Galligan: 'Sole focus now is on Tyrone'

Football

Two weeks on from the loss to Wicklow and the Cavan senior footballers have put it behind them and are preparing to take on Tyrone in the Ulster SFC opener on July 10 in Omagh.

The relegation play-off defeat prompted dejection among supporters and, asked could he identify what went wrong on the day, captain Raymond Galligan highlighted the concession of goals at bad times as being fatal to Cavan’s hopes.

“The goals came at bad times, they were three sucker punches at stages when we were starting to gain a bit of momentum. And probably we just didn’t take enough chances,” Galligan told the Anglo-Celt.

“We created many, many opportunities and we just didn’t get that bit of luck that you need sometimes just to get yourself out of a hole. We could have had a penalty in the first half that probably could have given us a bit of daylight and that might have meant we would have been able to push on.

“There were a lot of different factors. Not taking goal opportunities and then conceding them at the other end, they probably were the stand-out moments for me in the game.”

Traditionally, Cavan followers exhibit a ‘boom or bust’ mindset. The fallout from the Wicklow loss cut deep.

“It does obviously leave a sour taste for Cavan supporters because they are very proud. Expectations were high and still are high but, yeah, I got the sense that it has caused some disappointment around the county but, look, at the same time, they’re very supportive and they know, like that, it was only six or seven months ago we won the Ulster Championship.

“Like ourselves, there was a bit of hurt for a few days but our sole focus now will be Tyrone. I think the league will be quickly forgotten about come game time in Healy Park.”

A win over Tyrone would provide balm for any old sores, he agreed.

“Absolutely, we saw how that can work playing the likes of Monaghan last year. That result against Monaghan last year quickly erased the hurt of losing those last two league games. No doubt Tyrone are looking at Cavan in a similar vein but that’s really our sole focus now.”

The Cavan squad and management are well aware of how tough a task awaits them in Healy Park but they are positive about their chances, the All-Star goalkeeper said.

“We knew when the draw was done that it was going to be a very difficult opponent and we’re under no illusions, it’s going to take a massive performance to get the result. The one thing we did last year was that we stopped looking behind us, I think that’s a habit that a lot of teams can get into and think too much about the past.

“When we played Donegal in the Ulster final, there was talk about the beating we got the year previous but we have definitely learned that it’s all about the present moment and what has gone on before will have very little relevance come game time. We know we have to put in a massive performance to be in with a shot on the day.”

Cavan have been boosted by the return to the panel of defender Conor Moynagh, who had been overseas for an extended period. Injury worries persist, though, and none of the main county players played for their clubs at the weekend.