Early days but improvement is needed ahead of National League

Analysis

Damien Donohoe

Cavan’s defeat to Fermanagh in the second round of the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup in Tempo last Wednesday night cannot be glossed over as anything other than a disappointment. Of course, it is still a pre-season competition and experimentation is expected but, on paper, this was a game Cavan were favourites to win.

Fermanagh are operating in Division 3 this season, and they were playing their first competitive match of the year. For much of the first half, that lack of cohesion in Fermanagh was obvious. Yet Cavan were unable to capitalise fully, and when the game tightened in the second half, they were out-worked and ultimately out-finished.

The most glaring statistic was Cavan’s second-half return of just three points, two of which came from open play. That simply is not enough to win inter-county football matches at any level, regardless of opposition. What made it more frustrating was that the platform was there at half-time - Cavan led by three points at the break and had shown enough in that opening period to suggest they could kick on.

Much of that optimism was generated by the lively contribution of full-forward Caoimhan McGovern. The Shannon Gaels man produced the moment of the match after 13 minutes with a superb goal that showcased his pace and finishing ability.

The move started with Jason McLoughlin, whose turnover and quick thinking created the opportunity. McLoughlin’s early pass found Gearoid McKiernan, who released McGovern, who still had plenty to do. Instead of settling for a safe point, he attacked the space, backed his pace and courage, and rifled a confident finish past the goalkeeper. It was a goal of real quality, and it gave Cavan supporters a glimpse of what he can do. McGovern also added a point in the first half off early ball into the inside line, underlining how effective Cavan can be when they play with speed and directness. Unfortunately, that approach was not sustained. Too often, particularly in the second half, the inside forwards were left isolated and starved of service as Cavan laboured in possession.

Another first-half highlight was Paddy Lynch’s superb two-pointer on 28 minutes. Struck from long range, it was a reminder of the threat Lynch carries and the importance of his shooting ability to this team. Even at this early stage of the season, it is clear that Cavan cannot afford to lose his influence from their attacking mix.

Ryan Donohoe also stood out. He opened Cavan’s scoring in the first minute and was one of the few players who consistently took responsibility when the momentum swung against them. His leadership was particularly evident during a grim spell in the second half when Cavan went nearly 20 minutes without a score. In that period, they missed five chances, some under pressure, others not so easy to forgive, and Fermanagh gradually clawed their way back from a three-point deficit to take the lead.

Donohoe eventually ended the drought in the 18th minute of the second half with a well-taken right-footed point from the corner, before following it up with a confident 45 to restore Cavan’s lead.

When Cian Shekleton nudged them in front again later on, it looked as though Cavan might have done just enough. But as was the case against Monaghan, they could not close out the game and were punished in injury time.

The underlying numbers tell a worrying story. Cavan scored 10 times from 23 shots, a conversion rate of just 43pc. More concerning still was the manner of many of their misses. Six shots in this game fell short into the goalkeeper’s hands, bringing their total to 11 dropped shots across the two McKenna Cup games. That is not a coincidence; it points to either a lack of confidence, poor shot selection, poor execution or a combination of all three.

At this level, dropping shots short is more costly than a wide because it hands possession straight back to the opposition and allows them to launch counter-attacks.

Fermanagh, by contrast, converted at 60pc. They also dropped five shots short, but crucially they kicked just two wides compared to Cavan’s seven. In a tight, low-scoring game, that efficiency proved decisive.

Cavan’s attacking structure was another issue. In the first half, Fermanagh sat deep and allowed Cavan to circulate the ball over and back across the field until a defender fell asleep and left a gap to exploit. But when Declan Bonner’s side pushed up after the break, Cavan struggled badly.

Their slow build-up play made them predictable and easy to defend against. The danger of that was exposed five minutes into the second half when Oisín Brady was isolated, turned over, and Fermanagh ran in their goal.

There were glimpses of what Cavan could be when they moved the ball quicker. McGovern’s goal and scores came from early deliveries, and Ben Tully, on his senior debut off the bench, showed a refreshing willingness to look inside and kick the ball forward at pace. That directness will be vital if Cavan are to make their attack more potent in Division 2 of the league.

The kick-out battle was another major concern. Cavan won 50pc of their own restarts, while Fermanagh claimed 70pc of theirs. Overall, Fermanagh dominated the kick-out exchanges, winning 61pc, a stark contrast to Cavan’s strong performance in this area against Monaghan. Losing that many kick-outs makes it almost impossible to build sustained pressure or control the tempo of a game. Breaking ball on those restarts was another key area where Cavan came off second best. Defensively, there was also a noticeable shift from the Monaghan game. Cavan sat deeper in Tempo, protecting the scoring arc rather than pressing high. That gave players like Darragh McGurn and Brandon Horan time and space to pick passes, dictate play and look for gaps in the Cavan defence.

That space proved fatal in injury time. With the game on the line, McGurn was allowed to line up a two-pointer without enough pressure, and he duly sailed it over to put Fermanagh in front. When Garvan Jones added a late free, the gap was two points. Cavan still had possession through the six minutes of injury time and even a further 30 seconds, but damningly, they failed to get a shot away. Even a missed effort would have given them a chance; instead, they ran down the clock while trailing, a hugely frustrating way for the game to end.

The McKenna Cup is not a competition that defines a season, but the lessons from this defeat are clear. Cavan have work to do on their efficiency, their kick-out structure, their attacking pace and their ability to manage the big moments when the game is there to be won.

All attention now turns to the trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 10 days’ time. With the National Football League beginning, Cavan will be judged not on what happened in Tempo, but how the league and championship go. We only have to look back two years to find hope. In Raymond Galligan’s first two games they lost to Down and Derry in the McKenna Cup and went on to finish third in Division 2 afterwards.

A few small tweaks and everyone getting behind the lads will hopefully see them go one better this year.