Cavan must plan without Smith as Tailteann heats up

GAA news

The Cavan senior footballers must plan without midfielder James Smith for the remainder of the season at least after the Crosserlough clubman opted out of the panel.

It is understood the 23-year-old Ulster senior medallist informed Cavan manager Mickey Graham last week that he was removing himself from the panel.

Smith has been a first-choice player when fit for all matches since 2020; having been injured for much of 2021, he has claimed back his starting place since.

Last year he played more minutes than any other Cavan player, starting all 16 matches and finishing them all bar one, having come off with five minutes remaining against Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup. The news will be a blow to the Cavan management, who are not blessed with an abundance of options at midfield at present, with David Brady and Enda Maguire, who have featured in the position this season, currently on the injured list.

Smith came off the bench for Crosserlough in their All-County League win over Castlerahan on Saturday evening last in Kilnaleck.

Having beaten Laois and London, Cavan take on Offaly in the third round of the Tailteann Cup this Saturday (throw-in 3pm, Pearse Park, Longford) knowing that a win or a draw would see them advance to the quarter-finals.

Offaly opened with a nine-point win over London before coming from behind to draw with Laois. Cavan are 2/9 favourites to get the win at the neutral venue on Saturday.

The four group winners advance to the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals, with the four runners-up and the three best third-place finishers playing in the ‘preliminary quarter-finals’, a round of 12 which will also include New York.