Football

Cavan manager Mickey Graham wants to develop winning mentality

STRONG FINISH: Cavan started with a one-point win over Down last weekend thanks to a late Conor Madden score Picture: Philip Walsh
STRONG FINISH: Cavan started with a one-point win over Down last weekend thanks to a late Conor Madden score Picture: Philip Walsh STRONG FINISH: Cavan started with a one-point win over Down last weekend thanks to a late Conor Madden score Picture: Philip Walsh

Dr McKenna Cup Section A: Cavan v Queen’s University, Belfast (tomorrow, Ballyconnell, 1.30pm)

CAVAN manager Mickey Graham has called on his Breffni players to make the most of the short timeframe available in county colours as their season continues to crank into gear.

Cavan shook off the winter cobwebs with a one-point win over Down in their McKenna Cup opener last weekend and should add to that when Queen’s visit Ballyconnell tomorrow afternoon.

Moving onto four points would please new manager Graham as he wants a winning mentality to be developed as quickly as possible within the squad.

“When you’re 20 or 21 you’re thinking ‘this is great, I have plenty of years ahead of me’ but it’s not like that,” said Graham who played against Queen’s boss and former Down forward Shane Mulholland during his own Cavan days.

“Before you know it you’re 28 or 29 years of age and the light at the end of the tunnel is approaching.

“It does pass by very quickly and it seems to be getting shorter all the time because the commitment levels are so high.

“There are not too many boys over the age of 30 playing inter-county football, especially with the pressures of work life and family life there as well.

“I think boys are now realising that they may only get five or six years at this whereas it was maybe 12 or 13 years back in the past.

“It’s not a big timeframe and you have to realise that and try and make the most of it and grab whatever success you can.”

A first McKenna Cup win for Cavan since 2000 would be a good start, but Graham’s ambition of reaching the play-off stages aren’t driven solely by the opportunity of lifting a cup.

A commanding win this weekend would leave them in an excellent position heading into next Wednesday’s final round encounter with Donegal, and the manager would love the opportunity of at least one extra game before their Division One opener in Galway in January 27.

“I look at the McKenna Cup as a competition where I can see new players and also it’s a chance to get your established players ready for the National League,” he said.

“It is my first year so I do need to give more players more game-time to see what they’re like and an extra games would obviously help that.

“A lot of these lads haven’t played senior inter-county football before so it’s a great competition for that.

“The more games the better because it’ll keep you playing matches right up to the start of the League, competitive matches.”

Queen’s fell to a 10-point loss to Donegal last weekend but there were some bright moments for Mulholland’s side.

Down panellist Daniel Guinness’s pace caused issues in the first half while Armagh youngster Callum O’Neill hit two points. Indeed, all six of Mulholland’s starting forwards raised white flags from play.

They will still be without the likes of James McMahon and Ben Crealey tomorrow while St Enda’s duo Odhran Eastwood and James McAuley remain on club duty.

For the students it will be a case of trying to keep things ticking over ahead of their Sigerson clash with Maynooth University while Cavan look primed to make it two wins from two under new manager Graham.