The Official Cavan GAA Discussion thread.

Down beat sligo during the week by 5 or 6 points in a challenge game

I don't think they'll be as bad as we think

If we don't go all out our summer will be with the clubs

We need to make a statement next week, am I sure we'll make it? Almost half a century of following Cavan has me wiser than that

You'll find plenty of the intercounty lads would be more than happy with a break to nip away before club championship starts.

I know it's miles away from the championship, and it's only the league but that's some statement from Ballyhaise this evening. Thoughts for Cavan_King at this difficult time (sorry lad, couldn't help it).

Derry look to be physically stronger in all positions. We're really struggling to break through their defence and relying on some long range scores. Not looking too good

Drumalee top end of Division 3 normal? I wouldn’t have thought that. I don’t remember hearing mention of them making Junior QFs or SFs the last few years. In fact I don’t think the WAC lads even rated them in their top 8 junior clubs iirc. Shannon Gaels are usually involved in the latter end of the junior championship and are near the bottom of the table.

We’re also back to demographics that I’ve previously mentioned. Cuchulainns & the Bridge have large playing numbers now - population greatly increasing in those areas. Ramor & Crosserlough have had this benefit already. Those clubs can manage missing players better than other sides due to the manpower available.

There have been more than 30 players missing across 40 clubs. The U20s were missing for a good few games and, due to the timing, clubs have also been missing players who were busy with final year college exams etc.

You also avoided a question I asked - would you not think it “farcical” that Denn could lose every game in Division 2 but not suffer relegation by winning a play off? Makes a mockery of the whole thing if you ask me. Lose 13 games but win one and retain your status. I couldn’t think of a better word to describe that than “farcical” and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the system contested as I’ve heard alot of chat about it at club matches.

Where exactly are they a ''coming team'' though? You've said they're better than most sides in junior but I still wouldn't see them competing for honours with Knockbride, Arva & Drumlane all in the Division. Other sides like Drung, Shannon Gaels and Mountnugent have outperformed them in recent years iirc. They may have ran Denn close in a one off game but one swallow doesn't make a Summer - they may have played out of their skins, Denn may have been resting or missing players etc.. When was the last time they made the last eight or four at junior? I did ask this a couple of times but the query doesn't appear to have been answered. I don't see mention of any of their lads with county underage teams and they're struggling for numbers at underage as I've stated so I can't see what they'd have coming through to make a significant impact either.

I wouldn't see the promotion being semi finals and finals as unfair. Generally it allows the sides to have their county players back for the play offs. Also, you aren't going to make the top four unless you've won a significant amount of games, whereas, with relegation, a team can put in no effort like Denn currently are but win one game and retain their status. A few sides like Laragh did the same with championship in 2020 when there was no relegation. They had lads playing golf when games were on.

It's difficult to avoid I admit but I did already state in my opinion the county lads should train with the county during Tailteann Cup but play with their clubs on weekends they are available. It'd be better than any training session and they're no more likely to get injured than they would in a training match or county challenge. For example, what would have been the issue with them playing with their clubs on the weekend just gone?

I believe I did see argument before that successful counties like Tyrone used to allow their county players to play in club matches throughout the Ulster championship on free weekends.

I wouldn't agree that they are continually improving they have improved this year for sure but have done nothing the last few years and it will be interesting to see how the championship goes for them. What i would agree with is the quality of Division is not great. Templeport are a bit ahead of the rest and if you took out Maghera, Corlough and maybe Swad the rest are all around the same level and capable of beating each other.

Contagion spreads. As teams start to discuss and see other sides not take a competition seriously, they start to lose interest themselves. If anything, the GAA is very copycat. Knockbride obviously aren't taking the League too seriously so are Division 3 teams looking at other junior sides like them and thinking, why would we peak now when they obviously aren't, we need to time our form for championship.

I would imagine there's more than 3 county players in the whole of Division 3 also. Maghera for example were even missing Ryan Tobin with the Cavan U20s. Mountnugent had Owen Gibson with them. A junior team will find it even harder to replace a stand out player because of their lack of quality.

I don’t believe I’ve put it down to just those two reasons. I’ve suggested there are more anomalies in the League this year than other years and have given a variety of reasons why, including some clubs not taking the League as seriously - I’ve also stated this may spread to other clubs who don’t even have county players.

I don’t even know who the Killeshandra manager was to be honest so can’t comment on that. Were they only put in place this year that you feel their exit is solely down to League performance this season? I wouldn’t know much about Killeshandra as a club and, unlike others, I wouldn’t try to claim to know everything. It’s okay IMO sometimes to admit you got something wrong, or were incorrect, or to not always attempt to have the last word on every item discussed. Not all people follow that logic however.

You seem to be getting yourself in a bit of a tizzy here and are getting a lot of items wrong. Crosserlough didn’t finish in relegation last year. To educate you, the senior relegation play offs were Lacken vs Shercock and Castlerahan vs Killygarry. Shercock & Castlerahan relegated.

Caoimhin O’Reilly is definitely out. Arm/hand injury.

Caoimhin put up an Instagram today with his arm in a sling and two fingers wrapped. Definitely him I think.

Must be some site cross over as I didn’t type the first part and removed it when I noticed it.

What's wrong with Lynch?

€15 admission for this game at least kids are free.

It's giving a good day so hopefully there will be a decent enough crowd at it.

Hopefully Graham puts a strong team out, i'm not that excited about this competition but once were in it we may as well try and win it.

€45 for a Munster final that couldn't be right!