Wednesday 11th Mar 2015
Ulster Under 21 Preliminary Round
Derry v Down
Celtic Park 8:00 PM

Wednesday 18th Mar 2015
Ulster Under 21 Quarter Finals
Tyrone v Fermanagh
Healy Park, Omagh 8:00 PM

Antrim v Armagh
Athletic Grounds 8:00 PM

Donegal v Cavan
Ballybofey 8:00 PM

Monaghan v Derry/Down
TBC

Wednesday 1st Apr 2015
Ulster U21 semi-finals
Tyrone/Fermanagh v Antrim/Armagh TBC
Donegal/Cavan v Monaghan/Derry/Down TBC
8:00 PM


Wednesday 8th Apr 2015
Under 21 Football Championship Final
8:00 PM

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 24/02/2015 13:03:45    1696289

I read the papers Cavan blueman but there was no players retired at 27/28, maybe opted out for a year like Emlyn Mulliga , not retiring

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2216 - 24/02/2015 13:36:32    1696305

where did dessie Farrell get those stats from.

lets look at the current Cavan team. say a first choice starting lineup of

Gilsenan
K. Brady, R.Dunne, McLoughlin.
F.Flanagan, DJ Reilly, R. Flanagan
...K. Clarke, G McKiernan
C. Mackey, M Reilly, M McKeever
D McVeety M Dunne N McDermott.

can someone give me the ages of these players so we can come to an average.

obviously there may be changes to this team but its near enough our strongest lineup.

also if someone has the Cavan lineup from the 1997 ulster winning team
it would be interesting to compare and contrast.
that should keep you guys busy for a while.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5356 - 24/02/2015 18:03:01    1696439

Anyone who cant see that the average age of inter county players has dropped significilty over the years must be very nieve or stubborn... Kerry won an All-Ireland in the mid 80s with 14 starters over 30 years of age...what does that tell you compared to now...???

Sean66 (Cavan) - Posts: 440 - 24/02/2015 19:45:00    1696490

clarke is 21 mcloughlin is 23 jack 23 gilsenan 22 dunne 25 i think flanigan 23 not right sure of rest could be couple of months out either way with one or two

asitis (Cavan) - Posts: 233 - 24/02/2015 20:05:33    1696498

mcvitty 21 or just turning 22

asitis (Cavan) - Posts: 233 - 24/02/2015 20:10:15    1696500

Sean , I don't see anyone arguing that retirement ages have dropped (as they probably have across the board in professional sport as well) which would therefore drop average age - it's the over exaggerations some posters are making in order to prove a point that people are questioning . As for Kerry in the mid 80s ? What's your point ? That was an exceptional team of exceptional players coming to the end of an era . Maybe their age profile was in part due to the fact that players played for longer . Maybe it was in part due to the fact there were no players coming through good enough to replace them . The fact they went 11 years afterwards without much silverware would indicate this as a distinct possibility . If you don't like stubborn maybe you should take your own blinkers off . You're advocating a huge change to our underage structures and use a snapshot in time of one county 30 years ago as one of your reasons . You refuse to discuss any contrary opinions . I'm all for innovation but only if it's beneficial . To plough along blindly changing things because "change" is the new buzz word is not progressive - it's plain stupid .
Some young players develop sooner than others but again , the exceptions should not be taken as gospel trends . I don't personally see the ages of young players breaking through to senior as drastically decreased . In fact it could be argued younger players need to be better developed now for senior than they used to . Could you please try and better convince me . Maybe if you'd just answer these simple questions .
1) Of our current U21 panel (considering you want U19 grade) could you please tell me what players that are in their last and second last year of U21 should be playing senior ?
2)What exactly are the benefits they would enjoy by not being involved with the U21s this year and next?
3)How will forcing young players to rush in to senior football sooner alleviate burnout and prolong playing careers?

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 25/02/2015 13:46:31    1696704

Hard times, this logical reasoning has no place on higanstand forum. You need to slag terry Hyland and demand Seanie Johnstons return to get along here.

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1333 - 25/02/2015 18:15:23    1696867

Hardtimes...
I would say Faulkner, Argue, Hayes and Madden will be with the senior team when they are finished with this U-21 lark.... The rest of the players have plenty of club football if the County board knew how to run things and burnout should not be an issue by dropping to U-19... I just think that the U-21 is outdated at this stage... It is terribly run in most Counties at club level with matches played in awfull conditions or in some cases not at all... The Kerry example was when the U-21 was prob more benifical

Sean66 (Cavan) - Posts: 440 - 25/02/2015 21:49:08    1696939

Sean , that's only 4 players from roughly 30 . That's my point . For the huge majority of our U21s the grade is a great opportunity to develop further . Also there is no evidence to suggest that the interest is not there for U21 football . Players want to be involved and attendances are good especially when you consider they are stand alone fixtures . They are second only to senior inter county games in terms of attendance and might even fair better than a lot of league games . I've found the crowds to be more vocal and passionate than at the majority of league games .
I don't understand what you mean by "burnout should not be an issue by dropping to U-19" . How is it an issue now and how will dropping to U19 improve things ?
Club level is a different animal entirely so a different argument . I don't know how you would improve things here . Might be difficult to run a league - when would you run it ? At this age the more serious players will be involved with adult club . You will have a lot of players losing interest . Lads off to college , away for the summer etc . Games can't be played mid week - weekends clash with clubs etc The championship is run off at end of year when players don't really have other commitments . U19 might work better here - I'll give you that . But for inter county - for me U21 is a perfect grade for developing players to senior .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 01/03/2015 12:28:14    1697848

My observation over the years is that most minors at club and county level make it to the U21 team. However there is a serious drop from U21 to senior. This is the biggest gap to bridge which is why I believe that Cavan have used the Junior competition in Leinster so well in development terms. It serves very well to bridge the gap from U21 to senior. Can't understand why more counties don't do the same.

ondforty (Cavan) - Posts: 442 - 02/03/2015 10:04:03    1698174

Folks

On average only 2 or 3 players make the transition from under 21 to Senior. That's the way it has been for years.

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 572 - 02/03/2015 10:59:47    1698212

Well just look what happens when you bring 95% of your U21 panel with you when you take over management of the senior team. It does not work you must play experience with youth. Those of us that were in the park Saturday night saw it first hand babes in the wrong team level. Poor junior football and despite Down winning easy they had no huge men on their panel yet destroyed our team in every area of the park and side line. Sad to say this despite Kildare loosing yesterday this Cavan team will not beat them and it will be a dogs battle to stay in the division.

mowbar (Cavan) - Posts: 452 - 02/03/2015 11:20:17    1698224

Best of luck to the lads tonight in Ballybofey

cavan97 (Cavan) - Posts: 369 - 18/03/2015 09:48:12    1704012

Best of luck to the lads tonight ,well capable of the win young argue should shine this year expecting a lot from him as he has lots of experience at this level

asitis (Cavan) - Posts: 233 - 18/03/2015 11:16:59    1704056

Best of luck boys!

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 572 - 18/03/2015 11:48:25    1704068

amazing achievement yesterday what i loved most was it was exceptional players that brought the cup home and not just a very effective system. players are more important than systems look at kerry dublin.. systems will win you a provincial but players win all irelands and there was some brilliant ones on that pats team. Big things lie ahead especially for galligan and donoghue. Fr. Kevin and finbar rielly have a very good record with pats? obviously knows there stuff will clubs come looking at these men?

blueskies (Cavan) - Posts: 151 - 18/03/2015 11:56:17    1704072

God luck to the U.21's tonight.
Anyone know if Northern Sound are covering it as I will be working?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 18/03/2015 12:04:28    1704076

Blueskies, have to agree with your sentiment, numbers 1, 8 and 15 were exceptional

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 572 - 18/03/2015 14:12:24    1704132

Best of luck to the lads up in Donegal. Going into the lions den wont be easy but Cavan football is on a high now so have great confidence in the lads. Also after St. Pats great win yesterday the lads will be on a high particularly lads like Argue and Fortune who had brothers involved. It really is a golden era for underage football in the old county so lets enjoy it while it lasts.
Come on the Blues!!

BreffniDub (None) - Posts: 377 - 18/03/2015 14:28:19    1704145