CAVAN’S hopes for next season suffered yet another blow after it emerged skipper Gearóid McKiernan will miss the start of his county’s Division One campaign with a knee injury.
The Swanlinbar clubman joins an injury list that also includes goalkeeper Ray Galligan, midfielder Liam Buchanan and defender James McEnroe while new manager Mattie McGleenan will also be without Eugene Keating, Fergal Flanagan, Martin Dunne and David Givney who are all unavailable for next season.
Tyrone native McGleenan confirmed on Monday that McKiernan would be out of action for “six-to-eight weeks”, meaning he will miss the Dr McKenna Cup and, more importantly, Cavan’s Division One clashes with reigning champions Dublin and Ulster rivals Monaghan.
“He has a knee injury and he’s in rehab,” said McGleenan.
“He had knee problems at the end of last year and they hadn’t gone away. The backroom team have been working with him and they’re doing a great job but it could be six to eight weeks before he’s fit, it all depends how he responds.
“In fairness, he has a fabulous attitude, he is really getting on with his work and we’ll bring him back whenever he’s fit to play – we’ll not be rushing him back.”
McGleenan was confirmed as Terry Hyland successor in the Cavan dugout in October after winning back-to-back Monaghan championships with Scotstown. The long list of players who are injured or unavailable certainly hasn’t made a challenging campaign in the top flight any easier.
“All the Division One games are going to be massive,” said McGleenan.
“The goal is to stay in Division One and if we can do that this year with the players that are missing it’ll be a brilliant achievement and it’s something we’re going to attack. We want to keep Cavan in Division One football because I think that’ll bring them on immensely.”
McGleenan, who has called up a number of talented youngsters including Shane Tierney and John McCutcheon, added: “There’s no point in dwelling on the players that are missing at this stage.
“I have a group of 36-odd lads and that’s where my priority is now, working with the lads who are fit and healthy. That’s the world we live in now, players have work and exam commitments and that’s part and parcel of football.
“We have to get the best Cavan players that are at our disposal and get them out on the field playing well. We’ll work with the players that have and we’re enjoying getting to know them and working with them.
“They are a great group of lads and they’re putting in a serious effort at training, you certainly can’t fault them because their attitude is fabulous. Tyrone in the McKenna Cup is only two weeks’ away now and any of the lads who haven’t had game-time in the past will get their opportunity.”
Cavan welcome Dublin to Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday, February 5. The game promises to be a memorable occasion in front of some of the most passionate fans in the country.
“I’m not going to say ‘we’ll beat Dublin’ because Dublin haven’t lost a game in the League in three years,” said McGleenan.
“My job is to get Cavan playing well and the better they perform as a team then the harder they are to beat. It’s a fabulous game to start with - to welcome the All-Ireland champions to Kingspan Breffni Park is going to be fabulous night’s craic. We have about six weeks to get ourselves ready for it but we have Tyrone, Donegal and UUJ in the McKenna Cup to face first.
“We’re not going to look at Dublin yet, we’re going to try and give our players as much game-time as we can in the McKenna Cup, so we have a solid squad to pick from for the league.”
