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Cavan Forum

Cavan Seniors 23

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Easy win, again picking the right players proves to be the difference. We're in a really decent place at the minute, we'll walk promotion, we'll a couple of key men in Gearoid and Paddy Lynch to come back in. Absolutely no reason we can't have a proper crack at ulster this year

CavanAgain (Cavan) - Posts: 196 - 06/02/2023 12:43:53    2456853

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So how's everyone feeling now? Odd to be in this position, where I'm feeling strangely very optimistic about the team. It's some journey we've been on from winning titles, to dropping the divisions and everything in between. Think we always knew the talent was there, just mad teh way things went. For me it is how we are performing the last 2 weekends, vs for example how we performed in Div 4 last year. Of course we have to take account for how poor Tipp were, but then again we were missing a lot of players too, and some like Lynch are still not up to top fitness. And we went and won well which wasn't seen last year bar v Waterford.

I'm loathe to big things up too much, and yes it's only 2 games, but that team with a lot of youth are performing, and rather than having 10 to 12 player of quality and trying to fit others of not as good around it, we seem to have players performing all over the field, with more to come in. I really hope it's a case of the usual names knowing they're battling for places now, and not just getting a jersey handed back to them.

McVeety back and a fully fit Holla have obviously added so much to the team, but look at Tiarnan Madden, Carolan, Finnegan in the backs, Ryan O'Neill and Oisin Brady in the forwards - there's young lads playing well and need to be rewarded. We've GMac, Gerry Smith, Gunner, James Smith, Conor Smith and a fit Lynch to come back in. Where are we fitting them all? Does a staple name like Kiernan who is going grand but not as good as prior years drop out? Kicks up the behind for some and players battling to get places back are exactly where we need to be at to drive standards forward. It's great to see, and hope we keep it going in 2 weeks v Longford, get through this division and then give Ulster a rattle which we know we can do. Great to feel a bit of excitement again.

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2488 - 07/02/2023 11:29:07    2456968

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "So how's everyone feeling now? Odd to be in this position, where I'm feeling strangely very optimistic about the team. It's some journey we've been on from winning titles, to dropping the divisions and everything in between. Think we always knew the talent was there, just mad teh way things went. For me it is how we are performing the last 2 weekends, vs for example how we performed in Div 4 last year. Of course we have to take account for how poor Tipp were, but then again we were missing a lot of players too, and some like Lynch are still not up to top fitness. And we went and won well which wasn't seen last year bar v Waterford.

I'm loathe to big things up too much, and yes it's only 2 games, but that team with a lot of youth are performing, and rather than having 10 to 12 player of quality and trying to fit others of not as good around it, we seem to have players performing all over the field, with more to come in. I really hope it's a case of the usual names knowing they're battling for places now, and not just getting a jersey handed back to them.

McVeety back and a fully fit Holla have obviously added so much to the team, but look at Tiarnan Madden, Carolan, Finnegan in the backs, Ryan O'Neill and Oisin Brady in the forwards - there's young lads playing well and need to be rewarded. We've GMac, Gerry Smith, Gunner, James Smith, Conor Smith and a fit Lynch to come back in. Where are we fitting them all? Does a staple name like Kiernan who is going grand but not as good as prior years drop out? Kicks up the behind for some and players battling to get places back are exactly where we need to be at to drive standards forward. It's great to see, and hope we keep it going in 2 weeks v Longford, get through this division and then give Ulster a rattle which we know we can do. Great to feel a bit of excitement again."
Big thing for me is just the attitude so far this year, it's obvious that the morale in the squad is great, very few players have left and the newer ones are looking very comfortable at inter county level. I really wasn't sure what was going to happen this year after losing the Tailteann Cup final but they seem reinvigorated. Having McVeety back is immense both playing wise and the example he sets especially for the younger players. Same can be said for the Holla. Ryan O'Neill is a very impressive young lad, he has been around for a couple of seasons without getting much game time yet he was prepared to work away and wait for his chance. Having said that I can't see him keeping Paddy Lynch out but a great option to bring in for his ball winning alone. I think Gearoid, Gerry and Jason all come straight back in. Going on Sunday that means Martin Reilly, Jonathan McCabe and Cian Madden coming out. Where exactly Gearoid goes is the question. James Smith comes into midfield. Carolan has really grabbed his chance, thought he was a bit lost in Tailteann final but he's developing into a Rolls Royce of a player and obviously has great pedigree.

BreffniGael (Cavan) - Posts: 47 - 07/02/2023 15:17:04    2457080

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Easy win. Very hard to take much away from it. Apart from Kennedy, Tipp were dreadful and didn't look fit. Watched Armagh Mayo afterwards and it was like watching a different sport. Armagh are becoming box office, all out attack, goalkeeper catching kickouts, all action stuff. Selling out a February league game on a Wednesday is outrageous. Hopefully they will have worn themselves out by April time. They still look weak defensively and their discipline is an area that can let them down. But you would have to worry about us playing at such a lower level compared to them. At the moment, our mistakes are rarely being punished. Nonetheless there are a lot of positives, particularly from the lads in their debut seasons. There is lots of quality in this squad, no doubt. Promotion could still be tight as you could easily end up with 3 teams winning 6 out of 7 in this division.

97Cavans (Cavan) - Posts: 454 - 07/02/2023 16:30:00    2457111

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That's true big difference in the pace from Division 3 and 1. McGeeney in his 9th year needs to at least get to an Ulster final. They were all action in League last year and had a tame performance against Donegal in Ulster.
Rian O Neill does a lot of theatrical diving yet the referees don't spot it

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2949 - 07/02/2023 17:11:58    2457121

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Don't know what others think but for me despite his great play I feel McVitty is carrying the ball into far too many tackles and is at great risk of injury… He may get away with it a while but teams are going to realise his importance to the team and line him up for a big hit…. I hope to goodness I'm wrong but I have a worrying feeling that he will be targeted…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 4243 - 07/02/2023 19:55:56    2457147

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "So how's everyone feeling now? Odd to be in this position, where I'm feeling strangely very optimistic about the team. It's some journey we've been on from winning titles, to dropping the divisions and everything in between. Think we always knew the talent was there, just mad teh way things went. For me it is how we are performing the last 2 weekends, vs for example how we performed in Div 4 last year. Of course we have to take account for how poor Tipp were, but then again we were missing a lot of players too, and some like Lynch are still not up to top fitness. And we went and won well which wasn't seen last year bar v Waterford.

I'm loathe to big things up too much, and yes it's only 2 games, but that team with a lot of youth are performing, and rather than having 10 to 12 player of quality and trying to fit others of not as good around it, we seem to have players performing all over the field, with more to come in. I really hope it's a case of the usual names knowing they're battling for places now, and not just getting a jersey handed back to them.

McVeety back and a fully fit Holla have obviously added so much to the team, but look at Tiarnan Madden, Carolan, Finnegan in the backs, Ryan O'Neill and Oisin Brady in the forwards - there's young lads playing well and need to be rewarded. We've GMac, Gerry Smith, Gunner, James Smith, Conor Smith and a fit Lynch to come back in. Where are we fitting them all? Does a staple name like Kiernan who is going grand but not as good as prior years drop out? Kicks up the behind for some and players battling to get places back are exactly where we need to be at to drive standards forward. It's great to see, and hope we keep it going in 2 weeks v Longford, get through this division and then give Ulster a rattle which we know we can do. Great to feel a bit of excitement again."
When will James Smith and Gearoid be back? The team is doing extremely well at the minute but those 2 along with Gerry Smith and Paddy Lynch are 4 of our best players. As for Gunner I'm not sure he gets back into the side, Carlon is undroppable and Evan Finneghan is doing just fine. The half back line is arguably out strongest with Holla and Mcvitty and Madden. We've a nice headache in where to play Gearoid when he's back, I like him running from deep but also throwing him in full forward is appealing with the new mark rule.

CavanAgain (Cavan) - Posts: 196 - 07/02/2023 20:50:00    2457159

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "That's true big difference in the pace from Division 3 and 1. McGeeney in his 9th year needs to at least get to an Ulster final. They were all action in League last year and had a tame performance against Donegal in Ulster.
Rian O Neill does a lot of theatrical diving yet the referees don't spot it"
Yes I thought it was a soft free but I suppose you get them types of frees when you have a big home support. He also likes to to steal a fair few yards on his frees. But he is a brilliant player in fairness.

97Cavans (Cavan) - Posts: 454 - 08/02/2023 11:07:12    2457207

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "That's true big difference in the pace from Division 3 and 1. McGeeney in his 9th year needs to at least get to an Ulster final. They were all action in League last year and had a tame performance against Donegal in Ulster.
Rian O Neill does a lot of theatrical diving yet the referees don't spot it"
That's it alright. They go balls out for the League yearly but flatter to deceive in Championship (2 results excepted last year) but especially Ulster. I honestly wouldn't be hugely fearing them in an Ulster quarter as they've been shown to not always be up for that pace

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2488 - 08/02/2023 11:25:45    2457217

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Replying To CavanAgain:  "When will James Smith and Gearoid be back? The team is doing extremely well at the minute but those 2 along with Gerry Smith and Paddy Lynch are 4 of our best players. As for Gunner I'm not sure he gets back into the side, Carlon is undroppable and Evan Finneghan is doing just fine. The half back line is arguably out strongest with Holla and Mcvitty and Madden. We've a nice headache in where to play Gearoid when he's back, I like him running from deep but also throwing him in full forward is appealing with the new mark rule."
Graham said on the podcast last week that they're training, but Tipp was coming too quick, so I'm reading between the lines and thinking with the week break, we might see them from the bench v Longford.

Ah Gunner does come back into the side when fit, but probably from the bench firstly to get up to speed. He offers us so much, and will compliment the likes of Holla and McVeety in power and such. We are going very well, and those young lads coming in are looking well, but do need to remember we're 2 matches in to the League in winter football, and end of League/start of Championship team is a very different proposition as we see year on year. Good headaches though as you say

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2488 - 08/02/2023 11:29:26    2457220

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Don't know what others think but for me despite his great play I feel McVitty is carrying the ball into far too many tackles and is at great risk of injury… He may get away with it a while but teams are going to realise his importance to the team and line him up for a big hit…. I hope to goodness I'm wrong but I have a worrying feeling that he will be targeted…"
I was worried when he went to ground for a time v Westmeath. I was praying he'd get up and wasn't an injury, but he was fine. For me, it's just the type of player he is. He our one player who truly takes on the opposition and runs past them, or takes them on. Change that and you change him as a player. He's so strong and so good at it, that you'd want him to play to those strengths. He will be targeted though as you say, just hope his fitness and evasion means he doesn't get done badly

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2488 - 08/02/2023 11:35:23    2457224

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Cavan are beginning to build a bit of strength in depth. Exposing lads like Tiernan Madden, Carolan, O Neill, and Finnegan to competitive intercounty can only improve this further. With Killian Brady, McKiernan, James Smith, Gerry Smith, and Conor Brady to return, competition for places will be fierce. There are others also, such as Caoimhin McGovern, who, with further strength and conditioning, can be big players for us in the future. On another note; are Luke Fortune and Cormac Timoney no longer involved? Both are talented footballers with lots to offer the panel.

Fontofwisdom (Cavan) - Posts: 128 - 10/02/2023 12:15:26    2457625

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Replying To Fontofwisdom:  "Cavan are beginning to build a bit of strength in depth. Exposing lads like Tiernan Madden, Carolan, O Neill, and Finnegan to competitive intercounty can only improve this further. With Killian Brady, McKiernan, James Smith, Gerry Smith, and Conor Brady to return, competition for places will be fierce. There are others also, such as Caoimhin McGovern, who, with further strength and conditioning, can be big players for us in the future. On another note; are Luke Fortune and Cormac Timoney no longer involved? Both are talented footballers with lots to offer the panel."
Luke fortune and cormac timoney are no longer on the panel, it would be nice to see how jack McKenna Cian reilly and coimhin McGovern are getting on in their development from injury or are they nearly ready to appear on the 26 man match day squad.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 885 - 10/02/2023 13:28:29    2457654

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Replying To Fontofwisdom:  "Cavan are beginning to build a bit of strength in depth. Exposing lads like Tiernan Madden, Carolan, O Neill, and Finnegan to competitive intercounty can only improve this further. With Killian Brady, McKiernan, James Smith, Gerry Smith, and Conor Brady to return, competition for places will be fierce. There are others also, such as Caoimhin McGovern, who, with further strength and conditioning, can be big players for us in the future. On another note; are Luke Fortune and Cormac Timoney no longer involved? Both are talented footballers with lots to offer the panel."
Think Timoney is a few years off the panel, I can't recall him there last year. Yeah Fortune opted off the panel this season. Thought he'd be a loss, and while he is, the other lads have stepped up, and with others returning we seem to be fine there

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2488 - 10/02/2023 13:55:40    2457662

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Timoney's last game for Cavan was against Wicklow in the play off in 21. Didn't feature against Tyrone in championship. He was in America last summer so wasn't part of the panel in 22.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2949 - 10/02/2023 14:42:47    2457681

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Don't know what others think but for me despite his great play I feel McVitty is carrying the ball into far too many tackles and is at great risk of injury… He may get away with it a while but teams are going to realise his importance to the team and line him up for a big hit…. I hope to goodness I'm wrong but I have a worrying feeling that he will be targeted…"
In 2019 we had a cracking game against Kerry in Breffni. The Kerry supporters around me were raving about McVeety & Ciaran Brady at HT. Ten minutes into the second half, both were off the pitch and I don't think Kerry players even received a booking. That's the difference between the top teams and Div 3 level.

BreffniGuide (Cavan) - Posts: 474 - 11/02/2023 09:18:31    2457769

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "Timoney's last game for Cavan was against Wicklow in the play off in 21. Didn't feature against Tyrone in championship. He was in America last summer so wasn't part of the panel in 22."
I could be wrong, but I think he was on the extended panel at the start of 2022. Either way, he's one who will hopefully return at some point in the future.

Fontofwisdom (Cavan) - Posts: 128 - 11/02/2023 11:15:34    2457776

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No he informed the management at the start of year he wouldn't be around for the Championship, wasn't part panel in the early stages of 22.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2949 - 11/02/2023 12:38:55    2457792

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Ryan O'Neill joining Killygarry. Should be good for him playing senior club football, will only improve him and if he can add to his game he will definitely be a regular for cavan

Breffni81 (Cavan) - Posts: 183 - 14/02/2023 08:35:49    2458194

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Well what's the verdict for Sunday ? has to be a kick out of Longford ! We need to be on alert and no complacency ! They always get up for this game ! Wouldn't think there will be too many changes, maybe James Smith around the middle and we could see Gerry Smith back ! other than that the new lads have done more than enough to retain their jerseys - I'm talking about Ryan O'Neill, Tiernan Madden, Finnegan and Carolan & Oisin Brady !

5allirelands (Cavan) - Posts: 90 - 17/02/2023 11:13:38    2458635

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