NEW Cavan manager Mattie McGleenan intends to usher an era of attacking football into a county that was recently lampooned for being ‘the black death’ of the game.
Before last season, the Breffni men were criticised in some quarters for their defensive style, but Eglish native McGleenan says he wants “people to enjoy coming to see Cavan” and has his set his sights on taking the Breffnimen to Croke Park in his first season as manager.
McGleenan guided Scotstown to back-to-back club titles in Monaghan over the past two seasons and an Ulster final in 2015. His An Bhoth teams played with pace and aggression and kicked the ball into the forward line and he plans to adopt a similar brand of football when he makes the step up to inter-county level.
“We’ll not be turning and running away from the ball,” said McGleenan, who lined out at full-forward for Tyrone in the 1995 All-Ireland final.
“The style that I approached with Scotstown will not change. I want forwards who want to score and tackle high up the pitch.
“I don’t like the idea of players turning and running down the field with their back to the ball to set up a defensive cordon. I want to stay up the field and play football - that’s the game that I enjoy going to watch and coach and that’s the game I’m going to coach in Cavan.
“I want to play attacking football - forwards are forwards and they get the big money to score so I’m telling them to stay up the football field and score.
“That’s what the crowds want to see - in the Ulster club [championship] people have enjoyed the attacking football. There has been a downturn in the crowds going to county games and I think people want to see attacking football. That’s the philosophy I’m going to go with and I want people to enjoy coming to see Cavan play football.”
Cavan lost to McGleenan’s native Tyrone in the Division Two final last year and the St Pat’s, Armagh teacher has targeted a return to Headquarters in his first season with the county.
Before that he has Division One football to contend with and Cavan begin their return to the top flight by hosting current NFL and All-Ireland champions Dublin at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday, February 5.
“Division One football is some place,” said McGleenan.
“It’s going to be a scenario of ‘win or learn’. Every time we go out, if we don’t win then we have to learn from what our mistakes are - what we have to do to improve.
“It’s a huge step up, I don’t think Cavan have played Division One football for 18 or 19 years so the challenge is to see how good we really are and how far we have to go.
“They’re talking about giving me a three-year plan to put something in place so it’s going to be a great education and challenge for me to get the players ready to play Division One football. It’s going to be an outstanding experience and it’s one I’m thoroughly looking forward to.”
Since his appointment, McGleenan has been able to meet with some of the Cavan players who forced promotion to the top flight under Terry Hyland last season. He says he’ll begin with “a clean slate” as he weighs up options before picking his first panel.
“I’m going with a clean slate and every player has an opportunity to fight for a place to fight for a place in the team,” he said.
“Everyone is fighting for the jersey. The rule we had in Scotstown was that if you got a jersey between one and 15 it was up to you to say either ‘I hold on to the jersey’ or ‘I give it to someone else’.
“When we get round to the trials - and I will be running trials - every player will be playing for a place in the squad and I’ll be looking for around 30 players.
“I want competition for places - we’re going into Division One football and the type of footballer I’m looking for is going to be competitive and he’ll push the player that’s ahead of him.”
