Galligan: 'We had a huge amount of opportunities and we just didn't take them'

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A new season and new rules but, unfortunately for Cavan, it was not a new result in terms of home games as the Blues’ dreadful record at Kingspan Breffni continued last evening against local rivals Monaghan.

Cavan had played some leading teams such as Kerry, Derry and Donegal in challenge matches of late and came into this match with a degree of optimism, having beaten Monaghan by six points in the championship nine months ago in Clones.

However, a disappointing performance saw the Farney turn the tables. Needless to say, it wasn’t the performance, or result, that Cavan manager Raymond Galligan was looking for.

“Definitely not, you obviously want to try and get off to a good start by getting a result,” Galligan commented.

“But look, it was probably quite an enjoyable spectacle for a neutral, a high-scoring game but definitely for ourselves, hugely disappointed not getting anything out of today.”

Cavan competed strongly in the first half and again while mounting a second-half comeback but sloppy errors and an inability to take enough chances proved their undoing.

“There was a mixture of stuff in the sense that we probably had more attacks, more possessions. A lot of it was out own downfall, we should have been ahead at half-time, I certainly think we had opportunities, we left three or four two-pointers behind us.

“In the second half then, to be fair, the lads battled really, really hard - we had it back to four points at one stage there and we had a two v one and we just didn't execute the pass well. As I say, everything was in our hands as regards creating the opportunities, we just didn't take them, we need to tidy up our skills. we showed lots of positive plays there, we scored 19 points, it's about going back, tidying up, sorting out our own game and making sure it's a better version next week.”

Monaghan were much more efficient in front of goal which ultimately made the difference, Galligan agreed.

“That is probably a good synopsis of the game, we had a huge amount of opportunities and we just didn't take them. It's more a case that we need to tidy up our skills but look, it's the first round of the league, we definitely are very disappointed but next week, we get two points please God and we move on from there.”

Cavan’s place-kicking was also a letdown on the evening.

“We knew coming into the game we weren't going to have Paddy (Lynch), Sean McEvoy has been kicking them well in recent games and trainings. but look, it was just unfortunate they didn't go over the bar. Ted (Donohoe) is an accomplished freetaker, missed a couple of opportunities in the second half. The lads that are taking the frees are more than capable of scoring them, it's just one of those days, they just went the wrong side of the posts but again, it's an area that we need to improve on and the lads know that so hopefully next week we see a better efficiency rate on the frees.”

Cavan were without the aforementioned Lynch as well as Gearoid McKiernan and Cian Madden among others but Galligan is hopeful they will be available for selection before long.

“Hopefully they'll be back soon, over the next couple of weeks. They're all at different steps in their return to play but yeah hopefully we'll see a few of them back next week and then definitely see the remainder in round three which will give us the extra bit of a break to make sure they're all in better stead and a little bit better conditioned having been fully rehabbed.”

Cavan, realistically, are now up against it in terms of challenging for promotion, although Galligan made the point that early losses can be overcome in league football, as Cavan have shown before.

“Ah look, I remember, was it 2016, we lost the first two rounds of the league and we still got promoted. It's a very difficult league, there's no point saying otherwise, but absolutely, both teams are coming off the back of a loss and are going to be in the same position going into this week.

“It's about trying to improve on the areas where we were disappointing and kind of fell short today. We know playing Meath, it's a local derby, it was a draw here last year. There will be nothing in it I'm sure next week and from our side of things, we're just hopeful that we bring the best version and back it up with a result and a good performance.”

Cavan face the Royals next Sunday at 2pm in Páirc Tailteann, Navan.