Graham reckons clubs have focused on league

Cavan Gaels manager Mickey Graham

CAVAN Gaels manager Mickey Graham feels that the restructuring within the county may lead to some clubs prioritising the league over championship this season.

A change to the current system will see the bottom six teams in division one – or possibly more depending on who wins the senior and intermediate championships -  relegated to division two and, as a result, playing intermediate championship football in 2013.

A number of high-profile teams are running the risk of dropping down a grade, and Graham believes it may have impacted the championship.

“Look at Lavey there,” he said. “They’ve exited the championship already and maybe their focus was a bit more on securing senior status this year.

“There’s a number of established teams at the risk of dropping down a grade, like Gowna and Ballinagh, so maybe the eye does be a bit more on the league this year.”

There’s no such problems for the former Cavan minor boss as the Gaels currently sit on top of the league and have secured their place in the championship quarter-finals with two wins over Lavey and Denn in group two.

“We’re happy enough with how things are going,” admitted Graham. “The Lavey match was close, they had been the form team going into it and we were expecting a tough match.”

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