Antrim V Cavan,Ulster Senior Football Championship 2008 "Official Thread"

[ExiledGael]

Cavan send the ball into their forward line, Cavan forward wins it, turns and sticks it over.
Antrim send the ball into their forward line, Antrim forward wins it, gives it to someone else, he then gives it to someone else, he then gives it to someone else, he attempts to give it to someone else, ball intercepted, attack breaks down.

Also, I'd never seen any corner forward pass a ball from the 13 to the 70 until Paddy Cunningham did it today.

Doesn't help when the ball going in is shit. And just how many scores did Scullion miss?
McGourty hit 1-3 from play and Tomas McCann had some good spells, McCann in the middle too for a while, but they hadn't a leader on the field and some look like they couldn't wait to throw in the towel.
How can Gormley justify putting anyone one on one with Johnston. Any time Cavan have won a game in the last two years almost it's him who does the real winning of it. After he destroyed Cork Westmeath put a man on him and a man in front in the League and totally negated him and Cavan inevitably lost. Loughrey actually started well on him but I felt sorry for the lad near the end, can't expose him to that consistent punishment, though he did change it late on. But Keogan made a decent call with McCabe in there helping to feed Johnston and give the defence two very different types of threat to worry about.
Maybe Gormley was stung by the criticism over his negative approach to Derry last year, but they had more than one danger man up front, Cavan don't.
In saying all that Johnston is one of the most dangerous forwards in the game, seen him against Dublin, Cork and now Antrim and nobody seems to be able to handle him at all. Doesn't take too much out of it, never really looks to beat his man, just turn and kick it over, off either foot. He didn't hit a wide today, think you could count the Cavan wides on one hand. Antrim hit double figures second half alone.
Typical mean Cavan b*stards. Hope they give Armagh a rattle.
Will be very interesting to see what they do on Johnston, Andy Mallon on him like glue probably with another sweeping in front.

[Bogball XV]

Reasonable game compared to the connaught quarter final, young mccann made some brilliant runs and looks a real prospect.  Johnson is as dangerous a forward as there is in the game today, totally different from all the other star names, but no less effective for that.
Gormley said after 40 mins that he felt Antrim would go on an win and I thought the same, but Cavan turned the game around totally, Antrim had plenty of the ball, but their decision making was appalling, there were numerous second half wides that were just ridiculous.
All in all, Antrim shouldn't be too discouraged, it's unfortunate that they're not in the qualifiers now, as I do think they could actually take a scalp (well, a Kildare sized one anyway).  They do need Kevin McGourty back all the same if they are to make any progress in Ulster, but apart from that they have some great potential from midfield up.
For Cavan, as somebody said Armagh will probably ensure that Johnson isn't as effective and I am sure they'll have enough for Cavan, they'll go into the qualifiers and again they could spring an upset, but it would be an upset.

[ExiledGael]

They do need Kevin McGourty back all the same if they are to make any progress in Ulster, but apart from that they have some great potential from midfield up.

Judging by the Gaelic Life back page he'll not be back in a hurry.

[ONeill]

At 1-11 to 1-10 behind, Antrim had the game by the scruff. They proceeded to hit a plethora of wides and when Cavan inevitably attacked, they scored. There wasn't an awful pile between the sides and for a period in each half Antrim dominated. Thought Burns was harsh on McGourty. Some of the early ball in was atrocious and in the second it wasn't really coming in at all, yet he still scored 1-2 or 1-3 from play.

Antrim just didn't have enough men who could score from play outside of the 30 and it cost them dearly. Scullion's wide was chronic. Cavan, on the other hand were economical and had simply better footballers in more areas than Antrim.

Johnston is some talent and Loughrey did an excellent job on him for 30 mins. Also thought Antrim's fitness levels were suspect as the game wore on. Also again - why did Jody bring on a sub at 1:45 in 2 mins of injury time?

Francie will test Seanie's gums in 2 mins.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Hardstation's analysis sums it up, a lot of arseing about in front of the posts cost us again.  I didn't think there was a lot of difference between the ability of the players it was about decision making and boys being prepared to take responsibility to kick it over the bar rather than fanny about with hand passing.  1-14 scored plus 13 wides shows we created plenty of chances.  Not the worst performance I've seen over the last 30 years!!  We'll win the Tommy Murphy!!  It's a pity we can't play Roscommon or Carlow first day out!!

[ExiledGael]

Hardstation's analysis sums it up, a lot of arseing about in front of the posts cost us again.  I didn't think there was a lot of difference between the ability of the players it was about decision making and boys being prepared to take responsibility to kick it over the bar rather than fanny about with hand passing.  1-14 scored plus 13 wides shows we created plenty of chances.  Not the worst performance I've seen over the last 30 years!!  We'll win the Tommy Murphy!!  It's a pity we can't play Roscommon or Carlow first day out!!

Roscommon have had two wins in the last 18 odd months in league and Championship, both against Cavan.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Hardstation's analysis sums it up, a lot of arseing about in front of the posts cost us again.  I didn't think there was a lot of difference between the ability of the players it was about decision making and boys being prepared to take responsibility to kick it over the bar rather than fanny about with hand passing.  1-14 scored plus 13 wides shows we created plenty of chances.  Not the worst performance I've seen over the last 30 years!!  We'll win the Tommy Murphy!!  It's a pity we can't play Roscommon or Carlow first day out!!

Roscommon have had two wins in the last 18 odd months in league and Championship, both against Cavan.

Cavan aren't a bad team   Just finished watching the Galway/Rossies game...Kilkenny would have beaten them.

[FermGael]

I think from a Cavan point of view the fact the Antrim scored 1-14 and seem to be able to run through at will from the half back line is a bit worring.
You could imagine Aaron Kernan in the same situation with Clarke, McDonnell and McConville waiting for the pass inside.
Antrim bossed the midfield for the most of the game and threw it away.  I know that if Fermanagh score 1-14 next weekend and we get beat I will be gutted.

[Our Nail Loney]

Fermanagh score 1-14??



Culchies are funny!

[imtommygunn]

It was very much a game which Antrim could have won but to be honest the better team won in the end.

To be honest I was disappointed with Antrim's appetite for the game. I felt they were devoid of movement and hunger at times. To be honest I was very disappointed in Paddy Cunningham - he did absolutely nothing frees aside.

Performances of note - young McCann, I thought Kelly had one of his better games, Scullion can run and caused problems but man his feet are poor!, Magill when on and Loughrey battled very well. One on one shouldn't be happening with Johnston who is quality though.

I felt Lorcan Mulvey changed the course of the game. Antrim had no one of that size to put against him. Had Joe Quinn been there could have been different.

If Antrim had taken their scores in their dominant period at the beginning of the second half they could have maybe sneaked it but not to be.

[ONeill]

Saw another Rossa legend on the box, a Russian goalkeeper.

[Minder]

Paddy Cunningham offered nothing from general play, good free taker, thats about the height of it. You cant have that full forward line, none of Cunningham, Mc Gourty or Close can win their own ball. Scullion can run like a greyhound but he seems to have the sense of one too.

[Glensman]

At least it was £13 in and not £18.
Its something.

[johnpower]

Best game I have seen in the championship ,Antrim manager seems pissed with his lads .Seanie J some player . I often wonder how players like him would fit in a starting 15  for one of the top counties .

[Gold]

Cunningham was poor--the free he came out to take 50yards out at the start of the 2nd half ruined our momentum--he was never gonna kick it over and it slowed everything down--it should have been taken short or banged in low to the FF Line--instead we had to wait 90 seconds while he came out before slicing it well off to the left--offers nothing from play--shud not be on.

Loughrey did rightly against Johnson, forced him to overcarry and beat him to balls but when the ball is goin in time and again Johnson will score, as was said before, Johnson doesnt even need to go by a player to score, just needs half a yard. Loughrey is a great man marker but i feel may be better suited to wing half back as hes a flyer and unlike Scullion is not headless

It was a joke the amount Scullion kicked away and th eone at start of 2nd half shud have been fisted over, it was embarrasing.

Niblock battled well and Tomas McCann did make some great runs--he is a flyer.
Scouse was no good and Aidso didnt look up for it at all.
3 small left footers in the FF Line was never going to work--Magill shud have been in there

Mulvey made some difference--Antrim, Bar big Joe Quinn, just never seem to have men of that size.

Anyone else burnt and have sunstroke or is it just me??