Ladies aiming for revenge against monaghan

Paul Fitzpatrick

Cavan ladies manager Conor Barry says his side are looking forward to the visit of Monaghan in the first round of the ladies Al-Ireland SFC this Saturday in Kingspan Breffni Park (throw-in 5.15pm, live on TG4).

Having easily disposed of Down in the preliminary round, there is a good buzz in the Breffni camp and Barry says their aim is simple – to perform to the best of their ability. After that, the result will take care of itself.

“We’re looking for a performance, if we can give one, then hopefully we’ll be close to a result. If we don’t perform, we don’t have a chance. We’re not concentrating on the result, it’s about trying to get a performance in as many areas of the pitch as possible,” the Arva man told The Anglo-Celt.

“And bringing the right level of intensity, because if we don’t do that, well we won’t be at the races, simple as.

“It’s very nice to have home advantage, we haven’t been beaten at home all year, this will be our sixth home game and hopefully we can go unbeaten in this one as well.”

While Cavan are minus the services of Gráinne Smith and Laura Fitzpatrick, who are spending the summer in New York and Toronto respectively, they have been boosted by the return of the experienced Bronagh Sheridan, who was part of the panel for the Down game and is “available for selection” according to the manager.

There are a couple of injury worries in the defence following a hectic schedule of club matches, though, which is not ideal going in against a side like Monaghan.

“Monaghan are huge favourites. If you look at the start of the tyear, Cavan were 33/1 to win an All-Ireland, Monaghan were 8/1. Two years ago, when Cavan won the intermediate All-Ireland, Monaghan played afterwards in the senior final and were only beaten by a point by Cork, after a couple of refereeing decisions went against them,” said Barry.

“They were in the last two Ulster finals as well. At senior level, they’re where we want to be. They’re very good up front, they have a lot of pace up front in the likes of Caoimhe Mohan and they have a good full-back line as well, with Sharon Courtney and Gráinne McNally, who is a former All-Star.

“They are a good side, there’s no doubt about that, and Peter Clarke has them going very, very well this year.

“We haven’t named the team yet, it depends on injuries – we don’t meet the girls until Thursday night again. If we’re able to name a full strength team, it should be close enough to what lined out against Down.”