By Shaun Casey

THE appointment of Dermot McCabe as the next Cavan senior football manager is a “positive” move and one Cavan people should be excited about, says former Breffni player Joe Dillon.

McCabe spent last season in charge of Westmeath as they dropped out of Division Two despite putting in a number of commendable performances. They also crashed out of the Tailteann Cup at the hands of Wicklow at the quarter-final stage.

He was the Cavan joint minor manager, along with Gary Donohoe, that captured an Ulster title in 2011, with Dillon playing in attack on that side, and was a member of Mickey Graham’s backroom team that claimed the Anglo Celt Cup in 2020.

As a player, McCabe won six county championship titles with Gowna in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 and managed his home club to two senior championship crowns alongside a league title.

“I think it’s a positive appointment,” said Dillon. “Dermot has been over the coaching and games in Cavan, I was with him in 2011 with the minors, we won Ulster and that’s 14 years ago, so he’s been in that role a long time.

“He knows club football very well having managed Gowna in recent years and he was involved with Mickey Graham when they won the Ulster Championship in 2020, so he knows the players well.

“I think it’s a good appointment, especially as an in-house appointment. His experience as a player and his experience already as a manager should be something positive for the Cavan people.”

McCabe is a legend in the Breffni County for his playing career, and he helped them win a famed Ulster Championship back in 1997, when he also won an All-Star for his displays.

“His leadership was evident with us back in 2011 and I can only give you my experience of him, he would have drove it from the front,” Dillon added. “Obviously the players have to do it but the manager has to lead it in how they apply themselves.

“That’s how he was, he has those leadership qualities and skills, and he obviously has that respect now too. He won Ulster with Cavan too when he was playing and got an All-Star and he has played at the highest level, so he has all the experience.

“He’s been in management teams with Cavan already and has managed at a high level on the club scene so he has quality leadership skills, and his appointment should be a positive one for Cavan.”