‘We haven’t turned a corner yet but we’re on the way’

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After picking up a second successive win, again with a battling second-half performance, Cavan manager Raymond Galligan’s thoughts were already turning to this Saturday’s clash with Down.

There was no panic in the dressing-room at half-time, he said – but all were aware that a vast improvement was needed.

“I think, to a man, we weren't happy at half-time. There was a lot of soul-searching to be done and a quick turnaround,” Galligan explained.

“But look, we came out second half with a real kind of point to prove. Your leaders stepped up, and we got a huge impact off the bench. So I think, as I said, to a man, everybody kind of knuckled down and we just chipped away at the scoreboard. We knew the clock was our friend. We knew we'd have loads of time to eat away at that score. And look, I think the first 20 minutes really was the turning point of the second half.

“We just narrowed the gap so quickly, and at the same time, missed a really, really good goal chance as well. It was a tough, tough battle but yeah, we’re delighted with the result.”

Cavan were highly motivated and determined to bring the fight to the home side.

“It was the way we kind of went about our business. We kind of felt we'd go aggressive with the wind, or even against the wind. We just did not want to be taking a step back here today. We knew that Westmeath would be trying to get primary recession, no different than any team, and I suppose that was our downfall (in the first half). We just weren't getting enough of breaking ball in around midfield.

“I think we lost over half of the breaking ball contests in the first half, which isn't something that you would see in our play over the last number of weeks. It's something that we take pride in ourselves.

“And then the indiscipline - they got numerous opportunities to get the ball from their defence to attack by 50-metre frees. And they are the simple basics of the game that we had spoken about. I suppose the players themselves would have been very disappointed with that. And within that, I think we went from seven down to 14 down over a matter of minutes when we just kept giving away cheap opportunities.

“But the time to reflect on that was not at half-time. The time to reflect on that is next week. So we just focused on the second half when we got into the dressing room and it was the players that got that result there today.”

The game partly hinged on a number of cards shown by the ref; Westmeath were down to 13 men at one point but Cavan then lost sub Killian Clarke to a black card, too

“Today the conditions were so difficult, and it's easy to kind of go in hard with underfoot conditions.

“But look, there were lots of bodies there. I suppose from a Westmeath perspective, it probably was disappointing that they lost the man to a black card when we didn't. But as I say, we’ll take those advantages when they come our way but it was definitely a learning for us now going forward, you've got to be the bigger man and take that step back to make sure we don't get involved.”

Confusion reigned at times concerning the new rules.

“Yeah, well, I'd like to think I was well versed on the rules, and I'd like to think I’ve a good handle on it in the sense that I’d some fantastic discussions with the FRC,” said Galligan.

“But the clear and obvious thing was that, if you lose one man, you play with two up. If you lose two men, you play with one up. So defensively, you should be really solid throughout.

“The bit that kind of annoyed me in the second half was that the fourth official said to me, ‘it's two up either side’, which makes no sense. We were disciplined when we went down to 14 men, and we kept three in our defence, which you're meant to keep doing, so minimum three. And that left us playing in attack with two.

“But when I looked on a number of occasions, Westmeath only had two in defence. And that was the point I was trying to make with the fourth official, that even though they were 14 men, they should have had minimum three in their defence, not two.

“That left that they were able to attack with an additional player throughout. So that's the type of grey area that can be game defining because having one extra body plus your goalkeeper, you're at a numerical disadvantage straight away.

“Unless the rules have changed, all I know is that if we were to lose a man, we keep two up. If we lose two men, we keep one up, but we always keep three in the fence. That’s my understanding, as I say, maybe it's changed, but I wouldn't be aware, and that's what we have done today.”

Asked about going up against Cavan’s former player and selector and current GDM Dermot McCabe, Galligan stated that it wasn’t ideal and intimated that Cavan’s win helped the board avoid an embarrassing situation.

“Look, it's probably not an ideal scenario. I suppose, moreso probably for the county board more than anything else, in the sense, he has to go in to work tomorrow in Cavan. But I have huge respect for Dermot. Dermot was very good to me both as a player and all through my career so I would have absolutely no grudge, he had a job to do today, no different than myself. It's probably awkward more if Cavan had to get a defeat today because that probably would have been a difficult scenario come Monday morning.

“But thankfully, we're not there now and we got the two points, but as I say, I stay out of it, to be honest with you,” he added with a laugh.

“Ah look, of course, you'd be disappointed (had Cavan lost). And look, it would be a tough pill to swallow, there's no question about it. And I suppose, knowing the players so well, to be fair, he probably would have been involved with the majority of the panel down through the years.

“I'm sure, (that was) absolutely an advantage when you're looking at match-ups, compared to myself looking at Westmeath. But look, as I say, it's not the perfect scenario and I think it probably saved the county board a few blushes.

“But as I say, I had a job to do today, no different than Dermot. Absolute respect, I spoke to him there afterwards and always thought very highly of him. So, it's no skin off my nose, but it's hopefully one less headache tomorrow for a few lads.”

Next up is Down on Saturday, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for reflecting on the win.

“No, definitely not. And I suppose a Saturday evening game means a little less recovery but Down’s in the same boat. Two weeks ago, we did a lot of soul-searching, a lot of reflecting both as players and management. I think we certainly haven't turned a corner. We're on the way around it.

“We've seen improvements, but again, huge improvements needed. That first half will win no games, we're fully aware of that. We need to get that 70-minute performance. And we have to do that next weekend, because Down are a really, really good team with some fantastic players, very well coached.

“So yeah, we’ve just got to recover and we’ve got to review and get our performance next weekend.”