Cavan v Fermanagh, Ulster champ 1st rd

[Lovely Hurling]

http://ulster.gaa.ie/landofthegiants/2009/06/07/cavan-0-13-fermanagh-1-9/ - Tommy Carr has some interesting thoughts on the Ulster scene and makes no excuses for the 'scrappy' performance.

[cavan4sam]

Mackey injury not as bad as first feared lads. Wil report more when i hear it.

[cornafean]

Downgirl - His name is Mathew Keaney. From my own town Killeshandra. A good few years ago he was part of a band called "Reel" that was supposed to bring trad irish and pop together. I think Louis Walsh was behind it. Didn't happen for them anyway. First time I seen the lad in years - he has a few pounds put on

Many of the people who have heard Matthew sing over the years would regard Reel as the nadir rather than the highlight of his career. He is a fantastic singer.

[mylestheslasher]

Fermanagh SWOT analysis for Saturday

Strengths
1. The backs: Great man markers, excellent executers of the blanket defence, and backs that know how to tackle and, importantly, concede few frees (which Cavan tend to rely on for scores)
2. The manager: A proven master tactician with a strong bench (Murphy, Owens, Goan, Sherry, Kelly, Foy etc) to call upon if the system needs changed
3. The hunger: No team wants to win Ulster more.  Full stop
4. Goals: Despite what Joe Brolly says about all Fermanagh's goals being flukes, we averaged a goal a game in the league and Cavan only scored in one game (two goals on the opening day).  With there being potential chinks in the Cavan back line I fancy Fermanagh to get a goal and this to be the difference between the teams
5. Ability to win tight games

Weaknesses
1. Reliable freetaker: Lets not kid ourselves - all of Blobby's frees the last day were scoreable. The first 35 yard free is crucial.  The fans will be wondering if it will go over; as will the kicker.  This is still a major concern
2. Scoring from distance: Key to winning any Ulster Championship match given the systems currently employed is kicking points from around 35 metres.  Fermanagh couldn't do this last year.  We beat Down partly because McElroy and Sherry, twice, hit long range scores early on.  Will these type of kicks go over on Saturday?
3. Strength in depth: Strange that I have this as a weakness but many of the players that played well the last day, and so will probably keep their place, often don't have two good days in a row.  Thus the decision to stick with the same team (if this is what O'Rourke does) may not actually be the best decision
4. Absentees: Barry Owens is still not fit, Clucker is half-fit and hasn't played much gaelic, murphy is just back from Australia, McCabe is unavailable, Little has not been playing club football.  These are class players whose absence will have an impact on a small county like Fermanagh

Opportunities
1. The Cavan back line seems to be quite small and there are some reports of Sheridan being vulnerable at FB.  If things aren't going well the option to throw on Owens, Murphy or McBarron (all six foot plus) in the FF line and bomb in high balls could be valuable
2. Lack of Cavan confidence: Have has limited success in recent years and something like five managers in six years.  The comments coming from the Panel in recent days, namely from Carr, Johnston and Larry, have been fairly downbeat (although Ronan Flanagan was significantly more bullish about Cavan's prospects)
3. Cavan's overreliance on Johnson and Pierson:  In the crunch league games against Roscommon and Down 50% of Cavan's scores were from Johnson (albeit only two points in each game were from frees).  Malachy knows "jelly's" game from his time at Cavan Gaels.  If Johnston is well marked (we have at least 3/4 men who could do a job) and Pierson has limited impact then were are Cavan's scores going to come from; and what is their plan B going to be?

Threats
1. Seanie Johnston
2. Midfield: Cavan have plenty of options at midfield and possess the ability to move men into the middle if they are not winning much ball.  Nicholas Walsh also has a big display in him. (Although its worth noting that against Down Dan Gordon won a lot of clean ball in the first half.  In the second half kick outs were directed away from Gordon and the ball broken.  Rarely do Fermanagh not win the majority of breaks)
3. Home advantage to Cavan
4. History: Fermanagh has never beat Cavan but then there were many counties like this until recent years

Note: Copyright on the use of SWOT analysis for GAA matches hereby belongs to Caid. Any subsequent use of SWOT analysis in the Gaelic Life, or indeed any similar publication, shall result in Caid receiving (1) A Gaelic Life hoodie (as he has no chance of winning the fantasy competition); and (2) A kiss for one of his mates from the McGourty (McDorty?) girl that writes "hunk of the week"

So Caid, what went wrong. You had all the 3/4 men marking Johnstone at the same time and still couldn't stop him!

[FermGael]

A good point Myles. 
The question from a Fermanagh point of view is what is the story with Goan??
Marked T Freeman, P Bradley and S McDonnell is last years Ulster campaign and did a good job on each one.
Do not understand what he has done to be reduced to a squad member.

[boojangles]

If this dry weather keeps up, Mackey, Johnston, Flanagan, Martin Reilly and Co will play havoc. Walsh and Galligan will break even which means that so long as our defence holds up, we'll be ok.
The key players in my opinion are Keating and Podge Reilly - if they hold their own, we'll win by three or four points in my opinion.
Breffni Park is a massive pitch and will suit Cavan more than Fermanagh.

Hollow Man's prediction: Cullivan to score a goal (possibly fisted), Martin Reilly to kick five or six points  from frees and play and Cavan to beat Fermanagh by three/four points.

Not a bad prediction there Hollow Man. Mackey and Johnston were the key men and midfield broke even.

I don't think that End to End article was too far wrong as it turned out Boojangles. I read it yesterday before the game and it tipped Cavan to win by a point (correct) and said that if Cavan could match Fermanagh's workrate, their classier players (Johnston, Mackey and Flanagan were the names mentioned) would be the difference.
Absolutely 100% spot on!!!

What did you think of the game? I was impressed with Cavan to be honest. Bring on Donegal.

I never questioned how accurate the article was,just felt it was a bit insulting to Fermanagh.In fact I think the whole coverage by the Celt and Paul Fitz in paticular was excellent and makes a massive and welcome change from Mr Gaffney.
I think the dogs on the street could have called it that way though(not the result,which BTW I was only a point off ).I made specific reference to Mackey about 3 months ago and his importance to Cavans chances this summer,Obviously Johnston the same.We all knew that Cavan would have to lift their work rate,and they did it.Mackey and Flanagan in particular must have been exhausted Sunday.

[ExiledGael]

A good point Myles. 
The question from a Fermanagh point of view is what is the story with Goan??
Marked T Freeman, P Bradley and S McDonnell is last years Ulster campaign and did a good job on each one.
Do not understand what he has done to be reduced to a squad member.

Fair point but that was not where this match was lost. Stats page in the irish News was very interesting today especially the attacks stats.
Fermanagh had 45 attacks, 30 shots and just 10 scores. They hit 11 wides and 9 shots dropped short.
Cavan had 36 attacks, 23 shots and 13 scores. Thy hit just 3 wides and 4 shots dropped short.

[the salmon of knowledge]

I'd rather watch Monaghan v Derry again! Terrible game - it's easy to count up the chances for Fermanagh to be on the right side of that result. Can't see either team going too far, although i still wouldn't like to draw Fermanagh in the first round.

now thats sour grapes

[cavan4ever]

I'd rather watch Monaghan v Derry again! Terrible game - it's easy to count up the chances for Fermanagh to be on the right side of that result. Can't see either team going too far, although i still wouldn't like to draw Fermanagh in the first round.

now thats sour grapes

Hopfully you get Armagh and are put out.

[Buckass]

See that the Betfair blog predictions got it tooo...maybe not such a shock...
Cavan vs Fermanagh - Breffni Park, Saturday 5.30 pm. Live on BBC.

1914...that's the last time Fermanagh beat Cavan in Ulster. So much has happened since then, it's a different world: Hitler made people distrust men with facial hair, JFK was shot, Bill Clinton shot and Susan Boyle won Britain's Got Tal..sorry..anyway..Cavan and Fermanagh.

Now after that sensational bit of date usage, it should be noted that Fermanagh gave their neighbours a three-point beating in the 2003 Qualifiers. That was in Brewster Park though, and while O'Rourke seems to be able to get the best out of his side, a win in Breffni Park is a 'big ask'.

Fermanagh's relentless effort and swarming defence wears teams down, and while Ryan Carson may look more Andy Reid than Cristiano Ronaldo, his free-taking was good against Down. He'll need to have a viagra and keep it up on Saturday evening if the Ernesiders are to prosper.

Tommy Carr's tenure began in a ball of whining about the availability of college players, worsened with defeats to Longford and Tipp, before a mini-resurgence saw them scalp Down in Newry, Limerick, and an eight point trouncing of Roscommon. If Seanie Johnston lasts the seventy minutes, Cavan can provide value at 2.42 and keep their Indian sign over Fermanagh intact.

[thejuice]

Thought this was an entertaining game, really enjoyable and way more watchable than what went on in Croker the day after. Some of my friends who have never seen an intercounty game before watched it and said they thought it was great, loved the pace of the game and the full blooded commitment of the play compared to the borefest of Ireland V Bulgaria that was on previously.

[boojangles]

Thought this was an entertaining game, really enjoyable and way more watchable than what went on in Croker the day after. Some of my friends who have never seen an intercounty game before watched it and said they thought it was great, loved the pace of the game and the full blooded commitment of the play compared to the borefest of Ireland V Bulgaria that was on previously.

The quality at times was a bit scrappy but nobody could question the commitment off all the players,both teams looked very fit and some of the point scoring was top quality.Its not too often we could say the above about a Cavan team,which alone shows why most Cavan supporters were happy on Saturday evening.We have won championship games in the past 4-5 years,but none with the same determination or guts that we showed Saturday,something that TC definitely has to be given credit for.