Carolan looking forward to fifth season in senior jersey

Interview

Damien Donohoe

Fresh from an emotional and energy-sapping run to the Ulster Club IFC final with Cuchulainns, Niall Carolan will be back on county duty this week as Cavan face Monaghan in the McKenna Cup, a competition the 23-year-old is happy to see return.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “All teams are playing games around this time of year so might as well have a bit of a crowd at them and be playing for a bit of silverware, yeah.”

Now with four seasons of senior football behind him, having made his debut while still U20 in 2022, Carolan understands the subtle but important difference between challenge games and meaningful fixtures played in front of supporters, something he feels is crucial for a developing panel.

“Yeah, you know, challenge games, you can hear everything from the sideline,” he said.

“You can hear your teammates beside you. At least with a few fans there, it’s the closest thing to the league, the championship that you can get. So it’s great to get that kind of exposure, especially for maybe a few new lads coming into the panel as well, it just builds them on a good bit.”

Carolan himself is only just returning after his extended club commitments, with Cuchulainns’ Ulster run delaying his reintegration.

“I’m only coming back in this week,” he explained at the launch, which took place on December 17.

“From what I’ve been hearing from the camp, they’re training really hard and they’re really enjoying it so far. Obviously you know all the lads in there and they seem to be getting on quite well and seem to be responding to what’s being asked. So that’s all you can ask for really.”

From his point of view, the early part of the season is about development and consistency rather than setting rigid targets.

“We’re obviously hoping for a good McKenna Cup, maybe blood a few lads, but get patterns of play done and build that forward towards the league,” he said.

“We have Cork up the first day and that’s away, so that kind of says it all itself. It’s going to be a really tough task to go down there, but we’re really just looking forward to that and go from there.”

Before league football comes into focus, however, attention turns to a familiar foe, with Monaghan visiting Breffni Park in the opening game of the year. Carolan views it as an ideal test, both in terms of standard and atmosphere.

“Yeah, good preparation for the league,” he said.

“I suppose it’d be a good curtain-raiser for the championship as well when we go to Clones. But yeah, great to get the exposure to those real games in front of a crowd. So yeah, looking forward to it.”

Although Cuchulainns sit close to the Meath border, Carolan is well aware of the edge that comes with Cavan’s rivalry with Monaghan, a fixture that seems to recur with striking regularity in recent seasons.

“Maybe not as strong as Meath, but definitely it is a big rivalry (for him),” he said.

“We play them, it feels like, nearly every other year at this stage and in important games. They obviously got the better of us last year, the first round of the league, so we’ll be looking to improve on that this year.”

The conversation inevitably turned back to club matters and a journey that captured imaginations across the county.

“Yeah, as you said, it was an unbelievable few weeks,” he said.

“Just the way the community and the parish got behind us all, the flags and bunting and everyone contributing in whatever way they could. Obviously a pity the way it ended, but a great journey while it lasted.”

That journey came to an end against a seasoned Glenullin side, whose physicality and experience ultimately told on the day. Interestingly, Glenullin were coached by Chris Collins who is also coaching the Cavan seniors; joining him on the Cavan backroom, interestingly, is Scotstown coach Diarmuid Scullion.

“Yeah, listen, they were an excellent side,” he said.

“They obviously got out of a tough Derry Championship and won all their games. They showed real grit to get out of that Carrick game, obviously with the late goal. For ourselves, obviously any game you lose you’re disappointed in your own performance and probably hadn’t hit the heights that we had done previously all year. But credit to Glenullin and wish them all the best for the rest of the way.”

* Cavan manager Dermot McCabe declined to speak with reporter Damien Donohoe at the competition launch.