Cavan look to bounce back against kildare

Paul Fitzpatrick

The bookmakers have installed Cavan as 8/11 favourites to beat Kildare tonight, a shade longer than the 4/6 about them beating Down last weekend.

We know by now how that went, and we also know that Kildare will arrive in Breffni Park desperate for points, having fallen into a tailspin with three successive losses.

They led just once, in the opening minutes, against Westmeath last weekend in Newbridge but the real reason for their defeat was a misfiring attack – which is nothing new for the Lilywhites – and an extraordinary performance from the visitors’ goalkeeper Gary Connaughton.

They replaced inside forwards Darach Mulhall and target man Tomás O’Connor, with Fionn Dowling – another attacker whom they would be relying on for scores – landing just 0-1 from play. The Cavan defence is fairly mean, even allowing for the fact that they have conceded more goals than usual this season.

The problem area is at the other end of the pitch; Cavan will need big games from their own full-forward line and, even moreso, a return to the earlier form shown by the likes of Gearoid McKiernan, Killian Clarke and Martin Reilly.

Cavan managed just 0-8, 0-2 of which came from play, in a very poor performance against Down and a repeat of that level of form, as manager Terry Hyland admitted after the match, would surely see them beaten again.

But as disappointing as that showing was, they were still in the hunt in the closing stages and have not become a bad team over night. Sage gamblers tell us that when evaluating a sporting event, it is wise to side with those whose need is greater. If this Cavan side are to kick on and gain promotion, they must win this weekend.

If they are to at least secure their status – and consolidation in a higher division would be viewed as progress – then they need to win this weekend, too, but not as badly; with three more games to come, it is still possible to avoid relegation even if Kildare take the points.

However, it wouldn’t be a formality, with Westmeath still to visit and away trips to Galway and Meath, so there should be no shortage of motivation either way.
Expect Kildare to throw everything they have at the hosts in a match which will go more than likely go down to the wire.

If Cavan can unearth a new option to take the pressure off Dunne and McDermott close to goal, and the half-back and half-forward lines can rediscover their groove, they still have enough quality to win this match on home turf.

A backlash from being sacked in their own castle last Saturday would be most welcome and the return of Cian Mackey and the fact that they have got a bad performance out of their system after the three-week break will hopefully make the difference.

Verdict: Cavan by one