Published: Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 5:00pm

Carr not getting carried away

Carr interviewed after the match.

As usual, Cavan manager Tom Carr wasn't getting too excited at the final whistle.

"We're very happy with the win. It's another win, the team is only playing reasonably close to where it can play and we know that," Carr told The Anglo-Celt.

"In fairness to fellas, they've worked incredibly hard. I said that even after the Louth game, that I felt sorry for them because they'd worked so hard over the previous two or three weeks.

"They got their reward here tonight and they had to work awful hard for it considering everything. I don't think we scored a free - I don't think we got a free! Not to get a free in the whole game in a scoreable position was mind-boggling. Wexford must have a tremendous defence."

While Cavan lorded the midfield exchanges, it's too early to say that we have found a new partnership, warned Carr.

"I think it's difficult to jump to conclusions too early because it depends what opposition you're up against," he said. "We asked them to go out and do a job, we weren't doing well in the middle of the park up to this - and that included the Roscommon game actually, the statistics will back that up - I think they went out and did what they were asked to do and the other fellas knew what they were doing.

"So it was a very complete performance around the middle of the park for 40-50 minutes."

The key factor, he surmised, was Cavan's workrate.

"It was all about workrate at the end of the day, and workrate comes from being willing to do it for your teammates and having the right attitude," stated Carr.

"It doesn't mean that you'll end up with a victory every night but certainly you'll be very close every night."

Going forward, he admitted that there is plenty of scope for improvement, particularly on the defensive side of the house.

"There are loads of things we'll have to work on, what are we, four games into the year. We know that. Whether you win or lose, there's always going to be stuff to pick up on. Certainly we're allowing too many frees to be given against us at the back, that's one of the stats that is sticking out. I'd have my own views on some of those frees to be honest with you, but that's for another day."

Redeploying Cian Mackey to the corner has worked a treat thus far, you suggest. Carr agrees.

"Cian is a very talented young man and he needs to decide to use that talent every night because he is a very, very difficult player to mark once he puts his mind to it. I mean, even the 50-50 balls going in there, for a small guy he was able to shadow his man off and put his hand out and collect it."

Final word then to Man of the Match Mackey. The aim for next Sunday in Sligo, he said, is simple.

"Two points and play well, play the same system, keep it going and keep morale up."

Here's hoping.