ALL CAVAN EYES will undoubtedly be on the Allianz football league Division 3 final under Saturday Night Lights at Croke Park.
Mickey Graham’s side do battle with Fermanagh for mid-season silverware this evening [throw-in 7.15pm, live on TG4], back-to-back promotions safely secured.
But one must not forget the ladies football saga ongoing in the county.
The Breffni senior team are embroiled in a dispute with their county board, and subsequently withdrew from their final Division 2 league fixture against Tyrone last Sunday.
Earlier in the week, members of the team spoke out about their issues on the ‘We Are Cavan’ podcast, saying that the county board were not honouring their commitment to a squad charter which covered a range of areas including expenses, gear and player welfare.
Captain Neasa Byrd and teammates Lauren McVeety and Aishling Sheridan gave an extensive interview about the frustrations of the team, and admitted that strike action had been considered by the panel.
On Sunday morning, their significant decision was revealed in an open letter to clubs and supporters, released via the GPA. It stated that there had been “positive engagement” since the players spoke publicly about the issues affecting the group, but that they are not willing to play until the problems are fully resolved.
The squad noted their awareness of the “potential consequences” involved in not fulfilling the fixture, with sanctioning under the CODA Rules, fines and funding cuts all floated in recent days.
Cavan LGFA county board responded with a lengthy statement late that night, detailing the timeline of events. It also shared its “regret” and “sadness” at the current situation, adding: “Making change does not happen overnight, and we have endeavoured over the last three months to support our players and members”.
Very little else has come out of either camp since, but it’s understood that further engagement has taken place this week and it’s hoped that a resolution can be reached in due course. Steps towards an agreement have reportedly been taken.
Thursday night’s county board meeting was called off. “There will be no county board meeting tomorrow night due to the current situation, in which we are actively working with the senior ladies to resolve,” an email seen by The42 reads.
Cavan LGFA chairman Philip Wilson echoed that sentiment on the ‘We Are Cavan’ podcast on Wednesday. “I hope that this is resolved in the next days and that we can move on,” he said. “And first and foremost that Cavan beat Donegal in the first round of the Ulster championship.
“I hope that we’ll never been in this position again, and I hope that Cavan will never, ever come to the circumstances that they won’t field a team. I feel very, very hurt that Cavan didn’t field a team.”
Wilson also highlighted social media abuse towards the board from the public.
It’s been a hugely difficult week or so for all involved.
The subsequent fallout has been extremely ugly.
It remains to be seen what will follow.
One thing for sure is that all Cavan people will be united in supporting Graham’s men in tonight’s league final at Croke Park. It’s important the ladies football saga is not forgotten.
Dara McVeety, one of the Breffni’s star players and brother of Lauren, tweeted his support the night the podcast was released. He’ll be front and centre in HQ this evening as Cavan look to lift league silverware for the second consecutive season.
It’s a stark and sorry contrast, the women’s team almost stagnant in recent years — and now forced into this action — and the men’s team building and climbing back up through the ranks.
Disappointing to see how our ladies @CavanLGFA are being looked after. Can see first hand the the level of commitment is similar to our men’s team. Getting to the stage that girls can’t afford the play for their county 🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/nRYTr1Xlm2
— Dara McVeety (@DMcVeety11) March 20, 2023
Graham’s crew have had a rollercoaster few years. Little reminder is needed of that Super Sunday in November 2020 when they disregarded the tag of underdogs to beat Donegal and end a lengthy wait for Ulster championship glory.
A few months later, they dropped to Division 4 after being stunned by Wicklow in a relegation play-off. But they’ve clawed their way back from the basement, winning that final against Tipperary last April and lifting their first senior title at Croke Park since 1952.
Having since falling short in the inaugural Tailteann Cup decider, they’ll hope to repeat the trick 12 months on when they lock horns with Fermanagh tonight.
Amazingly, 2024 will be the ninth season in-a-row that Cavan have played in a different division.
They’ll hope to consolidate their status in the second-tier going forward, stability the end goal for the county’s two senior football teams on and off the field of play.
A starting point is ensuring that the ladies football saga is not overshadowed or forgotten this evening.
Very simple one there. Cluxton should be considered for player of the year.
Dublin may not have won sam without his distribution from kickouts. First clasd
he is being considered for player of the year
To even suggest hennelly shouldn’t get it would be just stupid
you are entitled to your opinion, but he still most likely won’t get it
Must be a lot of mayo people voting here
This is quite simple. Football goalkeeper is Cluxton. He was vital to Dublin winning the All Ireland. And the hurling goalkeeper has to be Nash he was outstanding for Cork.
until Cluxton can prove himself at the basics of goalkeeping then he cannot be considered the best. under high ball, one on one with forwards, basically everything a goalkeeper must deal with aside from kickouts he has yet to pass any tests. Hennelly came in from the cold in June and put in some top class displays including being the best player on the pitch for the All-Ireland final while Beggan was also much harder to beat than Cluxton when it came to taking him on for a goal
he is well proven with the basics, hence his previous four all-stars, hennelly conceded against Brogan because Brogan beat him to the high ball
And in the final in which he was the best player? I wonder why Bernard Brogan got the man of the match, maybe the two goals he scored against Hennelly?
Frainc dunno what match you were watching but Brogan beat Cafferkey to the high ball.
First goal: The same game, Flynn kicked it long Brogan leaps for the ball, outjumps defender, Hennelly decides to leave his line and also jumps for the ball, Brogans timing was right so the ball could go into an open net because the keeper was committed to the tackle. In a similar way, Cluxton over committed and was off his line which made the Mayo goal easier to place in the net. Second goal: Hennelly doesnt seem to expect Brogan to go for goal, Hennelly takes a step or two forward and was left stranded, Brogan easily scores.
That’s rubbish talk
Funniest thing I’ve ever seen written.hilarious comedy stuff .
Cluxton conceded 5 goals, did he not? Needs to work on his goalkeeping.
and made up for everything he conceded in points, at the end of the day, his contribution won games and lead to victory, a change from the traditional goalkeeping role but a valueable one nonetheless
This is a real no-brainer. If Stephen Cluxton doesn’t get this, it’ll be a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. .
Is it the Mayo for Sam brigade making all the dislikes? Cluxton is guaranteed an allstar as he is a standout in 2013 and justifiably has been nominated for Player of the Year too.
Hennelly is a top goalkeeper and will win many allstars in the future, can’t see him doing it this year. Hennelly got through Connacht without conceding, but its all against inferior opposition. The real killer match for Cluxton was the semi but to be fair, there is little he could have done with all three, it was a system that exposed the backline and he and the backs were in the firing line consistently. When it really counted in the final, Cluxton conceded one and Hennelly conceded two and ultimately, thats the game changer.
Season total: Hennelly conceded three, Cluxton 5. Interestingly all goals from both sides were conceded against Division One sides. For the sake of argument, couldn’t you argue that every three points that Cluxton conceded was made up for in points on the board? 14points for Cluxton undoes almost all five. Just sayin!
Nonsense… No other word captures your rant
What is nonsense? when i said Hennelly is a top goalkeeper?
Or saying that not conceding in Connacht is not a big deal?
Is it nonsense to suggest that Cluxton wasnt in the firing line more often due to the system of play?
Or nonsense that I said Hennelly conceded more than Cluxton in the final?
Or maybe saying Cluxton compensated for every goal by kicking points?
Any counter arguments, simply saying nonsense proves nothing. Or will we stick with the five year old sentiments and say vote Hennelly because he’s deadly, everyone else is rubbish.
Cluxton is an all ireland champion, he will deservingly win. End of story.
Who would you want in your nets? Has to be cluxton he has revolutionized the position. Destroyed the o shea brothers with the kick outs, kicks phenomenal points with ease, and is a model leader. Pity about the speech making…
Cluxton should just be given the all star every year at this stage best keeper in the country by a mile !
Stephen Cluxton
Cluxton is on a different planet.a blind man can see that.