WE CAV GOT TO REMAIN REALISTIC..
CAVAN boss Mickey Graham admits there would be pluses and minuses to returning to Division 1 of the Allianz League.
Losing to Kildare last Sunday dented their promotion hopes but Cavan could still go up if results go their way this weekend.
They host Anthony Cunningham’s ( inset) Division 2 table toppers Roscommon in what has become a groundhog fixture for two yo- yo counties in recent years.
The pair were both promoted from Division 2 in 2018, contested that season’s final and then endured relegation from Division 1 together in 2019.
In all, nine counties that have been promoted from Division 2 since the leagues were restructured in 2008 have come straight back down the following year, Meath the latest.
Asked if Cavan might be better off staying in Division 2, Graham said: “It’s like this, you learn the most t when you’re playing against the best teams.
“At this moment in time, Cavan have a lot of young lads coming through and you saw against Kildare we had a lot t of debutants so if we could stay where we are... our goal at the beginning of the year was to maintain Division 2 status.
“If we achieve that goal we feel that we can give younger lads more game time in Division 2 whereas in Division 1 you’re coming up against the best teams in the country and sometimes it’s a big ask for young lads to come in at that level.
“We just have to concentrate on Roscommon at the weekend, another huge game. We know each other very well at this stage.”
Cavan have been heavily affected by the Covid- 19 crisis, with Graham carrying a 38- man panel but only able to cobble 24 for the trip to Kildare.
Graham said it’s been a logistical chore observing all the various Covid protocols.
“It is difficult, even your team talks, everybody is spread out.
“Sometimes you’d like to get in and get a hold of each other, just generate that togetherness, and that’s hard to do.
“Everybody is in the same boat, it’s just very hard to get that bond that you’re looking for and that togetherness but I’m sure everyone is experiencing that.”