Official Cavan GAA Thread

[Duckquay]

Of all the u21 teams, I can recall one year where we had genuinely top class footballers. By in large we had the best and most effective system in Ulster and were the best prepared team. We didn't have the best players however and ultimately that's why we're at the level we're at. Mattie isn't helping either.

[cavanmaniac]

Minors got sliced by Monaghan too, shouldn'ta opened me gob.

[mrdeeds]

I hear we're looking for a new manager.

[Itchy]

I hear we're looking for a new manager.

Hooefully

[mrdeeds]

I hear we're looking for a new manager.

Hooefully

Think he's gone tonight.

[Jim Bob]

He's gone

[the goal was on]

Absolutely fantastic news, 

[Captain Obvious]

Who will likely manage Cavan now? a crossroads appointment for a county with loads of potential.   

[tierworker blue]

The writing has been on the wall for a long time. Most of us knew that there was something missing the 1st year, but the 2nd one confirmed it. We've gone backwards during his tenure, but hopefully we can get a shape on things again now.

It would he great to see a few players coming back, before they're past it. 2016's team was the best in a long time, but dissolved as soon as Mattie came for various reasons. It'd be great to see a few of them give it another lash before it passes them by, along with the best of the young lads we have now. With a bit of a solid plan on the sideline, there is the makings of a fairly decent side there.

[Itchy]

I think it was the right call but I suppose i do feel a little sorry for him having got us promoted to Div1 with a team of newcomers. He seemed like a nice guy so best of luck to him where ever he goes. But I do think it was the right call as I think we would need something else to bring us on next year.

I personally feel the big push has to be to get the best players in Cavan back involved. I am talking about the guys who were on those U21 teams. Therefore I think it is critical we have someone that worked with them either as manager or as selector. I'm thinking Peter Reilly and Ronan Carolan here. Someone who could coax them back.

Do we want to spend mega bucks on a big manager. To put it in context Horan is supposedly getting 80k to manage Westport this year! To manage Cavan he would surely be looking for 100k plus. Would McEntee come over from Mayo or maybe he is looking to succeed Rochford.

If it were my call, I'd go with our own lads - Peter Reilly, Carolan, Mickey Graham, Jason Reilly or a combination of these and spend the money getting in good strength and conditioning guys.

[skeog]

Peter Donnelly be interested in returning.Top man who knows his stuff.

[Westside]

The WeAreCavan lads have done a brilliant podcast this week. And listening to it I think we need to make a big appointment, I don't think Jason Reilly or Mickey Graham or even Peter Reilly is the best appointment now. McGuinness said it on sky, Cavan need a scalp, they need someone who can get them to stand up and be counted. Cavan need to hear something that they haven't heard before and someone that will somehow make them believe they can get over the line. Combined with that, we need someone that will get the players not committing to reach for their boots.

Dig deep, fundraise in NYC, whatever it takes. Spend the money and get James Horan. Approach Jim McGuinness and see if he feels he has any business left in the GAA, one year even. Take a couple of scalps, get to an Ulster final and we could start something. Get Cavan believing we are a top team and not nibbling around the edges.

Those elevator doors to the top are closing very fast, the right appointment now and we could just squeeze in before it moves up without us.

[cavanmaniac]

Not surprised Matty has moved/been moved on, things seemed to unravel this year after a promising enough start and not just in a results sense, but even more so wrt the lack of clarity in direction and tactical identity of the team, as the manager tried in vain to stop the bleeding.

Fully agree it's time to get a big name in but nobody was persuaded or asked before Matty got appointed, one or the other, so I don't know if it can be different this time around. A big name surrounded by a passionate Cavan core of selectors has the potential to get something going and keep us in Division 1 though so here's hoping.

The calibre of candidate we are linked with in the coming weeks will be very telling, both in relation to the county board's insight into the problem/true scale of their ambition, and also how we are perceived beyond our own borders by managers who would likely have their ear to the ground.

A friend of mine texted me earlier and said Matty was gone, and said "he was a very positive breath of hot air".

[mrdeeds]

He was definitely positive to the point of ridiculous. After that Monaghan game in Blayney he described it as a great game of football. Candidates within county seem to Jason, Peter, Mickey and Finbar. Outside I'd say McGuinness is mad for a soccer job. Maybe someone like Horan or maybe a recently retired high profile player. Whoever the appointment is they need to get all the best players wanting to play including all the Gaels lads who have no interest.

[cavanmaniac]

Some interesting tidbits from the wearecavan lads:

- Mickey Graham approached, interested but non-committal as yet
- Jason rumoured to have dropped out but still thought to be in the ring
- No other hard news on any other candidate approached although an All-Ireland winner from another country was linked as interested but couldn't be named, and the Celt lad tried to contact James Horan who still hasn't definitely said he's not interested.

There was an interview with the county board chairman:

- List of candidates slated to interviewed by committee on week of July 30th
- Noted hint of urgency in his voice and seemingly very aware that time is running out for this group of players to achieve something and that this needs to be the right appointment