USFC Round 1 : An Cabhan V An Dun

cavanmaniac · May 10, 2007, 11:03:53 AM

I'm not sure what happened with the team I got! Sorry for misleading people...I 'm subscribed to Vodafone's Cavan service which is normally very reliable

and sends me team selections as soon as they're announced to the media. It seems they got a dummy team this time or just made an absolute balls of inputting the text message or something

. Apologies again!

1. J Reilly
2. P Brady
3. E Reilly
4. M Cahill
5. M Hannon
6. A Forde
7. R Flannagan
8. D McCabe
9. L Mulvey
10. R Cullivan
11. M McKeever
12. Larry Reilly
13. Jayo
14. G Pierson
15. S Johnston

I can see Hannon swapping with Gunner and McKeever dropping back with Flanagan moving up when the game starts. Larry's selection is a surprise but he looked sharp and motivated when he came on against Roscommon so obviously the management have seen something they like in training, hope he's something like the Larry of old because on form he's a top forward.

Lyng and Walsh's exclusion is a surprise but they'll both be on the field by the finish, that's for sure. Much happier with the team now I must say...

trim blue · May 10, 2007, 11:57:52 AM

Hope Chesty is not full back, Coulter destroyed him in 04 scoring 2 goals and a point before Doc Collins was moved onto him, think Chesty was then dropped for game with armagh. The fact that Hannon is named in the HB line gives me hope that he will be moved to FB and Chesty moved to HB, both these players are more natural in these lines. Glad to see that sense has prevailed regarding Gallagher but dissappointed to see that Lyng obviously isn't fit enough to start, I would be worried that without him we don't have someone to pick a pass out for the forwards.

cavan4ever · May 10, 2007, 12:01:58 PM

who will kick the frees?

cavanmaniac · May 10, 2007, 12:18:13 PM

Cullivan and Pierson I'd imagine, neither of whom have had a very good covnersion rate in recent games, Cullivan seems far too nervous for it IMO.

Then again, they take the kicks out of the hands which I absolutely hate to see, this was one thing Finbar Reilly was half decent at, i.e. kicking accurately off the ground. Only players like Canavan and Maurice Fitz truly mastered the kicking from the hands consistently.

Free-taking a is a big worry for us all round. Pierson missed a hatful (against Wexford was it?) and Cullivan struggled any time I've seen him as well (u21s and seniors).

cavan4ever · May 10, 2007, 12:21:20 PM

Yeah a good free taker could be worth up to 6 points a game.

Fíor Gael · May 10, 2007, 12:28:41 PM

Similar question for the Down team; who will kick the frees? Poor free taking cost us the game up in cross recently! I assume Aidan Carr will hit them from the left side of the field but who's in line for the left footed kicks?

CavanCola · May 10, 2007, 02:00:51 PM

Weather for Sunday looks very dodgy. Bring your Flat cap, Bin linner and Wellies!

http://magicseaweed.com/UK-Ireland-MSW-Surf-Charts/1/pressure/in/

An Cloch Scoilte · May 10, 2007, 03:23:06 PM

Quote from: Fíor Gael on May 10, 2007, 12:28:41 PM
Similar question for the Down team; who will kick the frees? Poor free taking cost us the game up in cross recently! I assume Aidan Carr will hit them from the left side of the field but who's in line for the left footed kicks?

Ceist mhaith Fíor Gael!!!!

God knows who'll hit the ones on the right hand side. I don't recognise a left footed free taker on the team!!

I thought John Boyle would have been a better option a CHF than Carr, but obviously not to the managemnt's thinking!!

mylestheslasher · May 10, 2007, 04:31:18 PM

I am feeling a bit more optimistic about our chances now since management seem to have realised that things needed to change.

cavanmaniac · May 10, 2007, 04:46:34 PM

Yep it's the usual "hopes rising three days before the game" feeling that I always get before Cavan's first championship game every year, irrespective of our chances.

Gwan the blues!

cavan4ever · May 10, 2007, 04:54:17 PM

cavan 4 sam

thewobbler · May 10, 2007, 05:19:43 PM

Just looking back at this thread, and the similarities between the thinking of Cavan Gaels and Down Gaels is amazing. Two proud footballing counties sore from being beaten up once too many times, but still with hope.

Fear Boirche · May 10, 2007, 05:26:26 PM

QuoteI thought John Boyle would have been a better option a CHF than Carr, but obviously not to the managemnt's thinking!!

I think you do Ross a disservice there. Boyle has done well, put Aidan Carr simply has more county experience and IMO is there on merit. He may not be as good as his old man, but he is a decent free-taker and can lob over the odd 45 as well.
I don't think Ross is one of those managers who will blindly pick his son for the sake of it. Aidan did OK during the league and played well for Queen's this year. If anything, I think Ross would be his own son's biggest critic.

Fear Boirche · May 10, 2007, 05:31:44 PM

Quotetwo natural forwards in our half-back line

To be honest, it's that long since Clarke played as a forward, i think you could hardly call him a natural forward. I think it's probably the strongest team Ross could have picked when you factor in injuries and experience.

thewobbler · May 10, 2007, 05:42:27 PM

I've had an argument about this already somewhere Fear Boiche - but John Clarke nowadays plays all his club football at wing-forward, a position that fully suits his skillset, and from where he regularly tallies up big individual scores.

Personally I don't think he's a strong enough man-marker to play defence.