Manager Mickey Graham talked to his players about having a cut at the new competition after defeat to Donegal
Cavan manager Mickey Graham and Sligo manager Tony McEntee with the Tailteann Cup at Croke Park. The two counties face off in Sunday's semi-final. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/InphoWhile there was plenty of noise around marketing campaigns, contribution to holiday funds and television coverage from the outset of the hotly-debated Tailteann Cup, the key factor in whether it was to be a success or not was always going to be buy-in from players.
“It was very hard to get over the disappointment of the Donegal game and sometimes you don’t know how lads are going to react. But we gave the lads a few days off, let them back to the clubs for a week and we regrouped, sat down and said ‘why would we let all the good work we have put in so far be undone, let’s give this a good cut and see where it gets us’,” stated Graham at yesterday’s semi-final launch.
Graham spent time touring schools in the county this week as part of Active Schools Week and says there is a buzz there among the fans.“Being up here and them coming to watch it is inspiring the next generation, they are saying ‘I want to play with Cavan, I want to be in Croke Park’ and that in itself is a success I think, if it’s going to encourage more children to play football in the years ahead.