Negative press hits Keogan morale

ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Casement Park. Date: Sunday, 18 May. Throw-in: 1545 BST.
Coverage: Live: BBC NI, Radio Ulster MW and on the BBC NI website

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Donal Keogan says a lot of talent is coming through in Cavan

Cavan manager Donal Keogan has hinted that criticism following his team's National League relegation has made his consider his future in the job.

Keogan is in the second year of his three-year term as Breffni boss and his team are under some pressure going into Sunday's Ulster opener against Antrim.

"With the time (involved) and the criticism that you take," said Keogan, when he was asked about his future.

"We have suffered a lot of negative press in Cavan locally."

Keogan added that "some of the criticism has been unjustified".

"I think we're playing a lot better than last year.

"We performed well in a number of games but maybe in the last 10 or 15 minutes, we haven't had that killer instinct.

"That's something we hope come championship that we will have."

606: DEBATE Give your Championship predictions

Keogan estimates that the Cavan job takes around 40 hours of his time every week.

Given that Keogan's restaurant business also requires around 40 hours every week, he acknowledges that his life is "quite busy".

However, Keogan believes that his work will bear fruit for Cavan football - even if he is not in charge to take the credit for it.

"Ronan Flanagan, Sean Johnston, Ray Cullivan, Barry Watters, Rory Dunne....we've great talent coming through in Cavan and the future is very bright. It's very promising for the future."

Keogan adds that Antrim "are not going to be very easily beaten in Casement Park".

"It could define our year," adds Keogan.

And possibly his future in the Cavan job as well.

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Antrim: S McGreevy, K O'Boyle, A McClean, J Loughrey, T Scullion, J Crozier, S Kelly, A Gallagher, M McCann, P Close, K Niblock, T McCann, P Cunningham, CJ McGourty, C Close.

Cavan: James O'Reilly; M Hannon, R Dunne, M Brides; D Sheridan, A Forde, M Cahill; M McDonald, D McCabe; M Reilly, R Flanagan, B Watters; C Mackey, S Johnston, Jason O'Reilly.