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"Carr gets Down in gear"
or

"Carr wrote off by Cavan"

or Carr-nage at Newry"

Anyone think of any more?

Excellent. The headline on the Carr interview in the Cavan Echo last week:

"Carr revved up for Breffni challenge"

especially for men that are mobile and have a decent bit of strength (see Trevor Crowe a couple of years back)

Trevor (Johhny's first cousin incidentally) had a brilliant league as far as I remember, after the first game against Sligo when he was poor.

He improved with every match and roasted Michael Donnellan alive against Galway, as well as kicking a point from 50 yards plus. Damien Reilly said in the Celt that Trevor kicked that point from further out than most people can hit a golf ball!!

I didn't think he was great in the league, was moved out of centre back very quickly, was reasonable against Down (one brave block at the end stands out) but was skinned by Philip Loughran v Armagh as far as I remember.

Would love to see him back in there though, with another year he's have been brilliant. Someone mentioned a half back line of Gaynor, Crowe and Gunner, imagine...

I hope not, but I fear Crowe's lack of pace will be badly exposed. He has never played a full match in league or championship at any level for Cavan, you can't deny that we're taking a huge gamble dropping a man whose direct opponent was subbed for a complete novice at county level.

Hopefully it pays off, but I'm worried...

Agree re Lyng, Sean Brady but on this point

Crowe looks like a man made for the championship, big strong lad who can move and break up play when needed

When have you seen him play for the county? In the McKenna Cup where even Mulvey was lording it? When he lasted 16 minutes against Antrim?

This is the bigges gamble of all, more so than Galligan. Mulvey was wiped out last week so we've nothing to lose there. However, Gunner's marker when he was moved out (McGovern) was taken off, but I fear he'll go to two on a newcomer like Crowe...

Anglo, sorry you're right about the Galligan comment, having not seen him play i shouldnt have commented on that, hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

On the other thing, i witnessed it myself and it was obvious when the fella was panting after ten minutes!

At this stage I'm determined to remain positive. As many have said, anytyhing after promotion would be a bonus. We go up to the Marshes with a 50:50 chance. Winner gets to play Monaghan with two championship games under the belt and three weeks to prepare. Here's hoping.

I agree. I actually think we'll do the business, and meet an overhyped Monaghan who'll be coming in cold. Then it's a Bradley-less Derry, then Tyrone with a lot of momentum behind us, then Kerry, then... ah if only!

Good points Anglo, completely agree

On the Keating issue, i was told by one of the players a few days before hand that he would definitely be coming on, and judging by his movement he was fine. Have to give the management credit here, they could have started the lad (should have in hindsight) but didnt chance it.

They had psychologists in and all, can't figure it out. You rightly mention the Virginia and Gaels - my theory:

Virginia only really had two SUPERB players this year, one was Keating and the other Conor Smith who had a stinker v Down. The rest of the Virginia crew were solid, committed types, gutsy and honest but not classy if you know what i mean

The Gaels had a couple of stars as well (M Dunne and D graham) and it appears they were both over hyped in the extreme. Niall Murray is a brilliant talent but he missed out injured, althought the lad that came in (Minagh) did a great job. Their other good players would be overage by now...

Lads, Paul Brady or jelly are definitely flying fit, no question of injury at all according to an excellent source.

Maybe there's a method to the madness. I hope so. Down woun't be dropping their two Railway Cup players Sunday anyway...

You've got that spot on there Myles,last Sunday Jason was the only one of them which tried to take on his man.Johnston was out in front and won a lot of ball but wasn't capable of beating his man,done more twisting and turning than was a holy terror and going nowwhere at the same time.

In my opinion Jason has lost his pace. He got a couple of balls, hardly had a shot (bar the one where he kicked the ground) and that was about it. Took a couple of handy frees to get some figures beside his name.For all his "taking on his man" he din't score from play and missed the three vital goal chances.

Watched the video again last night - Jason touched the ball from play twice in the second half (35 minutes). Jelly had kicked a point in the second half before he was substiuted - he also set up a goal for Larry don't forget.

Nothing against Jayo, but he hasn't the legs anymore. Better to bring him on for Larry with 25 to go and hopefully get us a goal.

Agree with you about the spirit in the team.

On the other thing...

and others to come in like Gunner and Fannin.

Not much point having those boys on the bench if you ask me. Call me crazy, but I think you should have your best 15 out at all times in the championship, unless there is a mammoth difference in form.

I mean hypothetically, Fannin is vastly superior to say Brennan, and unless Fannin was playing abysmal stuf and Brennan flying, the former should always start.

Same with the Crowe/Brady thing. Brady at 60% is still better than Crowe at 90.

If Crowe was any good he'd have made a minor or Under 21 team, starred in the senior championship or actually ever started a league or championship match and played well for Cavan.

The only league OR championship match the lad has ever started, he lasted 16 minutes.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Ballyhaise, McKeever won't play full forward in a million years, he'll be dropping back like he did in the second half last week

Club form is irrelevant. Sure Brennan's flying for Drumalee and must have featured in 15 league games for Cavan in the last 2 years - Crowe has done nothing in a Cavan jersey at any level, ever.

Same as we did last year in Casement, we're starting a foward line that isn't near fit.

Another thing, we had two players selected for the Ulster Railway Cup team six months ago - both are flying fit and both start on the bench this Sunday. Only in Cavan...

I hear Galligan's a bit of a woman as well... Saw him against wexford when he was hauled of and he didn't look like a boy that could handle Dan Gordon

Keogan and co are making it up as they go along...

Here's a question: If Murtagh's last point had've gone wide, and Cavan were out again this weekend, would there be four changes in the team? Not a fuckin hope.

The more I think about it, how the f**k are they puting Crowe ahead of Brady?

Brady was deemed the defender most capable of marking Coulter last week, now he's not in the team??

Remember, bar the McKenna Cup, all Johnny Crowe has done is get substituted after SIXTEEN minutes v Antrim and get a flukey goal last Sunday.

He's strong, but so was Mulvey...

Jelly got rode too, big time. I'd much prefer Jelly than Jason at the minute. You'll see Sean Brady and McKeever dropping back which will mean the Cavan forwards have to work extra hard to stop Down building from the back. And who are those forwards?

Larry - not fit for 70 minutes
Jason - not fit for 70 minutes
Lyng - not for for 70 minutes

and Pierson, who is fit.

Disaster waiting to happen, pure and simple.

My personal favourite - what a twat...


http://youtube.com/watch?v=JdjaHp8hI10

Lyng and Sean Brady are there to bring some workrate to the half forward line. Cullivan found the pace too tough on his championhip debut and Larry was too unfit to track back (hence, the Down half back line got four points from play in the last 50 minutes).

Crowe to add some strength and stop lads coming through, I definitely wouldnt agree with this one, Brady would be one of my first names on the team sheet even if he has had 2 poor games in a row

I was stunned by Galligan, but when I think about it who else is there who can stay with Gordon? Mulvey can't , Walsh was atrocious when he came on, Brennan must be forgotten about...

Dropping Jelly is very harsh. He showed very well and kicked a good point under pressure (one point from play in 50 minutes was more than Jason got in 70, plus Jayo scuffed 3 goal chances).

I have a feeling Larry will start close to goal...

There's a good argument to be made for saying that we're starting with four (Gunner, Jelly, Cullivan, Fannin) of our best 9/10 players on the bench. Doesn't make much sense to me...

Hopefully there's a method in this madness and they're not just making it up as they go along

Heard the Cavan team - I'm in shock.

No Gunner, Jelly or Cullivan. Along with Fannin that's four of our bet players fit and rarin' to go and starting on the bench.

Team

Reilly

Cahill
Chesty
hannon

flanagan
forde
crowe

McCabe
Galligan (!!!!!!!!)

McKeever
Lyng
S Brady

Jason
Larry
Pierson

Happened to say to someone beside me that Mackey has a habit of putting the head down, getting bottled up and kicking the ball straight up in the air.

30 seconds later and he did one of his best ever, the ball must have gone 50 yards up and landed about five yards away from him!

I fear Brolly has a limited lifepan.  you can only shite through your mouth so long.  Makes a change form running down his leg.

Ha ha v good