jonsmith said-

Also, Breffni McKiernan is from Swanlinbar.

Accepted - Breffni is indeed from the Swanlinbar club. Worth noting that technically his minor club is St Joseph's !!!!

jonsmith said-

it's all a matter of opinion though isn't it.. The management's opinion is what counts. And especially at Minor level there's no way of knowing if the lads above would have been any better. A similar argument stating the strengths of all of the players on the panel could be made

As stated earlier the focus and basis of the comment was based on trials and games. The management are responsible to all players, clubs, and supporters. The clear evidence from the trials and league games is that the players mentioned demonstrated that they had a lot to offer to any inter-county minor panel and the Ulster final display was clearly missing some of the attributes that these lads demonstrated in bucketful's.


Also - I seen where you previously commented after the Antrim championship game that Cavan had a narrow victory in the Ulster league shield game over Antrim.

Cavan actually beat Antrim comfortably by a 10 point margin in that game !!!!

experiencedblu (Cavan) - Posts: 19 - 26/07/2015 16:19:22    1759214

Why is it worth noting the name of the amalgamated team that he plays Minor for? He's from Swanlinbar and plays for their Senior team. I'm sure if you were so familiar with him and the attributes he has you might have seen him play for Swanlinbar Senior team all year! He's a great young lad and a fine player. Can you categorically say he's any better than the forwards that started last Sunday? No. That's just your opinion.
You're on here after a team loses a final saying what was missing and what should have been done. Where were you with this wisdom before the game? It's easy to seem like you know what you're on about after the fact. There's a reason the managers and players were in Clones last Sunday and you're behind your computer acting like you have all the answers.

JonSmith (Cavan) - Posts: 1451 - 26/07/2015 16:55:02    1759248

Delighted to see you are starting to agree with earlier comments made in relation to the players ability.

As stated at the outset the basis for the comment was based on performances at trials and Ulster league games (fact - not opinion and recorded by media coverage).

Not sure what you are trying to say/do here but I am no way interested in anything else other than facts and the ultimate success of Cavan football.

Anybody that was at the trials and Ulster league games would have seen these all guys in action.

experiencedblu (Cavan) - Posts: 19 - 28/07/2015 19:03:07    1760441

Best of luck to the boys on Saturday, Kildare are highly rated.

kildare blue (Cavan) - Posts: 572 - 29/07/2015 18:30:58    1760985

Best of luck to the minor lads this evening. Our record at underage level outside Ulster is very poor, here's hoping we can take a scalp this evening, God knows we need some sort of hope for the future!

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1022 - 01/08/2015 11:45:56    1761941

Half time score Cavan 2.02 Kildare 1.11

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4565 - 01/08/2015 19:10:54    1762095

14 minuets gone second half Cavan 2.08 Kildare 2.13

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4565 - 01/08/2015 19:29:09    1762103

Final result Cavan 2.12 Kildare 2.14 Sadly not enough. But let's hope they learnt from it.

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4565 - 01/08/2015 19:51:04    1762120

Hard luck to the Minor players and mgnt. Good fightback but should never have been so far behind, particularly having pulled it back to 3 pts before half time. Great to see Cavan involved at this stage of the competition. Hopefully we can learn from it and go further next year.

ondforty (Cavan) - Posts: 442 - 02/08/2015 16:06:09    1762488

Yet another poor start. Very lax.
You'd think after the previous matches they's have that drummed into the team.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 02/08/2015 18:10:54    1762592

Very disappointing. They didn't learn anything from previous games, particularly with the defence. They played as individuals, glaringly obvious. That blame lies squarely with the management, who should encourage team effort.

Cluichepeil (Cavan) - Posts: 57 - 03/08/2015 18:34:48    1763272

Disgraceful comments on here. Seems like certain individuals in this county and on this forum just blame the managers for everything that's wrong, at all levels. You people must not have bothered going to the game. 10 points down and fought back to nearly beat the Leinster Champions. No one is denying the slow start was where the harm was done but to say that these players did not give it 100%, that they didn't play as a team is utterly ridiculous. Cluichepeil, you must be really sore with Minor Management about something. Must have been dropped at some stage. I was extremely proud of players and management on Saturday evening. Looking forward to seeing those lads at U21 and Senior in the years ahead. Some very talented players.

SS1 (Cavan) - Posts: 196 - 03/08/2015 18:58:41    1763285

Sure what would you expect on this forum, balanced opinion? Not likely.

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1333 - 03/08/2015 19:42:33    1763329

SSI - you are missing the message in relation the the comments around the minor team of 2015 past.

Cluichepeil has some fair points to make and it's about time we dropped the "happy" act of been good losers and never the WINNERS and the smoke screen of "they are a young panel and next year will be better.

We beat a very poor Monaghan and Antrim teams (just about in the championship !!) who we beat by big margins in the Ulster league games.

No one can argue against the effort and commitment of the players last Saturday evening but you have to wonder ----------

What if the players from Saturday were actually on a panel that contained the best players in Cavan for 2015 and be reflecting on been Ulster championships and looking forward to an all-Ireland semi final ????

I am not sure if we need to reflect on the county development squad structures as it appears that it's only from early squads that Cavan minor, and even senior, teams are selected from.

All players develop at different stages and hence the requirement to hold trials and select the panel based on current performances and not on years gone by.

You can get a very big U14 who turns out to be smaller than his peers by the time he is 18 but still retains his place on the team based on his performance 4 years earlier.

2015 can never be reclaimed and is now consigned to the history books but it could have been so much better and we could be commenting on an All-Ireland semi final and a realistic outlook for when these guys reach U21 and senior levels.

More concerning is that some players who missed out may lose faith with the County they love and give up our beloved game in preference to other sports, or have everybody wondering why they don't play the came any more !!!!

Surely the job of any management team, in Cavan, representing all club players, club members, and all supporters and if this is not the case then people are entitled to express their disappointment and concern for Cavan football.

I was at the match on Saturday and I seen an average Kildare team park the bus and run the clock down with 20 minutes remaining in the game which allowed Cavan to rally and fair play to the players on the pitch for taking the opportunity presented.

experiencedblu (Cavan) - Posts: 19 - 03/08/2015 19:46:18    1763332

Saying that minors are young is a fact, not a smoke screen. This group are the best in the county, of that there is no doubt. There is maybe 7 or 8 of similar talent but you can't carry a panel of 40. And maybe, just maybe, the minor management saw more of them than the posters on here, putting them in the best position to pick who should be there and who should not. We did not "just about" beat Monaghan and Antrim. We bet both of them well. Management will not always get it right at any level but the way so called GAA people in this county go on a witch hunt after managers is getting very old. But of course, I'm the one missing the point because I am not slating minor players and management for there effort this year. I'm wrong because I appreciate there hard work and are looking forward to seeing them continue representing us at County level. God forbid anyone comes on here with something positive to say and a little bit of hope for the future.

SS1 (Cavan) - Posts: 196 - 03/08/2015 20:32:32    1763374

Experiencedblu you are entitled to your opinion but anyone with any wit should steer well clear of you..
I was at the game last sat and thought the team played extremely well, as a team, after a disastrous start. Cavan had a goal chance when they were 3-0 down, that had they taken would have changed the game. Secondly, this is no bad Kildare team, massive up the centre and excellent full forward line, expect you'll see them at the end of sept in Croke park.
Finally, as was already mentioned, you must have a wee gripe with management. What makes you think they wouldn't play the best players? Surely they want to win these games ? They need a full committed panel and if players don't show commitment then they shouldn't be included. It can be easy to have good games for club and have a nice social life too but to do it at county level the social life needs to take the back seat. They have made several changes to line-ups during the champ and made changes quickly during the game last week.
Cavan football is where it is because of the narrow attitude of some "supporters". Lay off the players and management who give up 5/6 days of their week from dec/jan for the cause.
A little encouragement goes a long way. Fermanaghs fans yest were a joy to watch and the players on the pitch responded.

finea3 (Longford) - Posts: 63 - 03/08/2015 20:42:03    1763381

experiencedblu
County: Cavan
Posts: 5

I was at the match on Saturday and I seen an average Kildare team park the bus and run the clock down with 20 minutes remaining in the game which allowed Cavan to rally and fair play to the players on the pitch for taking the opportunity presented.

You make some fair points, but this last point just isn't true in my opinion. Yes, we got off to a poor start, it took us 10 minutes to realise we were in a game by which stage we left ourselves with a mountain to climb. Once we went 8 or so points behind we could well (as most teams would) have thrown in the towel, because I felt at the time that the lads heads had dropped and we were in for an almighty thrashing.

But no, we rallied and came back and damn near caused an upset. There's a reason Kildare were firm favourites with the bookies, and that's because they earned that position. They were physically massive, I've never seen a minor team like them before, and our lads just could not compete with them physically, I'd say without exaggeration they won 80% of kickouts. That Kildare team was far from average too, they were slick and crisp all over the field, super team that should win the AI. It's a testament to our lads that despite being out-muscled almost everywhere that they didn't lie down, but took the game to Kildare.

Additionally, our lads did us proud (and I include management in this) in terms of their committment to proper, attacking, free flowing football. We have players who run at goal, who try and beat a man, who play with imagination, risk, flair something that has evaporated from Cavan football over the past few years, and for that alone Larry and Danny Brady should be applauded, there is a chink of light in that ever fading "blue future".

I am no moral victory man, I want tangible success and titles for Cavan. No medals are handed out for effort and hard work. But Saturday evening we can take great heart from the spirit shown by the players. There's great talent there, now, lets see if its handled correctly over the next few years.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1022 - 03/08/2015 21:48:59    1763452

Stop talking about we. The minors are an underage team who owe none of you cranks anything. Stop debating the spirit and weaknesses of adolescents. Get a life.

sceptical (Cavan) - Posts: 542 - 03/08/2015 22:00:36    1763474

Reading what you the posters are asking did we keep the best players on the panel personally I don't think they did. I am not going into naming loads that might have done better but I am sure Danny saw different. I will question one person dropped from the panel and I wonder why and thats young Keating from Ballinagh. A very good all rounder in different sports and a big strong lad as well. I hope he sticks with the GAA and will be playing U21 and senior football for the county later on. I am not sure if he is eligible for the minors next year. Maybe young Wall might be brought into the minor set up for 2016 another big strong lad developing into a fine all rounder as well.
I was watching both matches and sadly I could see one individual trying to call all the shots and he was not even the captain I wonder why this was allowed. He is not a bad player but taking over on the pitch should not have been allowed and I blame management for this.
It's another year of loosing at minor level when we should be up there with the best.
By the way the Ulster minor league is a complete waste of time and you learn nothing from it just costing money to travel to these matches.
Same with challenge matches another waste of time. I would rather have 40 on the panel and get them out there fighting for their place in the starting 15 against each other only way. Should player's go out there knowing they might get the nod they will try harder.
You have players on panels who 99% of the time are guaranteed to start this makes it very difficult for any other player to try harder knowing they will be sitting on the bench no matter what. This applies at all levels.

mowbar (Cavan) - Posts: 452 - 04/08/2015 11:47:09    1763611

Have you ever been happy Mowbar?

fredflint (Cavan) - Posts: 1333 - 04/08/2015 13:51:13    1763711