CAVAN manager Mattie McGleenan says the width of the Croke Park surface means it is not possible to go there and win with a defensive mindset.
His side took on Roscommon in an unexpectedly fluid National Football League Division Two final on Sunday, with the sides producing a record 8 goals and 28 points between them in the highest-scoring League final of all-time.
Kevin McStay said afterwards he sent his side out to have a cut at it, and McGleenan – while displeased with his side’s defensive display in the second half, when they conceded 4-4 – said that the lessons of recent seasons showed that an offensive mindset is needed to win at headquarters.
“At times we played some great football, we were fantastic in some of the play, but you have to consistently do that over 70, 75 minutes.
“When the other team’s in the ascendancy, we have to be controlled and disciplined, and try to reduce that scoring threat.
“One thing I’ve taken from today is that you can’t do defensive setups in Croke Park, you have to go at the game. That’s a huge learning curve for us, getting out to Croke Park today.
“The width of the field makes a huge difference, certainly from watching games the last year or two. Our key is to get back here, that’s the first thing we have to look at and say ‘can we get back to Croke Park in this calendar year?’
“That’s a target we have set down, and we’ll sit down and look at our targets now and realign.”
McGleenan believes the introduction of a rule this season that means all kickouts must cross the 21-yard line has facilitated a more open style of football.
The former Tyrone forward also says that coaches have a responsibility to make the sport entertaining to watch, but admitted his side had gone too far in that pursuit on Sunday.
“Even the kickout rule has a huge positive influence on the game, where the kickout has to go outside the 21’. That’s always going to allow for a quicker transition from attack to defence.
“The whole of Ireland’s asking people to come out and play football, and that’s part of our role as coaches. We want people to come to the games and enjoy the games and make them interesting – now, not four goals and 16 points interesting.
“That’s something we’ve got to work on. But I can’t fault the boys, they’ve put in an absolutely magnificent shift over the last 10, 12 weeks and yes, we would like to have finished with a win, but it’s not until you lose a match that you test the character of your team.”
That test will come in Ballybofey on May 13, where Cavan could well be heading without in-form captain Dara McVeety after he suffered a hamstring tear in the second half of their 4-16 to 4-12 defeat.
Whether they come through the front door or have to go out the back, McGleenan has set his sights on bringing the Breffnimen back to the last eight for the first time since 2013.
“We’ve only lost two games this year in the National League, both to Roscommon. That’s a huge plus for us heading into the summer time. We’ve gone to Cork, played Meath, played Down, who were in an Ulster final last year.
“Roscommon are Connacht champions and not by chance. They proved that today.
“Our target is to get into that realm and stay in that realm. I want Cavan to be a top 8-10 team. We have to take the lessons from today and we have six weeks to improve it to go to Donegal.
“We’re going to go in with our game faces on and give it a serious rattle. That’s all I can ask of the boys on any given day.”
