Fermanagh game will tell us alot about this team they have won three very tight games in the league which they could have easily lost which shows they have great spirit where as Cavan were playing great football and putting up big scores but in the back of your mind you are always afraid that there is another Wicklow performance in them especially when they dont show the opposition the respect they deserve need to make sure their heads are right regardless of who the opposition is.

breffnibluewhite (Cavan) - Posts: 485 - 19/03/2023 12:14:58    2464669

Disappointing result yesterday felt sure we would get the points listened to the game on northern sound and we seemed all over the place, lost it in the first half as Antrim scored at will poor defending and silly mistakes which I thought we had stamped out obviously not, 10 minute spell in second half when we played like we can do unfortunately we should have done it earlier goes to show like last year hard to know what Cavan team will show up.

[email protected] (Cavan) - Posts: 4 - 19/03/2023 12:23:14    2464672

Yesterday was very dissapointing, I feared the worst when I seen the starting team especially with the late changes in defense. Hopefully Mickey will have learned a lot from the experience though about certain players.
The next two games will actually work out quite well. The first Fermanagh game we can play around abit. It's a last chance for some lads to prove their worth and grab that jersey. It's also a chance for lads who haven't seen much game time to get some decent minutes under their belt like Conor Smith Stephen Smith etc Conor Madden..
In the league final we should look to play our championship team and really go for it .. I think we are all craving that GMAC and Paddy Lynch full forward line.
Winning in Croke Park is so important and we need to make it a habit . In general, our record in croke Park over the last 20 years has been poor and it's something we need to change on a consistent basis.

blueskies (Cavan) - Posts: 197 - 19/03/2023 13:28:32    2464698

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3828 - 19/03/2023 14:44:47    2464723

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3828 - 19/03/2023 14:53:24    2464726

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 19/03/2023 14:54:04    2464727

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3828 - 19/03/2023 16:14:21    2464780

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 19/03/2023 17:09:53    2464820

The aim at the beginning of the season was promotion to Division 2 - and it was achieved without any real hassle, in fact, you could say, we sauntered through it. In fairness to Mickey, he gave a lot of young lads opportunities and in my view, we will have a strong 15 and some good options of the bench. Antrim game allowed him to make a few changes, and look at some players, alright, the result wasn't great, but he got to see a few faces. One thing of concern is the full back line, particularly the full back who got caught out a few times during the league and I think Mickey will need to look at this going into Championship. League final is up next, and i think Mickey will field his strongest team to go out and win it and bring a feel good factor to the squad before Championship. I expect a tough Championship and to be honest, we will need to be at our very best if we want to do well. All teams are beatable, Armagh have been very good and deserve respect but they can be got at, but there's also Derry and Tyrone (who seem to be clicking now), but I think it will be an exciting Summer for us, even if we dont get to an Ulster Final, I think promotion, a League Title and a Tailteann Cup would be a good year for us.

cavanblueman (Cavan) - Posts: 636 - 20/03/2023 09:34:24    2464985

Tyrone look to be coming into a bit of form which is always dangerous.
Armagh are very beatable . Very poor in the final 1/3. Don't seem to be able to break down teams and are afraid to have a go within the 45m line which is a trait of McGeeney from his time with Kildare.
Difficult to judge us on the Antrim performance but we definitely need more intensity in defence. Far too often Antrim had shots with not a defender within sight. Definitely need tighter in the back line.
Keeping GMk and Paddy Lynch close to goals will stop Armagh keeper from wandering too far.
I think we can run them Close if not beat them

Breffni1969 (Cavan) - Posts: 510 - 20/03/2023 10:33:17    2465021

Our defence will be a lot tighter with McLaughlin and Carolan in there and McVitty at CB…. Midfield is a major worry… we lack a lot of speed and mobility in that area… the forwards have been getting good scores up to this but in fairness they came up against a few very porous defences… Fermanagh will pose us problems as they know a win will get them promoted.. With Donegal and possibly Monaghan coming down from Division 1 there will be a lot of Ulster derby's in Division 2 next season

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3828 - 20/03/2023 11:10:42    2465054

Anyways, what do we think for Sunday? Not sure if I'm alone in thinking this isn't the biggest deal as we'll most likely play the same team in the final the next week. I'm really not sure on what is best to do. It's our last game in Breffni, at the same time of day as the Armagh game 3 weeks after it (as we all expect Armagh to beat Antrim). So could be worth a near Championship team to get into place. But we want to win the final. There is still the possibility that we qualify on league standing (if Westmeath reach the Leinster final), so even beyond wanting to win the final and lift the cup, we have something to play for in case we don't reach the Ulster final.

So be interesting to see what Mickey does. Use Sunday to try out fitness, run a few of the wider squad and so on. Or go full bore on both? Be interesting to see either way

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 21/03/2023 14:48:29    2465509

drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 351 - 21/03/2023 15:52:37    2465530

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3828 - 21/03/2023 15:56:34    2465531

There does not appear to be any way Cavan can qualify via the league for the All Irelands even if Westmeath get to the Leinster final. Assuming a best case scenario that the other 6 provincial finalists are from Div 1 and 2 (We know that in Connacht oe finalist will be from Div 3 or 4) then the next 8 teams would be from Div 1 and 2. The 6th team in Div 2 will be the last qualifier which is Kildale in on current standing so neither if the promoted Div 3 teams would qualify. Of course if Cavan or another Div 3 or 4 team reached their provincial final then the 6 placed team in Div 2 would not qualify.

Devers (Cavan) - Posts: 11 - 21/03/2023 17:00:30    2465562

The big incentive for Cavan to get to the Ulster Final is the apparent more open All Ireland this year. It could be argued that 6 teams have a decent chance of reaching the All Ireland Final: Kerry, Mayo, Galway, Dublin, Armagh and Derry. Tyrone could be there too and teams like Roscommon Cork and Louth could spring suprises and so might Cavan IF they got to the group stage. Not long ago pundits were suggesting Dublin be split in 2 for the All Ireland championship!!! Things do change

Devers (Cavan) - Posts: 11 - 21/03/2023 18:54:28    2465607

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 21/03/2023 21:18:53    2465641

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 21/03/2023 21:25:29    2465642

Here's this Irish Examiner link I was on about. Section about it is halfway down it, and specifically mentions Cavan. Could be wrong though, with a lot of ifs. We need to be getting to an Ulster final anyway

link

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 21/03/2023 21:38:23    2465646

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2466 - 22/03/2023 09:25:55    2465660