2019 season review – Cavan club players vox pop

Gary O’Rourke

Ballyhaise

What was your biggest frustration playing club football this year?

The only major frustration this year was the mix up with the last round of intermediate championship being played on separate times, meaning some clubs knew exactly what they had to do to go through themselves or knock others out.

What club story in your county caught your eye this year?

Definitely Shannon Gaels. A real rural West Cavan club going all the way to the Junior final. Absolutely deserved to be there after a great year and were not that far away in the final.

What would you like to see changed in Cavan next year?

I think the senior league and Championship are being run well. Perhaps the structure and number of games for Junior B league and championship could be looked at, but that also requires buy in from clubs.

What was the best club game you watched in Cavan this year, excluding your own?

One of the most exciting games was definitely Knockbride vs Killinkere in the junior championship (quarter final I think). Killinkere were hot favourites for the championship but Knockbride played very well and had them beat, only for Killinkere to score a goal with the last kick from about 25-30 metres out to win it.

Nevin O’Donnell

Shannon Gaels

What was your biggest frustration playing club football this year?

The biggest frustration this year in club football was the break in games when Cavan went on a run in the Ulster championship, and having to play league games without your county players. It was my first year back with the club away from county football and the difference Jason McLoughlin or any county player makes to any club dressing room is massive. The way county football has gone I can only see it getting worse for clubs having access to their county men.

What club story in your county caught your eye this year?

Belturbet making the intermediate final wasn’t a big surprise for the county, but I followed them through the championship and was delighted to see them do well with one of our club men over them.

What would you like to see changed in Cavan next year?

I’d love to see Junior and Intermediate club players being giving a chance to play in the senior championship. You could run off your junior and intermediate championship then allow amalgamations. I do understand it would be difficult – they tried it before years ago but playing games on a Friday and then again on a Sunday didn’t work.

What was the best club game you watched in Cavan this year, excluding your own?

Crosserlough v Ramor in the senior championship. It was a sunny evening in Breffni and both teams played with serious intensity and lots of scores. Dara McVeety was outstanding, along with James the miller, and Aido Cole scored one of the best goals I’ve ever seen in Breffni that day. It was like Michael Murphy’s back in the all Ireland final again Mayo, a high catch and hit it on the turn into the top corner.

Patrick Lynch

Crosserlough

What was your biggest frustration playing club football this year?

Has to be losing the semi final to Ramor this year, just felt the game passed us by.

What club story in your county caught your eye this year?

Killinkere were probably the stand-out this year by winning the junior and getting promoted back into Division One. They’ve great facilities and very good underage teams coming on.

What would you like to see changed in Cavan next year?

More emphasis put on improving the underage teams. Donegals and the Tyrones are doing it and it shows.

What was the best club game you watched in Cavan this year, excluding your own?

Not too many standout games this year in Cavan but the Lavey and Castlerahan game in the championship caught the eye with Castlerahan coming back from 10 points down in the second half to get a draw.