Without getting carried away and aware of the
fact it is only 1 game we have won... its performances like today that bring cavan football up to a new level. Outside of the donegal ulster final performance in 2020 this was the one of the most complete performances we have given in championship in my lifetime.

Credit to the team and management. Second half showed a renewed conviction in the final third which matched a very focused workrate throughout all the lines and incredible defensive performance in particular. Special mention to the Liam Brady who came in was very assured. Tactically our press on the opposing teams kickout was a springboard also. I hope this gives us belief that we can mix it at the top level and push on again now.

Bluehead (Cavan) - Posts: 9 - 19/05/2025 00:27:16    2610823

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5251 - 19/05/2025 02:47:17    2610830

Brilliant result yesterday. Just brilliant. Pity there were so few of us in Castlebar, but most went on to the pitch after and fair play to the players giving their time and celebrating. they deserved that after a great performance. Need way more out in Breffni in 2 weeks time

I know Galligan gets stick for the changes to the named team (after not doing so at all last year) but needs must and all that. he has learned from Tyrone. Liam Brady seems a better option as a solely keeper. He won't be joining attacks really, but bar a few scuffed kicks off a sandy surface his kickouts were on the money and gave us a platform. Getting players back and a new kickout strategy were the difference from last day out, and jeez we just went at them. Cormac O'Reilly was unreal. Oisin Kiernan, Holla, Carolan, O'Connell too. Gerry Smith everywhere, Faulkner kept going until the engine was in the red. Great performances all over. Our shot conversion rate was very high, especially in the 2nd half

And Paddy Lynch is back too (and a lovely point he got as well). With James Smith and GMac close to being back too, no reason they cannot be a springboard of confidence to go on and do other things while we get stronger. Likely is a preliminary quarter final at least as we've head to head on Mayo, but why not go at Donegal and get one back on Tyrone? Just let that confidence flow and have at it. Build on it. Just buzzing after that yesterday, especially with the minors the evening before too

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2476 - 19/05/2025 09:18:49    2610857

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5251 - 19/05/2025 15:03:36    2611003

Didn't make it west yesterday so was reliant on Damien's commentary, which was entertaining as usual.

The result does shake up the group. I thought we underperformed well below our capacity against Tyrone a few weeks ago. They'll know that too and our result yesterday will be noted. It just gives us more energy for the next game. Nothing to lose and everything to gain etc. Well we have something to lose now I guess, a strong position and a platform. We have momentum and the confidence of winning against one of the better teams around.

Hope we push on now and look for more and don't just settle for a one-swallow summer.

ondforty (Cavan) - Posts: 465 - 19/05/2025 15:20:42    2611015

It was unreal stuff yesterday and they did it for the full 70 bar the last few minutes when the game was won. They broke every ball around the middle and picked up the pieces. Yes the forward line was on fire and lines of running through midfield and the half forward line were unreal at times. There always seems to be someone in support. In rare cases where there wasn't we took on the man and drove past.

Its easy to say Mayo didn't play well but i'd rather see it that we didn't let them. So many times we stood them up around the arc and even when they broke that line there were 2 or 3 coming to meet them. It left mayo not knowing how to break us down and no plan B (until the last few kicks of the game when they went direct). The defense deserve enormous credit. They hit, pulled, dragged and knocked lads off their stride again and again without fouling. Mayo got pinged a good few times but their tackling tended to be higher in general and they got pulled on it.

I asked a Mayo man after the game why the didn't go for more two pointers in the first half. He said "Its very hard when you dont have the ball"

I home Donnelly's injury is not season ending. He was on crutches at the end out on the field

ponger (Cavan) - Posts: 562 - 19/05/2025 17:01:29    2611064

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3919 - 19/05/2025 18:08:36    2611098

We can beat Tyrone! It had to happen sometime and I feel its close. I think Donegal will be very hard stopped but I hope I'm wrong.

KingdomofBreifne (Cavan) - Posts: 180 - 19/05/2025 21:58:47    2611177

breffnibhoy (Cavan) - Posts: 28 - 21/05/2025 11:47:05    2611511