O’Reilly happy to accept second Gaels’ invitation

By Shaun Casey

JASON O’Reilly is back for more as he enters his second stint in charge of Breffni powerhouse Cavan Gaels.

The former Cavan sharpshooter, who still togs out for his own club team Belturbet, enjoyed a hugely successful time during his first term as manager.

“They say you should never go back but anyway, they’re a good bunch of fellas. There’s a few still there and there’s a few new fellas so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“I’m back after the last time, we’d great success, got to the Ulster final and won the championship and the league (in 2017).

“I did go back in 2018 and we were beaten, and we probably didn’t show our best hand the second year.

“The hunger was probably gone out of us at that stage more than anything.

“It’s good to be back, I hadn’t hesitated (when asked). There was a lot of clubs on, and I just felt I wanted to go back and that was it.”

While there’s some new players on board, O’Reilly will be able to call upon one of the more experienced heads within the club.

As reported by the Gaelic Life, Seanie Johnston looks set to return to the Cavan Gaels fold for the upcoming season.

“I rang him, and I asked him would he be interested in coming back, I knew he was in with the county squad (as a coach).

“He’s doing his own thing; he’s training away himself and doing all he can do. He said if he fell out of love with it in the meantime that he’d just tell me straight out.

“But he seems to be chomping at the bit at the moment which is exciting for Cavan Gaels and the younger fellas around him as well.

“He’ll take it a game at a time. He’s getting on a bit, so I suppose horses for courses. Seanie’s around long enough, he knows his own body, so we’ll take him at his word.”

O’Reilly insists his side will use the league to discover new talent in preparation for a hugely competitive Cavan Championship.

Cavan Gaels haven’t held the Oliver Plunkett Cup since O’Reilly’s first year in charge and he’ll be hoping his side will be in the mix once again this season.

“The league is about staying safe and breeding new fellas. We have a few young fellas coming through and breeding them, you have to put them in in the league games and then come championship you’ll hopefully know if a fella will be able to do a job if needs be.

“The championship in Cavan, there’s five or six teams, any team on any given day could beat you and I suppose you have to be on your guard.”

“You have to be peaking at the right time too, rather than peaking too early and not getting a championship run at all.

“First and foremost, it’s about breeding new fellas and then bringing them through and hopefully bringing a bit of success come championship.”

READ MORE….Seanie Johnston to make a return. Click here…