CAVAN’S SECRET WEAPON
The Meath die hard who plays soccer for Sligo, time to meet ...
IN A summer of surprises, their presence at Croke Park today has almost gone unnoticed. With London and Monaghan and the hurlers of Limerick and Dublin grabbing the l i melight, Cavan are very much a footnote in the list of fairytales.
And yet they are on the cusp of significant history. London stand in the way of a first-ever quarterfinal for a county that usually has to dust off the history books when looking for highlights.
But these are changing times. Terry Hyland’s men will run out at HQ as red-hot favourites — and their recent defensive form is a major contributor to that.
The Breffni men have kept three cleansheets in their last five games, and that i mpressive record may be down to their secret weapon — someone who has no previous ties with the county and whose day job is between the posts of another code.
Proud Meath native Gary Rogers lifted the Airtricity League Premier Division with Sligo Rovers last season.
He is not the most likely cog in the Cavan machine. But he has been working with the county as a goalkeeping coach since February, having previously been involved with the Meath coaching team in 2009-2010.
Hyland was pointed in Rogers’ direction at the beginning of the year, and the 31-year-old travels to Cavan once a week for training.
‘It’s going really well. I’ve been training with them since February. I’ve been involved in the Championship games to date. I won’t be involved this weekend though with our own game [ against Shamrock Rovers tonight]. I’m really enjoying it myself. I’m a keen GAA player and fan I suppose.’
In spite of playing for one of two full-time clubs in the League of Ireland, the former Meath minor still finds time in his schedule for Cavan. Having moved to Riverstown, Co Sligo this year, where a number of Rovers players are based, his journey to Cavan has been cut by nearly an hour.
‘It’s only an hour and 20 minutes to Cavan. I was driving two hours 15 minutes up and back [from Meath] some days last year. The fact that I’m living in Riverstown this year has made it a lot easier to travel. I’m not doing as much travelling as I had been last year so I don’t mind it all.’
Even with his commitments to Sligo Rovers, Cavan and family, Rogers also helps out with local club Shamrock Gaels. It’s manageable, though, as Rovers train in the mornings, and Cavan train in the evenings.
‘For the last few weekends I’ve been involved in Championship games but that’s been after the Sligo Rovers games. It’s pretty easy to manage because I’m not doing much else as regards coaching. I look after Cavan and I look after Shamrock Gaels some evenings in Riverstown.’
He denies his loyalties are divided between his native county and Cavan, and he puts that down to the numerous times he’s switched allegiances in the soccer world — it comes with the territory.
A Cavan win against London and a Meath victory over Tyrone, along with three points for Sligo Rovers tomorrow night will be the perfect weekend for Rogers.
‘I’ll be hoping that Meath go through this weekend and that Cavan get through as well.
‘They’re a great bunch of lads down there. I really enjoy working with them. They’re a young team and they’re on the up. The future is bright for Cavan football and also for Meath football.’
London have been a surprise package this season, and goals helped sway results in their favour during their run to the Connacht final. Rogers is hoping that won’t be the case tomorrow.
‘I think they deserve a chance. Those boys are over in London working to play inter-county football, playing with clubs over there. For what they’ve done this year they certainly deserve a run out in Croke Park. They’ll be looking to win the game but I do think Cavan will have too much for them on the day.’
Although a busy man as it stands, he plans to study sports management in September. As far as his future goes, he’s keeping his fingers in many pies to keep his options open.
‘I can certainly see myself involved in goalkeeping coaching in the future. You don’t know what the future holds. I’m starting a sports-management degree in September so we’ll see how much coaching I’ll be doing and how much studying I’ll be doing.
‘I can see myself playing football for another four or five years, hopefully injury free, but it’s nice to have other interests. I’m enjoying my football and the longer I can keep playing the better.’
When Rogers does decide to call it a day, it’s likely his many talents will be in demand.