Cavan Vs Westmeath

[Westside]

From the Cavan team that started against Kerry last year we only have 6 of the same players starting. This is a long way from our best 15, Westmeath at very generous odds for this game.

[Westside]

Looks like Westmeath will have 4 changes to the named team with Glennon not starting a real surprise, Cavan with just one, captain Alan Clarke makes way for Killian Brady.

[Syferus]

Looking forward to this one! Westmeath had a tough year in Division One. Cavan had allot their own way in Division Three! Both will be disappointed to lose to Louth and Armagh respectively in their Provincial Championships. To call it, I expect a Westmeath win.

Big call. This looks like the sort of game the Cea-hav-en boys can grind out a win by sitting back and choking the life out of the Westmeath attack.

Cavan are a good side that really shouldn't be losing so tamely to a team like Armagh so you'd expect some sort of response from them. Westmeath don't look like a team that have even left the traps this year.

Ah, I don't know. I just don't fancy Cavan. Thought they were seriously over-rated last year. They beat a mixed up Armagh, Fermanagh x2, Derry after extra time and a give me London outfit in the last 12. Seen them in Croker v Kerry in the quarter final and they just looked like an under 21 team. Kerry were actually practicing their defensive structure for the Dubs in the second half. That said Westmeath are no world beaters either. I have inlaws in both camps so I'll be stirring the fire on this one. Nothing like see the inlaws fall out!

One point win for Cavan, Bunker. 

Westmeath did do better than I thought they might, though.

[Westside]

By the sounds of things we did everything we could to not win the game in the last 10 minutes. Sounds like there were the usual problems up front and a lack of killer instinct to put the game away. But still, a win is a win and we'll take them in whatever form they may come. This was a very depleted Cavan side.

[Denn Forever]

The curse of Northern Sound almost struck.

Commentators when Cavan were seven points ahead.  "I can't see Westmeath coming back from this"

Bizarre to take the Point at the end??

[Itchy]

Cavan were 6 points the better team but played some suicidal football in the last 10 minutes and were almost caught. Frees were hard won as Hughes the ref let a lot go. Cavan were solid in defence and played good attacking football for 20 minutes in 2nd half. Can't see us going much further though, look well if the pace compared to this time last year.

[Itchy]

The curse of Northern Sound almost struck.

Commentators when Cavan were seven points ahead.  "I can't see Westmeath coming back from this"

Bizarre to take the Point at the end??

In fairness they were right. Westmeath looked clueless but the sift goal lifted them and they nearly caught up. Not sure what the westmeath lad was at for the last free.

[mylestheslasher]

A win is a win they say but Cavan almost managed to throw this game away after Westmeath had been took care off and were already thinking about the bus trip home. We were pretty poor and laboured in the first half, counter attacking at the speed of a masey ferguson, allowing W'meath the chance to get everyone behind the ball. Then when they figured out that they had a strong breeze behind them they tapped over a few long range points and took a two point lead before Lyng brought it back to one just before half time. The lads must have got the word to up the tempo as the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half Cavan took over and went 7 ahead, turned w'meath over at will and looked to be on the home straight. However then a really poor goal where none of the Cavan FB attack a cross field ball allowing the W'meath was followed by a period where Cavan were full of doubts ans Westmeath suddenly realised there was still time. Cavans last 5 minutes were crazy Martin Reilly getting disspossed on 15 meters from goal and conceding a free, Mackey doing the same. Gilsenan stupidly kicking a ball into the crowd and getting his kick out over turned to a throw ball. If W'meath had not kicked a very poor wide from a free they could have easily got a draw.

When looking at our display I think McLoughlin was mom, dispossessing his man and making good over lapping runs and indeed putting in a few nice balls. Our backs defended well in groups, Damian Reilly also working hard in the middle. Argue brought some long range shooting to the game and another outlet for kick outs. Lyng pulled any of the strings and chipped in with 3 points, justifying his inclusion. Whenever Jack Brady got on the ball, in the inside line he caused problems but it didn't happen enough.

There are a few glaring problems. Firstly Cavan need to forget about Mackey this year. He came on and almost cost us the game. He cannot run and is 6lb too heavy. He is highly unlikely to be of any use to the team this year. Givney was poor enough at FF, he just does not protect the ball from the back when he is coming out and seems to be thinking about what he will do with the ball before he has it. He did have some good moments but I am unconvinced he will cut it at FF this year. My biggest concern is one I've mention before. We have lads like Josh Hayes, Gunner, Maloney Derham, Clarke that are good work horses and good at turn overs and give everything but once the counter attack is on and they have the ball in hand they do not have the football ability to put in a good ball. In fact the slow counter is because unless a perfectly easy pass is on they will turn back and go sideways allowing the opposition defense to regroup. I think the balance in that half back area is wrong and I would say Conor Moynagh needs to be considered as he is confident and capable of putting in a good ball. Hoping for Clare in the next round, momentum is a great thing and 2 wins in a row would be a big help to this team.

[muppet]

[rodney trotter]

Dessie Dolan announced his retirement today, great player.

[From the Bunker]

Looking forward to this one! Westmeath had a tough year in Division One. Cavan had allot their own way in Division Three! Both will be disappointed to lose to Louth and Armagh respectively in their Provincial Championships. To call it, I expect a Westmeath win.

Big call. This looks like the sort of game the Cea-hav-en boys can grind out a win by sitting back and choking the life out of the Westmeath attack.

Cavan are a good side that really shouldn't be losing so tamely to a team like Armagh so you'd expect some sort of response from them. Westmeath don't look like a team that have even left the traps this year.

Ah, I don't know. I just don't fancy Cavan. Thought they were seriously over-rated last year. They beat a mixed up Armagh, Fermanagh x2, Derry after extra time and a give me London outfit in the last 12. Seen them in Croker v Kerry in the quarter final and they just looked like an under 21 team. Kerry were actually practicing their defensive structure for the Dubs in the second half. That said Westmeath are no world beaters either. I have inlaws in both camps so I'll be stirring the fire on this one. Nothing like see the inlaws fall out!

One point win for Cavan, Bunker. 

Westmeath did do better than I thought they might, though.

I knew there would be nothing in it! Westmeath have lost allot of games this year. But all have been top opposition, so they are not as bad as people think. What was the story with Glennon? Anyway, Cavan march on. Hope they prove me wrong!

[Croí na hÉireann]

Glennon was injured, hadn't trained in weeks. Myles got it fairly spot on there apart from I'd persist with Givney at ff. He won't be marked by a finer back than Kevin Maguire again this year.

Deserved win for Cavan, we nearly did a Galway on it but they were 7 points the better team. Crazy tactics again to play with 13 men behind the ball and the wind at our backs. Needless to say that change is required for next year, another long winter in store.