New generation gives Cavan Gaels renewed belief

By Damien Donohoe

Nine years have passed since Cavan Gaels last lifted the Oliver Plunkett Cup, but there is a growing sense around Terry Coyle Park that the town club could once again be ready to challenge for the senior championship.

After several seasons where the Gaels were often labelled an ageing side, manager Declan McCoy believes the emergence of a talented young crop, led by Cavan senior star Emmanuel Shehu, has transformed the profile of the squad, while maintaining the experience needed to compete at the highest level.

McCoy, now in his second season in charge, insists there was never a masterplan to overhaul the squad. Instead, the younger players forced their way into contention and have added pace and energy to an already experienced group.

“We’ve gone from being labelled an ageing team to being a very young, very fast side, and we’ve actually become even younger and even faster this year,” McCoy said.

“Club football doesn’t work like county football. You work with the players you’ve got and younger players have come through, faster players have come through and we’ve bedded them into the team.”

McCoy is quick to dismiss the idea that management deserve much credit for the transition.

“As a manager, you can’t really take credit for that because they’re the players that are there. It wasn’t some grand design. It’s simply the way it happened.”

While the younger generation has grabbed the headlines, McCoy believes the experienced players remain just as important to Cavan Gaels’ championship ambitions.

“The older lads aren’t hanging around. They’re there because they’re contributing,” he emphasised. “The older you get, the harder it is because you’ve families and other commitments, but those boys are still key players for us.

“You need that balance. Young players bring pace and enthusiasm, but you also need players who have been there, who’ve won medals and understand what championship football is about. They’re brilliant for the younger lads to learn from, and even as a manager I’m learning from some of them because they’ve experienced it all before.”

Important

The evolution of the squad has perhaps been accelerated by injuries and county commitments throughout the league campaign.

McCoy revealed Cavan Gaels were without as many as eight or nine regular starters at various stages, yet still finished third in Division One before pushing Gowna all the way in the semi-final.

“We somehow found a way,” he said. “We had a horrendous run with injuries and county players unavailable but finishing third and then giving Gowna such a good game in the semi-final was important.”

It is a viewpoint that represents something of a change in thinking for the former Louth manager.

“When I was younger I’d have been the biggest whinger in the country about county players being unavailable,” he laughed. “But I’ve changed my opinion because those situations breed new players. It gives lads opportunities they otherwise might never have got and we’ve seen the benefit of that ourselves this year. There are players who’ll probably start championship for us who might never have got that chance only for those circumstances.”

Structure

Among those to seize their opportunities have been Daniel Somers and several players emerging from the club’s successful underage structure, while Jack Tully has returned after missing much of last season.

However, it is Emmanuel Shehu whose performances have perhaps generated the greatest excitement, both within Cavan Gaels and across the county.

After an outstanding breakthrough season with the Cavan senior team, Shehu returns to club duty carrying enormous expectation, but McCoy has no doubt about the youngster’s potential.

“I was probably first to the party with the Shehu boys,” he said. “I’ve been saying for a long time that they were going to become big players for Cavan.”

At one stage people questioned whether Emmanuel and Favour would make that step, but I never had any doubt because they’re exceptional talents.”

McCoy has worked with some outstanding footballers during his coaching career in Louth, including All-Star Sam Mulroy, but believes Shehu belongs comfortably in that company.

“Emmanuel is as good as I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “Now, Sam Mulroy is an All-Star and has achieved an awful lot, while Emmanuel is only beginning his journey, so a lot still has to go right.

“But in terms of pure ability, he’s right up there with anybody. He’s two-footed, he’s exceptionally quick, he’s physically strong and, probably most importantly, he’s got a savage work ethic. He’s always willing to learn.”

Despite the optimism surrounding the squad, McCoy is refusing to become carried away by suggestions that this year’s championship is more open than ever.

While Kingscourt’s success last year and Cúchulainn’s league triumph have fuelled debate about a changing of the guard, he believes championship football has a habit of exposing every team.

“I understand why people think it’s more open,” he said. “But you never really know until the ball is thrown in. There are still favourites for a reason and there are probably six or seven clubs who genuinely believe they can win it.”

Challenge

So, can Cavan Gaels end their nine-year wait for championship success?

McCoy certainly isn’t dismissing the possibility. “Absolutely we can win it,” he said. “But every club says that at this time of year.

“The challenge is actually doing it.”

With exciting young talent emerging, experienced leaders still driving standards and renewed confidence growing within the camp, Cavan Gaels appear better equipped than they have been for several seasons.

Whether that will be enough to bring the Oliver Plunkett Cup back to Terry Coyle Park for the first time since 2017 remains to be seen, but McCoy is convinced his side are moving firmly in the right direction.