WHEN DERMOT MCCABE takes to the sideline at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon, his fellow Cavan All-Star Raymond Galligan won’t be too far away.
The Westmeath manager is facing his native county in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League, with two former Cavan players going head-to-head on the inter-county management beat.
It’s a rare occurrence, made even more so by McCabe’s unique situation which spans both sides of the county — and provincial — border.
He’s a full-time Games Development Manager [GDM] for Cavan GAA, and has been for the last decade.
It was indeed a source of interest and debate after McCabe’s appointment to the Westmeath helm, Cavan county board discussing its employee’s installation at a meeting in October.
While this is McCabe’s first job in senior inter-county management, he was a selector with Cavan as they won the Ulster football championship in 2020.
That ended a 23-year wait for provincial glory, McCabe central as a player in the Breffni county’s last success in 1997.
He won an All-Star that year, and no Cavan player followed suit until 2020.
His opposing manager on Sunday, former goalkeeper Galligan, was one of three included in that selection along with Pádraig Faulkner and Thomas Galligan.
Standing alongside McCabe will be another tenuous link to ’97. Westmeath are coached by Donegal All-Ireland winner Mark McHugh, whose father Martin was manager of Cavan back then.
The duo will have a distinctive insight into their opponents, with McCabe coaching many of the players in the county set-up, and as Gowna county winning manager in 2022 and 2023. He was also joint-manager of the Cavan minor side that won the 2011 Ulster Championship.
It all adds to the rivalry between neighbouring counties from different provinces.
Westmeath and Cavan contested the first-ever Tailteann Cup final in 2022, Westmeath winning by four points in Croke Park.
The sides need no introduction to one another, nor a reminder of the opportunity that lies ahead in Mullingar on Sunday.
The league has been challenging for both so far, and they need something to kickstart it with relegation — and the threat of losing their Sam Maguire Cup status — looming large.
Cavan got off the mark last weekend, a late win over Louth a huge boost after earlier defeats to Monaghan and Meath.
Westmeath are yet to get points on the board. They were well beaten by Monaghan, but were unlucky to come away from the Louth and Cork clashes empty-handed.
The 2024 Division 3 champions were on the wrong side of a 3-18 to 3-17 scoreline at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last weekend.
“We don’t like moral victories but every lad tried his hardest,” McCabe said afterwards, while questioning football’s new rules.
“The lads are stepping up. We’re one of the youngest teams in all the divisions of the National League and they’re giving us everything.
“We could’ve got something out of definitely two of the three games. Them couple of late scores are just hard to take.”
He’ll be hoping to turn the tide against his native county on Sunday afternoon.
First Henshaw now Carty great to see some Athlone lads starting to make a breakthrough
Best of luck to Jack Carthy, great to see Connacht fielding a young, all Irish back line.
Would love to see Jordi have a great game at 7 and get into 6 nations contention to fill the gap left by SOB. Will also be keeping a close eye on Henry and Tommy O’ D tonight
C’mon Connacht.
Exciting game ahead. Leinster will be scratching after last yrs result but Connacht will meet ye more than half way!!!!
FYI. You have only listed 14 starting players for Leinster. Devon Toner has become a one-man machine in the second row…
Scratch that, you have added Tom Denton.
I have. He just about caught the bus. Cheers.
Tom Denton catching something? What’s seldom is wonderful
Kirchner on the wing, hopefully he’ll spark some exciting back plays.
Murphy at 7 puts even more pressure on Henry and o’donnell
He’s only back from injury but I really liked the work rate and professionalism of o donnell last year! I think at the moment if have him and murphy ahead of Henry in the long run
I’d rather go to a funeral than watch a rugby match
In that case shouldn’t you read an obituary column instead of an article on rugby?
Paulie I’d say you depress everyone at a funeral
Give it to him Lizzy!
Right in his Walnuts!
Haha, if I thought he had some Robby I would but my guess is he’s all mouth and no trousers ;)
Nicely put Elizabeth, well said!
There something wrong in the system when the IRFU won’t give the appropriate funds to a team who funds an all irish backline but prefers to spend money on big name signings to boost another provinces profile. Then they are wondering why they are not unearthing players to fill the roles of the retiring legends of the last few years? Connacht could be a good conveyor belt for Ireland in areas that are been missed, just look at Athlone.
Both Munster and Leinster are producing massive amounts of Irish players and ulster have brought some through too. To say spending money on overseas players is a waste is just wrong.
Players like Isa and rocky done so much for Leinster
As did dougie and him Williams for Munster and all these young ulster backs
I assume you’re referring to the same Connacht who are the only province not restricted by the IRFU’s stringent new rules on overseas recruitment & who boast more overseas players in their squad than any other province? Change the record. We’ve all heard this tune before
Del. We have relatively few non-Irish players and more and more of our squad is IQ. In face more and more of our squad is Connacht academy.
The reason why Connacht is not bound by the overseas rule is because the IRFU implicitly want Connacht to be a development province. They are not explicit about it because it annoys everyone here but that is the reason. Hence Connacht IQ players can be moved to other provinces and they are told to shop abroad.
The first example of this was Macca. Granted Connacht did well to bring Clarke in, but it will not always work out that like.
Personally I would much prefer Connacht to be properly funded and have the same rules apply to us as the rest of the provinces.