Cavan Forum

National League 2019

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Replying To Hardtimes:  "This year's league campaign was always going to be a struggle even if we didn't have the absentees we have. The Galway match was a bit disappointing but we were still in the contest right up to the last kick. We have been competitive in the games versus Kerry and Mayo and bar the illegal charge on the goalkeeper last time out we would have 3 clean sheets. Look, we're not setting the world on fire but I'm reasonably happy with what I've seen so far and there are positives to take going forward. If we get our key men fully fit and raring to go come championship we won't be an easy proposition for a lot of teams. And I still wouldn't rule out the possibility of picking up some points in the league yet. This is an unforgiving division where all weaknesses are punished but we've shown enough to think we are a good Division 2 team. That's a good position to be in and hopefully something we build on but we're going to have to accept defeats in the process. Look at Kildare last year. Never picked up a point in the league but made Super 8's. Never picked up a point there either but it was still a good year for them. That's the lot of the teams outside top 6 and until a team makes the transition into a dominant top 6 team they are always going to get a bloodied nose when they get to Division 1 or into Super 8's. Crying about it will do no good nor will slagging off players or managers. They're trying their best and deserve a bit of encouragement."
Fully agree with that, very good post.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 885 - 11/02/2019 14:00:01    2164546

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Replying To JonSmith:  "Well against Mayo we tried on several occasions but Madden wasn't getting the ball to stick. Even at that we won at least 2. I take it you don't have eir sport 2?"
We didn't win one mark against Mayo.

Inaroundehouse (Cavan) - Posts: 975 - 11/02/2019 14:54:29    2164564

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Replying To Hardtimes:  "This year's league campaign was always going to be a struggle even if we didn't have the absentees we have. The Galway match was a bit disappointing but we were still in the contest right up to the last kick. We have been competitive in the games versus Kerry and Mayo and bar the illegal charge on the goalkeeper last time out we would have 3 clean sheets. Look, we're not setting the world on fire but I'm reasonably happy with what I've seen so far and there are positives to take going forward. If we get our key men fully fit and raring to go come championship we won't be an easy proposition for a lot of teams. And I still wouldn't rule out the possibility of picking up some points in the league yet. This is an unforgiving division where all weaknesses are punished but we've shown enough to think we are a good Division 2 team. That's a good position to be in and hopefully something we build on but we're going to have to accept defeats in the process. Look at Kildare last year. Never picked up a point in the league but made Super 8's. Never picked up a point there either but it was still a good year for them. That's the lot of the teams outside top 6 and until a team makes the transition into a dominant top 6 team they are always going to get a bloodied nose when they get to Division 1 or into Super 8's. Crying about it will do no good nor will slagging off players or managers. They're trying their best and deserve a bit of encouragement."
So in a nut shell you will be happy for Cavan to be relegated with no points get into the top 8 and get no points sadly if Cavan Blue and the Ham are happy with that as well we are in a bad place.

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4601 - 11/02/2019 14:55:26    2164566

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Replying To The Quiet Man:  "So in a nut shell you will be happy for Cavan to be relegated with no points get into the top 8 and get no points sadly if Cavan Blue and the Ham are happy with that as well we are in a bad place."
I would certainly prefer it to scraping for 4 points in Division 3. Just because a manager humours you and bids you the time of day does not make him a hero and allow him a free pass on everything else. And defending a manager saying he had no input on selections and substitutions is an absolute joke. That is actually the worst indictment of a person's managerial ability you could possibly give. You need to grow up a bit.

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 11/02/2019 15:13:58    2164571

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Replying To cavanman47:  "Inaroundthehouse

Do you go to any Cavan games?

There was no lateral passing on the Mayo 45 on Saturday night. Plenty of ball went in to Madden. Sometimes the quality of the delivery wasn't great and even when it was, Cafferkey snuffed him out (apart from 1 free we won and scored in the 1st half).

Higgins sat in front of Cafferkey for the whole game and direct ball in wasn't always the right option. The team ran plenty of ball at the Mayo half back line and got plenty of joy from it. On the night, a better team than us (no disputing the quality Mayo have) scored 2 points more than we did and got what was a very questionable goal.

We were set up very well and played a good brand of football. The quality just wasn't there at some crucial times."
yourself and hardtimes seem to speak with a bit of sense and pragmatism. i was also at the game and agree with basically everything you say, a very questionable goal followed by a couple of very harsh refereeing decisions went hard on cavan. had the goal not went in it may have been a different story. but crucially i do see improvements in their performances, they've improved on their pace hugely from last year and are trying to go more direct, physically they're looking good and seem to be getting stronger, i'm fully expecting them to be in tip top shape come May.
i can't understand the negativity on here. i think i'm done with it tbh. there seems to be one poster with a massive grudge anyway not to mention others that no matter what cavan do its wrong............

theweanling (Cavan) - Posts: 414 - 11/02/2019 15:56:21    2164588

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Replying To The Quiet Man:  "So in a nut shell you will be happy for Cavan to be relegated with no points get into the top 8 and get no points sadly if Cavan Blue and the Ham are happy with that as well we are in a bad place."
Personally I wont be happy unless we win all our remaining games, get to the league final, win that. Then in Ulster we have to win that too and get to the all ireland final and run the dubs close, say to 1 point. Then I would like to see all our clubs amalgamated into 7 or 8 super clubs. We should then get a crack team of coaches into the clubs to create the best forwards in ireland - I am thinking Peter Canavan, Maurice Fitzgerald and Bernard Brogan.

Then I might just be happy.

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1485 - 11/02/2019 15:59:43    2164589

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Replying To theweanling:  "yourself and hardtimes seem to speak with a bit of sense and pragmatism. i was also at the game and agree with basically everything you say, a very questionable goal followed by a couple of very harsh refereeing decisions went hard on cavan. had the goal not went in it may have been a different story. but crucially i do see improvements in their performances, they've improved on their pace hugely from last year and are trying to go more direct, physically they're looking good and seem to be getting stronger, i'm fully expecting them to be in tip top shape come May.
i can't understand the negativity on here. i think i'm done with it tbh. there seems to be one poster with a massive grudge anyway not to mention others that no matter what cavan do its wrong............"
Yeah, it's not hard to look somewhat measured when compared to some of the stuff posted on here.

On poster is upset Mattie got the boot because Mattie said Hello to him in his first day on the job.

Another is on his 5th or 6th username at this stage and spouts the same crap despite being shown to be wrong time and again.


The goal should never have stood - even the Mayo fans beside me agreed with that. But I also think Mayo would have pushed on and beaten us regardless. That's life in Division 1 and we are, as you say, vastly improved from last year. Even after 3 games, all defeats, that's clear to see! But begrudgery reigns supreme on here and I'm getting sick of it too.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5194 - 11/02/2019 16:48:30    2164611

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Replying To cavanman47:  "Yeah, it's not hard to look somewhat measured when compared to some of the stuff posted on here.

On poster is upset Mattie got the boot because Mattie said Hello to him in his first day on the job.

Another is on his 5th or 6th username at this stage and spouts the same crap despite being shown to be wrong time and again.


The goal should never have stood - even the Mayo fans beside me agreed with that. But I also think Mayo would have pushed on and beaten us regardless. That's life in Division 1 and we are, as you say, vastly improved from last year. Even after 3 games, all defeats, that's clear to see! But begrudgery reigns supreme on here and I'm getting sick of it too."
Me too, I'm not happy we have no points no one is, but I'm happy I see improvement.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 885 - 11/02/2019 18:02:13    2164631

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They have to start creating goal chances though, and scoring them.. . The only team in the Division with no goal scored

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2824 - 11/02/2019 19:26:49    2164659

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "They have to start creating goal chances though, and scoring them.. . The only team in the Division with no goal scored"
That's a fair point. But as 1 poster pointed out, we have only conceded the one. And that was a dubious one.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5194 - 11/02/2019 20:04:50    2164663

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Replying To The Quiet Man:  "I am not worried about Cork for I want Cavan to succeed so there will be no crisis of conscience for me in any way shape or form. You say we have proven management may I ask at what please. I will give Micky credit at club level but who else has won at management in the Cavan set up. Mattie was not the bluffer but the players in the dressing room know who was thats for sure and he was not a Tyrone man.
You say give the present management team a chance I will off course give them a chance and this time next year let's see where we are at for there will be no excuse why the best are not in on the panel for he will have no other distractions to interfere with his progress going forward. I fear right now we are in big trouble. Having watched the Monaghan Galway match if Cavan cannot get change from Monaghan we are in deep S*** sadly.
Anyway 6 points to play for? win all of them we stay in division 1 but it's not going to happen.
I have backed most managers over the years and it is the same for Mickey for I know his heart is in the right place but managing an Inter-county team is completely different from managing a club team and he will have learnt that at this stage.

Look we have some great players in Cavan please god next year they will get a chance to show it by being brought in. Don't ask me to name them for you know who they are if you watch as many matches I did."
Back to your usual riddles. In case you haven't noticed, Mattie was manager. The buck stops with him. Nobody else.
I know players who walked away from the panel.
I'd love to hear your list of players. The last one you put forward as an option for midfield, was a man who hasn't played for nine months, and who has struggled hugely with injuries for the past two years. If he was called in, people would be wondering why.
Also, there's four games left. 8 points to play for. You must have missed a few days at the Hedge School in Cork!

BreffniGuide (Cavan) - Posts: 474 - 11/02/2019 20:11:52    2164665

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Replying To cavanman47:  "That's a fair point. But as 1 poster pointed out, we have only conceded the one. And that was a dubious one."
True though Galligan has made some great saves in all 3 games. Cavan haven't been testing the keeper..

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2824 - 11/02/2019 20:31:42    2164674

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I've see a lot of positives from this team in the last 3 matches to suggest things are going very well. The players look happy, they seem to be playing with freedom and expression, good open attacking football, and with a bit of belief in themselves. It will take a few more weeks to knock the defensiveness attitude out of some of the older players. Yes, we are lacking a bit of quality and need to cut out some of the small errors, but in fairness, the work rate and fitness is as good as I've seen from Cavan in a long time. We've gone toe to toe with some of the best teams in the County, fine margins between us, so if we can push on and perform well for 70 mins, I have no doubt we can remain in Division One. Tyrone & Roscommon are very beatable from what I've seen, and apart from the Dublin win, Monagahan are beatable also, and Conor McManus doesn't seem to up to speed at the moment.
I predict us getting points against these 3 teams, and if we do, then the Championship is going to be very exciting. Dont be surprised if we win an Ulster Championship this year.

cavanblueman (Cavan) - Posts: 636 - 12/02/2019 13:51:38    2164862

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Replying To cavanblueman:  "I've see a lot of positives from this team in the last 3 matches to suggest things are going very well. The players look happy, they seem to be playing with freedom and expression, good open attacking football, and with a bit of belief in themselves. It will take a few more weeks to knock the defensiveness attitude out of some of the older players. Yes, we are lacking a bit of quality and need to cut out some of the small errors, but in fairness, the work rate and fitness is as good as I've seen from Cavan in a long time. We've gone toe to toe with some of the best teams in the County, fine margins between us, so if we can push on and perform well for 70 mins, I have no doubt we can remain in Division One. Tyrone & Roscommon are very beatable from what I've seen, and apart from the Dublin win, Monagahan are beatable also, and Conor McManus doesn't seem to up to speed at the moment.
I predict us getting points against these 3 teams, and if we do, then the Championship is going to be very exciting. Dont be surprised if we win an Ulster Championship this year."
Well I predict 2 points against Roscommon will be the max we getup we even get that. So let's see who will be right.
If you look st our scoring averages from the last time we were in Div 1 you will see apart from the Monaghan game that they similar to our first 3 games.
We are a top 12 team , no way good enough yet for Div 1 hence the up and down nature of the last 3 years.
Monaghan and Tyrone have been very average in Div 1 so far this year but saying that they still would come out on top against us in a tight game. Because we don't win tight games.
Don't know how you can say fitness levels are good as we have faded badly in the 2nd half of our 3 games to date.
Roscommon is our best chance of picking up 2 points if we can break the Roscommon hoodoo that's been hanging over us for years.
Let's be realistic here. We are team building again despite our underage success.
Mickey has actually been shocked at the level of S&C since he took over.
It's going to be a long slow process. Mickey deserves the chance to see this through for at least 3/5 years.
We will be relegated and hopefully we will bounce back up again and be in better shape and more experienced to hold our own in Div 1 next time.

Inaroundehouse (Cavan) - Posts: 975 - 12/02/2019 14:45:50    2164881

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The next 3 games are the pivotal ones and the ones we would have targeted.

If we can get 2 points against Roscommon at home then its a start. The games against Monaghan and Tyrone will then be 4 pointers. With both of the latter games away, I think it will be a big ask to attain 6 points from these games. If we manage to do so, we should have earned our keep in division 1 for another year.

With regards to the football, I am positive about what I have seen. I see more definition in the way we are trying to play and I think that Mickey is working on a template for the team. it takes time and I think we have a lot of people getting fed up with hearing that all the time. But it is how it is and he deserves time. I think that we will be a lot further on this time next year, even if we are playing division 2 football.

We have a 2-3 more quality players to come back in so I am hopeful of making an impact on the championship. Monaghan will be very tough but if we lose then we only need to look to what Kildare done last year,

Reformation (Cavan) - Posts: 356 - 13/02/2019 10:40:19    2165042

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Replying To cavanblueman:  "I've see a lot of positives from this team in the last 3 matches to suggest things are going very well. The players look happy, they seem to be playing with freedom and expression, good open attacking football, and with a bit of belief in themselves. It will take a few more weeks to knock the defensiveness attitude out of some of the older players. Yes, we are lacking a bit of quality and need to cut out some of the small errors, but in fairness, the work rate and fitness is as good as I've seen from Cavan in a long time. We've gone toe to toe with some of the best teams in the County, fine margins between us, so if we can push on and perform well for 70 mins, I have no doubt we can remain in Division One. Tyrone & Roscommon are very beatable from what I've seen, and apart from the Dublin win, Monagahan are beatable also, and Conor McManus doesn't seem to up to speed at the moment.
I predict us getting points against these 3 teams, and if we do, then the Championship is going to be very exciting. Dont be surprised if we win an Ulster Championship this year."
Your right monaghan are no where near top gear at the moment and are stuck in 2nd. I think it will come down to our game against tyrone and your game against tyrone. The 2 winners of these games will stay up.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 397 - 13/02/2019 20:02:33    2165199

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Any word on which players are back in the frame for the weekend?

This is the big one. I am sick of the sight of the Rossies at this stage and really hope that we can find a way to win this. If we can then it will make for a very interesting end to the league.

Reformation (Cavan) - Posts: 356 - 19/02/2019 08:12:53    2166278

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Replying To Reformation:  "Any word on which players are back in the frame for the weekend?

This is the big one. I am sick of the sight of the Rossies at this stage and really hope that we can find a way to win this. If we can then it will make for a very interesting end to the league."
Gerry Smith supposed to be ready again. Gearoid and Caoimhin back in training so I doubt they'll be involved this weekend. That's based on an interview I heard with micky after mayo match.

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1485 - 19/02/2019 11:14:21    2166314

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Replying To fredflint:  "Gerry Smith supposed to be ready again. Gearoid and Caoimhin back in training so I doubt they'll be involved this weekend. That's based on an interview I heard with micky after mayo match."
I hear Oisin kiernan back training too.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 885 - 19/02/2019 13:31:02    2166352

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I am hopeful for the Roscommon game. But not expectant.

To win it I think the key thing we are going to need to see is the forwards/attackers stand up and kick big scores in the 2nd half or last 20 mins of the game. Madden, Brady, Reilly, Mackey etc. and others.

Unfortunately apart from in the Division 2 league we have not seen our main scorers do this much or at all in recent years apart from with Gearoid in the c'ship last year really. All of our scoring men have faded out of D1 games and c'ship games against big teams in the c'ship when they should be driving it on to kill off these close games that we are losing.

A change in this mentality is what is needed to beat Roscommon. I think Madden especially has shown a bit of promise that he could be one of the men who might stand up for us in the coming weeks.

But there will be no talk of "the coming weeks" if we lose at the weekend so its now or never really, or it'll be just building for the c'ship for the remainder of this campaign for the last 3 games.

Prediction: Cavan 1-14 Roscommon 0-16

*Goal from Padraig Faulkner or Martin Reilly penalty

PatTheDandy (Cavan) - Posts: 356 - 19/02/2019 14:04:51    2166365

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