07/2014 11:37:07    1613066

bunnoe1
County: Cavan
Posts: 12

For real inter-county footballers playing midfield the only yardstick to measure them by are clean catches

Not any more, I'm afraid. more and more it'd becoming apparent that the traditional midfielder is a thing of the past. Goalkeepers nowadays are coached to find their man and retain possesion if at all possible. so the long kickout up the middle resulting in a 50/50 tussle between the big midfielders is a dwindling spectacle. Michael dara Macauley won player of the year last year. He plays for the All-ireland Champions . He plays at midfield, yet how many times does he make a clean catch at midfield. very rarely, I would suggest.
His game is about finding space at kickout time , taking a pass and bursting tackles at pace, bearing down on goals and getting a telling pass or shot away. He also has unbelievable stamina and so can track back and constantly forage for scraps around the middle third. The High catch is becoming a thing of the past (regretably..as its something the crowds love to see). but it the modern game 50/50 balls are discouraged and keepers like Cluxton have perfected the art of the targeted kick-out.
Players like Damian O'Reilly and Killian Brady , even though they will never claim a kickout via a high catch are phenominal workhorses and are vital to Cavan around the middle of the field, so it is not necessary to have 2 or 3 big midfielders like GMAC,argue or Givney in there.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 03/07/2014 12:57:21    1613112

I would still be optimistic for Cavan even though we are down a few lads from last year like K. Clarke, Dunne and Mc Veety. I hear Terry saying that if he has to use the Junior lads , that he will. I think that he is looking at possibly starting Moynagh and Tinnelly and also a role for Paul'O Connor maybe. I would agree 100 % with this as you always use your best players and your Senior team takes priority. Every team I ever played with this was always the case.
Looking at the Roscommon game it is going to be tight but I thought when we took them on in the 1st 20 mins in Croke Park we were the better team. I think if we do that again we will win. I really think that we only played for 20 mins against Westmeath and still scored 1-15. So it is time to play a more attacking game. When I saw Martin Reilly playing a corner back last time I said there is something wrong with the system. I think Givney is wasted at full forward and would be better at midfield with Argue. Play Gearoid a wing forward. Play Moynagh as the extra man in the half back line and Tinnelly as the runner. Keating and O'Connor maybe as a 2 man full forward line. Mackey dident look fit so maybe use as an impact sub. There are a few players that have been starting that I would demote. Time for the big calls and get our strongest team on the field.!!

Brownred (Cavan) - Posts: 229 - 03/07/2014 14:09:03    1613163

Anybody know what the story is with Mackeys injury, is he back in full training as he looked to carrying a few pounds.
Was Keating dropped last week or was he recovering from injury.
If we do happen to win, will Dunne be fit for the next game?

desagov (Cavan) - Posts: 208 - 03/07/2014 16:32:26    1613271

Mackey will not be fit for full training for the rest of the year

BootIt (Cavan) - Posts: 136 - 03/07/2014 17:05:36    1613293

bunnoe1
County: Cavan
Posts: 12

Bunnoe1,

Yeah, you are right with a lot of that. I'm not sure why we haven't seen our midfield dominate yet, Givney showed flashes of his fielding at times last year, against Derry, against Fermanagh, he is well capable. Argue had a good game for the u21's against Dublin in the middle of the park, made one or two fine fetches. I thought Gearoid was superb in the league final. Yet consistency is an issue.

But yes, to have such good players in those positions we should be controlling games more often around the middle.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 03/07/2014 17:22:39    1613305

Martin Dunne hand injury must be healed at this stage yes /no. Mayo forwards missed 6 or 7 easy kicks for points in the first half against Roscommon which we cant afford to do. Every chance we get must be converted or we will exit the Championship. I am concerned where are scores will come from as all squad are either midfielders or defenders.

Western Blue (Cavan) - Posts: 69 - 03/07/2014 21:35:24    1613408

BootIt
County: Cavan
Posts: 69

1613293
Mackey will not be fit for full training for the rest of the year


If that is correct are we not risking even more serious injury by playing him as an impact sub?
Seems counter productive to me.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 03/07/2014 21:44:31    1613414

What is the nature of Mackeys injury?

desagov (Cavan) - Posts: 208 - 04/07/2014 20:42:45    1613949

People talk so much about Shine's injury. Do people forget we are missing Mackey, Dunne, Keating, Clarke (all Ulster All Stars last year), Kevin Tierney, Ronan Flanagan (arguably our most experienced player) and McVeety from last year. That's seven starters so half of our starting 15 almost. Fergal Flanagan also missed last game. We've a string panel but those losses would hit any team.

Is it true the game could be televised due to 2 of the other qualifiers moving to Sunday?

BreffniGuide (Cavan) - Posts: 474 - 05/07/2014 20:20:46    1614212

There's meant to be 2 hurling qualifiers on and I'd bet my bottom dollar that Clare v Wexford will be shown before they televise our game, especially after the game they played today, great game of hurling.

decky (Roscommon) - Posts: 384 - 05/07/2014 20:37:58    1614223

Heres the team I would put out against Roscommon.

1. Gilsenan
2. Mc Laughlin
3. Dunne
4. O Reilly
5. Hayes
6. Mc Enroe
7. Tinley
8. Givney
9. Argue
10. Moynagh
11. Mc Kieran
12 M. Reilly
13 Mc Dermott
14 Keating
15 Enda Reilly

our no. 10 to be sweeper

goonie (Cavan) - Posts: 308 - 06/07/2014 13:58:27    1614500