Cawley commits until end of 2020 season
There was good news for Sligo Rovers last week as David Cawley committed to the club until the end of the 2020 season.
The Ballina man has been the club’s most consistent player since he returned having spent a year at St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2016 and a year at Galway in 2017.
Rovers boss Ger Lyttle has been so pleased with the 26-year-old’s contribution this season, that he felt it was vital Cawley remained with the club.
“He’s been absolutely tremendous for us this season. He’s one of those signings that when I came here I wanted to bring in because of his style of play and how he plays. He’s an excellent footballer, for me he’s probably been our most consistent player this season. He’s showed great leadership on the pitch and he’s our top goalscorer at the minute as well which is rare for David. He’s a player that, moving forward, we want here and part of what we’re trying to do and how our style of football, and David fits into that brilliantly.”
Eyebrows were raised among certain quarters when Cawley’s return was announced at the start of this season, despite the midfielder playing for the club throughout its most successful era.
“I think he’s had to prove himself again with our fans. I know when he came there was a few eyebrows raised. I know there was one or two supporters who weren’t over the moon or ecstatic with us signing him and they thought it was a backwards step. I’ve never thought that. He loves Sligo Rovers. I know he wanted to come here previously and it didn’t happen. He’s a real family man and he’s the type of player that I would like to be associated with Sligo Rovers.
“I think we’re going to see more of the best of him. He was here during the success, winning leagues and stuff. I think he was 20. He’s now 26 so he’s at the peak of his career. He knows the game now. Whereas before he was learning it. It’s only good for our young lads to be training with him every day. In training he very rarely gives the ball away. We’re looking at a system that suits himself, Rhys and Lee Lynch. For me the three players are up there technically with the best midfielders in the league. We’re delighted with the business and we’re delighted he’s committed and it’s good for the club.”
As the season has gone on, Cawley’s leadership qualities have emerged, and he has become a vital cog in the wheel for Rovers this season.
“There’s leadership in many ways. David wouldn’t be a vocal leadership type of person but he does his leading in training day-to-day. He’s vocal when he has to be. It depends on how you define leadership. He has stepped up to the mark, he’s got us important goals when we’ve needed them. He’s drove the team on. His performance levels have been really good.”
There was also good news as Under 19 players Luke McNicholas and Niall Morahan were awarded their first professional contracts with the club last week.
Lyttle has always been adamant that he wants the club to develop young players coming through the youth system, and this is further evidence of his commitment to that.
“You see now what we’re about, we’re trying to develop young players. Great role models around them and David (Cawley) fits into that bracket. If they’re playing with players like David every day they’re only going to get better. They’ll see how he conducts himself off the pitch too and that’s equally as important. He’s a real family man and personally I like that in any player.
“Niall’s a similar player to David. He’s got those qualities, he’s very disciplined in his role, technically he’s very good. He’s a quiet lad, we’ll maybe try and bring a bit of roughness maybe out of him as he gets used to the boys. He’s captain of our Under 19s as well, he does have leadership in him. We think he’s going to be one for the future.
“Luke is another one, we’ve been blessed with goalkeepers here. He’s a top young talent. For me, he has a chance of going big and beyond if he really wants to,” Lyttle added.
Lyttle is keen for young players to follow the same path as that of John Mahon and Jack Keaney, who have cemented their places in the starting eleven.
“I’m big into youth development and I think it’s important that a club has an identity that we’re going to give these young lads a chance if they’re good enough. Since I’ve come in I think you can see I’ve always tried to push one or two in. Obviously Ed McGinty, John Mahon and Jack Keaney are the benchmark for the rest, we’ve now got young Liam Kerrigan through. Luke, Niall and Darren Collins, there’s still a good bunch there. There’s a couple of other boys who are in training with us, Dan Beya, he’s been doing really well for the U19s, shows a bit of quality. Rather than going to England or Scotland and bringing young players over, and developing them for other clubs, I’d rather do it for our own club. It could be three years down the line where we have these young players developed into a David Cawley or players like that.
“There’s no point in having Under 19s and Under 17s if we don’t make good use of it. We have to be realistic in terms of our budget and what we have at Sligo Rovers. We don’t have the same as the top four or five teams. We’ve got to adjust that. We’ve found a gem with John Mahon this year. If it was the other way John probably would not have got a chance, we would have been looking beyond and bringing in players who are proven in the league or beyond and John Mahon would have been back playing in the Under 19s or with an amateur team next year. Jack was the same. They know what it takes to play for Sligo Rovers, they know what it takes to represent the club. Their families are from Sligo.”
Cawley admits there was a bit of pressure on him upon his return, but he knew where he wanted to be.
“I’m delighted since I’ve come back. It’s nice to have a bit of security, it’s something that doesn’t happen to often in this league, especially not two years. You might get an extra year but you’re always thinking to the future but thankfully now I can concentrate on football and not worry about that for a couple of years.
“There was a bit of pressure when I made the choice to come back. This is where I wanted to come. There was one or two other places I could have gone at the end of last year. I could have stayed with Galway, I enjoyed my time there. I know this place so well, I’ve been here for years and we’ve had good success here. I didn’t mind the pressure at all. I wanted to be here and do well and thankfully I’m happy with how I’ve done.”
Cawley’s performances have been consistently good this season, and that element of his game has improved since his first spell with the club.
“Consistency the last couple of years have come in for me. I know when I first came I took off well. When you’re young and still learning it’s hard to keep at the top of your game, you get your ups and downs here and there. As I’ve got older, you’re more focused on yourself and the job.
“When I was away from Sligo I was staying a couple of nights in Dublin at Pats and in Galway when I was at Galway and while I’m back here I’m home everyday so I can balance the two (football and family). It’s probably a big factor in why Dublin didn’t work out, I had to stay a couple of nights. I remember some days I was driving up and down in the same day and that was affecting me in training. I wasn’t even training well. I took it onto the pitch and then I wasn’t enjoying it at all. It’s been the complete opposite.”
Cawley’s love for the club is unquestionable. A defeat cuts him deep, and it’s something he takes personally.
“When I’m balancing football and family, after a loss on a Saturday night I’m not the same at home for a couple of days. The missus and kids see that, it still affects me as much. You don’t want to lose. When we’re down in the league a bit you take it personally as a player, well me anyway. I’ll be like that for the rest of my career.”
Cawley has been reunited with Lee Lynch, the pair had played together with the Bit O’Red in 2012 and 2013, wining the league and FAI Cup together.
“Lee is still the same lad, buzzing around the place, full of energy. On the pitch, he still makes me tired looking at him. He has bags of energy. He’s a good player as well so it makes it easier for us.”
Cawley has so far scored four goals this season, although he is adamant that Dinny Corcoran’s own goal was his goal.
“It’s a lovely feeling scoring. Over the years I’ve never been put in the box for corners cause I’m not the tallest or the biggest but Ger has thrown me in. I think the first one against Bohs was a header and I don’t think I’ve ever scored a header in my life. After that then he just said ‘go in the box and make a nuisance of yourself’. I’m happy enough so hopefully I can get a couple more. The boys are having a laugh saying I’m the top goalscorer or joint top goalscorer so if I get one or two more I’ve told them all they owe me a fiver if I finish top goalscorer.”