CAVAN is his main focus for now, insisted Mullinalaghta manager Mickey Graham, as he continues his winter of ‘double-jobbing’ heading into spring.
The boss of the shock Leinster Club SFC champions continued with his winning ways, leading his native county to a narrow victory over Down in their Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup opener on Sunday.
The Cavan Gaels clubman laughed off the suggestion that he might have packed the wrong kit bag, pointing out that a good balance has been struck between club and county commitments so far:
“Lookit, in fairness Cavan haven't had to change the routine too much now since both have been going. We have been working well and I have a great backroom team for both teams and everything is running smoothly.
“Mullinalaghta have been accommodating and we are changing training around to what suits Cavan at the moment…We have been working hard behind the scenes there the last eight, nine, 10 weeks and the lads have put in a great effort.
“While it's a bit hectic, it's a great position to be in. These things don't happen too often and you have to embrace them when they do. I am enjoying it at the moment anyway.”
Graham could have fielded nearly three teams such is the level of interest in the Cavan camp at the moment, as he explained:
“We have a panel of 44 at the moment and we will be looking to use other lads as we move forward. The other lads were working hard out the back field today before it so we will look at more lads in the next few days.”
Cavan will expect another home win next Sunday, against Queen’s in Ballyconnell, after the Belfast university lads were comfortably beaten in their first Section A game by Donegal.
Graham’s sights are set further in the future though, towards Cavan’s return to the top flight of League football, although he felt the tight tussle with Down was decent preparation:
“They will learn an awful lot from that. They will know what the pace of the game is like now and moving forward into Division One football will be a huge step up for these guys as well but, look, they will learn from it.
“They will know there are different areas of their games they need to improve and that's what we are trying to do, to bring these guys forward.”
Cavan were penalised at one point for going backwards, the experienced Martin Reilly kicking a side-line ball from near halfway towards his own goal rather than the opposition’s, and Graham was annoyed in general by the experimental rules which are being tried out in pre-season competition:
“It's one of those things, changing habits. It's the mindset side of things. I think it is frustrating for the supporters when you see a good move coming off and then it has to be blown up and brought back.
“The game itself has been evolving the last 18 months and there has been more football played. I think they are just bringing it back another year or two. That's my opinion on it anyway.
“There is only so much information you can give lads. You have to trust them. You even heard them talking to each other, telling each other `You have to kick it now’.
“But there is enough going on in inter-county football nowadays. For referees, it is tough as well. I don't agree with it personally. That's my opinion”.
