All-Ireland MFC quarter-final: Kildare v Cavan
(Saturday, 6.30pm, Páirc Tailteann, Navan)
CAVAN minor manager Danny Brady and his assistant Larry Reilly were in attendance at Croke Park three weeks ago as Kildare prodigy Jimmy Hyland destroyed Longford in the Leinster MFC final.
The Lilywhites corner-forward has been in scintillating form in this year’s Championship. Hyland kicked 0-6 in his side’s one-point win over Laois in the quarter-final, including a dramatic winning score, and fired 1-3 past Dublin in the last four.
In the provincial decider, the Breffni management team’s notes were littered with Hyland’s name as he kicked eight points, 0-7 from play, proving to be the standout performer for Brendan Hackett’s side once again.
Brady knows thwarting the Aylmer Gaels youngster’s supply is crucial but they have already learned the hard way this season that other players will be more than willing to steal the headlines.
“He's a very good footballer,” said Brady.
“Anytime the ball went through him the last day [against Longford], there seemed to be scores coming straight off it.
“He's one man we have to look out for but we know that can work against you if you don’t focus elsewhere.
“Against Derry [in the Ulster final], we would have thought if we bottled up Conor Glass quite well – which we did - we’d be well on our way to victory but young Shane McGuigan and Tiernan Flanagan piped up that day.
“You can't put all your emphasis on one player. It’ll have to be a team effort to get us over the line.”
After a three-point defeat to the Oakleafers in the Ulster final at Clones, ‘The Gunnar’ knows Cavan can’t afford so many of their top players to be off the boil again. Hackett’s side are very physical around the middle third, and with a tally of 6-41 in their three provincial games, Hyland isn’t their only attacking threat.
“This Kildare team, from speaking to people around Leinster, are very highly thought of,” said Brady.
“We went to see them in the final against Longford and they were very impressive. If we don't block off the supply to their forwards we’re going to have our hands full.
“But more importantly, we have to perform on the day this time. It was just one of those days where the big players didn't perform.
“If we do that, we will give them a good game and I'm sure we'll be walking off the field a bit happier on Saturday.
Assistant manager Reilly, meanwhile, admits it was very difficult to get the team focused after Clones performance. How they react this evening will tell a lot about their character.
“The lads were very disappointed after the Derry game and we aren’t sure what reaction we will get,” said Reilly.
“They know they played nowhere near their potential and still came within three points of Derry. Maybe that’s a sign of what we can do if things do go right.
“But they are only lads of 17 or 18 years of age and they aren’t adults yet. We will prepare them as best we can. Thankfully they had a spring back in their step this week and their response will tell us a lot about them.”
Brady's side is backboned by the talented St Patrick’s college team that ended a 43-year wait to bring home the MacRory Cup earlier in the year with goalkeeper Fergal O'Rourke, Donal Monahan, Luke and Shane Fortune, David Brady, Ryan O’Neill, Paul Leddy and Thomas Edward Donohoe expected to start while Shane Moynagh and Conor Smith could be held in reserve.
Stopping Hyland is important but getting Brady, Leddy and Donohoe into the game is the only way they can progress.
