Cavan Forum

Mckenna Cup 2022

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Good win last night. Nothing to get carried away with as Tyrones heads were still in Florida. But usually was the type of game we'd find hard, and we did what we needed to. Still lots to work on, we hit a lot of wides, and we tried a few more things. It's what you want at this time of year, a good performance, with enough to bring back to the training field to develop more.

It was also good to see so many 1st team players out there. We usually don't have them at this time of year, and they look raring to go. Looks like they want to give Div 4 a proper rattle, and we can go back to forgetting we were ever there when we get out of it. Which we shouldn't have been. A good league campaign will lead nicely into Antrim and then we can see from there sure.

James Smith is the real deal. We missed him last year, he is so good on the ball and gives us something different, and we look more dynamic with him. Oisin Brady, Kiernan, McLoughlin were all great, don't need to say anything about what GMac brings, Conroy good too, and good to see Cormac O'Reilly and Paddy Lynch scores some nice points from play. Paddy was especially good, and even had an outrageous point chalked off for a wide when it was over all day long. We need strong scoring forwards, and hopefully we're finding them. Nothing is ever won or sorted out in January, but continuing on with a good league run could do wonders for these lads. They look up for it at least which is all we can ask for right now

Ps, also good to see Liam Brady being given some minutes..."
Good win last night from the blues great confidence booster for upcoming league campaign, although Tyrone had a weakened team out it's still a good performance. So we should have beaten Armagh last week if we had taken our goal chances that's the only criticism I have and should have had a few against Tyrone as well goals really demoralises opponents like the dubs were doing in their pomp that killer instinct. Up Cavan

[email protected] (Cavan) - Posts: 138 - 13/01/2022 12:39:05    2394731

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Replying To [email protected]:  "Good win last night from the blues great confidence booster for upcoming league campaign, although Tyrone had a weakened team out it's still a good performance. So we should have beaten Armagh last week if we had taken our goal chances that's the only criticism I have and should have had a few against Tyrone as well goals really demoralises opponents like the dubs were doing in their pomp that killer instinct. Up Cavan"
Yep. Even Gearoid's goal was opportunist. They all count but that's 2 games where we haven't worked a goal for ourselves.

In Division 4, I'd expect us to have the better of anyone we face in terms of general play, but if that dominance is only reflected in a 1 or 2 point lead at half time, then the opposition will feel they've a chance. Goals demoralise a team, especially when you're already on top of them.

Something we need to work on

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5016 - 13/01/2022 14:01:10    2394749

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Replying To cavanman47:  "Yep. Even Gearoid's goal was opportunist. They all count but that's 2 games where we haven't worked a goal for ourselves.

In Division 4, I'd expect us to have the better of anyone we face in terms of general play, but if that dominance is only reflected in a 1 or 2 point lead at half time, then the opposition will feel they've a chance. Goals demoralise a team, especially when you're already on top of them.

Something we need to work on"
I seem to remember posters claiming the opposition in Division 3 would be cannon fodder for Cavan and look how that turned out… I hope the result v Tyrone doesn't lull the Cavan team into a false sense of their ability… You don't drop from Division 1 to Division 4 in 3 years because you are a good team… All the teams in this league will up their game for the Cavan fixture starting with Leitrim…. Treat all the opposition with the utmost respect, do things properly and we should be back in Division 3 next season…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1940 - 13/01/2022 16:31:42    2394795

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "I seem to remember posters claiming the opposition in Division 3 would be cannon fodder for Cavan and look how that turned out… I hope the result v Tyrone doesn't lull the Cavan team into a false sense of their ability… You don't drop from Division 1 to Division 4 in 3 years because you are a good team… All the teams in this league will up their game for the Cavan fixture starting with Leitrim…. Treat all the opposition with the utmost respect, do things properly and we should be back in Division 3 next season…"
I think people really need to look objectively at the league when they keep referring to what kind of team we are. Of course we shouldn't have ended up in Div 4, but come on, everyone knows the strange circumstances that had 3 relegations in 3 years. And the manager doesn't seem to use it or rate the league as important. And Championship is everything, and we've been good there. We'll always have 2020 no matter what the League says.

Relegation from Div 1, fair enough. Tough division and we just didn't have enough. We still used the experience to reach an Ulster Final.

Relegation from Div 2. Very annoying. We were good and competitive that year, it got split up due to Covid, and we got relegated on a points total that would keep us up practically any other year. On the last day we were still in with a chance of promotion, but got relegated instead. Mad the way that fell. We still used that to get through the autumn and win an Ulster title.

Relegation from Div 3. A completely weird setup, where they split the league up, and basically set a promotion or relegation playoff based on 3 shootout games. No middle ground, it was either a promotion or relegation playoff after those games. And the 3 games we got in the North section were harder than the South with likes of Derry and Fermanagh strong for Div 3 teams. We still should have had enough though. But Covid in the camp, and injuries meant we were up against it. No challenges before the Fermanagh game (and the Northern teams had weeks on us when the North opened up sooner) and we got caught cold in those games. Highly unusual set of circumstances. The Wicklow game was an embarrassment though where everything went right for them and we were brutal. No excuses there.

So overall, we have a lot of very strange circumstances in the last 2 leagues, a manager who doesn't value it as much as championship, and we've been strong in Championship where's we've been in 2 Ulster finals, winning one. Championship is everything after all, not league. It's embarrassing to be in Div 4, but come on, lets be honest, we're not a Div 4 level team. A lot of people put too much stock in the league. We absolutely should be better. Some fool on here suggests that our Ulster win was a fluke due to our league form. What?! Idiotic. That was hard won, and we have played very well in Championship to show we're a good team. Now just to get out of this Division and pretend we were never here. Don't start pretending that league is more than Championship though, we all know it's not...

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2396 - 14/01/2022 08:30:15    2394830

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "I think people really need to look objectively at the league when they keep referring to what kind of team we are. Of course we shouldn't have ended up in Div 4, but come on, everyone knows the strange circumstances that had 3 relegations in 3 years. And the manager doesn't seem to use it or rate the league as important. And Championship is everything, and we've been good there. We'll always have 2020 no matter what the League says.

Relegation from Div 1, fair enough. Tough division and we just didn't have enough. We still used the experience to reach an Ulster Final.

Relegation from Div 2. Very annoying. We were good and competitive that year, it got split up due to Covid, and we got relegated on a points total that would keep us up practically any other year. On the last day we were still in with a chance of promotion, but got relegated instead. Mad the way that fell. We still used that to get through the autumn and win an Ulster title.

Relegation from Div 3. A completely weird setup, where they split the league up, and basically set a promotion or relegation playoff based on 3 shootout games. No middle ground, it was either a promotion or relegation playoff after those games. And the 3 games we got in the North section were harder than the South with likes of Derry and Fermanagh strong for Div 3 teams. We still should have had enough though. But Covid in the camp, and injuries meant we were up against it. No challenges before the Fermanagh game (and the Northern teams had weeks on us when the North opened up sooner) and we got caught cold in those games. Highly unusual set of circumstances. The Wicklow game was an embarrassment though where everything went right for them and we were brutal. No excuses there.

So overall, we have a lot of very strange circumstances in the last 2 leagues, a manager who doesn't value it as much as championship, and we've been strong in Championship where's we've been in 2 Ulster finals, winning one. Championship is everything after all, not league. It's embarrassing to be in Div 4, but come on, lets be honest, we're not a Div 4 level team. A lot of people put too much stock in the league. We absolutely should be better. Some fool on here suggests that our Ulster win was a fluke due to our league form. What?! Idiotic. That was hard won, and we have played very well in Championship to show we're a good team. Now just to get out of this Division and pretend we were never here. Don't start pretending that league is more than Championship though, we all know it's not..."
Fully agree with everything you said.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 884 - 14/01/2022 09:51:11    2394839

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Replying To blueman1903:  "Fully agree with everything you said."
When all is said and done the best teams are in Division 1 and the rubbish teams are in Division 4…. Why do people think Graham puts no stock in the league…? Because he got us relegated 3 times…? More the case of woefully bad management… He has led Cavan to their most embarrassing position in history…. Basement football..!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1940 - 14/01/2022 10:17:22    2394842

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "When all is said and done the best teams are in Division 1 and the rubbish teams are in Division 4…. Why do people think Graham puts no stock in the league…? Because he got us relegated 3 times…? More the case of woefully bad management… He has led Cavan to their most embarrassing position in history…. Basement football..!"
Why are you so concerned with the league more than championship? We reached 2 Ulster finals, winning one on the back of 2 relegations. So which truly matters here? Who cares if it's basement football if the Championship results are good? Offer me relegations and an Ulster title or Division 2 and no titles and I know what I'll take...

And Graham literally said when in Div 1 that he's a Championship manager and League is not the main thing and should be used to test players and try things for Championship. And he has done this. How can you be so blind to this? Are you really more concerned about our League standing more than Championship results?

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2396 - 14/01/2022 11:29:02    2394860

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Why are you so concerned with the league more than championship? We reached 2 Ulster finals, winning one on the back of 2 relegations. So which truly matters here? Who cares if it's basement football if the Championship results are good? Offer me relegations and an Ulster title or Division 2 and no titles and I know what I'll take...

And Graham literally said when in Div 1 that he's a Championship manager and League is not the main thing and should be used to test players and try things for Championship. And he has done this. How can you be so blind to this? Are you really more concerned about our League standing more than Championship results?"
How could a rookie County manager come out with such rubbish ( I doubt he did ) in his first job at that level…. By your reckoning he will be disappointed if Cavan get promoted… All these managers in Division 1/2 must have it so wrong… while in contention each year at the business end of the championship because of the level of league football they are playing they should follow the example of a manager who has brought his team from Division 1 to 4… l wonder why he never won manager of the year..! Have a bit of cop on will you……

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1940 - 14/01/2022 13:16:53    2394881

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Why are you so concerned with the league more than championship? We reached 2 Ulster finals, winning one on the back of 2 relegations. So which truly matters here? Who cares if it's basement football if the Championship results are good? Offer me relegations and an Ulster title or Division 2 and no titles and I know what I'll take...

And Graham literally said when in Div 1 that he's a Championship manager and League is not the main thing and should be used to test players and try things for Championship. And he has done this. How can you be so blind to this? Are you really more concerned about our League standing more than Championship results?"
How could a rookie County manager come out with such rubbish ( I doubt he did ) in his first job at that level…. By your reckoning he will be disappointed if Cavan get promoted… All these managers in Division 1/2 must have it so wrong… while in contention each year at the business end of the championship because of the level of league football they are playing they should follow the example of a manager who has brought his team from Division 1 to 4… l wonder why he never won manager of the year..! Have a bit of cop on will you……

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1940 - 14/01/2022 13:30:25    2394886

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "How could a rookie County manager come out with such rubbish ( I doubt he did ) in his first job at that level…. By your reckoning he will be disappointed if Cavan get promoted… All these managers in Division 1/2 must have it so wrong… while in contention each year at the business end of the championship because of the level of league football they are playing they should follow the example of a manager who has brought his team from Division 1 to 4… l wonder why he never won manager of the year..! Have a bit of cop on will you……"
Why wouldn't he? At the time he was a proven club championship manager in, and has won many championships by setting his season and team up to aim for championship. Won a Leinster club title too. He has every right to set up his season as he sees fit. And it has worked (to a point). A first Ulster final appearance in 18 years, and a first Ulster championship in 23. It's clear he values championship over league, as he should. And no one would sniff at promotion, don't be so ridiculous to suggest that (you're putting words in my mouth now). Have a bit of cop on yourself. Championship is and always has been bigger than league.

Answer me a question, which of these option would you prefer?:

A. Staying in Division 1 and 2, but not doing well in Championship and not winning an Ulster Title
B. 3 Relegations in a row, but in that time reaching an Ulster Final, and then winning an Ulster title the next year

Which option would you choose? I know I'm choosing B, as most right minded people would.

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2396 - 14/01/2022 14:20:12    2394893

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Why wouldn't he? At the time he was a proven club championship manager in, and has won many championships by setting his season and team up to aim for championship. Won a Leinster club title too. He has every right to set up his season as he sees fit. And it has worked (to a point). A first Ulster final appearance in 18 years, and a first Ulster championship in 23. It's clear he values championship over league, as he should. And no one would sniff at promotion, don't be so ridiculous to suggest that (you're putting words in my mouth now). Have a bit of cop on yourself. Championship is and always has been bigger than league.

Answer me a question, which of these option would you prefer?:

A. Staying in Division 1 and 2, but not doing well in Championship and not winning an Ulster Title
B. 3 Relegations in a row, but in that time reaching an Ulster Final, and then winning an Ulster title the next year

Which option would you choose? I know I'm choosing B, as most right minded people would."
The answer to that question, for that particular "supporter" is. .

Whichever he can moan most about.

It was clear the league wasn't being taken seriously last year simply by looking at who was taking our frees. Instead of bringing Galligan up, or giving Gearoid the left footed ones, the man who won the free simply took it. It cost us the game against Fermanagh.

As for the "best teams are in Division 1", who would swap Cavan's last 3 seasons for Armagh's last 3 seasons? I know I wouldn't.

I wouldn't pay much heed to certain posters on here who have a clear agenda against Micket Graham or some of the players on the county panel. If we were still in division 1 but weren't turning that into championship progress, they'd still be moaning. Just look back to when Terry Hyland manager. That's exactly what happened.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5016 - 14/01/2022 14:40:48    2394898

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You can be good at both league and championship.

Cavan_Shambles (Cavan) - Posts: 575 - 14/01/2022 14:58:03    2394900

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Replying To cavanman47:  "The answer to that question, for that particular "supporter" is. .

Whichever he can moan most about.

It was clear the league wasn't being taken seriously last year simply by looking at who was taking our frees. Instead of bringing Galligan up, or giving Gearoid the left footed ones, the man who won the free simply took it. It cost us the game against Fermanagh.

As for the "best teams are in Division 1", who would swap Cavan's last 3 seasons for Armagh's last 3 seasons? I know I wouldn't.

I wouldn't pay much heed to certain posters on here who have a clear agenda against Micket Graham or some of the players on the county panel. If we were still in division 1 but weren't turning that into championship progress, they'd still be moaning. Just look back to when Terry Hyland manager. That's exactly what happened."
Indeed, and I must now stop replying to him. Every other team in Ulster have got to an Ulster final since the last time Armagh did. In Division 1 now, but they'd bite our hands off for 2 Ulster final appearances and a Championship title. It's clear most know that Championship is where it's at. Always has been. I like the league, and I follow Cavan to every match I can as I love my county, but I know what really matters.

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2396 - 14/01/2022 14:58:50    2394901

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Indeed, and I must now stop replying to him. Every other team in Ulster have got to an Ulster final since the last time Armagh did. In Division 1 now, but they'd bite our hands off for 2 Ulster final appearances and a Championship title. It's clear most know that Championship is where it's at. Always has been. I like the league, and I follow Cavan to every match I can as I love my county, but I know what really matters."
Everyone with an ounce of sense now realises our Ulster win a couple of years ago was a complete fluke…. Some are just too ignorant to realise it… As for Armagh they have had a far more successful couple of decades with Ulster and All Ireland wins that we could only dream about…. I can't see any logical reason they would swap our current position with theirs… We are now among the bottom 8 teams in the country…. A great achievement for this so called genius of a manager….

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1940 - 14/01/2022 15:27:37    2394908

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Indeed, and I must now stop replying to him. Every other team in Ulster have got to an Ulster final since the last time Armagh did. In Division 1 now, but they'd bite our hands off for 2 Ulster final appearances and a Championship title. It's clear most know that Championship is where it's at. Always has been. I like the league, and I follow Cavan to every match I can as I love my county, but I know what really matters."
In your opinion, how likely is it Cavan will win an Ulster title in the next 10 years? Make a prediction.

With respect, I think you're failing to see the bigger picture here. 2020 looks like an isolated one off. What most supporters want to see is a team that contends every year, and not just wins a title once every quarter of a century. That's the difference.

Cavan_Shambles (Cavan) - Posts: 575 - 14/01/2022 15:45:13    2394912

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I often wonder if Cavan shambles and foreverblue are actually from Cavan. Continuously calling our 2020 win a fluke is disgusting and shows incredible disrespect to the lads that bust themselves for the county that year. I wish they'd head back to Monaghan or Meath or wherever they are from.

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1483 - 14/01/2022 16:00:02    2394916

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Replying To Cavan_Shambles:  "In your opinion, how likely is it Cavan will win an Ulster title in the next 10 years? Make a prediction.

With respect, I think you're failing to see the bigger picture here. 2020 looks like an isolated one off. What most supporters want to see is a team that contends every year, and not just wins a title once every quarter of a century. That's the difference."
Good point' Cavan Shambles'…. Some are happy to see the team in Division 4 and contend for an Ulster title every 25 years or so… well I'm not… You won't contend for Championship honours by playing Division 4 football…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1940 - 14/01/2022 16:01:19    2394917

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Everyone with an ounce of sense now realises our Ulster win a couple of years ago was a complete fluke…. Some are just too ignorant to realise it… As for Armagh they have had a far more successful couple of decades with Ulster and All Ireland wins that we could only dream about…. I can't see any logical reason they would swap our current position with theirs… We are now among the bottom 8 teams in the country…. A great achievement for this so called genius of a manager…."
I note you didn't answer the question. Which is it, Option A or B?

And would they? Their success is now 20 years or more ago. Lots of success starved counties would bite your hand off and trade league standing for provincial success.

Never a fluke. By all balance of probability, it's the other way round. Look at the facts. You've a team who have played practically all Division 1 and 2 football between 2015 and 2020, with one half disrupted Div 3 league season in 2021. The team won 6 Ulster matches in 2 years to reach a final, and reach a final again, and learning by beating the team who beat them the year before. And that won was 4 weekends on the trot, and from the preliminary round which is rarely done.

On the flipside we have one brutal Division 3 campaign, split on geography, against strong teams who had the run on us as the North allowed them to train and play challenges weeks before us, in top of Covid in the camp and many injuries.

By any balance of probabilities, the fluke is the actually the last 2 league campaigns. Not the Championship. The fluke is the abnormal thing, and the abnormal thing is relegation to Div 4 over a disrupted pandemic season.

I actually feel sorry for you. It's pathetic really. Imagine thinking that was a fluke. Are you so sad you can't enjoy the win for what it was, and put so much stock in the league that it somehow diminishes the title? Buddy, league doesn't matter. Championship does. No league standing takes away from what they did, and boy they won it

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2396 - 14/01/2022 16:59:06    2394924

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Replying To Cavan_Shambles:  "In your opinion, how likely is it Cavan will win an Ulster title in the next 10 years? Make a prediction.

With respect, I think you're failing to see the bigger picture here. 2020 looks like an isolated one off. What most supporters want to see is a team that contends every year, and not just wins a title once every quarter of a century. That's the difference."
It doesn't really. What looks the once off was the Covid disrupted leagues. The fellas have played many Division 1 and 2 seasons since 2015, and got to 2 Ulster finals in a row, winning one from the preliminary round. Looking with any logic, this Div 4 is the isolated one off, not the Ulster win. It doesn't look pretty right now, but look with logic, and you'll see the facts stand up to scrutiny.

No idea to be honest. I've not got a crystal ball. I'd like to say yes. Get players like Ciaran Brady back from injury, keep GMac around for another few years, get lads like James Smith, Oisin Brady, Paddy Lynch, Conor Brady fully integrated into the team as seasoned regulars avd build around them, then yes I think we could win another Ulster within 10 years. It's possible if we work with these, get lads back in who have opted out. We've beaten nearly every team in Ulster the last few years. It's not impossible to think we new talented blood who look to be there, that they might win another.

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2396 - 14/01/2022 17:05:46    2394926

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Replying To fredflint:  "I often wonder if Cavan shambles and foreverblue are actually from Cavan. Continuously calling our 2020 win a fluke is disgusting and shows incredible disrespect to the lads that bust themselves for the county that year. I wish they'd head back to Monaghan or Meath or wherever they are from."
Show me the post where I called it a fluke.

I'm waiting.

Cavan_Shambles (Cavan) - Posts: 575 - 15/01/2022 09:08:01    2394976

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