Cavan vs. Armagh, Sun. May 19, Breffni Park, Ulster c'ship prelim

[Westside]

We can't keep throwing in U21s that are in good form ahead of lads that have more senior experience. Conroy or Mooney shouldn't be near the Senior Starting team in my opinion. What has Conroy done to put himself ahead of Barry Reilly or Niall Murray or Kevin Meehan or Kevin Tierney for a position? I hope and expect that the Cavan starting team against Armagh will have no Senior debutantes.

[rodney trotter]

That is true, but some of our older lads are not good enough. What has Conroy done,? man of the match yesterday, he is in good form better form than Kevin Meehan, Tierney has only returned from Injury and Niall Murray who I rate, has barely played in the League, a few subs roles is all.

McKeever is a cert to start, Givney, McKiernan, Martin Dunne  Alan Clarke, Rory Dunne at full bacl, Damian Reilly, Barry Reilly/Martin Reilly would be a hard call, I would start all those plus Killian Clarke corner back, McGlaughlin, Jack Brady, Fergal Flanagan

[Westside]

Man of the Match at an U21 game at the beginning of April should not hold much weight when choosing a Senior Championship team in May. He has no experience and we are developing a panel with a depth of experience, that won't happen if you keep throwing in debutantes year after year. Next year do we drop Conroy in favour of Conor Madden or another U21 player who impresses? This is why we threw these lads in at the deep end 2 years ago, so they would gain experience and provide a new solid base going forward.

I would be shocked if Dunne was started at full back against Armagh and I'd be mildly surprised if he made the team. I think McEnroe will play there and if not him, Killian Clarke.

[rodney trotter]

Of course not, you have listed players who have either had very poor recent form such as Kevin Meehan,  or Kevin Tierney who has only came back from Injury. He will be an option, and Niall Murray who has barely played in the League, Barry Reilly is a good option obviously. Would you just go and start somebody who was older, but who was out of form ahead of a player, that is in form and that is younger?

There should be a settled team year by year, but if players aren't performing in the League what do you expect?
Rory Dunne was one of our better backs against Ross, and played out of position

[Westside]

Why are you saying that Meehan is in such poor form? Age shouldn't be a factor but along with age comes experience, and experience is a huge factor. I think we would be better served by using the lads that have been on the Senior panel all year and playing consistently than throwing more young lads into the deep end. The consistent player turnover needs to stop.

For the most part, the players did perform in the league. They let themselves down against Roscommon but that was a long way from our best side. Does Rory Dunne have a "position" as such? He played one game at full back this year as far as I recall. The rest of the time he has been injured. McEnroe did as well as anyone we have played there in recent years and had a decent run of games in there so I'd go with him, unless Terry is determined that Clarke is destined to take the number 3 jersey and feels he is able for it.

The starting team also depend on the tactics Cavan employ, much will be focused on keeping Clarke quiet. McLoughlin, sadly, seems to be the best man marker Cavan have at the moment and it's likely the job will fall to him.

[rodney trotter]

Kevin Meehan was very poor against Fermanagh and then lost his place. I think on that Fermanagh performance alone I would not start him in the Championship he then lost his place in the team, he seems to go through the motions at times.

McEnroe done solid at Full back and would probably get in ahead of Dunne as Dunne will hardly be stuck in the corner. McEnroe played centre back against ross when Clarke was out, but was very poor which was a surprise as that is his best position

Ronan Flanagan is an option at corner back

[Oraisteach]

When will Jamie Clarke be back from his global tour, and will he be in decent enough shape to play?

[DuffleKing]

I was thinking about who we've "found" through the league this year and i think it amounts to Harold, Donnelly and McCooey, all of who are unproven in my view. Granted, Harold had a great game against Galway but i remain unconvinced. The other two lads have an awful lot to do to be county footballers.

[rodney trotter]

Why are you saying that Meehan is in such poor form? Age shouldn't be a factor but along with age comes experience, and experience is a huge factor. I think we would be better served by using the lads that have been on the Senior panel all year and playing consistently than throwing more young lads into the deep end. The consistent player turnover needs to stop.

For the most part, the players did perform in the league. They let themselves down against Roscommon but that was a long way from our best side. Does Rory Dunne have a "position" as such? He played one game at full back this year as far as I recall. The rest of the time he has been injured. McEnroe did as well as anyone we have played there in recent years and had a decent run of games in there so I'd go with him, unless Terry is determined that Clarke is destined to take the number 3 jersey and feels he is able for it.

The starting team also depend on the tactics Cavan employ, much will be focused on keeping Clarke quiet. McLoughlin, sadly, seems to be the best man marker Cavan have at the moment and it's likely the job will fall to him.

Also Kevin Tierney didn't kick a ball in the League this year and has very little Championship experience, Barry Reilly only came into the team in the middle of the league, and never played Senior football with Cavan before then. Niall Murray only made a few subs roles this, and Kevin Meehan didn't start the last 2 games of the league. I wouldn't say they were getting consistent football.

[Westside]

Niall Murray was playing Senior League in 2011 and has played Senior Championship. Barry Reilly did appear for Cavan before, although briefly, in a league game. He also turned the Sligo game when he came on this year, and most importantly, all 4 have been with the Senior Panel all year. All have some degree of Senior experience. Conroy and Mooney have none at all.

Rodney would you genuinely have these two lads in your starting team? And if not would you give them a place on the bench before the lads mentioned above?

[Onion Bag]

Going to take a stab at a championship 15

1. P Mc Evoy
2. J Morgan
3. B Donaghy
4. P Mc Keown
5. A Kernan
6. K Mc Keever
7. F Moriarity
8. K Toner
9. S Harold/J Lavery
10. C Rafferty
11. C Vernon
12. K Dyas
13. G Mc Parland
14. S Forker
15. J Clarke

Forward options: T Kernan, B Mallon, A Forker, JJ Clarke, E Mc Verry, A Duffy
Midfield options: J Lavery/S Harold, J Hanratty
Defence options: D Mc Kenna, M Sheils, J Donnelly,

[rodney trotter]

Barry came on in a McKenna Cup game against Derry 2 years ago but that was it, He didn't feature in the league that year with being involved with the u21's. same as last year, also had injury trouble last year.

If those lads are showing form they are worth having on the pane.l and close to the team. Killian Clarke was thrown in at the deep end last year with no experience against Donegal and done alright. I would expect Mackey to start , he was fairy consistent for most of the league

[Westside]

So you would drop Niall Murray or Barry Reilly or Meehan off the match day panel and include Mooney or Conroy if they continue to play well at U21? Couldn't disagree with that more. Unless we had an U21 player absolutely dominating games, and we don't, I don't think we need to be bringing in any more inexperience to an already young panel. Conroy or Mooney are currently no better than any of the lads mentioned above.

[rodney trotter]

I never said I would drop Barry Reilly did I ? He will be close to starting, I would have Mooney on current form over Meehan on the panel. What harm would that be, Meehan has very average this year and lucky to be on the panel in my opinion ,whatever about what he did with Cavan u21 in 2011...

[Westside]

I'm not a big fan of Meehan either to be honest. But nonetheless I think we need to be careful about pushing inexperienced players onto the panel from U21 year after year. We should very soon be reaching a point where only an outstanding U21 player should be added to the Senior panel before the Championship.