i have to argue that we have made serious strides under Hyland. The stats speak for themselves. Between 2006 and 2012 i feel was the lowest period in Cavan football. In the ulster championship we only came out on top in 2 matchs. Against Antrin (2008) and Fermanagh(2009) In the backdoor likewise we only won two games Wicklow (2010) and Fermanagh (2012). In a six year period we only won 4 championship games against Division four teams. We also suffered some off are worst defeats in these 6 years. Cork, Kildare Wicklow Donegal?? Where are defence was wide open and teams would always be guaranteed to bang in a few goals when they came to town.
Since Hylands first full year in 2013 we are now an awful lot harder to beat look at this record since 2013.... In 2013 we won 9 competitive games throughout the year and we lost 7 in all competitions and we drew 1. In 2014 we won 10 games through the year and we only lost 4 games. Now in my opinion thats a bloody good record. 2 mckenna cup finals a divison 3 final and an all ireland quarter final is not a bad return if you ask me.
Terry has took this team up a few notches. However there are problems that are plain to see. We have no powerful forwards or constant scoring threats. We are still not countering at pace and these are a big worry and if terry doesn't address this i cant see how he will continue to progress the team forward. Because its clear that he has moved the team on but can he take us to the next stages of are development. And ultimately the holy grail.

blueskies (Cavan) - Posts: 194 - 26/01/2015 13:23:32    1686495

Point taken blueskies, but whilst strides were made under Hyland, you'd hardly call them serious. Any team would be hard to beat, when they play the style of football we play, but the issue is, we are simply not scoring enough to pull clear of teams. 4 points ahead against Tyrone, we failed to notch a single score in the 2nd half - shambolic.
Whilst we have won a few competitive matches here and there, the McKenna Cup has shown that we have made little or no progress whatsovever...

deanmartin (Cavan) - Posts: 643 - 26/01/2015 15:06:58    1686551

If Terry's interview is anything to go by then it sounds like he's putting the responsibility on the players themselves.
I did hear from someone close enough to the camp that the plan was to continue the second half where we left off at half time.
But the players didn't play to instruction seemingly and that's the worry - and the problem. I don't know how accurate this
information is but if it's true then we seem to have a bunch of lads who either can't or won't step up to the plate when the
game requires it.
I thought Mark McKeever showed what you can do when you mix physicality with sensible football - but he learned that in Gowna.
Still he hasn't got many starts in the past year so what are the mentors looking for? All we're getting at the moment is a bore-fest
of "parlour football"

RoyalBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 198 - 26/01/2015 15:14:35    1686555

I know DeanMartin but look at where we were when Terry began the job and look at where we are now. We are in a much healthier position. We are competeive again. No team likes coming up here to play us anymore which is good. So you cant really say we haven't made progress.Us cavan people always want more though and now are ambitions are much loftier. I must add that i think Terry was perfect at getting us on the map again. But is he the man to give us cavan people what we want. Can he satisfy the demands off supporters around the county at the minute? people are expecting us to become a competitive Division 2 team to, to follow are near neighbours Monaghan and Bring the anglo celt cup back to its rightful home? The sleeping giant of Gaelic Football is ready to rise again but is he man to lead us through this? im not to sure but time will tell.

blueskies (Cavan) - Posts: 194 - 26/01/2015 15:22:32    1686563

where is cian mackey? will he be back come summer?

sammaguire1 (Cavan) - Posts: 279 - 26/01/2015 15:58:57    1686584

Sorry blueskies, but apart from making us a side hard to beat, he's also made a side thats hard to win games. Its pointless playing a defensive game when we are not putting scores on the board, and that was the story of our McKenna Cup campaign, beat by UUJ, struggled to score in the 2nd half against Monaghan, absolute dire against an awful Fermanagh Team, and a shambolic 2nd half against Tyrone. There's not one team in the Country that would be afraid to come to Breffni Park - Terry's been in situ since April 2012, he's had a full year in 2013 & 2014, and aside from promotion to Division 2 football, little else has been gained. If people thing promotion to Division 2 was an achievement, I point to the Armagh match last year, Armagh got relegated to division 3, yet beat us comfortably in the championship. As for teams fearing us in Breffni, ask Roscommon were they afraid last year, or UUJ this year. Fermanagh didnt exactly play with fear last Wednesday night either.

deanmartin (Cavan) - Posts: 643 - 26/01/2015 16:27:42    1686595

blueskies,

Have we made progress under Terry? I'd say a little, not a lot.
Terry took over when we were at our lowest so anything better than bottom drawer would be progress. He has no plan B to call on either.
Are we going to win anything at senior? Hardly. We are too small and too soft. We need a few mullakers with height intermingled with the skillful players.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 26/01/2015 16:30:29    1686598

So Terry Hyland is responsible for the size of Cavan footballers . Right , I see now .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 26/01/2015 17:22:48    1686622

Are you deliberately being silly?
Surely you know what is being said.
Have Tyrone got all the bigger players by accident?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 26/01/2015 17:50:53    1686638

The stuff being posted here is getting very tedious . Terry Hyland is not above criticism but as long as it's fair and balanced . The size of the players was not a problem two years ago when a lot of people were jumping up and down predicting Ulster within 2 years , playing in Division 1 etc in spite of a lot of fans calling for a bit of realism and looking at what was really at our disposal .
You cannot fault management for the squad they've picked , it's the best there is in the county there or thereabouts . Jonsmith (I think it was) hit on the biggest issue people have with this forum a few days back .
1) Name better club players out there who should be on the team (or these mullakers as you call them) who are going to change our fortunes drastically .
2) Outline a system of play we should be engaging in , with specific reference to key positions for personnel , and tactics which are going to improve us . None of these bland generalizations like , "I'd tell the players to let the ball on and start playing football with a smile on their face , the traditional Cavan way" . That's just sh*@e talk .
The notion that players are being told to go out there and play the ball backwards , not to shoot , and that the aim of the management is to "coach the football out" (whatever the hell that means) of the players is a bit hard to listen to . The biggest Achilles heel of this team now is what to do with the no 11 spot and the inside line and there is no easy solutions .
Like Jonsmith's post , I don't expect too many coherent replies .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 26/01/2015 19:42:46    1686683

HNY to you all. The blues around me on sat night were quite happy at half time. We moved the ball well and were positive. Might even have scored a goal ourselves. Teams are beginning to follow the Dublin tactic of finishing with their best 15 and Tyrone looked like they did this deliberately. We looked very light in the second half which is odd seeing as most of our lads have been wintering in gyms for the last four years. We must be doing low weights and high reps. Perhaps the bulkier Tyrone lads will struggle for pace during the summer, but they certainly used their strength to good effect in the second half. Looks like Ross have kicked on a good bit from last year so our first game is a tough one. Like many posters, survival in Div 2 will do for me this year, provided we see more of the first half of sat and less of the second. Strange how different people judge performance. Rory Dunne made the HS team of the week despite gifting Tyrone the decisive goal. Tough night for Conor Moynagh too. Hope he's mentally strong enough to put it behind him and look forward. Not nice to see that happening to anyone. Sport can be cruel at times as we all know in Cavan only too well.

ondforty (Cavan) - Posts: 460 - 26/01/2015 19:45:51    1686685

goonie
County: Cavan
Posts: 114

1684393
Chico, cop on and take your beating, noting was said, the umpires seen what happened , he got a thump for doing a disgraceful tackle , the umpires has eyes not super hearing

What do you reckon now Goonie?

The Face (Monaghan) - Posts: 890 - 26/01/2015 20:34:10    1686716

Fair and balanced?
We have no big player capable of catching or breaking down a ball to his own man in the forward line on a consistent basis. We should be trying our best to get Keating to return or getting Argue training for that position. We were too easy to play against once Tyrone got to grips with us. Too small and too weak. Fumble fumble fumble as soon the pressure was put on.
The job to fix this lies with the management yet they continue to do the same thing. Very little change from what we saw against Roscommon last year but continue to expect things to magically change.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 26/01/2015 20:37:20    1686718

There was high hopes for Keating from everyone , fans and management , and we went with him . Hasn't turned out as hoped unfortunately . I felt sorry for him last year , just looked a very dejected player and his club situation wasn't helping . He's probably doing the right thing , get his club issue sorted out , get a niggling injury sorted and find the gra again and come back with gusto .
Can't say the management haven't tried things . Tierney was a lad worth looking at but didn't kick on . Could criticise management here in that I thought they didn't give him enough game time earlier on and threw him into the deep end a bit later which could have knocked his confidence but he did not kick on .
Givney was looked at and I though he was excellent for certain criteria at 14 . Aggressive , showed for everything and a general pain in the ass for any full back . Meath in Navan springs to mind . But he lacked the guile of a natural forward with his back to goal with ball in hand and it was likely he would not develop further . Nothing to knock management on here . As regards his future , see Keating above .
Argue might look like an obvious choice but I think he lacks confidence and aggression . A lad that size should be a "big stack bully" but he's young and needs to develop this side of his game . You mention Roscommon last year - I don't mean to knock anyone but Argue went down a lot in my estimation after this game . Was not interested in the slightest . The jury is out on him for me .
Enda Reilly , Conor Madden and Paul O'Connor are other options (I'm probably leaving some others out) for a ball winner role but there's no guarantees here .
It's very hard for management when they invest time and energy into what they perceive as options and they don't work out . There's only so many games to play so there's only so many options you can try . It's easy being clever in hindsight . Can't say they haven't being trying , favourites aside . I think they are well aware of the limitations of the system and team , not hard to spot . Remedies are another issue - again , not too many remedies are brought up in this place .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 26/01/2015 21:39:27    1686755

Folks, we need forwards who can score. I have no problem with a full forward line made up of players who are not Giants once they can score and have a bit of pace about them. All that's needed after that is quick accurate ball being fed into them. Players who are holding up the play around the middle of the filed are the problem! Get the ball in quicker and more accurately!

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 578 - 27/01/2015 09:31:32    1686791

Well said Kildare Blue - 1st half against Tyrone & Monaghan, we showed can have the capacity to take scores, but we need to find and use the correct balance. In the Fermanagh match, Niall McDermott made countless runs, losing his man but the ball never came in to him, when it did eventually come in, he was being marked by 2 or 3 players and he was fighting for scraps.
I have no problem with a sweeper system, but the sweeper needs to move the ball quickly out to the half forward line. I would play Lyng on the 40, as he has the ability to see and pick out a good pass into the full forwards. Our full forward line arent very physical, so the early ball is needed as we certainly have the pace and skill to trouble teams.
The problem is we just havent gained enough momentum and consistency - because with those two things, brings confidence, so management need to decide on their best team, instill a balance playing method, stick to it and have a plan b in place so we can change things around.

deanmartin (Cavan) - Posts: 643 - 27/01/2015 10:49:07    1686807

My thinking for the team going forward for this year would be to leave Martin Reilly at 11 . Michael Lyng and Barry Reilly are options but there is a question mark over Reilly's pace and I feel Lyng slows down the game a bit too much when the ball goes through him . He should be a big asset to us in the league but not sure about championship . Dara McVeety I would have in the half forwards - great little player , very direct and doesn't waste much ball . Good vision as well and can deliver quality ball . Niall McDermott and Cian Mackey I would like to see left inside . McDermott is strong and brave and can finish . Mackey could give the attack a different dimension . Can win ball , is very very clever with reading a game , quick off the blocks , likes to take men on and can score . I feel the outfield role is too hard on him , he has become a targeted man and if they persist with him outfield his days in a Cavan jersey are numbered before injury retires him . Would get opposition defenders on the back foot and get them out of their comfort zone . And teams cannot target him for fouling at their ease if he's operating only 25 yards from goal . Would like to see Killian Clarke remain in midfield . Centre half back is tricky , Alan Clarke is a huge loss from a defensive point of view - great leader and organiser and reader of a game . We have a few options but the jersey is up for grabs for me - league form will decide who gets it . Most of the other positions are pretty settled and the places that are up for grabs have good options with like for like cover . There will be good competition in the league games for a championship start .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 27/01/2015 13:20:56    1686868

Management can only do so much,can any posters on here name any forwards in the county that are up to scratch who are not already involved in county set up?TerryHyland cannot invent forwards,Terry Hyland cannot invent big men.any suggestions as to what can be done with inside forward line.Four under 21 Ulsters have not produced any decent sized inside forward.are there any in the county?if this could be sorted I feel we could be in business.A short time ago we were hanging on for dear life in division 3,so some progress has been made.Maintaining division 2 status though should b considered an achievement for now,if this is achieved and players come back next year and younger players mature and come on to panel from 21s then real progress will be made.A new manager/coaching staff is probably required in order to freshen things after 2015.

celt2018 (Cavan) - Posts: 160 - 07/02/2015 16:35:02    1690929

The inside line needs to be changed . Martin Dunne doesn't work in a 2 man full forward line for me . He would be more dangerous in a 3 man forward line but that would have a big bearing on the system we play . But of all the forward options I think he has been given the most opportunities by management and hasn't produced enough to warrant changing the system . There's also a lot of competition in the half forward/back pack roles with the likes of Ciaran Brady , Gerry Smith , Moynagh , Faulkner coming through , McVeety making very strong claims and Argue and Mackey to come back in .
In the immediate term I'd like to see Mackey played inside - this is the only glaringly obvious solution for my money and partner him with McDermott . Enda Reilly would be worth trying while Mackey is still out . Tom Hayes is a very exciting prospect but this year may be too early for him . Conor Madden is another lad that could make a breakthrough soon . Of course don't rule out seeing Keating again this year .
All in all I think we're looking very good . Another win , the sooner the better too , and be can breathe a little more easily as far as survival goes . A nice comfortable mid table finish would be great for our first year in Division 2 and once survival is in the bag we can experiment with the game against Monaghan in mind .
Bit early to be talking about freshening things up . We're only two games in and things were already freshened up at the end of last year .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 08/02/2015 14:13:57    1691132

If you play Mackey inside, you lose all his creativity and the fact that he opens teams up with his speed. He needs to play on the 40.

BreffniGuide (Cavan) - Posts: 474 - 09/02/2015 13:19:48    1691635