Sport

Breffnimen must make net gains if they are to sustain promotion push

Gearoid McKiernan's form has helped proper Cavan to the top of Division Four, but they must be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to secure a quick return to Division Three  Picture: Oliver McVeigh.
Gearoid McKiernan's form has helped proper Cavan to the top of Division Four, but they must be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to secure a quick return to Division Three Picture: Oliver McVeigh. Gearoid McKiernan's form has helped proper Cavan to the top of Division Four, but they must be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to secure a quick return to Division Three Picture: Oliver McVeigh.

Allianz Football League Division Four: Sligo v Cavan (Sunday, Markievicz Park, 2pm)

Extrapolation may be a fool’s occupation but the statistics show that Cavan fans will travel to Markievicz Park on Sunday more in hope than expectation that they’ll see the Sligo net billowing.

While it seems that the only predictable thing about this year’s Division Four campaign is the unpredictability of the results – symbolised by the success of surprise packets London – the odds on Cavan netting a goal on their visit to the Yeats County don’t appear to be very good.

The simple truth is that while Cavan have been making their point(s) – all 48 of them - en route to reaching the top of Division Four of the NFL, they’ve failed to bag a single goal in their three games to date against Leitrim, Wexford and, last time out, Carlow.

It could well be that if the Blues are to make honest men of the bookies, they will have to be much more ruthless close to goal, something which their forwards’ coach and former sharp shooter himself Seanie Johnston, will doubtless be impressing on his charges.

Worryingly for Cavan, their goal-shy nature has been shown up on occasions by their opponents’ capacity to find the net with Carlow and Wexford both doing the needful this season as did Wicklow in last year’s Championship qualifiers when they sent Cavan packing by 3-11 to 0-18.

Famously, Conor Madden’s late goal was absolutely key to securing Cavan their 2020 Ulster SFC final win over Donegal. 'More of the same please’ is the clarion call from Cavan fans right now.

The westerners will probably fancy their chances of finding the jugular tomorrow given the uncertainty shown by Cavan’s last line of defence this past couple of seasons.

For in the likes of Niall Murphy and Pat Hughes, Sligo arguably possess the most potent duo in the division.

Sligo’s chances of causing an upset have been boosted by Cavan’s loss of Allstar Thomas Galligan who received a straight red card last Sunday in his team’s 0-19 to 1-12 victory over Carlow.

The Lacken Celtic clubman’s influence on the team as a midfielder cum full-forward can’t be over-estimated.

Sligo will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 1-9 to 1-13 defeat to Tipperary and they will believe that tomorrow’s tie is a very winnable one given Cavan’s rather patchy performances to date.

But a big carrot lies in front of Graham and company this weekend. With six points out of six so far, victory tomorrow will likely leave them with one foot in Division Three for next year.

However, Sligo will take to the field knowing that a home victory will leave them with five points from their four games and strongly in the frame for promotion themselves.

If Cavan’s travails in finding the net is seen as a significant weakness, the team’s strength in the middle third is undoubtedly the plank upon which they will look to construct victory.

Gearóid McKiernan has been Cavan’s star man to date this year and his power and scoring ability from the 45 is something Sligo will have to get to grips with if they are to upset the odds.