Cavan Yearbook 2013

The Lavey U13 side that faced Maghera in the county final, front l/r: Tony Browne, Daire Tierney, Philip Smith, Conor Daly, Aaron Lynch, Danny Cusack, Stephen Brady, Ryan O’Sullivan, Aaron Mc Cabe, Stephen Smith. Back: Pat Mc Cabe (Selector), Luke Cunningham, Aidan Cunningham (Manager), Killian Dunne, Gavin Tierney, Aaron Smith, Luke Smith, Patrick Smith, Joey Tierney, Ben Cunningham, Jack Mc Cabe, Denis Mc Gonagle (Selector), Killian Ferguson,

title, within the next couple of years?

After all, the club is already sitting next to the top table. It seems like only a matter of time before they're the bride and not the bridesmaid.

In 2012, impressive league and championship displays by the Dublinroad based side pock marked the year like confetti at a wedding.

It has been a laudatory and exciting past season for Lavey. Right from the get-go in the ACFL, the teeming talent in black and white shone through.

Victories over Kingscourt, Mullahoran, Ramor Utd and Gowna were indicative of Lavey's potency in the league.

A draw with Ballinagh was another plum result. Travelling to Terry Coyle

Park and getting to within two points of claiming a win was no mean feat.

The club's odyssey towards a 20 point tally in the league was interrupted briefly by defeats to Cuchullains and Killygarry as injuries took its toll.

"We were very anxious to do well in the league because of the new system that's in the pipeline for 2013," club chairman Paddy Reilly explained.

"Every team wanted to do well in division one and you could tell that from the way the players approached each of the league games. We're delighted with the way things went for us in the league. The lads were very consistent and put in a great effort all year. Fair play to them.

Lavey/Castlerahan Minor A Championship winners

223

The championship draw saw Lavey lumped in with long-time kingpins and 2011champions Cavan Gaels, 2010 title winners Castlerahan and Denn.

In reflecting on what might have been in the blue riband competition, outgoing Lavey chairman Paddy Reilly is succinct in his observations: "We lost by two points in our game with the Gaels but we could have won it if we had taken our chances over the hour.

"The Kingscourt defeat was more clear-cut; they got three goals in the last ten minutes which left us with no hope of winning the game.

"In fairness, they were the better team by some distance and at the time I thought they were good enough to go the distance like in

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224

2010.

"The Denn game didn't come off.

There were a lot of injuries in both camps and both of us were out of the competition at that stage."

It seems like many moons ago when Lavey annexed the 2009 IFC title (by defeating Cootehill Celtic in the final) and went out of the Ulster club competition by just two points to a crack Cookstown (Tyrone) team.

The make-up of the Lavey team has altered significantly since that provincial club campaign with approximately six of that number absent this year.

Top notch players like Sean Maguire (England), Mark Brady (Australia), Damien Smith (Australia), Declan Murphy (Australia) and David Walsh (Australia) have all taken their leave to try out pastures new, thus denuding Lavey's Class of 2012 of some of its richest talent.

"We didn't do too badly at all in the past year considering we were missing almost half a team," Paddy reflects," which says a lot about our spirit.

"There's been a supply line of very good youngsters though coming up through the ranks for a good few years now which has helped a lot.

"Even last year, you could see how much the strength of the senior panel has been boosted by the inclusion of the best of our under 21s from 2011.

"They joined up with Killinkere and Cuchullains (Assan Gaels) and showed just how much potential they have which is great for the future.

"We'd be hoping to defend the under 21 title 'cause they're a good bunch of players and a lot of them are eligible again in the coming year.

"The minors gave the club a boost as well. We had nine of the starting fifteen that beat Northern Gaels in the division one final of the championship.

"To be honest, it's got to the stage around the club, that all the youngsters are nearly expecting to collect county medals at one grade or the other."

Paddy insists that all the underage success enjoyed by Lavey in recent times has been sculptured from the rock labelled 'hard work'.

lads we have lost to emigration - we On any given Saturday during the could nearly field a team abroad - the playing season, he tells us, upwards way the seniors have done has been of 50 youngsters under 10 can be very encouraging. found at the club grounds, practising.

"At least we're lucky in that we have Paddy reckons there are now more a lot of fellas around the 19 to 20 to youngsters in Lavey being coached 21 mark," adds Paddy who was also than ever and more qualified coaches chairman and secretary in the 70s." there to coach them too.

Of course, Paddy admits that there Although the Celtic Tiger didn't is room for improvement at all levels deliver as many people Lavey way as within the club but, naturally, he is it did in, say, Ballyjamesduff, there wont to highlight the highlights. has been a certain influx all the same.

In that regard, he points to the Bigger student numbers are senior team's good innings in the All reported than heretofore at County Football League and the Aghadreena and Killyconnell national credible run in the senior schools which is good news for the championship. coaches.

"We beat Kingscourt in this year's The club coaches are very diligent league and drew with them in the in their work and the production line is 2011 championship so we knew kept at full tilt with each coach coming into this year's championship remaining at their station, year on there wasn't an awful lot between us year. and the top teams in the senior ranks.

Little wonder then that such "We had a good win over Belturbet underage county players such as in the championship but unfortunately Shane Tierney, Chris Conroy, Aaron though, we had a very disappointing Smith, Gerard Smith, Senan result against Kingscourt (in the Gilchreest, James Cunningham plus championship).They impressed me Stephen Jordan and Joey Jordan that day and I thought that day that have been mined over the years. they'd go the distance in the Let's be clear here. To put Lavey's competition but Mullahoran had other rich dividend from their underage ideas." success in context. Only Cavan With the bingo and the lotto bringing Gaels sport a better record of in the much needed funds to keep achievement than Lavey in recent everything well oiled and ship-shape, years at underage level. Take on Lavey are looking good all-round. board, for instance, the fact that Paddy, who refereed the 1988 JFC Lavey won under 13 and under 14 final between Belturbet and titles in 2011.

Munterconnacht, is satisfied that he For his part, Paddy Reilly doesn't is stewarding a well-run ship. begin to play down the quality of the And far from just plodding along, crops of players that have been drifting on the ocean of Cavan produced: football, Reilly's vessel is steering at "It would be fair to say that these are a speed of knots towards a port the best of times ever for the club, named 'success'. across the board with our minors, under 21s and seniors doing so well.

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225

The Maghera senior panel, front l/r: Sean O’Connell, Padraic Baugh, Stephen Smith, Raymond Brady, Declan Brady, Kevin Lynch, Aaron Brady, Dylan Donegan, Darragh Brady, Seamus Cahill, Joseph Hanley, Brian McHugh. Back: Tommy Tobin, Brian Duffy, Paddy Tobin, Shane Mc Hugh, Andrew Brady, Fintan O’Reilly, John McConnell, Martin Mc Grath, Kevin McConnell, Adam O’Reilly, Eddie Byrne, Jason Fitzsimons, Luke Mc Loughlin, Brendan McKenny

MAGHERA - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

MAGHERA

2012 RESU LTS ACFL Divis ion 3 Maghera 1 -7 1-8 Kilda llan Corlough 1 -10 1-6 Ma ghera Maghera 1 -8 4-13 Bally machugh Maghera 1 -6 1-8 Tem pleport Bailieborou gh 1-16 0-1 Mag Maghera 0 -5 2-14 She hera rcock Kildallan 1-5 1-5 Maghe ra Maghera 0 -5 0-12 Corl ough Ballymachu gh 2-9 3-5 Maghera Maghera 1 -4 3-9 Baili e borough Arva 6-14 2 -5 Maghera Laragh Utd 1-24 1-3 M aghera Templeport 3-14 2-8 M aghera Shercock 3 -17 2-7 Ma ghera Maghera 0 -4 3-16 Arv Maghera v a Laragh - no t played

Stephen Smith

BUILDING TOWARDS BRIGHTER DAYS Despite enduring some tough defeats early on, Maghera MacFinns managed to put a positive spin on things in 2012 which saw the club claiming two county titles at underage level and reaching a long-awaited junior championship quarter-final. Chairman Jim Brady filled us in on what has been going on within the Meath border club.

A

ccording their chairman, 2012 was “one big step” for the Maghera MacFinns club as they ended their long wait to reach the last eight of the junior football championship. In front of their devoted supporters, the MacFinns saw off Corlough’s challenge to put a disappointing league campaign behind them and leave themselves within a realistic chance of reaching the last four of the competition with fellow strugglers Templeport waiting

JFC Maghera 0 -4 3-12 Corn afean Corlough 0 -10 1-9 Ma Maghera 1 g hera -4 0-13 Tem pleport – Q F

in the quarter-final.

Had you asked Jim Brady back in February whether or not Maghera would have settled for that, he’d have given you an affirmative nod. In his second year as chairman, Brady has done his utmost to oversee a change in fortunes for the club which he explained has struggled for numbers when it comes to football at the adult grade.

“I suppose survival was the number one priority going into the new

227

season,” Brady stated.

“We wanted to try and give as good an account of ourselves as we could and we felt we could do that by just winning a few games and improving on last year.

“We’ve been struggling with numbers over the last few years and we’re waiting for Under 16s and minors to come through to try and fill the void. So it’s really a matter of patience and hopefully when the time comes we’ll be able to push on that

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228

The Maghera Under 13 panel, front l/r: Donal Dunne, Evan O’Reilly-Delaney, Colm Geraghty, Oisin Brady, Micheal Muldoon, Aaron Cummins, Harry O’Connell, Jamie Davidson, Cian Reilly, Connor Bosch. Back: Joe Lynch (manager), Arann Geraghty, Rob Cummins (mentor), Eoghan County, Killian Clarke, Brendan McConnell, Michael McKeon-Boyle, Brendan Boyle (mentor), Connor McHugh, Myles Geraghty (mentor), Charlie Reilly.

bit further.

“This year we got to our first quarterfinal in the junior championship in 20 years,” he added.

Under the guidance of Gowna man Sean Pearson for a second year, you could be guaranteed that Maghera were as best prepared for the start of the season as they could be.

Nonetheless, their start to Division Three of the All County Football League was far from an ideal one.

Injuries combined with a lack of

confidence, led to defeat after defeat and eventually left the team with just a mere point on the table heading into their opening championship outing.

“We had a bad league campaign as the table will show,” Brady admitted, “but I’d say we performed admirably in many of the games considering the circumstances. All in all, we’d have had about seven or eight junior players available this year and after that we’d be struggling.”

Despite the poor form and the tight

numbers, Pearson would have his players well-tuned by the end of July for their first round championship clash with Cornafean, but they would still succumb to a heavy defeat at the hands of the Reds to send them crashing into the backdoor of the competition, where many felt defeat and another early exit awaited the MacFinns.

The team would regroup and once the draw revealed a meeting with Corlough at Crowe Park in Lacken,

Maghera’s senior squad 2012, front l/r: Andrew Brady, Tommy Tobin, Luke Mc Loughlin, James Brady, Kevin Lynch, Stephen Smith, Raymond Brady, Seamus Cahill, Joseph Hanley. Back: Peter Brady, Brian Duffy, Fintan O’Reilly, Shane Mc Hugh, Jason Fitzsimons, Martin Mc Grath, Paddy Tobin, Declan Brady

229

Declan Brady

Raymond Brady (2) and Martin McGrath

Raymond Brady

tails were firmly up as a coveted spot in the quarter-finals was up for grabs.

In a contest that was completely even, with both teams notching 10 scores each, it was a 49th minute goal from substitute Brian Duffy that swung the game in Maghera’s favour as they came away from Lacken with a 1-9 to 0-10 victory and a first junior championship quarter-final berth in some 20 years.

The sides had been level on no less than six occasions throughout a tight encounter and it was scores from Brian McHugh and Fintan O’Reilly that steered Pearson’s men into their first lead after Corlough had taken the early advantage inside three minutes.

McHugh and Joseph Hanley contributed to the leading tally before their opponents closed out the half strong to leave the teams on 0-4 apiece for the interval.

Corlough resumed sturdily by kicking the first two scores of the second-half, but McHugh and Hanley paid off Trojan work from the likes of Declan Brady and Seamus Cahill at the back to shoot points and deadlock the teams once more, before the game’s salient moment arrived 11 minutes from time. A long pass into the Corlough square from Andrew Brady was broke down by Fintan O’Reilly and Duffy was quickest to latch on to possession and bury the ball beyond Shane McGovern into the Corlough net.

The west Cavan men pulled back scores to keep the pressure on late in a fiercely-contested game, but points from Seamus Cahill, Paddy Tobin and Duffy made sure of a memorable win for the Maghera men.

Maghera (JFC v Corlough): Martin McGrath; Kevin Lynch, Declan Brady, Stephen Smith; Paddy Baugh, Seamus Cahill (0-1), Joe Hanley (01); Thomas Tobin, Andrew Brady; Jason Fitzsimons, Paddy Tobin (0-1), James Brady; Raymond Brady, Fintan O’Reilly (0-1), Brian McHugh (0-4). Subs: Brian Duffy (1-1), John O’Connell and Brendan McKenna.

“Cornafean beat us in the first round and we were drew against Corlough in the backdoor and there was a good vibe from the players when that draw was made,” said Brady.

230

Killian Clarke

Micheal Muldoon receives the Under 13 silverware

Tommy Tobin

“It was a first for that team and I suppose you could say it was one big step. We availed of our opportunity and we had a full strength team on the day. The players played as a team and they played to their strengths which was the difference for us. We were the better organised team that day and it showed.”

Next up was Templeport at the Cavan town venue, where Pearson’s side were simply outclassed and faced an uphill battle after falling seven points behind early in the secondhalf. A late Jason Fitzsimons goal would only prove consolation for Maghera that wet September evening as they made their exit from the championship, while Templeport advanced.

Brady’s assessment of the 0-13 to 1-4 defeat was a straight forward one.

“We had two or three players injured, including James Brady and Tommy Tobin, which was a big dilemma for us,” he stated. “There are some teams that can afford to be without players for championship games, but not us. On the day we missed a lot of simple chances as well, which never helps, and we didn’t have the reserves either. We just struggled and confidence was another problem because we took a lot of wrong options as well. In saying that, there were a few great performances from Declan Brady and Martin McGrath, who would be one of the best goalkeepers in the county, but we were weak up front and it cost us.”

The chairman is also fulsome in his praise for Sean Pearson and his management team, which he hopes will be hanging around for 2013 as the club look to build on their better fortunes of this past season.

“I’d like to thank Sean Pearson, Joe Lynch, Martin Conaty and Myles Geraghty for all the work they put in this past year. Hopefully they’ll be back next year and we can improve further,” said Brady.

“Sean brought tremendous belief and passion to the whole thing. Obviously the players respect him for what he’s done and he helps to translate that on to the pitch, but the big thing he brings is passion and it’s a question of the players buying into it after that. The outlook for the club is good. We have some good players coming through at underage level and we’re probably one of the few clubs in the county that don’t owe money to anybody, so next year we’ll be hoping to do some developments on the pitch and that.”

dominate proceedings for the opening 15 minutes as Aaron Cummins found the net five minutes in and sharpshooter Muldoon grabbed more points to increase their team’s tally.

Lacken threatened to spoil the party for their opponents with another goal, but the scores of Muldoon and another goal from the deadly Aaron Cummins proved just enough for Maghera to clinch the title on a 4-7 to 2-9 score-line.

Maghera (U14 Div 3 final v Lacken): Evan O’Reilly Delaney, Charlie Reilly, Peadar Doughty, Martin O’Connell, Brendan McConnell, Killian Clarke, Conor McHugh, Daniel Reid, Michael Muldoon (1-5), Emmet O’Connell (0-1), Aaron Cummins (2-1), Josh Cummins (1-0), Josh Nevin. Subs: Eoghan County, Harry O’Connell.

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U14S DELIVER LEAGUE TITLE In June, Maghera’s Under 14 footballers delivered the club’s first trophy of the year when they defeated Lacken in the Division Three league final by 4-7 to 2-9 in Kilnaleck.

Under the guidance of Joe Lynch, who was ably assisted

by Robert Cummins, Liam Nevin and Peter Ahern, Maghera, who had been superb throughout the campaign, made up for a slow start by firing in the game’s first goal after eight minutes when attacker Josh Cummins latched on to a long ball from centre-field and blasted to the Lacken net. Five minutes later top-scorer Michael Muldoon would net to put the MacFinns firmly in the driving-seat before Lacken pulled back a goal of their own to narrow the difference at 2-2 to 14 at half-time.

The second-half was an enthralling one and saw Maghera

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231

U13S TASTE CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY

Joseph Hanley

Tommy Tobin

Kevin Lynch

July saw Maghera’s Under 13s doubling the club’s silverware tally for the season when they defeated Lavey in a thrilling Division Two Championship final at Kingspan Breffni Park. Once again, Michael Muldoon proved a central figure for Maghera as he shot 2-6 to help topple the young New Inns men, after the would-be winners had made the worst possible start to this final.

It was Lavey that took the early initiative and raced into a 1-3 to nothing lead before Conor McHugh got Maghera off the mark with a 12th minute point, which was quickly added to by Brendan McConnell (free). In the 21st minute, the MacFinns would receive a timely boost when Muldoon crashed the ball to the Lavey net, and a slice of good luck would see the ace attacker bag another goal on the eve of half-time, leaving the scores at 110 to 2-6 in Lavey’s favour.

A slick move involving Muldoon and Charlie Reilly fed Aaron Cummins through for Maghera’s third goal, and their first lead of the game minutes into the second-half, and from there on in it was nip and tuck between the two evenly matched sides, before Maghera closed out the game in emphatic fashion with more scores from Muldoon (3), McHugh and Killian Clarke, while Aran Geraghty, Evan O’Reilly Delaney, Jamie Davidson and Martin O’Connell all held firm at the back late on to ensure a 3-16 to 1-17 victory.

Maghera (U13 Div 2 final v Lavey): Michael McKeon Boyle, Arann Geraghty, Evan O’Reilly Delaney, Jamie Davidson, Martin O’Connell, Charlie Reilly, Eoghan County, Conor McHugh (0-3), Killian Clarke (0-1), Aaron Cummins (1-0), Brendan McConnell (0-3, 3f), Harry O’Connell, Colm Geraghty, Michael Muldoon (2-6, 1f), Cian Reilly. Sub: Aidan Tierney.

232

Kevin Lynch

James Brady

Pauric Baugh

RAMOR

2012 RESU LTS

Adrian Cole

PLENTY TO RELISH While there was little to celebrate on the senior front for Ramor United in 2012, the underage section of the club more than made up for things by delivering some much coveted silverware. PRO Patrick O’Reilly told us more.

Y

ou could argue that this past

of teams making the drop down to the

year was one to forget for

intermediate ranks by the end of the

the senior footballers of

season.

ACFL Divis ion 1 Ballinagh 2 -15 2-8 Ram or Ramor 1-12 2-2 Redhill s Lavey 1-8 0 -7 Ramor Kingscourt 1-12 1-12 R amor Ramor 1-10 1-6 Killygarr Drumgoon y 0-12 1-14 R amor Drumalee 0 -7 3-14 Ram or Ramor 0-7 1-8 Lacken Ramor 1-8 0-15 Cúchu lainns Cavan Gae ls 2-16 0-13 Ramor Ramor 1-7 0-14 Mullah oran Ramor 2-6 0-16 Gown a Ramor 0-11 0-8 Castlera han Belturbet 0 -7 0-12 Ram or Ramor 1-12 0-8 Ballyha ise SFC Ramor 1-8 2-15 Castle rahan Drumgoon 0-16 0-12 R amor Redhills 1-1 1 0-5 Ramo r

good start to the year.”

O’Dowd would be without the services of James McEnroe, who had

Ramor United, with an early exit from

“James O’Dowd was over the team

lined-out in Cavan’s defence in the

the championship preceding a battle

this year and he had John Mulvanny

2011 All-Ireland SFC, due to work

to avoid relegation from Division One

and Adam O’Connell in with him as

commitments in England, while he

of the ACFL at the end of the season.

selectors,” explained club PRO,

would also lose another former

Patrick O’Reilly.

county senior in Anton O’Reilly for the

The Virginia club did have high

summer as he spent three months in

expectations heading into 2012, with

“With new management we had

a new experienced manager on

high hopes because James was

board, and knew that they’d have to

coming in having won a senior

Nonetheless, Ramor were confident

hit the ground running in the league in

championship with Clontibret. Things

of a making a winning start when they

order to avoid a slip into the

were definitely upbeat going into the

travelled

relegation zone which saw an array

first game and we were hoping for a

Division One opener. In a hard-fought

233

the US.

to

Ballinagh

for

their

The Ramor senior squad, front, l/r: Adrian Cole, Emmett Daly, Aoibhinn Daly (mascot), Philip Fitzsimons, Paul Queally, Adam O’Connell, Shane Cole, Philip Fitzsimons, Steffan Connolly, Jack Brady, Barry Balfe, Damien Barkey, Simon Cadden, Frank Cole (mascot). Back: Keith Soden, Colm Murphy, Shane Gaffney, Kevin Mulvany, Aoghan Cahill, Aaron Farrelly, James Bradley, Michael O’Reilly, Alan Tracey, Stephen Monaghan, Gary McNamee, Donal Farrelly, Ronan Keating

RAMOR - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

The Ramor Under 16 championship winning panel, front l/r: Micheal Smart, James Connell, Davin Bent, Emmet Maguire, James Brady, Shane Queally, Ryan Mannion, Conor Bradley, Eoin Sommerville, Dylan Morgan, David O’Connell, Daniel Rourke, Neal McEnroe, John O’Donoghue (mascot). Back: James Bradley (coach), Michael O’Donoghue (manager), Ben Nagle, Laurence Caffrey, Joseph O’Connell, Killian Maguire, Ciaran Daly, Liam McDermott, Sean O’Reilly, Sean McDermott, Stephen Gargan, Sam Kerins, Niall Farrelly, Killian Morgan (coach), Eamonn O’Connell (coach)

game, played in the tough conditions of late February, Ramor would come out on the wrong end of a 2-15 to 2-8 result. An impressive 1-12 to 2-2 victory over Redhills at Ramor Park would follow seven days later, but the team’s erratic form would see them making their way towards July’s championship opener with a real possibility of league relegation hanging over them.

A draw with high-flying Kingscourt and wins over Drumgoon (1-14 to 012) and Drumalee (3-14 to 0-7) would be vital for the Virginia men before the championship’s start, as it left them within a realistic chance of surviving the drop.

“We lost our first match and won our second. We drew with Kingscourt and won a few games after that but went on a poor enough run from there up

until the championship,” O’Reilly admitted. “We were hoping that we could turn it around against Castlerahan and we knew that we were going into a tough group, so a good start was important.”

Played at Kingspan Breffni Park, it was Castlerahan that dominated a one-sided contest to inflict a heavy defeat on O’Dowd’s team, who only had three scores on the night, Jack

The Ramor Under 12 squad, front l/r: Gavin Kavanagh, Mantas Ivaeskevicus, Sean McEvoy, Ben Smith, Lorcan Lynch, Daniel Lawless, Stephen Kavanagh, Padraic Sheridan, Aaron Mannion. Middle: Adam Farrelly, Enda Maguire, Killian Brady, Gareth Mannion, Sean Warren, Seanie Keogan, Niall Preston, Cai Walker, Finn Lotscher, Eoin O’Brien. Back: Barry Smith (manager), Mick Kavanagh (coach), Niall Lawless (coach), Brian Mannion (coach)

235

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Continued Best Wishes to Ramor GAA In 2013 236

Lurgan captains Natasha Curran and Katie Byrne accept the U16 Division 1 trophy from Ladies Treasurer, Grainne Flood

Conor Bradley is presented with the Under 16 championship trophy

Simon Cadden

Brady (0-5), Adrian Cole (1-0) and Shane Cole (0-2).

The defeat meant that Ramor would need a win from their next game against intermediate champions Drumgoon if they were to advance through to the quarter-finals.

Both teams travelled to Kingscourt for what would be the most salient game of their season and it was Rarmor that made the better start, with early points from Ronan Keating, James Bradley, Jack Brady, Shane Cole and Adrian Cole surging them towards a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the ninth minute. Drumgoon hit back, but their opponents were still looking good in the second quarter as singles from Shane Cahill and Kevin Mulvanny kept them four to the good. With two priceless points at stake, both teams dug in but it was Drumgoon that hit their purple patch in the closing ten minutes of the half with five unanswered points sending them in at the break with a 0-8 to 0-7 lead.

O’Dowd’s charges made a promising start to the second-half, with Cadden and Mulvanny ushering them back into the lead but Drumgoon grabbed the next four without reply to lead by three with 15 minutes to go. Keith Soden cancelled-out a Michael McDonald score to keep the difference at three, but time was running out on the town side and they would succumb to a strong finish from their opponents which saw Drumgoon claiming the points on a 0-16 to 0-12 score-line, ending Ramor’s hopes of a place in the last eight.

Ramor (SFC v Drumgoon): Aaron Farrelly; Barry Fitzsimons, Stefan Connolly, Emmet Daly; Adam O’Connell, Damien Barkey, Simon Cadden (0-1); Stephen Monaghan, Shane Cole (0-2); Michael O’Reilly, Jack Brady (0-1), James Bradley (01); Kevin Mulvanny (0-3), Adrian Cole (0-1), Ronan Keating (0-1).

“We played Castlerahan in our first game and they had us well sussed out on the day, to be honest,” said the PRO. “The next day against

237

Ryan Mannion receives the ‘man-of-the-match’ award from James Rock following the Under 16 championship final

Conor Bradley

Ronan Keating

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The Lurgan U16 Division 1 winning league squad

Drumgoon we battled hard and I thought we were on top for a lot of the game, but they just pulled away in the last 10 minutes or so and finished the game strong. The last game against Redhills, I think only five club members travelled that day because it may as well have been a challenge

match as far as both teams were concerned.”

Like many of the third round games in the Cavan club championships this year, the meeting of Ramor and Redhills would be a meaningless game which saw the Monaghan border men come away from

Cootehill with a comfortable win.

Without a championship win, Ramor regrouped, to their credit, and headed back into league action needing to collect points and did so with wins over Castlerahan (0-11 to 08) and Ballyhaise (1-12 to 0-8).

Unfortunately, the Virginia men would

The Ramor senior squad, 2012, front, l/r: Keith Soden, Anton O’Reilly, James McEnroe, Paul Queally, Ronan Keating, Aaron Farrelly, Steffan Connolly, Simon Cadden, Shane Gaffney, Kevin Mulvany, Adam O’Connell, Donal Farrelly, Hugh O’Connell. Back: Stephen Monaghan, Michael O’Reilly, Emmett Daly, Damien Barkey, Barry Fitzsimons, Shane Cole, Colm Murphy, Adrian Cole, James Bradley, Philip Fitzsimons

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239

The Lurgan Under 14 girls squad that claimed the league title in 2012, front l/r: Avril Sherry, Clare Dolan, Rachel O’Dwyer, Kelly Gillick, Caitlin Lowery, Aoife Brady, Caitlin Brady, Raminta Luaskeviciute, Niamh O’Donoghue, Clara Lynch, Stephanie Noelle Lynch, Chloe McElhinney. Back: Karen Brady (manager), Eimear Corcoran, Serena Smith, Elyce Brady, Kara O’Rourke, Eireann Lynch, Keely McDonnell, Catherine Dolan, Laura Keogan, Aishling Rock, Ciara Gaffney, Ellie Smith, Sarah York, Sarah Murtagh, Aoife Maguire, David Daly (manager)

finish up just short of survival in the league table, leaving

which included a fine Sean McDermott effort, to take in the

them with intermediate and league championship goals to

0-8 to 0-5 half-time lead.

work on for 2013.

The Cuchullains/Killinkere amalgamation were keen to make a speedy recovery in the second-half, but it was their

U16S DELIVER CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

superior opponents that hit the ground running when the ball was throw-in again as a brace of points from Bradley was

In August, Ramor United added to their crammed

quickly followed up by a Ryan Mannion goal which put

underage trophy cabinet by capturing the Under U16

Best Wishes To Ramor GAA In 2013, From

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The Virginia teens had enjoyed a strong league campaign which saw them narrowly pipped at the semi-final stage and entered the Division One Championship in good form which saw them advance to the final against St Killian’s as

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240

James Bradley

Ramor in the driving-seat. Evan Doughty pulled back a goal for the Saints, but Mannion cancelled that out quickly with his second major and when James Brady ran through for goal number three the game was over as a contest. Full-forward Bradley rounded off Ramor’s tally, with the game finishing 3-14 to 1-8 in their favour, before going up to collect the Cup, with Mannion, who finished with 2-2, deservedly picking up the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

Ramor United (U16 Div 1 final v St Killian’s): Liam McDermott; Neal McEnroe, Niall Farrelly, Joseph O’Connell; Michael Smart, Eoin Sommerville, Ciaran Daly; Sean McDermott (0-1), Laurence Caffrey; Ben Nagle, Ryan Mannion (2-2), Killian Maguire; Sean O’Reilly (0-2, 1f), Conor Bradley (0-8, 1f), James Brady (1-1).

Colm Murphy

MINORS EDGED OUT AFTER REPLAYS

Ronan Keating

Adrian Cole

2012 saw the minor footballers of Ramor United go it alone, competing in Division One of the league and Division Two Championship. With three wins and three defeats, the young Virginia men advanced to a league semi-final showdown with O’Raghallaigh Gaels on April 1 and lost out to the defending county champions by 2-12 to 1-8 in Bailieborough. In the championship, Ramor would be paired with Southern Gaels at the quarter-final stage. Played on September 9 at Ramor Park, the home side looked to be headed for the semi-finals before their opponents clinched a 1-11 to 111 draw to set-up a replay the following weekend in Lacken. In the replay, the two teams again proved inseparable as they played out another draw on the same score-line at Crowe Park. It meant the teams would be meeting for a third time in as many weeks and in the end it was Southern Gaels that edged through by 1-11 to 1-10 at Sheelin Park to advance through to the last four.

241

Simon Cadden

Paul Queally

Ballyconnell First Ulsters made it to the JFC semi-final in 2012, front l/r: Cian Crowe, Alonso Holohan, Darragh McGovern, Dale Bannon, Peadar Reilly, Shane McPartland, Daithi Neary, Neasan Neary, John O’Neill, Conor Crowe, Donal Fee. Back: Dion Johnston, Stephen O’Neill, Niall Crowe, Laurence Cororan, Stephen Wynne, Wayne O’Grady, Ronan Fitzpatrick, Niall Cassidy, Cathal Sheridan, Fergal Donohoe, Michael Power, Patrick Reilly

BALLYCONNELL FIRST ULSTERS - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

BALLYCONNELL FIRST ULSTERS

2012 RESU LTS

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WHITE AND REDS NOT SO BLUE AFTER ALL The men in the white coats might have been called for at the outset of 2012 if a body had suggested at that juncture that Ballyconnell First Ulsters premier team would go on and achieve a mid-table place in division three of the ACFL and a JFC semi-final berth.

A

t the outset of 2012, those not privy to the finer workings of Ballyconnell First Ulsters GFC could have been forgiven for believing that a palpable sense of deckchairs being rearranged you-know-where was all pervasive in the town of Ballyconnell and its environs.

After all, the club's hopes of having a second senior team folded like a deck-chair at the seaside with the

ACFL Divis ion 3 Maghera 1 -7 1-8 Bally connell First Ballyconne Ulsters ll First Ulste rs 0-6 1-7 L Ballyconne aragh ll First Ulste rs 2-9 3-5 C Ballyconnell orlough First Ulsters 0-11 0-10 Bal Arva 1-9 1-7 lymachugh Ballyconne Ballyconne ll First Ulste ll First Ulste rs rs 2-6 0-7 Te Bailieboroug mpleport h 1-13 1-10 B al ly connell First Ballyconne U ll First Ulste rs 1-5 1-5 M lsters Laragh 1-1 aghera 1 1-10 Bally connell First Ballyconne Ulsters ll First Ulste Ballyconne rs 1-7 0-9 A ll First Ulste rva rs 0 Corlough 0 -6 1-10 Bally -5 2-12 Shercock conn Ballymachugh 2-11 2-7 Bally ell First Ulsters Templeport connell First Ulsters 2-6 0-9 Bally connell First Ballyconnell First Ulsters Ulsters 3-12 0-13 B Shercock v ailieborough Ballyconnell First Ulsters – no played JFC Ballyconne ll First Ulste rs 1-7 1-13 Ballyconne Laragh ll First Ulste rs 1-9 0-7 C Ballyconne orlough ll First Ulste rs 3-7 0-5 Munterconn aught - QF Ballyconne ll First Ulste rs 1-6 1-11 Mountnuge nt – SF

realisation that over the past 24 months or thereabouts close on 18 adult players had departed the area in search of work and a better life.

Certainly, the dogs in the street were aware too that a lot of soulsearching, head-scratching and navel-gazing took place before those at the coalface came to the conclusion in January 2012 that, yes, thankfully, ONE squad would definitely be hatched and looked

243

after.

This meant that up and coming players like Shane McPartland, Peadar Reilly and Darragh Govern and a host of others would not be lost to the club.

The clued-in were uplifted as Padraig Neary, Keith Prior and Gabriel O'Neill could be seen demonstrating their sleeves-rolled-up attitude and a refusal to take a defeatist attitude. With a raft of

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244

On duty for the JFC semi-final were: Kane Fitzpatrick, Peadar Reilly, Neasan Neary, Cathal Sheridan, Shane McPartland, Daithi Neary, Darragh McGovern, Alonso Holohan, Dion Johnston, Stephen O’Neill. Back: Fergal Maguire, John O’Neill, Fergal Donohoe, Conor Crowe, Ronan Fitzpatrick, Niall Cassidy, Niall Crowe, Wayne O’Grady, Donal Fee, Glen Rogers, Michael Power, Stephen Wynne

underage management experience behind them, the trio went about their business with brio.

For all-named and others besides, it was crucial that First Ulsters would be represented in division three of the ACFL and in the JFC. And so the last named seasoned and committed triumvirate set about installing a weights programme for all the available 'seniors' in the club.

With the recruitment of the cream of the club's minors, soon their finest had assembled a panel of 20-plus players. Things were on the up.

The weights and circuit training programmes continued right into mid-March when action on the field came calling and another chapter evolved.

Things didn't run entirely smoothly, of course, at the beginning of the season and a trip (ironically in the light of what would later happen in the JFC) to Munterconnacht give the club’s backroom team a reminder of the sort of resources they had at their disposal as only 15 players were available to make the trip to the south-east. Indeed, one of the selectors was forced into action when the team had one of its number injured during the game.

However by the year-end, the true blue white and reds had a lot to feel proud about. The history books will that in 2012, the team garnered more league points than almost the previous two seasons and achieved mid-table respectability into the bargain.

The league campaign saw Ballyconnell give as good as they got, more often than not. Club stalwarts can recall in particular a win over Bailieboro.

The Shamrocks proved themselves the best of the bunch in division three in 2012 but they didn't bargain on going under to First Ulsters during the year.

The east Cavan side travelled to the west of the county last and were hosted by a crew with the bare 15 plus two subs.

Unfortunately for title-chasing Bailieboro, the Kildallan lads chose to run their visitors ragged, running out victors on the back of a 3-12 to 0-13 score.

On the back of other leg-ups, like an earlier league victory over promotion-chasing Ballymachugh, inspiration rather than

245

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Best Wishes to Ballyconnell First Ulsters 246

John O’Neill

Niall Cassidy

Daithi Neary

perspiration seemed to be colouring Ulster’s season.

Then some weeks later, they posted notice of their determined to maintain their Lazarus-like persona by causing a major upset in the JFC. On a wintry afternoon in Lacken, the Ballyconnell-based outfit played out of their skins to defeat joint JFC favourites Munterconnacht by 3-7 to 0-5.

The match was a particular standout hour for livewire attacker Darragh McGovern who notched 3-6 (just one free) of their final tally of scores.

The victory over the 'Munchies' was their first-ever such triumph over the Meath-border side and gave everyone in the club a huge filip.

Credit must go to the backroom team at the club though for their foresight and generosity in inviting Gary Donohoe to give a helping hand.

Donohoe, a Gowna clubman, was part of the Cavan minor management in 2011 when the county won the Ulster MFC title and is well respected.

Donohoe's new drills, new practices and the setting of new horizons helped Ballyconnell smooth out some rough edges and become more focussed.

First Ulster’s rate of progress during the year was commendable and a great surge of energy could be detected as the 2012 season tapered to an end.

At the business end of the year, an atmosphere of revivalist zeal enveloped them and the improved results reflected as much.

Strict discipline on and off the field of play - symbolised by a ban on the consumption of alcohol - further lubricated the team's ambition and spirit.

The return around the end of July from England of seasoned campaigner John O'Neill upped the feel-good factor too.

The club's championship campaign - like its sojourn in the league - was a much more rewarding experience than anyone could have forecasted.

Granted, the team lost out to Laragh in their opening round match. No shame there, of course, considering how United progressed after that tie.

247

Daith Neary and Shane McPartland

John O’Neill

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Ulsters, for whatever reason, didn't The championship delivered a play to their true potential. semi-final berth that could not have There were mitigating been envisaged at the start of the circumstances, all the same, such as year by even the club’s most the enforced retirement through injury optimistic fan. of full-back Niall Crowe after just five Naturally, not all aspects of the minutes. club's operations in 2012 were bookAs a result of young Crowe's ended by great derring-dos or shock withdrawal, the team management rates of improvements during the had to reshuffle their pack with Shane year.

McPartland relocating to full-back.

In that regard, it must be The side were particularly poor in acknowledged that for the first time in the first half and it wasn't until the quite a number of years, no 27th minute when Darragh McGovern silverware came the way of the club pointed that they opened their at underage level in the past year account. despite a lot of work being done from They laboured to get off the starting under 10 upwards by a host of blocks and when they did manage to committed and qualified coaches, get into their opponents' half, their Sunday after Sunday. movement tended to be too On the plus side, the ladies football ponderous and their raids too section is gaining traction with the circuitous to be too threatening. emergence in 2012 of an under 14 John O'Neill doubled his club’s tally squad a progressive step in that in the 28th minute but his team then regard. suffered a sucker punch two minutes Where once, young girls needed to into first half injury time Mountnugent play with neighbours Drumlane or fount the net to put them into a 1-6 to Templeport to get a game, now First 0-2 cushioned lead at the interval.

Ulster’s ranks are accomodating To their credit, they improved on the them. restart and thanks, in part, to a late Similarily, positive vibes continue to penalty conversion by the be emitted from the Scor section, at aforementioned McGovern - after a both junior and senior levels. What's foul on the prone Michael Power new there, one might ask though. gave the scoreboard a much more For all the on-field activity that is respectable look from a their going on in the club, there is a parallel perspective. hive of action on the other side of the Despite suffering what was a bit of white line with a lot of people rowing an anti-climax in the championship, in.

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250

Stephen Wynne

soon 2014 will be upon us with its attendant 130th anniversary of the club's foundation.

Already plans are afoot to invite clubs from each province to take part in a tournament in 2014.

Each club will, like Ballyconnell First Ulsters, share the distinction of being the first club officially registered with the GAA in its particular province. Other plans mentioned include a tournament involving the first ever clubs

Darragh McGovern

registered in each county in Ulster.

With the same will and enthusiasm that has seen the club eat into its debt (in providing two Prunty-type pitches etc) in a big, big way and with the same vigour and ambition that saw Kildallan's premier team confound its doubters, the realisation of the upcoming anniversary celebrations is sure to become a reality in due course.

In conclusion, it's fair to say that BFU made a mockery of the n a y s a y e r s pronouncements in their midst in 2012.

They say that nothing brings people together better than a touch of adversity.

Gaels in Ballyconnell testified to that in 2012.

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The Arva squad which competed in the junior championship in 2012. Front row/ l/r: Conal Sheridan, Ciaran Cooney, Thomas Brady, James Morris, Shane Finnegan, Stephen Ellis, Ciaran Brady, Paul Bouchier, Raymond Brady. Back: Brian Fitzpatrick, Jonathan McCabe, Gavin Fox, Peter Morris, Brian McEntee, Richard Keith, Sean McMannus, Cian Sheridan, Darren Gray, Brian Ellis, Fergal McGlade

ARVA - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

ARVA

2012 RESU LTS

James Morris on defensive duty

POTENTIAL PLENTIFUL After coming so close to a long-awaited final appearance in 2011, Arva’s junior championship hopes ended all too abruptly this past season. In his first year as club secretary, Barry McHugh helps explain where exactly it went wrong for the Michael Cully Park outfit and what their hopes are for 2013.

A

fter any progressive season, the aim for that team, whether it be in football or hurling, is to go one better the following year. For Arva, that meant going all the way to the junior championship final, after 2011 saw them miss out by just a whisker to eventual winners Shercock, who would only better them after a replay at Kingspan Breffni Park that September.

ACFL Divis ion 3 Templeport 1-6 1-10 Arv a Arva 0-8 3-1 3 Baili Arva 1-9 1-7 eborough Kildallan Corlough 0 -6 3-13 Arv a Arva 0-7 0-7 Ballymachu gh Arva 1-9 1-8 Templeport Laragh 0-1 7 2-9 Arva Bailieborou gh 1-11 0-3 Arva Arva 0-13 0 -11 S Kildallan 1-7 hercock 0-9 Arva Shercock 2 -14 0-7 Arv a Arva 6-14 2 -5 Maghera Arva 2-13 0 -14 Laragh Arva 2-16 2 -7 Corlough Ballymachu gh 2-13 1-1 3 Arva Maghera 0 -4 3-16 Arv Bailieborou a gh 1-11 0-7 Arva – sem i-final JFC Munterconn au Arva 0-7 0-1 ght 0-8 0-8 Arva 3 Munterco nnaught Arva 0-7 1-1 0 Shannon Gaels

Under Longford man Padraig Mulligan, Arva’s objective this past season was to get back into a similar situation come the business end of the championship, while also leaving themselves with something to play for in Division Three by the time the All County Football Leagues came back around.

From the very start of 2012, it was going to be an uphill battle for the St Patrick’s club, as they would have

253

several key players missing in the early stages of the season. Barry McHugh, who was elected as secretary by the club’s dynamic committee at the start of the year, outlined what was known inside the club heading into the new season.

“The objectives were to finish well in the league and try and get off to a good start in the championship and take each game as it came,” stated McHugh.

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The Arva reserve side which reached the last four of the Junior D Championship. Front row, l/r: Ciaran Cooney, Sean Donnelly, Raymond Brady, Paul Brady, Shane McEntee, Paul Bouchier, Philip Galligan, Niall Fox. Back: Brían Cully, Paul Bouchier, Danny McEntee, Cian Sheridan, Brian Fitzpatrick, Gareth Lynch, Barry McHugh, Niall Brady, Patrick Mulligan, Philip Brady, Daragh Fox

“We lost a good few of our experienced players between the end of last year and the start this year.

The likes of Shane Bouchier and Sean Donnelly weren’t around as often and we were a good few numbers down, with the squad being down to the bare minimum some days, and that left us with only two or three subs for some games.

“Kevin Bouchier was injured at the start as well and he didn’t really come back for us until the end of the championship, which was a huge loss to us because Kevin’s always worth a few scores in almost every game he plays for you.”

Bouchier’s loss was no doubt a major blow for the club, as his scores very nearly saw Arva reach the 2011 JFC decider; not to mention also helped Cavan to a first Ulster Minor

Football Championship title in 37 long years. Incidentally, fellow club men Jonathan McCabe and Ciaran Brady were also a part of the young Breffni side that July afternoon which made history under Gowna duo Gary Donohoe and Dermot McCabe. While Bouchier also wouldn’t be the only Ulster U21 medal winner in the club, as Peter and James Morris were included in Terry Hyland’s squad for 2012, with the latter going on to make more history with Cavan in June when they captured a first ever Leinster Junior Football Championship crown for the county by defeating Kildare at St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge.

So, while it’s safe to say that there’s no shortage of talent or potential in the club, it was numbers that was chief concern for Mulligan and his

The St Joseph’s Under 16 crop

255

selectors Brian Cully and Enda Boylan as the new season beckoned.

“Like every team, we wanted a good start but we ended up losing our first game and came back to win three ina-row after that,” said McHugh. “Our form was hot and cold and after winning those three games we found it hard to try and get back-to-back wins again.”

First up for Arva would be a stiff test against a newly demoted Bailieborough Shamrocks side.

Bailieborough, who had only lost out narrowly in the 2010 intermediate championship semi-finals, were punching above their weight in Division Three and made an emphatic return to the third tier when they dispatched of Arva by 3-12 to 08 at Michael Cully Park.

Arva would bounce back however,

Jonathan McCabe hits the deck

Paul Bouchier is one for the future

Brian Fitzpatrick takes on his Laragh opponent

scoring wins in their next three games, which included a rousing 313 to 0-6 win over strugglers Corlough, a draw with Ballymachugh (0-7 to 0-7) and wins over Templeport (1-9 to 1-8) and Maghera (6-14 to 25), which would leave Mulligan’s men in the hunt for league silverware going into the junior championship.

In their championship opener, one of the competition’s favourites in Munterconnacht awaited Arva, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

After the sides had been level on 05 apiece at the half-way stage, Arva looked as though they were going to gain a vital victory as the scores of Conal Sheridan, Ciaran Brady and Jonathan McCabe put them three points in front with under ten minutes remaining. Some poor shot selection would let Arva down in the dying stages and also let their fortunate opponents out of jail, with the full-time result reading 0-9 to 0-9.

“We weren’t playing badly,” McHugh pointed out. “We felt we could step it up a gear going into that game and we knew we had to get going against a team like Munterconnacht.

“The game was played in Ballymachugh and all the lads were well up for it. We hit too many wides which cost us a lot in the game and we had been leading well but they managed to come back at us and get a draw, which was disappointing from our point of view.”

In the replay at Ballyheelan, Mulligan’s team would rue a poor start which saw them fall 0-7 to 0-1 behind as Munterconnacht powered to six-point victory which saw them advancing to the last eight and Arva crashing into the backdoor of the competition.

It meant that Arva would now have to try and overcome another third tier heavyweight in the form of Shannon Gaels in order to keep their championship hopes alive.

Played at St Aidan’s Park in Bawnboy, Arva opened the scoring with a Peter Morris free after just 90 seconds but were left playing second fiddle to the Blacklion men from then on, as they would only grab two more scores into first-half through Conal

256

Shane McEntee clears the danger as Darren Gray looks on

Danny McEntee

Cian Sheridan has possession broken

Sheridan and Shane Finnegan to trail at the break by 0-8 to 0-3. Early in the second-half, Niall Walsh would blast to the back of Richard Keith’s net, leaving the blue and whites with a mountain to climb as points from Peter Morris (free), Gavin Doyle and Brian Ellis (45) left them six points short in the end (110 to 0-7) to ensure their exit from the championship by the end of August.

Arva (JFC v Shannon Gaels): Richard Keith; Stephen Ellis, Thomas Brady, Patrick Murtagh; Shane Finnegan (0-1), Ciaran Brady, Jonathan McCabe; James Morris, Fergal McGlade; Brian McEntee, Dermot McGlade, Brian Ellis (0-1, 1 ‘45’); Alan Brady (0-1), Peter Morris (0-2, 1f), Conal Sheridan (0-1, 1f). Sub: Gavin Doyle (0-1).

“The way we looked at it, we had nothing to fear going in against them,” the secretary explained. “We probably took them for granted a bit and we didn’t really play as a team against them.

“Maybe we didn’t feel that we had to put in a big performance and on the day we were just a bit scattered.

Obviously, it was very disappointing to go out of the championship so early, but the players still had the chance of a league semi-final place so the season wasn’t over and they’d regroup a few weeks later going into their last two games in Division Three.”

ST JOSEPH’S MAKE EARLY MINOR EXIT In the minor section of the club in 2012, Arva again combined with neighbours Killeshandra as St Joseph’s to compete in Division One of the Minor Football Championship. In their opening game on August 13, the team would face defending champions O’Raghallaigh Gaels and fall victim to the Kingscourt/Shercock amalgamation who came away with a 2-14 to 1-8 victory. The following weekend would see the Saints go on a goal-spree when they overcame St Aidan’s Templeport by

5-10 to 1-10, but they would finish two points short of a quarter-final place in the end as North Eastern Gaels sent them out of the competition by inflicting a narrow 110 to 1-8 defeat.

U16S NARROWLY MISS OUT Meanwhile, St Joseph’s Under 16 representatives did their respective clubs proud in 2012 by pushing favourites Dernacrieve Gaels all the way in Division 2B of the championship back in April. The Arva/Killeshandra combo were most impressive in their first outing of the competition by hitting the net six times in a 6-8 to 4-2 win against Ballinagh at Packie Devlin Park in Killeshandra.

The following Monday saw the Saints come up against Dernacrieve Gaels and succumb to a 4-8 to 2-9 defeat at the hands of the west Cavan amalgamation. A hard fought 3-8 to 2-9 victory over Mullahoran left Joe’s within a chance of qualifying top of the group, but defeat to neighbours Cornafean (2-9 to 2-7) meant they would advance in second into a tough quarter-final with Laragh. Played on May 5, again at Packie Devlin Park, Laragh simply had too much for the hosts, who kept up the battle for long stages of the game, but would eventually make their exit on a 1-11 to 1-5 score-line. Laragh would suffer heavy defeat themselves in the semi-finals at the hands of eventual winners St Killians, who edged a thrilling decider against Denn in Stradone.

Shot-stopper Gareth Lynch

257

Gavin Doyle holds on to possession as Darren Gray looks to provide assistance

Thomas Brady is a solid defender for the club

Conal Sheridan in mid solo

On duty in the intermediate championship against Knockbride, front l/r: Colm Smith, Ollie Sharkey, Myles O’Reilly, Damien Sexton, Finbarr Smith, Breen Smith, Liam McCabe, Emmett Fitzsimons, John B Smith, Martin O’Reilly, James Clarke, Ciaran Sexton, Brian Clarke, Garry Denning. Back: Declan Fitzsimons, Terry Brady, Terence Roe, James Tackney, Micheal Duff, Eoin Smith, Tony O’Reilly, Paul Kerr, Sean McGovern, Noel McGovern, Darren Smith, Peter McCabe, Tomas Cooney, Nigel Higgins

KILLLINKERE - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

KILLINKERE

2012 RESU LTS Peter McCabe

BRIAN BANKS ON GOOD TIMES COMING AROUND They say that Killinkere's premier footballers are on the cusp of making a breakthrough. Seasoned campaigner Brian Clarke hopes to be still around what that happens

F

or every 18 year old player who's doing his damndest to establish himself in senior ranks with his club, there's a seasoned campaigner who is doing his utmost to hold back the tide of time.

The merest perusal of team sheets in the junior, intermediate and senior ranks in Cavan would give you all the evidence needed to prove that, for most clubs, the notion of a 'settled team' is a permanent fixture on the

ACFL Divis ion 2 Cootehill 0-5 0-7 Killinke Killinkere 0 re -7 0-8 Cava Killinkere 1 n Gaels -14 1-12 M unterconna Mountnuge ught nt 1-13 0-1 Killinkere v 3 Killinkere Shannon G aels – not p Knockbride layed 1-9 0-9 Kill inkere Killinkere 2 -15 2-10 Sw anlinbar Drung 1-6 1 -6 Killinkere Killinkere 1 -9 2-5 Kille shandra Drumlane 0 -10 1-9 Kill inkere Butlersbridg e 4-4 0-16 K ill inkere Killinkere 4 -16 1-9 Kill Killinkere 1 -9 2-9 Denn Crosserlou gh 0-12 2-7 Killin Killinkere 0 -21 1-4 Corn kere afean IFC Lacken 3-1 0 2-3 Killinke Knockbride re 0-9 1-17 Kill inkere Killinkere 2 -14 3-9 Sh Killinkere 1 -10 0-15 Sw ercock anlinbar – Q F

chairman's wish-list.

In that regard, Killinkere GFC is no exception. The team that competed in the 2012 All County Football League and in the IFC drops neatly into the box labelled 'transition'.

Brian Clarke has been associated with more Killinkere teams down the years than your average commonergarden clubman in Cavan can remember.

At 36, he is one of the senior brigade among the club's playing

259

f r a t e r n i t y.

Fortunately for the green and golds, it looks like that he won't be going out to pasture any time soon.

For a club with ambition and given the age profile of its senior team, it's crucial that men like Brian Clarke keep their hands on the tiller.

For one, experience can't be bought. And the sort of passion, pride football that Clarke emits can't be hired either.

In 2012, Clarke and co. got a lot of

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St Killians (Killinkere/ Cuchullains) U16 Division 2 league winners, front l/r: Breithann Smith, Mark Doughty, Killian Smith, Ciaran Cusack, Culann Smith, Shane McKenna, Brian McGee, Jason McMahon, Dale Smith, Rory Clarke, Conor Clarke, Daniel Carolan, Liam Halpin, Aaron Tighe.

Back: Daniel Faulkner, Micheal Faherty, Gavin Denning, Jamie Smith, Conor Flanagan, Conor Sexton, Ronan Farrelly, Oisin Flanagan, Paddy Gaffney, Louis Fay Cooper, Shane Murphy, Evan Doughty, Jack Faherty, Calvin Murphy, Shaun Lynch

things right without managing to get anything to show for their labours. It was a year of progress, he avows: "Our major objective at the start of the year was to get out of the group (in the IFC) and to improve on our league standing in 2011."

Killinkere's flagship team and its think-tank can take pride in the sense that the records will show that their number one goal in 2012 was achieved.

That's not to say that the east Cavan men set their sights too low in the past year. The fact is progress can be measured in all manner of steps.

Killinkere - regardless of their standing in any given year - can never be discounted for honours in the league or the championship in any given year.

In 2012, Killinkere would have been considered by some pundits as dark horses for silverware, either in the

blue riband competition or otherwise.

In fairness to all belonging to the team, they gave the IFC a fair good rattle though pitted in arguably the toughest group in the championship.

Victories over an ageing but still dangerous Knockbride team and similar joy over the 2011 JFC winners Shercock reflected Killinkere's potential.

On the flip side, a convincing defeat to Lacken Celtic was a reality check but didn't prevent Killinkere from advancing out of the group.

A tilt with Swanlinbar in the quarterfinals was Killinkere's reward for their two wins. Swad went into the tie as favourites and the script duly held good.

As things transpired, the Gods failed to look kindly on Killinkere's aspirations for a place in the last four.

A two point defeat was a sore one.

"We didn't have the best of luck against Swad. Peter McCabe

(livewire young attacker) got a goal in the first ten minutes but less than ten minutes after that he got injured with a cruciate ligament and that left us with less of a threat going forward.

"I thought before the game that we had a great chance of beating Swad.

I would have put our chances at 50/50 even though Lacken had beaten us well which was a bit of an eye-opener.

Unfortunately, we underperformed and Swad probably played their best football of the year.

"We had beaten them in the league before the championship but Gearoid McKiernan had a great game against us and it just didn't go our way."

Killinkere's division two league campaign had all the remnants of 'what might have been' also attached.

Important results were posted.

Victories over Cootehill, Crosserlough, Drumlane and Killeshandra in the league boosted morale no end and sent out a

Facing Ramor in the U16 Championship Division 1 final were, front l/r: John Smith, Conor Sexton, Dale Smith, Jamie Smith, Conor Clarke, Brian McGee, Jason McMahon, Louis Fay Cooper, Killian Smith, Ciaran Cusack, Daniel Carolan, Liam Halpin, Culann Smith, Michael McMahon.

Back: James Fitzgerald, Breithann Smith, Sean Murphy, Shaun Lynch, Evan Doughty, Oisin Doughty, Paddy Gaffney, Jack Faherty, Conor Flanagan, Ronan Farrelly, Shane McKenna, Mark Doughty, Calvin Murphy, Tommy O’Reilly, Gerard McKenna

261

Marc O’Rourke hands over the U16 League Division 2 Cup to Brian McGee and Jason McMahon

Ciaran Sexton

Emmet Fitzsimons

message to all others.

"Unfortunately, we seemed to lose out to the teams in the league that wouldn't necessarily be fancied to be in the shake up at the end of the year.

"It was a pity but we slipped out of the top four (in the league) but the campaign overall this year was much better than it was in 2011.

"We weren't anything like as consistent in 2011. Finishing in the top six in 2012 compared to the bottom three in 2011 was a big difference."

What is Brian's take on the league set-up though? Does he feel that structure and timing of the league campaign was satisfactory?

"I think the league was meant to be finished up before the championship but we found ourselves having to wait two months for our next league game after the championship kicked off. I think the way things worked out, the league was a bit devalued with clubs left for long periods without a game.

"I think the fact that there were so many walkovers in the league in the middle of October said a lot about the leagues fell apart in the end."

On a purely club front, Brian's optimistic, positive view contrasts sharply with his notion of how the ACFL just hasn't delivered to date.

He is very upbeat about the emerging talent in the club and cites the success of Assan Gaels in the U21 division one championship as promising.

"I know there were quite a few Lavey lads on that team but it was great to see five of our fellas getting that sort of success and experience.

"These youngsters have been developing as players over the last couple of years and they'll soon be ready to become regulars on the senior team."

It is hoped that Killinkere will have all their resources to count on in the coming year 'cause that wasn't the case in the past year on the senior front.

Apart from the aforementioned Peter McCabe injury, the loss of Kevin McCabe (abroad) and Declan Smith (injury) - the team's first choice midfielders - half way through the past year was a very big blow, especially as it happened in the run up to the intermediate championship.

262

It is hoped that the likes of Peter McCabe, Emmet Fitzsimons, Gary Denning and Liam McCabe can really come to the fore in 2013.

A senior team debutant with Killinkere in 1993, Brian was a member of the Killinkere team that reached the semi-finals of the IFC in 2005.

So how does the current squad compare with the club's premier team all of seven years ago?

"I'd say there's more potential in the present squad. There were a lot of very good players on the 2005 team but I think the current panel is a better balanced one and has more going for itself in the different sectors."

With quality mentors like John Brady (ex-Laragh United) and Nicholas Comey along the line, it's hardly surprising that Killinkere had a good season.

It should be noted that Denn was the only team among the upper echelons of the division two table that Killinkere failed to beat during the year.

"We lost four games in the league and I think three of them were down to conceding scores in the last minute and we lost one game by a point."

Although the club didn't exactly set the world alight at underage level in 2012, Brian believes the success of the under 16s (in tandem with Cuchullains) in winning division two and getting to the championship final (losing out to Ramor) is a good omen for the future.

Win, lose or draw, Brian is destined to be around, long-time, wearing the colours of his beloved club. His father was chairman of the club for a six year period and he himself acted in the role of treasurer for ten years.

Suffice to say, matters Killinkere GAA are in the schoolteacher's blood.

"There's always been a great spirit in Killinkere and a great sense of community and the GAA is at the heart of everything we get up to socially.

"There are plans to build four new dressing-rooms at the complex.

We're always looking ahead and trying to consolidate what has been built up in terms of the tradition and success boasted by the club."

Clubs, countywide, please take note.

GOWNA

2012 RESU LTS ACFL Divis ion 1 Redhills 0-8 0-9 Gowna Gowna 0-1 2 0-8 Drum alee Castleraha n 1-9 0-8 G owna Gowna 1-1 1 1-13 Cava n Gae Gowna 2-6 1-11 Belturb ls et Ballyhaise 0-11 2-8 Go wna Gowna 0-1 0 1-11 Balli nagh Gowna 0-1 0 3-7 Mulla h oran Lavey 2-9 2 -6 Gowna Gowna 2-1 0 2-6 Lacke n Ramor 2-6 0-16 Gown a Kingscourt 2-12 2-10 G owna CĂşchulainn s 0-13 0-6 Gowna Gowna 0-1 5 0-10 Killyg arry Drumgoon 2-10 2-10 G owna

Kieran Fitzpatrick

GOWNA AIMING TO PROVE DOUBTERS WRONG AGAIN 2012 was a testing year for Gowna seniors but in all other aspects of the club's operations, the red and greens tipped the forelock to no one. By Kevin Carney.

T

en years ago, the doubters were proven wrong by Gowna's flagship team when the SFC title was annexed at the expense of raging hot favourites Cavan Gaels.

A decade on and the gauntlet is prone in front of the green and red brigade once more. This time around, the focus isn't on the club's capacity to capture the Oliver Plunkett Cup but on its ability to retain its senior status.

Yes, these are searching times for

SFC Gowna 0-7 0-8 Mullaho ran CĂşchulainn s 1-11 1-14 Gowna Gowna 1-1 0 2-10 Killyg arry

the club's seasoned and not-soseasoned senior players. More questions are arguably being asked of the current crew than of any other Gowna senior squad since Phelim Reilly's fledgling players had to prove their bona fides back in the late 'seventies.

While clubs countywide queue up to question the proposed new set-up for 2013, the reality is that Gowna is at a crossroads now at senior level.

The word around the county is that

263

Gowna's mettle will be tested like seldom before in the short term. Will they sink or swim.

Long-time club officer and coach Seamus McCabe isn't in the business of crystal ball-gazing and he'll not take a punt for anyone asking him to trade in matters hypothetical but he doesn't have any qualms shooting from the hip all the same when it is appropriate.

"There's no question about us being fearful of having to play in division

Representing the club at senior level in 2012 were, front l/r: Andrew Dewart, Kieran Donohoe, Emmet Madden, David Phillips, William Stephens, David Hyland, Ronan Bannon, Shane Briody, Christy Madden, T.J. Fitzpatrick, John Hyland, Conor Reynolds, Cian Bannon. Back: Paul McGahern, Padraic Briody, Damien Fitzpatrick, Gavin Hartin, Raymond Keogh, Conor Madden, Stephen Leddy, Niall Madden, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Shane Harton, Ronan Sheils, Ryan McGahern, Mark McKeever

GOWNA - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

The U13 squad were Championship finalists, front l/r: Cillian O’Reilly, Brían O’Reilly, Jack Madden, Rhys Hudson, Tiernan Madden, Diarmuid Boylan, Paul Brady, Conor O’Reilly, Cian Hartin, Fionan Brady, John O’Reilly. Middle: Oisin Pierson, Michéal Smith, Cian Madden, David Mellor, Eoin O’Reilly, Kevin Brennan, Paul Langtry, Aaron O’Reilly, Cormac Boylan, Ryan Donohoe, Frank Casey. Back: Eamonn O’Reilly (Manager) Donal O’Reilly, Ronan Bannon (Selectors)

two of the league," says the always approachable club stalwart.

"We know we're just holding our own at senior level over the last year but the new league structure really put it up to us and a few other clubs.

"There was a fear in the club about going down even though 2012 wasn't the first time that the threat of relegation hung over us in a big way but this year was the first time we've been in real trouble of going down in the league and not the championship.

"We were faced with the prospect of relegation in the championship last year but did well to beat Lacken in the play-off.

"It was strange that even though we were about tenth in the league (division one), relegation hung over us. In other years, if you were in tenth

spot, there'd be no talk of relegation it'd be the top end of the table you'd be looking at. At the worst, you'd be safe and in mid-table.

"What made the pressure that bit more intense, I suppose, was that lot of people in the club felt that if we went down to division two, it would be a hard fight for us to get back up. It was a strange kind of year because of the league scenario."

Interestingly, Seamus's view of the 2012 version of the All County Football League makes for an intriguing and enlightening one to boot: "I think, because of the county board's plans for the league, a lot of the clubs put in a lot more effort into this year's campaign than in any other year.

"Whatever about our troubles in terms of relegation, the league was definitely treated more seriously and had a better profile, especially in the first half of the season when every club was fighting hard to get themselves to get up the table and to steer clear of a relegation dog-fight.

"Towards the end of the season though, clubs seemed to take their foot off the gas and ease off once they were safe from going down."

The 2012 SFC championship didn't deliver the booty either. Seamus is the first to admit that that had nothing to do with new set-ups or new plans.

Gowna's three game adventure in the blue riband competition was rich in investment (in energy and commitment) but poor in the lack of dividend.

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U13 Fionan Brady

Kieran Fitzpatrick

Conor Madden

Losing to Killygarry and Mullahoran was disappointing at the time and even though both sides went onto have distuinquished championship seasons, that has been no consolation for the Gownamen. Even the victory over Cuchullains didn't little to heal the sore of a wound deep enough to hurt badly.

"The championship was disappointing for us mainly because the expectations in the club at the start of the year were that we'd at least get out of the group and maybe reach the semi-finals.

"Even looking back on the performances in the championship, there's no excuses. We got off to a bad start against Killygarry, were behind by seven points early on and cut into their lead but still lost out by three points.

"The Mullahoran game was the usual tit-for-tat sort of game but we never really looked convincing or looked like we were going to win out."

What about the story that did the rounds back then that Seamus's brother Dermot had eyed up a comeback in the championship?

"There was nothing in that. Dermot was along the line at times helping out Terry (Harten) and came on against Kingscourt in the league for the last five minutes 'cause of injuries in the camp at the time but there was never any real prospect of him (Dermot) being used in the championship."

Looking ahead to the short term future of the club's premier team, Seamus reckons that patience will need to be the name of the game for the club.

He says there's plenty of optimism within the club. Furthermore, the average age of the senior panel is much lower than outsiders believe.

Also, those on the outside looking in may not be totally au fait with the rump of rising talent that is embedded now within the Gowna senior set-up.

Under the wing of so-called 'veterans' like Mark McKeever, Niall Madden and Ciaran Fitzpatrick are some of the county's best up and coming footballers such as Andrew Dewart, Conor Madden and Emmet Madden.

Yes, the current Gowna senior

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Junior team manager Fergal Hartin

U12 Cian Hartin

Fionan Brady in U12 action

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However, for his part, Seamus McCabe is convinced that there isn't a lot missing from the jigsaw that spells success reclaimed.

"I'd say there's enough talent in the squad to match up with the other top clubs in the county but maybe the players haven't got enough confidence just yet or the self-belief to compete with the very top teams at the present time.

"During the past year, not everything fell into place which made life that bit more difficult for them as well with the likes of Gerard Pierson and David Hyland out of action due to injury for critical times during the season.

"I think Gerard only played for about an hour in the championship

altogether. I'd say he was only on the field for 20 minutes against Mullahoran when he had to go off and David missed some key games in the league."

Seamus is convinced that Gowna isn't far away from measuring up against the best of the rest in senior ranks, saying "there are a lot of teams in the county of the same quality and so you'll probably see a lot more cases where teams make it to the top but then are knocked off their perch."

So what of this more even playing field? Is it a good thing for Gaelic football in Cavan?

"I'd say so. I think the fact that Cavan Gaels aren't the dominant force every year now is a good reflection of the overall standard of the game in the county these days.

"You're probably getting better contests now and more entertaining games because more teams now feel

The Southern Gaels squad that made it to the Minor B final

268

that they're in with a chance of winning the championship or the league now that the Gaels have slipped a bit.

"From our perspective, a lot depends on how much emigration hits us in terms of how we will do in the coming years but I suppose that's the same with a lot of clubs.

"It's hard to know how we'll do in 2013 but we definitely need to be still playing in the top division every year and giving the championship a good 'oul rattle too.

"The present senior team is going through a transition period so it'll not be easy to hold our own for a wee while but just like the start of 2012, our goal will be to keep playing at the highest possible level, in the league and in the championship."

Seamus says he has definitely no secret formula to keep Gowna at the peleton of football affairs in Cavan

The U12 Championship winners, front l/r: John O’Reilly, Cian Hartin, Conor O’Reilly, Aaron O’Reilly, Jack Madden, Diarmuid Boylan, Cillian O’Reilly.

Middle: Tiernan Madden, Michéal Smith, Cormac Boylan, Ryan Donohoe, Kevin Brennan, Fionan Brady, Rhys Hudson, Brían O’Reilly, Frank Casey. Back: Donal O’Reilly, Gary Donohoe, Kevin Madden (Management Team)

but he takes great heart from the underage talent that is mushrooming of late in the club.

Names like Harten, Brady, Madden and Pierson are cropping up again in the juvenile ranks. It seems like history is repeating itself and aping the time when the aforementioned late and great Phelim Reilly and local school teacher Dessie Coyle unearthed real gems in the parish shared by Gowna with Mullinaghta.

Once again, the news from the grass roots has been positive with the

under 12s and under 13s plus the under 14s being particular stand-out teams.

"The underage structures in the club are very good and there's a lot of explayers working with the kids every Saturday and a good tie up with the national schools (Gowna N.S and Cortober N.S).

"You'd never really see less than 50 or 60 kids between the ages of six and twelve out on a Saturday which is great and they're well looked after.

"All of our coaches have at done at Joint captains Michéal Smith and Aaron least a foundation course and with O’Reilly accept the U12 championship trophy from Brian Seagraves the girls football going so well too, there's hardly ever Best Wishes to Gowna GAA from a time during the year when the field is idle."

With Club Gowna shoring up everything from a financial point of view, looks like it'll CRECHE & MONTESSORI only be a matter of Corfree, Loch Gowna, Co. Cavan. time before the Prop: Collete O’Reilly one-time county kingpins are back on the throne!

LITTLE RASCALS

U12 Tiernan Madden

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269

The Cuchulainns senior panel 2012, front l/r: Paul Tully, Gavin Daly, Diarmuid Foxe, Shane Smith, Ruairi O’Connell, Adrian Taite, John Flanagan, Aoghan Daly, Conor Smith. Back: Steven Lynch, Chris Magee, Seamus Clarke, Patrick Murtagh, Paul Taite, Mark Clarke, Peter Fox, Eugene Keating, Kieran Taite, Gary Daly, Chris Tully.

CUCHULAINNS - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

CUCHULAINNS

Chris Tully

2012 RESU LTS ACFL Divis ion 1 Cúchulainn s 2-9 0-11 Killygarry Drumgoon 0-14 3-11 C úchulainns Drumalee 3 -9 2-11 Cúch Cúchulainn ulainns s 1-10 0-12 Cavan Gae Castleraha ls n 2-7 0-11 Cúchulainn Cúchulainn s s 1-13 1-8 Belturbet Cúchulainn s 1-9 1-9 B allin Redhills 2-1 3 1-12 Cúch agh ulainns Ramor 1-8 0-15 Cúchu lainns Cúchulainn s 2-5 2-9 M ullahoran Ballyhaise 0-13 0-12 C úchulainns Lavey 0-8 2 -9 Cúchula inns Cúchulainn s 0-13 0-6 Gowna Cúchulainn s 1-9 0-10 Lacken Kingscourt 0-22 Cúchu lainns 1-10

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or a change, the All County Football League concentrated more minds than most in Cavan football circles over the past year. The county board's decision to re-jig the structures for 2013 placed a whole new emphasis on a club's performances from February to October.

In 2012 Cuchulainns' SFC campaign was a like a car crash in slow motion. Thankfully, they secured

SFC Killygarry 1 -12 1-9 Cúch ulainns Cúchulainn s 1-11 1-14 Gowna Mullahoran 1-20 1-12 C úchulainns

a safe lift off in the senior league, idling comfortably into the middle trunk of division one. Things sort of balanced each other in that respect.

The club finished the year on an even keel.

Cuchulainns' faithful responded to the challenge laid in front of them with the work ethic of a Sherpa and in time they were freewheeling to safety.

"We did very well in the league and that was very important in light of the

271

changes that lie ahead," Cuchulainns' club treasurer Fergal Kenny reflects.

"There are big changes afoot in a short space of time but the lads just had to get on with it. They knew they had to battle their way to safety. With no disrespect to the rest of the clubs, there was no way we wanted to be lumped in with 20 others at intermediate level next year."

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The St Killian’s Under 16 squad, front l/r: Brethain Smith, Mark Doughty, Killian Smith, Ciaran Cusack, Culann Smith, Shane McKenna, Bryan Magee, Jason McMahon, Dale Smith, Rory Clarke, Conor Clarke, Daniel Carolan, Liam Halpin, Aaron Tighe. Back: Daniel Faulkner, Micheal Flaherty, Gavin Denning, Jamie Smith, Conor Flanagan, Conor Sexton, Ronan Farrelly, Oisin Flanagan, Patrick Gaffney, Lewis Fay-Cooper, Shane Murphy, Evan Doughty, Jack Flaharty, Calvin Murphy, Shaun Lynch

division one of the senior league in 2012 and deserved to avoid the drop.

A couple of games weren't won that ought to have been. Had full points been collected in those games, a semi-final place would have been pinched.

Fergal and others know that it'll take more than just safety in the top flight of the ACFL to fever the dreams of the club's fledgling stars.

"You have to aim to keep lads playing at the highest level possible and challenge them to match the best teams around irrespective of the age.

We would have liked to have been battling for league honours but we

can build on the decent performances we had this year for 2013.

"When you think that we have beaten Cavan Gaels in the league for the last three years, it gives you an indication of the potential there's in the panel. We should be sitting comfortably in the top end of the league table each year but you don't always get what you want or where you want to go.

"There were times we didn't get the results in the league against the socalled weaker teams. I think most of our defeats were against them."

If Fergal hints at a certain degree of

inconsistency in Cuchulainns' season, he sure ain't hinting at any lack of guidance or ability on the sideline. Instead he is wont to talk up the contribution of the Cuchulainns' think-tank, namely, Peter Reilly (manager), Kieran O'Malley and Martin Quinn.

"The fact the lads didn't perform to their potential in the championship wasn't because of anything the teammanagement missed out on.

Everyone of the backroom team put their shoulders to the wheel to get the best out of the lads. They did all they could to achieve success.

"In fairness to the players, they

The St Killian’s (Mullagh) National School Hurling team that contested the county final

273

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274

St Killian's Bryan Magee and Jason McMahon receive the Under 16 Division 2 league cup from Mark O’Rourke, Cavan County Board

Lewis Fay Cooper

Bryan Magee

found themselves in probably the toughest of all the groups in the senior championship this year."

Losing their first game against Killygarry (whom they had beaten in the opening round of the league) left the Mullagh-based side fighting fires.

Defeat to Gowna could have been avoided too.

"That defeat came just a few weeks after we had beaten them in the league," Fergal points out. Against would-be championship winners Mullahoran, a similar story unfolded.

It seemed they were made to pay a lot for under-performing a little.

"It was a pity we didn't progress from the group. We can play really good football at times but it didn't happen for us in the championship."

There have been mitigating circumstances, of course.

Cuchulainns have lost something like three backs and a couple of forwards to emigration. Solid citizens like Killian Lynch, Donnacha Dunne, Martin Callaghan and Conor Daly have all been lost to Australia; Paddy McKenna to England.

However fellas like Seamus Clarke and Paul Taite perform important roles in using their experience and nous to complement the relatively younger fellas in the squad like Conor Smith, Eugene Keating and Diarmaid Fox. There's a good mix in the squad, suffice to say. A potent one? Time will tell. "You'd be hoping that the fellas that were there this year will be around for a good few years to come, barring emigration or some other factors. In a year or two, we'll have a more settled team and will give both the league and the championship more of a rattle.

"At the same time, we improved our league status, finishing in the top half this year compared to ending up in the lower half of the table in 2011."

The success of the players pertaining to the club's under 16 amalgamation with Killinkere this year bodes well for their contribution to the senior cause in the years ahead, Fergal moots, and the same applies to Cuchulainns' involvement with Killinkere and Lavey (Assan

275

Jack Flaherty

Conor Flanagan

Shane McKenna

The St Killian’s Under 16s that was on duty for the county final

Gaels) at under 21 level.

"The hope is that a few of the fellas at minor and under 21 level will be putting pressure for places on our current seniors in the next couple of years. We'd like to think that we'd have a decent chance of getting out of our group in the 2013 championship and have a shot at making the semi-finals."

How far, at this juncture, are Cuchulainns away from being the best of the bunch in the county?

"Not that far. I'd say if we could get the rub of the green and that bit more self-belief, we'd have a good chance of going the distance. The most important thing though is that we manage to hold onto the players and not lose any of them to emigration because that would be a killer."

Fergal is convinced "there's not a whole pile between six or seven of the top teams in the county with the championship this year being very open." He believes that, overall, the standard of Cavan football is improving but that "the success of the minors and under 21s ought to be part of a longterm project.

The Birr man and Bailieboro Community School employee says he personally has confidence in the county board and the senior county team management to work the oracle.

The re-arrangement of

development squads, the setting up of extra coaching initiatives and picking the brains of people like former Tipperary manager John Evans (coach to Premier County-winning All-Ireland MFC winners) are steps he feels are commendable.

Very much heartened by the recruitment of former Tyrone player Peter Donnelly as strength and conditioning coach to the senior county team - citing it as a "strategic move" - the Offaly native reckons that Cavan's bid to win a senior Ulster title will get stronger and stronger.

As for Cuchulainns' future, he's no less buoyed-up. He is delighted that former seasoned campaigners like Terry Farrelly and Tommy Reilly are putting their knowledge and experience to good use by helping out with the club's underage training sessions; sessions which can see up to 40 kids, under six, on the park each Sunday morning.

"The club is fortunate in having quite a few coaches who are very much respected and have a lot of knowledge.

"The numbers (of players) are fairly good at every level and it's just a matter of doing our best to upskill them and keep the production line working."

All other clubs, please copy.

276

Cuchulainns manager Peter Reilly

Gavin Daly

TEMPLEPORT

2012 RESU LTS Templeport 1-6 1-10 Arv Templeport a 0-5 2-17 Ba ilieborough Templeport 1-4 3-9 She rcock Laragh 3-1 0 0-9 Temp leport Maghera 1 -6 1-8 Tem pleport Kildallan 2-6 0-7 Temple port Templeport 1-6 1-11 Co rlough Arva 1-9 1-8 Templeport Bailieborou gh 1-15 0-4 Templeport Templeport 3-4 2-11 La Ballymachu ragh gh 2-19 1-6 Templeport Shercock 4 -18 0-3 Tem pleport Templeport 3-14 2-8 M aghera Templeport 2-6 0-9 Kild allan Corlough 1 -11 0-10 Te mpleport Templeport 0-5 2-11 Ba llymachugh

Benjamin Kelly sets up another attack

TIME ON THEIR SIDE A recent influx of some talented youth has saw Templeport’s fortunes on the field change as of late.

Veteran defender Martin Dolan was part of the St Aidan’s side which reached the last four of the junior championship in 2012. By Shane Corrigan.

W

hile many small rural clubs around the country have been enduring tough times as of late, with regards to availability of players, Templeport St Aidan’s have been benefiting from a fountain of underage talent which has now flowed right through to the senior ranks. Having gained minor and Under 16 titles in the early summer, the club were keen for more silverware in the autumn as they went chasing a Sean Leddy Cup triumph,

JFC Templeport 1-5 1-5 Sha nnon Gaels Templeport 0-10 0-9 Sh annon Gae Maghera 1 ls -4 0-13 Tem pleport - Q Laragh Utd F 0-11 0-9 Te mpleport – SF

but it in the end it just wasn’t to be in 2012 for the westsiders.

Under the guidance of Aidan Rudden and Thomas Doonan, with Brian Donohoe in as selector, the aims of Templeport’s senior team at the start of the year were straight forward. Players and management had all agreed that a junior championship title was not out of the question, but all involved knew that the team would need to gather form by the end of July for what was sure

277

to be a stern first round test against Shannon Gaels.

“Our objectives were to try and do as well as we could in the championship, because we had a few disappointing years and we were hoping to try and get the club back on the map,” said full-back Martin Dolan.

“We were disappointed with our league form, but the minor lads would have been concentrating on their own campaign so we missed them for a lot of games, which was a huge blow to

On duty for the JFC quarter-final against Maghera are, front l/r: Declan Farrell, Eoghan Martin, Darren Donohoe, Kenneth Coyle, James Rudden, Martin Ball (Ca[t) Gareth Bannon, Stephen Doonan, Oran Duffy, Ciaran Mc Kiernan, Norman Howden, Lassa Morgenroth. Back: Killian Farrell, Kieran Mc Manus, Donal Maguire, Benjamin Kelly, Martin Dolan, Danny Ball, Daniel Shannon, Dylan Maguire, Ben Kiernan, Sean Murphy, Niall Farrell, Ronan Maguire, Seamus McAweeny, Martin Baxter, Michael Galligan

TEMPLEPORT - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

The Templeport U16 championship team, front l/r: Ryan Bannon, Jason Doonan, Aaron Donohoe, Liam Mc Aweeny, Hayden Kellegher (Capt) Killian Leonard, Paul Mc Brien, Art McGoldrick. Back: Paddy Mc Goldrick, Brendan Mc Goldrick, Dillon Raythorne, Brian Farrell, Daragh O’Shea, Eoin O’Reilly, Michael Devine, Shane Galligan, Conor McAweeny, Conor Mimna, Darren Kellegher

us. We knew that we’d be a lot stronger than most of the other teams thought when we had them for the championship.”

Templeport’s league form had been poor prior to the JFC, with two of their three wins in the campaign coming in between their championship opener and their quarter-final against Maghera.

The team would sorely miss the impact of young blood for the majority of rounds in Division Three, but when they were welcomed back in July, fresh from winning a Division Two league title, things began to come

together for Templeport as they prepared for a west Cavan derby with Shannon Gaels in their championship opener. The Blacklion outfit had struggled during their own league campaign in Division Two, but were set to welcome a few key players for the showdown at St Mary’s Park.

After an absorbing hour of football, a late point from Liam Galligan would rescue a draw for Templeport in Swanlinbar, where the two teams would meet again seven days later in a replay.

This time around it would be the Bawnboy men that got off to a flying

start to open up a 0-5 to nothing lead inside the first 13 minutes against their opponents. Scores from Benjamin Kelly, Liam Galligan, Ben Kiernan and Donal Maguire saw Templeport hit the ground running before the Gaels hit back with two points of their own. However, it didn’t alter the leaders’ momentum in the slightest, as two more from the excellent Galligan ushered them into a commanding 0-8 to 0-2 lead by the interval.

The Gaels were left with an uphill task in the second-half and took to it well by outscoring their opponents,

The U16 league winning squad, front l/r: Ryan Bannon, Aaron Donohoe, Conor Mc Aweeny, Paul Mc Brien, Liam Mc Aweeny, Killian Leonard, Ryan Kelly, Kieran Leonard, Jason Doonan. Back: Dillon Raythorne, Brian Farrell, Paddy Mc Goldrick, Daragh O’ Shea, Michael Devine, Eoin O’ Reilly, Hayden Kellegher, Conor Mimna, Brendan Mc Goldrick, Shane Galligan

279

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Eoghan Martin receives the Division 2 Minor league cup from Tommy McGibney

Dillon Raythornes during the U16 Division 3 league final

U16 Hayden Kellegher

but they could find no way past the likes of Martin Ball, Gareth Bannon and Odhran Duffy, while Templeport scooped for more points via Kiernan and Galligan to see out a 0-10 to 0-8 win and book their place in the quarter-finals.

“We were just starting to gel coming towards the championship and we knew that Shannon Gaels were after having a difficult league as well. We were fairly confident going into the game, but knew as well that they’d have a few players back for the game,” said Dolan.

“We drew the first day and in the replay I think our forwards just clicked at the right time for us. The likes of Liam Galligan and Ben Kiernan were very good for us that day and it made the difference for us, I think.”

The quarter-final draw would throw up a meeting with Maghera at Kingspan Breffni Park, where Rudden and co were confident that there team could come through what was sure to be a dogged contest against the Meath-border side.

On a wintery Saturday evening at the Cavan town venue, Templeport were hands down the better team as they picked Maghera apart, with some fine early scores which saw them coast into an early lead. Ben Kiernan had landed three of those points (two from frees), while Benjamin Kelly and Kenneth Coyle made it 0-6 to 0-2 by the halfway stage.

In the second-half, the young Bawnboy outfit upped the ante early on as full-back Martin Ball finished off a slick move over the bar before Coyle and midfielder Donal Maguire made it an eight-point game. Ciaran McManus came off the bench to get in on the scoring, while Kelly and Niall Farrell rounded off the winners’ scoring moments before a late Maghera goal took some tarnish off the final score-line (0-13 to 1-4) from their prospective.

Templeport (JFC quarter-final v Maghera): Daniel Shannon; Garrett Bannon, Martin Ball (0-1), Odhran Duffy; James Rudden, Martin Dolan, Stephen Doonan; Donal Maguire (01), Danny Ball; Benjamin Kelly (0-2), Eoghan Martin, Niall Farrell (0-3, 3f);

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Liam McAweeny races away from Drumlane’s James Dolan

Brian Seagrave presents the U16 cup to captain Liam McAweeny

Liam Mc Aweeny

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The Division 2 Minor League winners, front l/r: Brendan Mc Goldrick, Hayden Kellegher, Killian Leonard, Michael Devine, Eoghan Martin, Ben Kiernan, Oran Duffy, Conor Mc Aweeney and Niall Farrell. Back: Seamus Martin (Management) Brian Farrell, Dillon Raythorne, Darren Donohoe, Liam Galligan, Benjamin Kelly, Eoin Doonan, Paddy Mc Goldrick, Darragh O’ Shea, Dylan Maguire, Liam McAweeny, Patrick Maguire, T. F. O’ Rourke, Michael Smith (Management)

Ben Kiernan (0-3, 2f), Sean Murphy, Kenneth Coyle (0-2). Subs: Seamus McAweeney, Ciaran McManus (0-1),, Dylan Maguire, Ronan Maguire, Declan Farrell.

“We’d a couple of league games in between the Shannon Gaels game and the quarter-final and beat Kildallan and Maghera before having to play them again a week later,” explained Dolan. “Our form was good and we were hoping we could come through because it had been a while since Templeport got to a semi-final.

It wouldn’t have been a great spectacle or anything, but we did weather the early storm against them

and won it comfortably enough.

Maghera got a goal right at the end which kind of took the gloss off it, but afterwards we were delighted to be in a semi-final.”

Templeport would draw Laragh from the hat in the last four with the teams set to clash on September 17 at Kingspan Breffni Park, where a county final place would be at stake.

Templeport started the game in splendid fashion with wing-forward Niall Farrell bursting onto possession and rifling between the posts.

Eoghan Martin doubled the lead before Laragh registered their first score of the afternoon in the fifth

minute. Liam Galligan (free) and Enda Cullivan traded scores in the next two attacks, after which Laragh brought their wides' tally up to six by the 20th minute. The favourites finished out the half strong though and led at the break by 0-6 to 0-4.

Ben Kiernan narrowed the difference to one within 13 seconds of the resumption, but the in-form Patrick Rudden kept up his accurate ways down the other end before Lasse Morganroth denied Laragh a certain three-point lead with a heroic block on Cullivan. Instead the Bawnboy men recycled possession and fed Kiernan inside, from where

St Josephs minor team that comprises players from Arva, Killeshandra and Templeport

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The side that played Laragh in the JFC semi-final, front l/r: Darren Donohoe, Kenneth Coyle, Benjamin Kelly, Liam Galligan, James Rudden, Lasse Morgenroth, Gareth Bannon, Martin Ball, Stephen Doonan, Eoghan Martin, Sean Murphy, Oran Duffy. Back: Martin Baxter, Declan Farrell, Donal Maguire, Jim Kiernan, Ben Kiernan, Daniel Shannon, Danny Ball, Martin Dolan, Michael Galligan, Norman Howden, Dylan Maguire, Niall Farrell, Ronan Maguire, Kieran Mc Manus

the tricky corner-forward left his man for dead and slotted over. Colm McKenna and Dolan Maguire cancelled each other’s scores out to move into the final quarter, when Kiernan levelled unmarked. Rudden (free) and Adrian Cooney kept Laragh’s noses just in front, but they'd be in for a nervy finish as they let their opponents create another goal chance which Donal Maguire blasted over, and in the end that was as close as the Bawnboy outfit would come as Laragh edged through to the final against Mountnugent on a 0-11 to 0-9 score-line.

“When we were drawn against Laragh we were reasonably confident,” Dolan stated. “They had beaten us twice in the league, but it the second game in Bawnboy we felt we had the measure of them and it was a game we should have won.

“We got off to a great start, but I still maintain that we lost that game in the last 20 minutes. We gave away a lot of frees and let them in for some handy scores which was a big disappointment for us, because we felt it was there for the taking and would have been fairly confident going into the final had we got over Laragh.”

Despite the disappointment of losing a championship semi-final by a mere two points, Dolan is already looking

forward to next year as he feels the team have a great deal of improving to do yet.

“The future is fairly bright for the club,” he said. “There are a lot of young talented players coming through and there’s a good bit of experience there as well. You need a mixture of both if you’re going to win anything, and hopefully next year we can go one better. There’s great belief that there’s a championship in this team.

“The minors will be focusing on a Division One title next year as well, so there’s a lot to look forward to. They have been a great boost to us over the last year or so, and there’s a good crop of players coming through there. There was nine of the team that were eligible for senior this year and six of them would have started in the junior championship semi-final.”

He added: “A lot of credit has to go to Aidan Rudden as well, because he put in a great effort this year with us, as did the rest of the management. The club will be hoping to have a few county minor representatives as well next year, after what they achieved this year.”

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The U12 squad for the Blitz final

Gavin Donohoe receives the U12 Cup from Conor Dourneen at the blitz final

Templeport GAA would like to wish one of its former players Sean Corrigan a full and healthy recovery from the bone marrow transplant he underwent earlier this year. Sean has been a great servant to Templeport St Aidan’s, having represented the club at county level and played with Ireland in the Under 17 International Rules series in the past.

MINORS CLINCH DIV 2 TITLE

Ben Kiernan has his eye on a score

James Rudden cuts a dash as he attacks from wing back with the ball

In April Templeport’s minor footballers bagged another underage title for the club when they defeated St Felim’s in the Division Two league final in Ballyconnell. Having come through Division 2B with wins over Ballyhaise (4-7 to 3-2), Erne Gaels (5-5 to 2-10), Shannon Gaels/Dernacrieve (W/O), Southern Gaels (2-12 to 1-8) and Killygarry (318 to 2-3), the young west Cavan men booked their place in the final with a 3-7 to 0-13 win over Lavey in the last four.

The St Aidan’s outfit would make the short trip to First Ulsters Park for the decider and made the better start through early scores from Niall Farrell, Hayden Kellegher, Liam Galligan and Ben Kiernan to take in a 0-8 to 0-5 lead at the break. In the second-half, Templeport struck gold when Padraig McGoldrick and Kiernan combined to set-up Farrell and the full-forward lashed the ball to the Saints’ net. Galligan struck a brace of points thereafter to leave the Ballinagh/Cornafean outfit with a mountain to climb, and although they pulled back a goal of their own, more points from the deadly accurate Galligan was enough to see out a 1-

285

15 to 1-10 victory for the Bawnboy lads on the day.

(Templeport MFL Div 2 v St Felim’s): Darren Donohoe; Padraig McGoldrick, Odhran Duffy, Michael Devine; Liam McAweeney, Benjamin Kelly, Dylan Raythorne; Owen Martin (0-1), Ben Kiernan (0-2); Liam Galligan (0-6), Dylan Maguire (0-2), Eoin Doonan (0-2); Darragh O’Shea, Niall Farrell (1-1), Hayden Kelleher (0-1). Sub: Conor McAweeney.

U16S CLAIM MORE SILVERWARE May 24th saw Templeport add to the trophy cabinet when they defeated Drumlane in the Under 16 Division Three league final in Cornafean.

Played on a glorious summer’s evening, the young St Aidan’s men completely bossed their opponents in the first-half to lead by an unassailable 1-10 to 0-4 at the halfway stage, with Darragh O’Shea, Paul O’Brien and Liam McAweeney contributing the points after Dylan Raythorne had landed an early goal.

The second-half saw Drumlane up their performance considerably, as they goaled twice through star forward Ryan Connolly, but more scores from the classy Raythorne and O’Shea settled the issue from Templeport as they clinched the title on a 1-14 to 2-7 score-line.

Templeport (U16 Div 3 final): Eoin O’Reilly; Patrick McGoldrick, Brendan McGoldrick; Aaron Donohoe, Conor McAweeney, Michael Devine; Dylan Raythorne (14, 1f), Liam McAweeney (0-2); Paul O’Brien (0-2), Darragh O’Shea (0-5, 1f), Shane Galligan; Killian Leonard, Hayden Kellegher (0-1, 1f).

The Killeshandra senior outfit for 2012, front row l/r: James Dinnenny, Eamon O’Reilly, Cillian O’Reilly, Shane O’Reilly, Darragh Tighe, Colm Duffy (capt), Glenn Shanley, Cyril O’Reilly, Karl O’Reilly, Sean McKiernan.

Back: Tomas O’Reilly, Christy O’Dowd, Declan McKiernan, Finbar Rudden, Aaron Brady, Austin Fitzpatrick, Joe Masterson, Adrian Martin, Kyle Duffy, Rory Braiden, Daniel Luby, Conor McGearty.

KILLESHANDRA - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

KILLESHANDRA Adrian Martin

2012 RESU LTS

LEAGUERS DETERMINED TO MOVE BACK UP Having been relegated from Division 1 last season, Killeshandra would certainly have hoped to contest the final direction of the Division 2 league and championship.

W

ith a relatively young and talented side, the Leaguers found themselves in the competitive cauldron of Division 2, which for many senior sides takes some time to adjust to the style of play at this level.

No doubt, all at the club will have been disappointed at not having made the return to the topflight of Cavan football at their first attempt.

Failure to do so this season should be the motivation for them to refocus

ACFL Divis ion 2 Denn 1-8 0 -7 Killeshan Killeshandra dra 0 Killeshandra -11 0-6 Crosserlough 2-13 0-15 B Munterconn utlersbridge aught 0-7 2 -12 Killesha Killeshandra ndra 1-1 Killeshandra 1 0-9 Mountnugent 1-11 1-8 Kn ockbride Cavan Gae ls 0-11 1-5 Killeshandra Killinkere 1 -9 2-5 Killeshandra Killeshandra 0-15 1-6 Kill Cornafean 0-3 1-11 Kill eshandra Killeshandra 2-5 1-10 Co otehill Celti Shannon G c aels 0-8 1-1 4 Killeshan Drung 1-10 d ra Killeshandra 0-7 Killeshandra 0-16 2-12 S wanlinbar Killeshandra 2-11 1-16 D rumlane IFC Ballymachu gh 1-11 2-9 Killeshandra Kill 1-6 1-1 7 Killeshan Killeshandra dra Cootehill 1-1 1-11 2-10 Drumlane 1 0-10 Kille shandra – Q F

in the coming season. As a club they certainly have the necessary ingredients with a group of talented young players at their disposal.

Fielding two teams, the Leaguers did have some success with their second team showing great championship form in reaching the Junior C championship final.

This same side won the Junior D Championship in 2011. With a blend of youth and experience, the Leaguers once again showed their

287

championship mettle gaining a final place against former Cavan kingpins, Crosserlough.

Club secretary John Sweeney is well aware of the importance of this Junior C side to the club.

“It allows us to bring on younger players from the minor squad and helps in their development as they progress to the senior team. This aspect of their development is helped through playing alongside more experienced players on the squad,”

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288

The St Joseph’s squad that reached the Minor League Division 1 final, front l/r: Austin Fitzpatrick, David Flynn, Eddie Masterson, Cein O’Hanlon, Johnny McCabe (captain), Tommy Sheridan, Darren McGrath, Cormac McCabe, Conor O’Reilly, Raymond Brady (manager). Back: Donagh O’Reilly (manager), Danny Connolly, Conor Smith, Conor McGearty, Conor Higgins, Aaron Brady, Gareth Lynch, Conal Sheridan, Paul Bouchier, James Dinnenny, Ciaran Brady, Ronan Sweeney, Michael Ellis

explained John.

“It has been a tremendous achievement for this side to gain promotion from the D championship last season and go on the following year to make it into the final of the C championship. The final itself proved to be a step too far on the day.”

The game which was played under lights on the 3G pitch at Kingspan Breifne Park saw the Leaguers go under to a very strong Crosserlough side by 3-12 to 2-5. The Kilnaleck side raced out of the blocks and despite a valiant effort from the Leaguers had secured a winning platform by half-time when they led

by 2-6 to 0-2. Killeshandra tried hard to reduce the scoreline but a total of 2-2 from Cein Sweeney was to prove too little against a very strong Crosserlough side.

When speaking of how the club would view their season, John Sweeney was forthright and pragmatic in his views: “This year we had strong aspirations of finishing at least in the top four and a league semi-final position of Division 2.

Having been relegated from Division 1 the previous season, it was a realistic outlook. We certainly had the players to fulfill this target but

however due to a mixed bag of results we finished mid table. We recorded some very good wins during the league but we managed to let a number of games slip away from us.

“We also had high hopes of doing well in the Intermediate championship and in the group stage we started off with a narrow and slightly fortuitous win over Ballymachugh. This was followed up with a good win over Kill which ensured our passage into the quarter-final.”

The final group game was against Drumlane and both sides were already through to the semi-final.

The Killeshandra Under 12 panel that reached the league final, front l/r: Mark Nulty, Emmett Kiernan, Darren O’Hanlon, Eoin Brady (captain), Darragh O’Reilly, Conor O’Reilly, Cian Comiskey, Christopher Small. Back: Bernard Brady (joint manager), Shane O’Reilly (coach), Mark Tully, Jordan Manning, Ryan Brady, Jamie Tully, Michael O’Reilly, Ryan Dinnenny, Ruairi Fitzpatrick, Seamus O’Reilly (joint manager)

289

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There was little bite in this game with Drumlane edging victory by two points. While the result of was of little consequence to both sides, the loss of Declan McKiernan with an ankle injury was to prove very costly. His absence in the quarter-final against Cootehill six days later, added to the loss of key players like Declan and Austin Fitzpatrick, proved too much of an obstacle to overcome with the Celtics shading the result by a goal.

“While our league display was not what we had hoped we still had sterling performances from long serving players like Eamon O’Reilly, seasoned campaigners like Cillian O’Reilly, Shane O’Reilly and Colm Duffy,” said John. “We also blooded a new senior goalkeeper, Joe Masterson, who produced a string of top notch saves all season long.

2012 also saw minor player Aaron Brady establish himself in the senior ranks and is a definite star for the future.

“Thus far the club has been lucky in that we have only lost one senior player to emigration, Damien Higgins.

Adrian Martin works in Scotland but luckily he is able to return home on a regular basis. A lot of players on the senior team are attending college and are, for now, immune to the current difficult economic conditions.

This may change in the coming years,” said John.

John went on to say that the work put in all year by the management of Sean Feeney and selectors, Justin Hayes and Seamus O’Reilly was of the highest quality.

“With six teams coming down from

Division 1, next year’s Division 2 and Intermediate Championship will be extremely difficult. However with minors like Eddie Masterson, Conor McGearty, Darren McGrath and Cein O’Hanlon coming through we can look forward with a good degree of hope,” said the club secretary.

“In the reserve league our second team suffered a similar fate to that of our seniors finishing mid table.

However, we were to produce much better form in the championship. We produced great championship spirit, which helped us record victories over Kill, Drumlane and Drumgoon en route to the final. Karl O’Reilly has played a captains role all year and has been ably assisted by Cein Sweeney, Christy O’Dowd and Connr McGearty. Great credit must go to the junior joint mangers Peter Brady and Donagh O’Reilly,” added John.

JUVENILE FOOTBALL Work at juvenile level commences at the tender age of under 6 and to this endthe club owe a great debt of gratitude to Kieran Fitzpatrick who, for the past few years, organises training every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am for under 6’s, 8’s and 10’s.

“This is perhaps the single most important activity in the club as without it we have no foundations for the future. This is an aspect of the club which must not be neglected and help is always appreciated,” said John.

At Juvenile level, Killeshandra amalgamate with Arva to form St

Joseph’s, which has proved to be a potent force at underage level over the past number of seasons.

However, the club did field their own U12 side which reached the league final where they played a strong Dernacrieve side. The match went to replay and in the end Dernacrieve ran out winners. This young Killeshandra side is one for the future and players like Eoin Brady, Ryan Brady, Ruari Fitzpatrick, Mark Nulty, Michael O’Reilly, Jordan Manning and Dara O’Reilly are names to watch out for.

“Thanks to Bernard Brady, Seamus O’Reilly and Shane O’Reilly for their work here,” said a proud club secretary.

ST. JOSEPHS Killeshandra amalgamated with Arva for 2012. Notable results here included the Under 14s who reached the Championship semi-final losing gallantly to an excellent Crosserlough side. The minors reached the Division 1 league final and were very unlucky to loose to O’Raghallaigh Gaels by the odd point after a storming comeback in the second half.

“Credit here goes to Donagh O’Reilly, Austin Fitzpatrick and Arva’s, Raymond Brady,” said John.

LADIES FOOTBALL Killeshandra Ladies, once a vibrant squad have found themselves under pressure as player numbers declined.

A number of factors contributed to this with players retiring and others moved out of the locality to seek work. While the playing panel may have been reduced the club colours

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have indeed been flying high with girls producing some great performances in the 9-a-side league.

“Thanks to Daniel Luby and Nick O’Hara for their hard work with the team. Tomás McDermott must also be thanked for his hard work with the Under 16 team as these girls are the stars of the future.

“Congratulations to Caoimhe McDermott, player, and Patricia O’Reilly, selector, for their great victory in the Under 16 All-Ireland B final beating Tipperary on a score line of 4-11 to 5-6 on Saturday August 25th in Banagher Co. Offaly. This is just reward for the all their hard work and commitment,” said John.

Ruairi Fitzpatrick

SCÓR

Declan McKiernan in possession with Aaron Brady providing support

“Thanks to Lally Phair for her hard work and time dedicated to our Scór team. In 2012 the club was represented in all events bar one in the county final in Ballinagh.

Congratulations to the Dancing team of Anne O’Reilly, Anne Smith, Sinead Duffy, Patricia O’Reilly, Derek Shanley, Colm Duffy, Justin Hayes and Eugene Lynch who were victorious on the night,” added John.

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

Shane O’Reilly

Having just completed a state of the art upgrade of their playing pitch and facilities Killeshandra have shown that they are not content to settle on their achievements as they have pushed ahead with further development in 2012. The Leaguers have now installed magnificent lights on their training area, which is indeed an added advantage for training and a welcome addition to the club’s facilities.

Declan McKiernan, left, contests a high ball against Ballymachugh

CHARITY WORK

Senior selector Justin Hayes with manager Sean Feeney

The club ran a fundraising run/walk in aid of Pieta House and SOSAD on Saturday September 8th. The goal here was to generate funds for these two worthy charities and highlight suicide awareness in the region. The event was a huge success with 450 entrants and the club received positive feedback from all who attended on the day. Thanks goes to Ciarán Burns and his hard working committee.

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Eamon O’Reilly

The Killeshandra senior panel, front l/r: Rory Braiden, Eamon O’Reilly, Darragh Tighe, Colum Duffy (captain), Cyril O’Reilly, Glenn Shanley, Christy O’Dowd, Sean McKiernan, Ciaran Owens, Shane O’Reilly. Back: Conor McGearty, Kyle Duffy, Paddy King, Declan McKiernan, John Baxter, Aaron Brady, Joe Masterson, Cillian O’Reilly, Tomas O’Reilly, Finbar Rudden, Daniel Luby, James Dinnenny, Austin Fitzpatrick

OTHER ACTIVITIES At the start of the year the club celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the its first Intermediate Championship in 1986 with a dinner and presentation night in the Imperial Bar in Cavan.

In summing up John felt that he would like to pay tribute to those working in the background: “Killeshandra are lucky in that we have a group of hard working and committed people. None more so than club Chairman Peter Brady who was ably assisted by Vice Chairperson Una Feeney. Assistant Secretary Donagh O’Reilly also puts in huge effort all year. Thanks must

also go to treasurers Tom McKiernan and Ciaran Burns, PRO Jennifer O’Reilly and Insurance officer Declan O’Hanlon.”

John also wanted to pay tribute to the loyal band of volunteers who run the club lotto. The lotto, which is primarily run by the club committee, are given valuable assistance in this financial fundraising scheme by John Martin and John Burns.

Other workers in the club whose efforts deserve recognition are Club caretaker of thirty odd years Seán Magarahan. Seán always ensures that the clubrooms are kept clean and tidy and secure and his commitment to the club for so long is a great credit

to him. Field line marking is carried out by Donagh O’Reilly, Seamus O’Reilly and John. Credit must also go to the numerous volunteers who give freely of their service at club fixtures. Great credit here goes to Tomás McDermott for his general overall help.

DECEASED MEMBER The death of Niamh Duffy, a club member was deeply mourned by all.

Niamh was a playing member of the camogie team. Niamh, and the Duffy family have been deeply involved with the Leaguers over the years.

The club would like to extend their sincerest sympathy to all the family.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis".

The Killeshandra squad which lost out to Crosserlough in the Junior C final

293

Representing the club at senior level were, front l/r: Damien O'Reilly, Killian O'Reilly, Mark Lawlor, Ronan Cahill, Conor Vaughan, Garreth McDonnell, Johnny Kilusch, Peter Shannon, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Niall Lawlor, Donald Magee, Cormac Rudden, Dessie Millar. Back John Cahill, Shane Corby, Kevin McConnell, Oliver Donohoe, Kian Vaughan, Eoin McGuigan, Jason O'Reilly, Mark Teevan, Stuart Murphy, Enda Henry, Darrell Dolan, Connell McGinley, Danny Anscombe, Mark O'Reilly.

BELTURBET - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

BELTURBET Eoin McGuigan

2012 RESU LTS

POSITIVE THINKING IN BELTURBET 2012 was flat beer compared to their champagne football the year before but Belturbet luminary Damien O'Reilly is determined to help shape better times ahead. By Kevin Carney.

F

or Damien O'Reilly it feels like his innings at club level in 2012 died a death at the hand of a smotherer rather than the hangman.

Instead of being a consuming omnipresence around the field for Belturbet seniors during the most significant part of the past year, the rising star had to sit put proceedings in the dugout because of a moment of madness on the field of play.

Belturbet ought to have made a real crack at nabbing the Oliver Plunkett Cup last summer but instead they suffered a crippling power loss with

ACFL Divis ion 1 Belturbet 1 -7 1-9 Lave y Lacken 0-1 3 1-7 Beltu rbet Killygarry 1 -12 5-2 Beltu rbet Belturbet 0 -10 1-10 Dru mgoon Gowna 2-6 1-11 Belturb et Belturbet 1 -11 1-7 Dru malee Cúchulainn s 1-13 1-8 Belturbet Castleraha n 1-15 2-11 Belturbet Redhills 1-1 0 3-8 Beltu rb Belturbet 0 -12 0-9 Bally et haise Belturbet 1 -13 2-17 Kin gscourt Belturbet 2 -10 2-10 Ca van Gaels Ballinagh 3 -15 3-9 Beltu rbe Belturbet 0 -7 0-12 Ram t Mullahoran or v Belturbet - not played SFC Belturbet 2 -8 0-10 Dru malee Ballinagh 0 -11 0-11 Be Castleraha ltu rbet n 1-11 0-8 Belturbet – QF

the suspension of O'Reilly in the runup to the commencement of the senior championship.

A league clash with Ballinagh saw the county defender tussle with his county colleague Niall McDermott.

The upshot of the tete-a-tete was a red card for the Belturbet dynamo and a one month suspension.

"We had a couple of run-ins before the red card but it (red card offence) was a spur of the moment thing," O'Reilly recalls.

"I get on well with Niall and we were fine about it after the game but it was very disappointing and frustrating.

295

"Being captain, I definitely felt that I had let down the lads and I'm sure that was the feeling among most people in the club."

All told, the championship season proved to be a non-event for the Belturbet luminary. In simple terms, 2012 was a year to forget for Damo.

As things panned out, the repercussions of the red card meant that he couldn't contribute anything to the club's group games which served to compound the soreness of an ankle injury which served to extend his time on the bench.

For years now, O'Reilly has

The Belturbet squad that contested the Junior B FC final against Kingscourt Stars

resembled the most solid of sentries for the Rory O'Moores, taking no prisoners and getting his side out of jail at times.

His absence at the business end of the past season left Belturbet losing enough battles to send them packing in the championship and through the relegation trapdoor.

The player himself doesn't begin to

sugar coat the effect of his sending off - his one and only dismissal in his career to date.

Due to his suspension he was unable to line out for the must-win second last league game of the season against Ramor Utd. The Virginians won. Belturbet lost their senior league status.

"If we had beaten Ramor and then

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went onto beat Mullahoran in our last league game, we would have stayed up," Damien laments.

In trying to figure out what went awry on the collective front in Belturbet at senior level in 2012, the now-established senior countyman labours to finger just one major flaw in the Rories' make-up.

"It's hard to pin-point exactly what

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was wrong with our performances during the year. There was a lot of focus on the league.

"At the start of the year it was a bit like what happened in 2011 in that we had a couple of early defeats and that put us under a bit of pressure.

"There was a feeling though that it wasn't so bad (the league defeats) because our bad run of defeats at the start of 2011 was followed up by a run in the championship which took us into a semi-final (against Castlerahan).

"Unfortunately there was no repeat of last year's championship campaign. And we didn't do as well overall in the league as we had the year before."

There were mitigating circumstances though. Belturbet have traditionally had to work with a relatively small panel of senior players. 2012 ditto.

With our man O'Reilly and teammate Brendan 'Bud' Fitzpatrick invariably tied up with county training and matches, Eoin McGuigan and Johnny Klushe based in Dublin and work commitments taking others even further away, there were times when not much more than a handful of seniors made up the club training sessions.

"There mightn't have been many more than six or seven at training sometimes but all the players were accounted for; everyone that couldn't make training had legitimate reasons for not being there.

"At the end of the day though, the league tables don't lie and we found ourselves in the same boat as Ramor and on the same points.

"We needed to beat them in Belturbet but we lost by a point.

Maybe we didn't deserve to stay up. I don't think we have any real excuses."

Things had picked up in the league for Belturbet after their stuttering start but the knock-out punch in some key matches was to elude them.

Against Cavan Gaels, for instance, the maroon and whites led for large tracts of the match and time was almost up when the county town equalised.

Controversy followed in their game with Castlerahan. All belonging to the Belturbet camp reckoned they had grabbed a deserved draw.

However, the ref in charge re-

checked his stats at the end of the game and ruled that the Ballyjamesduff boys had scored a point more than their opponents.

The fact that long-time stalwarts like Conor Walsh, Aaron Donohoe, Paul Murphy and Jason Murphy (plus Jason O'Reilly for the league campaign) were no longer in the picture over the past year proved a real test of Belturbet's strength-indepth and the club was found wanting, it must be said.

"I'd like to think we can all pull together and make sure 2013 is a far better for the club," 24 year old Reilly enthuses.

"Maybe what happened to us in the past year is a kick in the arse that we needed. I'm not sure what success, if any, we can achieve next year but there's definitely more to come from this panel.

"If we can bring another couple of younger lads on board in the coming year, I don't see why there can't be a good improvement in our results."

Son of former Butlersbridge clubman and Cavan underage star Declan O'Reilly and Belturbet-born lady Grainne (nee Cahill), Damien is part of a proven crop of twentysomethings on the senior Belturbet panel that have proven themselves to be winners down the years.

Fellas such at the aforementioned Brendan Fitzpatrick, Peter Shannon, Mark Teevan and Johnny Klushe all featured alongside Damien on Belturbet teams that annexed county titles at under 12/13/14 and 16 levels.

That same set of players formed the core of the Belturbet minor and under 21 teams that careered all the way to county finals.

"We lost out in two minor finals; one to St. Josephs in the league and one in the championship to Dernacrieve Gaels.

"We hadn't any better luck in the under 21s because we lost that final to Ramor. They were good teams to be on though with a lot of good players."

Of course, Damien - a qualified electrician - is destined to be a key cog in the senior county machine too next year. He sports a good county pedigree as well.

He was a stand-out minor under the management of Jodie Clarke and then impressed at under 21 level under the watchful eye of Donal

297

Johnny Higgins

Eoin McGuigan (8) gets out in front with Mark Teevan for backup and Kian Vaughan looking on

Kevin McConnell against Ramor

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Keogan.

A senior call-up was all but inevitable and it duly came when Keogan gave Damien a run against Queens in a Dr. McKenna Cup tie.

Damien later made his full Cavan debut in a national league game against Offaly when Val Andrews was at the tiller.

In 2012, Damien appeared to be comfortable in the exalted senior intercounty environment and didn't at all look out of place in Cavan's defence.

Apart from the opener against Wexford, Damien featured in all Cavan's 2012 NFL matches and then was part of the team that faced up to Donegal (Ulster SFC) and later Fermanagh and Kildare in the AllIreland qualifiers. Unluckily, he had to retire injured against the Lilywhites after a tangle with Johnny Doyle left him nursing a badly bruised ankle and out for the championship encounter with Drumalee.

So how did it feel to have worn the Cavan jersey so often and in really significant matches?

"I was definitely more confident this year than I had been playing for Cavan before but I have a lot more to prove, to myself and the management.

"I'd like to be part of the county setup for as long as I can and I'm looking forward to continue to play for the current management team.

"They (Terry Hyland and co.) brought a fresh, new impetus to the county scene when they took over and it's obvious that they want success as badly as we (the players) do."

Is he confident that Cavan can surprise a few people and teams in the coming year?

"I don't see why not because I don't think the gap between us and the likes of Donegal is as big as some people think.

"We have a lot of fellas coming through who have won minor and under 21 provincial medals and they know what it takes to win and I'm sure they'll add a lot of quality to the senior squad in the coming year.

"I think there's a lot to look forward to. It doesn't always follow but I'd like to think that Cavan's underage success in the last three years can be repeated by the seniors sooner rather than later."

299

David Greene

Mark Teevan holds possession

Peter Shannon

On championship duty, front l/r: Paul Cusack, Ryan Brady, Ryan Egan, Eugene Hill, Stephen Cooney, Cian Mackey (captain), Oisin O'Connell, Nigel Duignan, Enda O'Connell, Enda Flanagan, Padraig McGahern.

Back: Zack Duignan, Paul Brady, Stephen Wright, Brian Coleman, David Wright, Jamie Leahy, Cian McEnroe, Fergal Reilly, Sean Brady, Damien Tierney, Daire McEnroe, Darren Reilly

CASTLERAHAN - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

CASTLERAHAN

2012 RESU LTS ACFL Divis ion 1 Castleraha n 1-9 0-8 G ow Drumalee 0 -6 1-12 Cast na lerahan Castleraha n 2-7 0-11 Cúchulainn Kingscourt s 2-8 1-11 Ca stlerahan Cavan Gae ls 0-9 0-9 C astlerahan Castleraha n 1-15 2-11 Belturbet Ballyhaise 0-10 1-10 C astlerahan Castleraha n 2-8 1-11 Ballinagh Castleraha n 2-13 1-7 Killygarry Drumgoon 1-7 2-9 Cast lerahan Ramor 0-11 0-8 Castlera han Castleraha n 0-6 1-10 Lacken Castleraha n 0-6 1-11 Mullahoran Redhills 3-1 0 6-16 Cast lerahan

Lavey/Castlerahan joint captains Gerry Smith and Enda Flanagan hoist aloft the Minor A Championship trophy

TALENT IN ABUNDANCE Castlerahan’s hopes of getting back to the Cavan senior football championship final fell just short in 2012, but there was still success to savour for the club that were marking their 50-year anniversary when they tasted historic minor glory in October after having joined up with Lavey for the Division One championship.

W

hen Castlerahan set out their stall for 2012, the goal would have been as clear as crystal for Ciaran Macken’s team. After their heavy defeat to Cavan Gaels in the previous year’s county final, getting back to that same stage would prove a serious point and all involved knew that major battles would lay ahead if the Promised Land was to be reached.

Over a team packed with youth and

SFC Ramor 1-8 2-15 Castle rahan Redhills 1-9 1-18 Castle rahan Drumgoon 1-7 2-12 Ca stlerahan Castleraha n 1-11 0-8 Belturbet Castleraha QF n 1-6 1-16 Kingscourt – SF

talent, Macken and his selectors, Tony Brady, Vincent Conaty and Stephen Smith, went about implementing a new system of play for his team which he was confident could maintain their safety in the league, with the new format set to see an array of teams making the drop, and see them challenging at the business end of the championship.

“I suppose we wanted to come up with a system of play that could bring us far in the championship,”

301

explained Brady.

“We did well in the league, but we had problems with players involved with county and that would have upset our rhythm a bit. I really think every team in the county should be playing their club matches (as scheduled) regardless of who they’re missing.”

Wins against Gowna (1-9 to 0-8), Drumalee (1-12 to 0-6), Cuchuallins (2-7 to 0-11), along with draws against top guns Cavan Gaels and

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Kingscourt, had Castlerahan off to a flying start in Division One of the All County Football League. Defeats to Ramor and Lacken in midchampionship would spoil their chances of a top place finish, but with their senior status already safely secured for 2013, the team could enter into the championship race without concerns over relegation.

First up would be Ramor United at Kingspan Breffni Park, where Macken’s team put their talents firmly on display as ace attacker Cian McEnroe and Oisin O’Connell combined for 2-10 to help sink the Virginia men on a 2-15 to 1-8 scoreline and put one foot in the quarterfinals.

The following weekend the Balljamesduff men returned to the Cavan town venue and saw off Redhills by 1-18 to 1-9, with O’Connell and McEnroe again in outstanding form, while former county

senior Sean Brady contributed 0-3 to help seal the team’s place in the last eight. A 2-12 to 1-7 thumping of intermediate champions Drumgoon maintain Castlerahan’s glowing form ahead of a quarter-final showdown with Belturbet on September 2.

Played at Kingspan Breffni Park, Macken’s charges settled into this game nicely with fine points from minor star Enda Flanagan and Cian Mackey. Belturbet’s response was delayed and it allowed Castlerahan to open up a three-point lead, which they would hold at half-time, 0-7 to 04, as Oisin O’Connell opened up his account and Fergal Flanagan smashed over from full-forward.

The salient moment in the game would arrive four minutes into the restart when O’Connell located Enda Flanagan with a sublime pass and the teen attacker blasted past David Greene to the Rories’ net. That strike widened the gap to five and despite

Belturbet’s best efforts to get back into the game, they struggled to find a way through for enough scores as Mackey added two more frees down the other end before substitute Padraig McGahern burst out of the Ballyjamesduff side’s defence and lashed over the last score to round off a 1-11 to 0-8 win.

“Our form was good coming towards the championship and in our group games I thought we were developing our system of play very well,” said Brady.

“We were well in control during the Belturbet game as well, but the only thing that went against us was that we ended up getting lads injured and weren’t able to have full training sessions afterwards in preparation for the Kingscourt game.”

Castlerahan went into the semifinals with a 100 per cent record against a Kingscourt side that had lost their final group game to

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champions Cavan Gaels, but nonetheless the 2010 winners would be favourites against Macken’s team.

Sean Brady and Ronan Flanagan posted Castlerahan’s opening scores of the game after Kingscourt had moved into an early two-point lead, and proceedings would stay even enough for the half until the underdogs were dealt a serious blow close to half-time when Joe McMahon got in for a Kingscourt goal, which left it at 1-6 to 0-3 in favour of the Stars at the interval.

The second-half saw the Meathborder men racing through the gears and dismantling their opponents to put up 0-10, while Castlerahan’s only highlight of a regrettable second-half was towards the end when a rocket shot from Oisin O’Connell flew into the top corner of the Kingscourt net. It was too little, too late for the maroons at that stage though as they were made succumb to a 1-16 to 1-6 defeat at the hands of their opponents, who would go on to lose the county final after a replay against Mullahoran.

Castlerahan (SFC semi-final v Kingscourt): Jamie Leahy; Stephen Cooney, David Wright, Brian Coleman; Eugene Kill, Enda O'Connell, Fergal Reilly; Cian Mackey (0-2, 2f), Enda Flanagan; Nigel Duignan (0-1), Ronan Flanagan (0-1), Caolan McBreen; Sean Brady (0-1), Fergal Flanagan, Oisin O'Connell (1-0). Subs: Paul Brady (01) for E Flanagan (30), Alan Cusack for F Flanagan (45), Stephen Foran for N Duigan (47), Padraig McGahern for McBreen (59).

“I’m still not able to put my finger on it (where it went wrong against Kingscourt),” said Brady, “but I suppose you need more than one system of play if you’re going to win anything. We were easily read after the Belturbet game and Kingscourt ran through us in the semi-final. You need bigger numbers at trainings when you’re trying to implement new things. The biggest losses for us this year would have been John Clarke and Alan Mulvey, who quit for one reason or another.”

He added: “You need a great range of players and it’s a big problem in

305

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Castlerahan seniors 2012, front l/r: Paul Cusack, Stephen Foran, Nigel Duignan, Eugene Hill, Stephen Cooney, Ronan Flanagan, Cian Mackey (captain), Oisin O'Connell, Brian Coleman, Enda O'Connell, Padraig McGahern, Enda Flanagan. Back: Zack Duignan, Ryan Egan, Ryan Brady, Stephen Wright, Cian McEnroe, Paul Brady, Jamie Leahy, David Wright, Fergal Reilly, Colin Lafferty, Damien Tierney, Dáire McEnroe, Darren Reilly

Cavan at club and county level. Too many players drop off at around 24 or 25 when they should be in their prime.

Injuries are another problem. A lot of our injuries this year could have been prevented. Clubs are paying coaches to come in when it should be put into Sports Science.”

One Championship triumph over North Eastern Gaels.

After seeing off Oliver Plunkett’s in the first round, the team, managed by Noel Flanagan (Castlerahan), Paul Smith, John Conroy and Chris Conroy (all Lavey), demonstrated their deep resolve to overcome champions O’Raghallaigh Gaels in a replay after having been six points down late on to the Kingscourt/Shercock amalgamation in the first game. The final would throw up a clash with North Eastern Gaels (Kill, Drung and Laragh) and after a drab contest at Kingspan Breffni Park on September 30, the two sides played out a pulsating replay six days later at the same venue, where Lavey/Castlerahan would edge a 2-10 to 1-9 victory to clinch the title.

In an enthralling final replay, the standard of football overshadowed that of the previous game by some distance with both teams notching as many scores in the opening half as they did last Sunday, when it finished disappointingly on 0-6 apiece. North Eastern Gaels were the better team for the opening quarter of the contest before they were devastated by Daire McEnroe's 16th minute goal, but they pulled back a major of their own through Caolain O'Reilly towards the eve of half-time to level it all square at the interval.

Lavey/Castlerahan were much the better side in the second period as they were led forward by joint-captain

LAVEY/CASTLERAHAN DELIVER MINOR CROWN In October, the minor footballers of Castlerahan and Lavey ensured that they’d be ending their club’s respective seasons on a high when they stormed to a historic Division

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Castlerahan had an off day in the championship semi-final against Kingscourt, front l/r: Paul Cusack, Brian Coleman, Ronan Flanagan, Eugene Hill, Stephen Cooney, Cian Mackey (captain), Enda Flanagan, Ryan Brady, Enda O'Connell, Darren Reilly, Padraig McGahern, Ferdia Sweeney.

Back: Alan Cusack, Stephen Wright, Barry McGinn, Fiachra Cork, Paul Brady, Jamie Leahy, David Wright, Zack Duignan, Fergal Reilly, Sean Brady, Colin Lafferty, Damien Tierney

Gerry Smith, who was outstanding in both games and contributed 0-5 here, and once substitute Lindo Majola goaled in the 41st minute the title was theirs to lose as Enda Flanagan and Smith knocked over frees in the closing quarter to make sure of a historic win.

Sean Tierney opened the scoring inside 20 seconds for North Eastern Gaels to set the tone for what would unravel as a riveting first-half. Enda Flanagan responded with a free and the Lavey/Castlerahan centreforward could have added a goal in the 7th minute, but his fisted effort bounced the wrong side of the post.

Gary Watters shot the Gaels back in front two minutes later, but Lavey/Castlerahan were beginning to edge things at this stage as Daire McEnroe had a goal chance cleared off the line and Gerry Smith added a point after being moved from centreback to the edge of the square.

A Liam McKenna free kept the advantage with the Laragh/Kill/Drung combo, but they'd be dealt a blow when failing to clear danger from their square and allowing McEnroe to bury past a stranded Joseph O'Donoghue in the Gaels goal.

The next three scores would arrive via Flanagan (free) and the superb Smith (2), before the Gaels hit a purple patch in the closing stages of the half which saw McKenna and Sean Tierney combining brilliantly to release Caolain O'Reilly in the big square, from where the cornerforward applied a devastating finish to the net. Two well-struck Stephen

Jackson frees in the added minutes meant the sides would go in level for the break on 1-5 apiece.

A McKenna free handed the Gaels their first lead since the 15th minute two minutes into the resumption, which Senan Gilchreest cancelledout to level the sides for the third time before Lavey/Castlerahan asserted their authority on things with the endeavours of their forwards earning frees for Smith and Flanagan to pop over for a two-point lead ahead of a killer blow.

In the 41st minute the game's salient moment arrived when Paul Gilchreest cut in from the right wing and set-up Lindo Majola and the substitute made no mistake in rifling past O'Donoghue for a second threepointer. The Gaels rallied for a quick response which saw Ryan Egan being dismissed for picking up a second yellow card, and despite the points of Shane O'Rourke and McKenna (free) Lavey/Castlerahan were able to hold out for a coveted victory.

Lavey/Castlerahan (MFC final v North Eastern Gaels): Seamus Tierney; Darren Donegan, Killian McEnroe, James Cunningham; Dermot Conaty, Gerry Smith (0-5, 2f), Ryan Egan; Senan Gilchreest (0-1), Dean Rutherford; Paul Gilchreest, Enda Flanagan (0-3, 3f), Dara Conaty; Jake Buckley, Daire McEnroe (1-1, 1f), Fergal Reilly.

Subs: Lindo Majola (1-0) for J Buckley (37), Cormac Daly for D Conaty (44), Barry Cusack for D Conaty (58).

309

Fergal Reilly and Enda O'Connell

Nigel Duignan

On duty for the county senior final against Mullahoran, front l/r: Philip Tinnelly, Anthony Corcoran, Thomas Wakely, Shane Grey, Colm Smith, Keith McCabe (captian), Joe Dillon, Barry Tully, Cian McArdle, Ryan Carey, Rory Sheridan, Seanie Farrelly, Tomas Malone. Back: Philip Smith, JP Reilly, Ciaran Gorman, Ronan Tinnelly, Barry Reilly, Padraig Faulkner, Gavin Sheenan, James Farrelly, Joe McMahon, Sean Og Gargan, Eoin Lynch, Aidan Smith, Alan Clarke, Daryl Martin, Kieran Smith, Shay Rooney, Ryan McCormack

KINGSCOURT - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

KINGSCOURT Joe McMahon sends Mullahoran’s Seanie Smith overboard

2012 RESU LTS ACFL Divis ion 1 Cavan Gae ls 3-7 2-7 K ingscourt Kingscourt 1-12 1-12 R amor Mullahoran 0-5 0-7 Kin gscourt Kingscourt 2-8 1-11 Ca stlerah Kingscourt 1-2 0-8 Lave an y Kingscourt 5-8 2-6 Red hills Ballinagh 1 -9 4-7 King sco Kingscourt 1-15 0-5 Kill urt yg Drumgoon 1-8 3-11 Kin arry gscourt Belturbet 1 -13 2-17 Kin gsco Lacken 3-1 0 3-9 Kingsc urt ourt Kingscourt 2-12 2-10 G owna Kingscourt 2-17 0-1 Ba llyhaise Drumalee 0 -6 5-23 Kin gscourt Kingscourt0 -22 Cúchula inns 1-16

STARS FALL JUST SHORT In a year which promised so much for Kingscourt Stars, with the prospect of a senior and minor championship double very much alive in September, the Meath-border side would end up suffering heartbreak at the final stage of the SFC in 2012. However, PRO Colleen McCabe explained that things are far from gloomy in the club, with silverware having been achieved elsewhere this past year.

F

rom the moment of Dudley Farrell’s appointment back to the Kingscourt hot seat, the objective he set for his team wouldn’t have been all too difficult to forecast.

Having led the Stars to a first senior championship success in 17 years in 2010, the following year saw Farrell return to his chairman duties in his native Nobber where the news of his former team’s quarter-final defeat to Cavan Gaels would have surely rang

SFC Denn 0-5 3 -12 Kingsco urt Kingscourt 5-9 0-5 Lave Kingscourt y 1-6 2-9 Cava Kingscourt n Gaels 1-13 0-10 D rumgoon – Castleraha QF n 1-6 1-16 Kingscourt Mullahoran – SF 1 -8 1-8 King Mullahoran scourt – Fin 1-8 0-7 Kin al gscourt – F inal replay

through.

Once approached by devoted Stars chairman Pat Faulkner at the end of 2011, Farrell had one foot back across the Cavan border and after bringing Sean Farrelly, Robbie O’Connell and Philly McKeon back on board as his management team, all that was left to do was deliver their clear targets for the new season to the players.

“The obvious aim for us would have

311

been to win the senior championship and be competing for a league semifinal place at the end of the year,” said Colleen McCabe, who was appointed PRO at the club’s AGM at the end of 2011.

“We started the league against Cavan Gaels and they beat us by a goal and we had a long break after that because of the Cavan Under 21s. When we came back we drew with Ramor and got our first win of the

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Junior Football B Championship winners, front l/r: Gordon McCormack, Lorcan Sheenan, Aaron Brown, Paul Woods, Colm Kieran, Aidan Smith, Anthony Corcoran (Captain), Ryan Carey, Cian McArdle, Rory Sheridan, Brendan Corcoran, Tom Tully. Back: Phil Smith, Mark McGovern.

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year against Mullahoran in a really low-scoring game that finished 0-5 to 0-7.

“We beat Castlerahan and then Lavey beat us and from there on our performances really started to improve and we were scoring a lot of goals per game. After we beat Redhills, I think we scored something like ten goals in the next three games against Drumalee, Ballinagh and Belturbet, so our form was definitely good coming towards the championship.”

After a narrow opening round defeat to the Gaels, Farrell’s charges hit the ground running in their defence of the

ACFL Division One and really started to gather place towards the summer’s championship when they would be facing Denn in the opening round at the end of July.

Played at Kingspan Breffni Park, Kingscourt completely dismantled the 2009 beaten finalists with goals from Colm Smith, Philip Smith and Joe Dillon, who, along with club mate Barry Reilly, had helped Cavan retain the Ulster U21 Championship title back in April, while team captain Keith McCabe, Padraig Faulkner and Barry Tully had all been airtight at the back to hold the Crosskeys outfit to just 0-5, with the Stars’ prolific attack

Kingscourt celebrate their JFC B win

313

accounting for 3-12 over the hour.

A 5-9 to 0-5 win over Lavey the following weekend would comfortably secure Kingscourt’s passage through to the knock-out stages, before a meaningless defeat to Cavan Gaels (2-9 to 1-6) weeks later closed the group stages.

“We played Denn the first day, and despite the horrendous weather conditions, we played very well and ran up a high score against them,” McCabe stated.

“The Lavey game was the following weekend and we put in another big performance that day. Once we won that that we were able to concentrate

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314

Anthony Corcoran receives the JFCB Cup

Joe Dillon

Joe McMahon

on the quarter-finals without having to worry about beating Cavan Gaels in our last game. We played them in Breffni Park and they beat us by six points on the night.”

The quarter-final draw would pair Kingscourt together with intermediate champions Drumgoon in what was sure to be a tricky contest for Farrell’s men, but as the game unravelled it was the Stars’ start in Cootehill that would all but see them through to the semi-finals for the first time in two years.

After the opening half-hour, Kingscourt’s riveting start surged them towards a 1-8 to 0-2 lead at half-time, with Philip Smith’s sixth minute penalty putting them firmly in the driving-seat. The second-half would be a completely different scenario for both teams as Drumgoon outscored their opponents by 0-8 to 0-5, with the scores of Barry Reilly, Philip Smith and substitute Daryl Martin enough to secure a 1-13 to 0-10 win and a place in the last four for the town side.

Castlerahan awaited Kingscourt in the semi-final for what was going to be another stiff test, with the Ballyjamesduff side having scored some convincing wins in the group stages and keen to get back to the county decider after losing out in 2011. The opening stages had been tight, with Kingscourt slightly edging matters before they landed a huge blow when Joe McMahon got in for a superbly taken goal on the eve of half-time. Kingscourt grew in confidence as the second-half progressed, with Barry Reilly, Philip Smith, Ryan McCormack, Barry Tully and substitute Sean Og Gargan helping to put up a 0-10 tally in 27 minutes, while Alan Clarke and Thomas Wakely stood strong at the back to make sure of an emphatic 116 to 1-6 win and a second county final place in three years.

“I think a lot of the good form the team had this year was to do with the management that was in place. There was massive respect from the players towards Dudley and he definitely brings out the best in them,” said the PRO. “There was a lot of excitement

315

O’Raghallaigh Gaels co captains, Colin Clerkin and Padraig Faulkner

Tomas Malone

Ryan McCormack

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The O Raghallaigh Gaels squad which claimed the Division 1 Minor League, front l/r: Ritchie Curtis, Aaron McMahon, Robbie Rowntree, Padraig Faulkner, Owen Duffy, Colin Clerkin, Paul Sloane, Niall Clerkin, Rory Sheridan, Darren Grey, Cathal McKeown. Back: Francis McPhillips, Oisin Finnegan, John O Reilly, Patrick McMahon, David Harpur, Aaron Browne, Ryan McCullough, Shay Rooney, Niall Reilly, Jack Sheanon, Killian Farrelly, Ryan Clerkin, Gary Lynch, Peter McKeown, John McMahon

around the town in the build-up to the final, but not as much as there was in 2010. I think it was because we hadn’t been in a final for so long two years ago and things were a bit more subdued this time round. The team had massive support for the final, but I’m sure the players didn’t want that much hype around them going in against Mullahoran.”

Kingscourt would march into a county final as favourites for the first time in almost 20 years against a Mullahoran side ranked as 3/1 outsiders.

After a poor start, Farrell's team thought they were on their way to another senior championship triumph at Kingpan Breffni Park once substitute Ryan McCormack finished

off a well-worked goal in the 59th minute, but Mullahoran demonstrated some outstanding resolve to earn two late frees which Enda O'Reilly calmly slotted to tie up things by the final whistle.

It was Niall Lynch's underdogs that made a dream start to the game, scoring 1-3 inside the opening 10 minutes, with the goal coming from U21 star Raymond Lynch in the 9th, and it was three points that separated the teams at the halfway stage.

Showing positive signs in the latter stages of the first-half, Kingscourt would boss their opponents for long portions of the second period but only arrived at the lead when McCormack hit the net, as O'Reilly's accurate frees kept them at bay, and the

centre-forward would even have the last say, finishing a fine afternoon's work with 0-7.

Kingscourt’s supporters would again journey in their hundreds for the replay, but this time they would leave Cavan town disappointed. After having made another slow start, the Stars would draw level by the break through Barry Reilly’s frees and points from Colm Smith and Padraig Faulkner. Their second-half lead was created by Philip Smith and Sean Og Gargan, but it would be wiped out in an instance by a late Philip Brady goal which sealed the deal for Mullahoran as they hung on for a 1-8 to 0-7 victory, denying their opponents the Oliver Plunkett Cup. Kingscourt (SFC final replay v

The 2012 senior panel, front l/r: Thomas Wakely, Colm Kieran, Shane Grey, Anthony Corcoran, Sean Og Gargan, Padraig Faulkner, Colm Smith, Keith McCabe (Capt) Joe Dillon, Joe McMahon, Barry Tully, Mark McKeon, Kieran Smith, Rory Sheridan, Aaron Brown. Back: Shay Rooney, Eoin Lynch, Ciaran Gorman, Philip Smith, Philip Tinnelly, Gavin Sheenan, JP Reilly, James Farrelly, Barry Reilly, Sean Farrelly, Aidan Smith, Daryl Martin, Alan Clarke, Tomas Malone, Ronan Tinnelly, Ryan McCormack

317

Championship Panel 2012

Mullahoran): James Farrelly; Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Thomas Wakely, Shane Grey; Barry Tully, Alan Clarke, Keith McCabe; Colm Smith (0-1), Joe Dillon; Joe McMahon, Philip Smith (0-1, 1f), Ryan McCormack; Thomas Malone, Barry Reilly (0-3, 2f), Sean Og Gargan (0-1). Subs: Philip Tinnelly for J Dillon (30), Daryl Martin for S Gargan (54), Kieran Smith for T Malone (60).

Afterwards Farrell described the defeat as “heart-breaking” but stated that his players would move on from the loss, while also admitting that Mullahoran were deserved winners on the day.

MORE SILVERWARE FOR O’RAGHALLAIGH GAELS This past April saw the club’s minor footballers amalgamate with Shercock for a second consecutive

The pre-match parade on county final day

318

year to form O’Raghallaigh Gaels and claim the Minor Football League Division One title.

Having triumphed to the county minor championship title the previous September, the Gaels entered their Division One campaign as favourites and demonstrated some outstanding form which saw them claim six wins out of six games on their passage to the final, with Ballymachugh, St Finbarr’s, Castlerahan, Ramor,

Cavan Gaels and St Joseph’s all being accounted for. They would meet the latter in the decider at Ramor Park, where an early goal blitz proved crucial for the winners as the majors of Robbie Rowntree (penalty), Niall O’Reilly and Owen Duffy ushered them 3-5 to 0-6 in front by the halfway stage.

Far from dead and buried, St Joseph’s struck six unanswered points after the resumption to cut the deficit to two before the Gaels landed another blow when David Harpur set-up Niall Clerkin and the Shercock youngster blasted past to the net. The Saints pulled back a goal of their own to leave a nervy finish at the end, but when Gary Lynch was sent through in injurytime the substitute made no mistake in firing over the insurance point for O’Raghallaigh Gaels, who emerged 4-6 to 1-13 winners from Virginia to secure the title.

O’Raghallaigh Gaels (MFL Div 1 final v St Joseph’s): Shay Rooney; Killian Farrelly, Rory Sheridan, Paul Sloane; Patrick McMahon, Colin Clerkin, Niall O’Reilly (1-0); David Harpur (0-2), Padraig Faulkner; Niall Clerkin (1-2), Aaron Browne, Robbie Rowntree (1-1); Ryan Clerkin, Jack Sheehan, Owen Duffy (1-0). Sub: Gary Lynch (0-1).

The team would carry the momentum with them into the Division One Championship and scored another impressive win over

Colm Smith

St Joseph’s (2-14 to 1-8), before suffering a shock 2-10 to 1-7 defeat at the hands of Lavey/Castlerahan after a replay at the semi-final stage.

JUNIORS TASTE CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY October saw Kingscourt gaining some measure of compensation for their senior championship defeat when they saw off Belturbet’s challenge to claim the Junior B Championship title.

Played in ideal conditions at Kingspan Breffni Park, Kingscourt made a slow start to the final with scores from team captain Anthony Corcoran and Cian McArdle seeing them trail 0-3 to 0-2 after 14 minutes. Two minutes later though the Stars would be in front when Joe McCarthy’s long ball was fetched by Cian McArdle in the Belturbet square, where the centre-forward was dragged down and Corcoran converted the resultant penalty. Belturbet did hit back but points from McCarthy and Corcoran saw the Meath border men take in the 1-5 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Two Niall O’Reilly points levelled matters three minutes into the resumption, but that was as good as it got for the Rories as outstanding contributions from Brendan Corcoran, Patrick Farrelly and Eoin Lynch at the back saw Kingscourt hold their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the game. Down the other end, the brilliant Corcoran (3) and ushered the blues back in front and further points from substitute Aaron Browne and Ryan Carey would seal a deserved victory for Kingscourt.

Kingscourt (JBFC final): Shay Rooney; Aidan Smith, Brendan Corcoran, Patrick Farrelly; Colm Kiernan, Eoin Lynch, Tom Tully; Terry Reilly, Kieran Gorman; Cian McArdle (0-1), Sean Farrelly, Ronan Tinnelly; Anthony Corcoran (1-6), Joe McCarthy (0-1), Ryan Carey. Subs: Mark McGovern, Rory Sheridan, Aaron Browne (01), Lorcan Sheehan, Paul Woods.

319

Barry Tully

Padraig Faulkner

Philip Smith

On duty for the county final, front l/r: Tomás Nannery, Fergal Brady, James O’Reilly, Paul Brady, Killian Brady, Michael Brady, Dermot Sheridan, Paddy Brady, Philip Brady, Seanie Smith, Sean Briody, Daniel Smith, Norbert Smith, Noel Brady. Back: Darren O’Reilly, Danny Brady selector, Anthony Sheridan, Kevin Fitzsimons, Gerard Clerkin, Enda O’Reilly, Raymond Lynch, Peter Paul Galligan, Eamon Brady, Christy Shiels, Eddie O’Reilly, Daniel King, Eddie Dalton, Ciaran McGee, Tommie Maguire, Dominick Crudden, Jason Donohoe, Owen Roe O’Reilly

MULLAHORAN - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

MULLAHORAN Paul Brady, who was man of the match, and captain Dermot Sheridan raise the Oliver Plunkett Cup

2012 RESU LTS

BACK AT THE SUMMIT Mullahoran ticked over nicely during the early part of 2012 and that was enough to see Niall Lynch’s dogged Dreadnoughts through to a long-awaited Cavan SFC final.

It was there that the 3/1 outsiders would demonstrate their true character to overcome the challenge of a hotlyfancied Kingscourt Stars side and deliver the club’s 11th Oliver Plunkett Cup success. By Shane Corrigan.

O

ctober 7, 2012 – you can chalk it down as another landmark date for the Mullahoran Dreadnoughts club which boasts such a rich history in the Breffni County.

After having endured recent tragedies within the parish, it was hard to forecast Mullahoran’s 2012 season unravelling the way it did.

Always ranked as contenders when it comes to the Cavan senior football championship, the Dreadnoughts were hit hard by issues off field this

ACFL Divis ion 1 Ballyhaise 0-5 0-8 Mu llahoran Lacken 1-7 1-6 Mullaho ran Mullahoran 0-5 0-7 Kin gscourt Killygarry 1 -14 0-11 M ullahoran Gowna 0-1 0 3-7 Mulla horan Mullahoran 0-12 1-10 L avey Mullahoran 2-7 0-6 Dru malee Cúchulainn s 2-5 2-9 M ullahoran Ramor 1-7 0-14 Mullah oran Mullahoran 1-7 2-4 Red hills Mullahoran 2-7 0-12 Ba llinagh Mullahoran 1-15 2-7 Dru Mullahoran mgoon 0-11 2-12 C avan Gaels Castleraha n 0-6 1-11 Mullahoran SFC Gowna 0-7 0-8 Mullaho ran Killygarry 1 -7 0-11 Mu llahoran Mullahoran 1-20 1-12 C úchulainns Ballinagh 1 -6 0-11 Mu llahoran – Q Killygarry 1 F -9 0-15 Mu llahoran – S Mullahoran F 1 -8 1 -8 Kingscourt Mullahoran – Final 1-8 0-7 Kin gscourt – F inal replay

year. In tough times your sport can often be the best outlet though, and it proved the case for many of Mullahoran’s footballers this past autumn.

Again under the guidance of the highly respected Cuchullains man Niall Lynch, who was ably assisted by Danny Brady and Eamon Brady, Mullahoran approached 2012 with league safety as top priority due to the new relegation format implemented, with the senior championship campaign firmly in the

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back of their minds.

“We’d always been making semifinals or finals in the championship, but in truth the main aim for us this year was to try and get off to a winning start in Division One and maintain our senior status,” explained club chairman John Joe Plunkett.

Having chaired the Dreadnoughts during their 1998 senior championship triumph, Plunkett landed back in the club hot seat in February; just in time for the senior team’s league trail which saw them

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The champions of Cavan for 2012, front l/r: Seanie Smith, Fergal Brady, James O’Reilly, Michael Brady, Dermot Sheridan, Killian Brady, Daniel Smith, Philip Brady, Sean Briody, Eddie Dalton. Back: Jason Donohoe, Gerard Clerkin, Eddie O’Reilly, Noel Brady, Paddy Brady, Peter Paul Galligan, Eamon Brady, Christy Shiels, Tomás Nannery, Anthony Sheridan, Tommie Maguire, Ciaran McGee

got off to a shaky start minus the services of veteran full-back Ciaran Sheils, who had emigrated to the US, and young stars Killian Brady, Michael Brady and Raymond Lynch, who were all tied up with Cavan U21 duties. Incidentally, the latter three would go on to play crucial roles in the Breffni County’s Ulster title defence against Tyrone in Enniskillen on April 12.

Lynch’s charges would open their campaign with a promising victory over intermediate hopefuls Ballyhaise, but things would turn ominous after that, as Plunkett explained: “We started off with a win over

Ballyhaise and lost our next four games after that, so things weren’t looking good for us at that stage. We weren’t playing to our potential at all, but thankfully our form began to pick up in May and we went on a bit of a winning-spree coming towards the championship.”

Mullahoran’s senior status for 2013 would be all but confirmed by the time senior championship rolled around at the end of July when an opening round clash with neighbours Gowna would truly heat up the Dreadnoughts’ season. Played at Kingspan Breffni Park, Mullahoran would only have two scorers on the day, with Eddie O’Reilly’s 47th minute

free proving enough to secure a 0-8 to 0-7 win and put on foot in the quarter-finals.

Six days later would see a battle with Killygarry take place at the same venue, where the winners would be guaranteed of a place in the last eight. After a poor start, which saw them slip behind by 1-5 to 0-2 by the 21st minute, Mullahoran demonstrated their deep resolve to boss their opponents in the secondhalf, with points from Michael Brady, Eddie O’Reilly and team captain Dermot Sheridan helping seal a 0-11 to 1-7 win, leaving the remaining group fixture against Cuchullains a ‘dead-rubber’ tie, which, incidentally,

Mullahoran’s finest, front l/r: Fergal Brady, James O’Reilly, Dermot Sheridan, Michael Brady, Daniel Smith, Philip Brady, Killian Brady. Eddie Dalton, Sean Briody. Back: Gerard Clerkin, Anthony Sheridan, Raymond Lynch, Norbert Smith, Paddy Brady, Enda O’Reilly, Peter Paul Galligan, Eamon Brady, Christy Shiels, Tomás Nannery, Eddie O’Reilly, Seanie Smith, Paul Brady, Noel Brady, Dominick Crudden, Tommy Maguire

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Start them young... Tom Og Nannery

Christy Shiels

Patrick Brady accepts the U14 trophy

the Dreadnoughts won comfortably (1-20 to 1-12) to warm up for their quarter-final.

“Our form was decent in the group stages, but nothing spectacular,” stated Plunkett. “Not many were looking at us to win the championship at that stage. Cavan Gaels were still favourites and Kingscourt were putting up huge scores in their games as well.

“We knew that the Ballinagh game was always going to be difficult for us.

They always play well against us in the championship and have some very talented players. It wasn’t a great game of football or anything, but in the end we were glad to come through it” In the wet and windy conditions, it was Mullahoran that shined brightest under the lights at Kingspan Breffni Park, where Enda O’Reilly’s contribution, having come off the bench, made the telling difference for the winners.

Lynch’s team had hit the ground running against their neighbours with points from Philip Brady, Eddie O’Reilly and Michael Brady putting them in early command. As the half developed though, Ballinagh began to discover their rhythm to pull it back to 0-5 to 0-4 before Mullahoran introduced Enda O’Reilly, who had recently returned from the US, to the fray. The young attacker slotted a free minutes into his introduction to push the gap back to two, before an Anthony Gaynor goal on the eve of half-time saw Ballinagh take in a onepoint lead for the interval.

Enda O’Reilly levelled matters with the first score of the second-half but Ballinagh took back the initiative, meaning the Dreadnoughts would have to dig deep in the closing quarter when Michael Brady set-up Daniel Smith for a crucial point followed by pressure scores from Enda O’Reilly. Ballinagh hunted for an equaliser but they were denied a way through by central defenders Killian Brady and Paddy Brady, both of whom were excellent all year long, and in the closing stages a Paul Brady point secured a 0-11 to 1-6 win to secure his team’s passage to the semi-finals.

The following day would see Killygarry spring a massive upset by

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Daniel King and Tomas Nannery

Eddie O’Reilly

Dermot Sheridan hoists the silverware aloft

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knocking out champions Cavan Gaels in their respective quarter-final, and Plunkett admitted that Mullahoran couldn’t afford take the Crubany men for granted going into their semifinal showdown.

“It was a big surprise to see Killygarry come through their quarter-final against Cavan Gaels,” said the chairman.

“We had played them in the Mullahoran celebrates their county title, l/r: Donie Smith, Kathy league and it was a game that Donohoe, Johnny Joe Brady, Peter Paul Galligan, Hugo Briody we shouldn’t have lost, but we were certainly worried about Eddie O'Reilly, Raymond Lynch, them going into the semi-final Philip Brady and Tomas Nannery had because they were brilliant against them leading by five points heading the Gaels and nobody expected them towards injury-time. In the added to win that day. On the day we were minutes, Killygarry staged a miniprobably that bit physically stronger than Killygarry and I think that’s what swung it for us against them.”

Having dethroned the champions, Killygarry were keen to keep their hot streak alive and were fancied by many neutrals to turn over Lynch’s men at Kingspan Breffni Park on September 16. However, it was Mullahoran that were hands down the better team on the day, with their ace forwards Eddie and Enda O’Reilly combining for 0-9 over the hour to help secure a 0-14 to 1-9 victory.

The winners had only led by a point at the halfway stage due to the concession of a Donal Thomas goal, but flexed their considerable muscle in the second-half through the frees of Enda O’Reilly before scores from

revival by registering three scores in as many minutes, which, incredibly, left them with a chance of winning with the last kick of the game from a close-range Martin Reilly free. Mullahoran would have the majority of their numbers on Eamon Brady’s goal-line for the kick, which Reilly sent wide much to delight of the blue and yellow contingent, whom now had a county final to relish.

With excitement at an all-time high in the club, Mullahoran went into the county final against Kingscourt Stars as 3/1 underdogs and made a pulsating start against the Meath-border side to run up 1-3 in the opening ten minutes, with Under 21 ace Raymond

Dermot Sheridan

Mullahoran’s U14 winners, front l/r: Gavin Brady, Shane Sheridan, Mark Halton, Ryan O’Reilly, Martin O’Reilly, Patrick Brady capt, Jason Harten, Conor Fitzsimons, Darren Shiels, Leon O’Reilly. Back: Daniel Smith & Gerard Clerkin (team management), Sean Cadden, Callum Mussi, Colm Reilly, Cathal Rabbitte, James Coyle, Jason Reilly, Liam Wilson, William Comiskey, Jason Sheridan, Philip Brady (team management)

327

Lynch bagging the ninth minute goal, in the end though they were made hold on for dear life as two late frees from Enda O’Reilly rescued a 1-8 apiece draw and another crack at the title the following Sunday.

“We were very worried about Kingscourt, to be honest,” said Plunkett. “They had been taking teams apart throughout the entire championship. They have some great young players and play a nice brand of football, so basically the plan was to try and stay with them in the game and battle hard towards the end for the win.

“We got a great start the first day but they were coming back at us in the second-half and we kicked a lot of balls into their goalkeeper’s chest which could have cost us on the day but, thankfully, we got a second chance against them.”

There would be question marks over Paul Brady’s availability for the replay, as the 33-year-old was in the middle of preparations to defend his World Handball Championship title the following weekend, but ‘the Gunner’ would start at number 12 for the Dreadnoughts and would go on to earn the ‘Man of the Match’ award after putting in an outstanding hour’s work. Paul’s brother, Philip, would grab the winning goal two minutes from time, in a game which had been played out in front of 6,563 spectators at Kingspan Breffni Park.

It took two minutes for Mullahoran to get off the mark through a side-line free from Raymond Lynch and Enda O'Reilly doubled their advantage soon after from a trademark placed ball. Kingscourt had yet to truly threaten and by the 10th minute their opponents had cushioned their lead to three when Paul Brady found Enda O'Reilly with enough time and space to shoot over his first from play. Colm Smith registered the Stars' opener on 13 minutes and when Padraig Faulkner scorched through for a rousing score the initiative was firmly with the favourites.

Desperate to stem the tide, the Dreadnoughts rallied towards the closing stages of the half and earned a free which O'Reilly converted off his reliable left boot. The equally trustworthy Barry Reilly slotted over from a similar situation down the

Championship winning manager Niall Lynch

Michael Brady

Paul Brady

328

other end, before Shane Grey was caught in possession by Paul Brady and the dual star won a free 40 metres from the posts, where O'Reilly was accurate from to send the teams in on 0-5 apiece for the break.

Kingscourt hit the first two scores of the second-half, as they looked to set a course for the win and with two consecutive Enda O'Reilly frees falling the wrong side of the posts, Mullahoran's opportunity looked to be slipping away from them. However, credit must go to the young forward, who had been brilliant the previous Sunday, for recomposing himself to slot over a pressure kick moments later and then setting up Eddie O'Reilly for a score to leave the teams all square with five minutes to go.

The Stars had went 10 minutes without a score at this stage, struggling to pierce their opponents' superb defence, and they'd be caught out on the break when Paul Brady's wayward effort of a point was kept in play by substitute Ciaran McGee, who was fouled in front of goal from where O'Reilly landed Mullahoran back in the lead. Niall Lynch gave direct orders to his players to get behind the ball for what were going to be intense closing stages, and they got the vital break when possession found its way to Paul Brady, who released Tomas Nannery with a sublime pass and the substitute offloaded to Philip Brady in the big square, where the corner-forward kept his cool to blast home and ensure the Oliver Plunkett Cup's passage back to Killydoon for the first time in six years.

Mullahoran (SFC final replay): Eamon Brady; Seanie Smith, Killian Brady, James Reilly; Dermot Sheridan, Paddy Brady, Michael Brady; Christy Shiels, Peter Paul Galligan; Raymond Lynch (0-1, 1f), Enda O'Reilly (0-6, 5f), Paul Brady; Philip Brady (1-0), Eddie O'Reilly (01), Fergal Brady. Subs: Ciaran McGee for S Smith (13), Tomas Nannery for J Reilly (46), Daniel Smith for R Lynch (60).

“The biggest worry for us the second day was whether or not Paul Brady would start for us,” said Plunkett. “He had a huge week ahead of him and risked injury for an event

that he had been training for for most of his life. Thank God he togged out, because, in all honesty, the result probably wouldn’t have been the same without him.

“Our start to the game was good, but we struggled to stop Kingscourt from getting back into it. I think the last 15 minutes of the game showed why we deserved to be there and with the different tragedies that have went on in the last year it’s definitely brought the parish together.”

U14S CAPTURE DIV 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Enda O’Reilly

Philip Brady

Peter Paul Galligan

October saw Mullahoran reign supreme in the Under 14 Division Two Championship final against Cornafean at Kingspan Breffni Park 3G. In an entertaining encounter, it was Mullahoran’s dominant second-half performance that clinched the title for them, as they outscored their opponents by an emphatic 4-2 to 0-1 to coast to the win. Things weren’t looking as promising in the first-half for the would-be winners, who trailed by 1-6 to 1-2 at the break, with lively corner-forward Cormac O’Reilly bagging their major. The secondhalf, however, would see them going on a goal-spree, with O’Reilly, Liam Watson, Colm O’Reilly and Ryan O’Reilly all hitting the Cornafean net.

At the back, Colm O’Reilly, Sean Cadden, Conor Fitzsimons and Shane Sheridan were all excellent for the Dreadnoughts, as they held their opponents to a point, while midfielder Paddy Brady was hugely influential in driving his team forward for the win before collecting the Cup on his team’s behalf.

Mullahoran (U14 Div 2 final v Cornafean): James Coyle; Shane Sheridan, Colm O’Reilly (1-1), Connor Fitzsimons; Sean Cadden, William Comiskey, Darren Sheils; Callum Mussi, Paddy Brady; Liam Watson (1-0), Jason Reilly (0-1), Jason Sheridan; Cormac O’Reilly (21), Ryan O’Reilly (1-1), Martin O’Reilly. Subs: Cathal Rabbittee, Jason Harten, Gavin Brady, Leon Reilly, Mark Halton.

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Daniel Smith

Fergal Brady

Seanie Smith

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Dreadnought has a jetting capability of 90gpm @ 2500psi

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CLEANING UP

Mullahoran were crowned senior football champions earlier this year as the Dreadnoughts caused something of a surprise in this year's campaign.

he club's chairman is John Joe Plunkett, who was delighted to see the Oliver Plunkett Cup return to the area for the first time since 2006.

Ironically John Joe's brother is called Oliver, who owns AquaJet Environmental Drain Services and in this year's edition of the Breffni Blue Yearbook we profile the company and get John Joe's thoughts on their most recent success.

AquaJet Environmental Drain Services offer a wide range of professional and reliable services for drain surveying, testing and cleaning to a variety of industrial, commercial and domestic customers.

The company was established over 25 years ago, but Oliver has taken over full control in the last six years. “I bought the company off a man called Pat Hinch and we have worked hard to continue the work that he did. We are always looking at ways to improve the business and new services are always being added.�

Specialising in a vast array of services, AquaJet are certainly leaders in their field of expertise. The services provided include CCTV Inspections & Reports; High Pressure Jetting; Tanker Services & Liquid Waste Management; Emergency Response 24/7; Drain Management Contracts; Air Particulate Filtration; Waste Tyre Collection; Disposal & Recycling, while additional services include Drain Unblocking, Cleaning Services; Septic Tank Services; Grease Traps Emptied & Maintained; Drain/Pipe Rehabilitation; Robotic Cutting Services; No Dig Drain Repairs; Manhole Rehabilitation & Lining; Tank Cleaning & Confined Space Entry; Power Hosing & Environmental Cleaning.

Oliver revealed that they have built the company on providing a reliable and efficient service to their large customer base.

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Aquajet provide many different services

“We pay particular emphasis on providing a quality customer service with cost effective solutions to your waste management requirements,” said Oliver. “We also consider health and safety of paramount importance along with commercial and operational factors.”

The company MD admits that without a reliable staff, they would be unable to carry out their duties at the high standard that their customers have become use too.

“Our staff are fully trained on a continuous basis to ensure high standards and exceptional knowledge regarding health and safety issues within the commercial and public sectors.

“Our experienced team utilises the widest range of the most up-to-date and specialised equipment available ensuring provision of the right technical solutions.”

AquaJet's customer base is vast and covers wide range of industries as well as local councils and private work.

They also offer the latest in CCTV Inspection and diagnosis, using state-of-the-art equipment providing a fast efficient and cost effective service with the least possible disruption to your business.

Our CCTV and Drainage Services are relied on by local

Best Wishes To AquaJet Environmental Drain Services

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331

The company has 25 years experience

authorities, utility companies, consulting engineers to major construction firms. We continually invest in the latest drainage equipment to remain at the forefront of the drainage service industry.

Clients are also offered one of the widest ranges of CCTV surveying systems available in Ireland. “Our highly experienced and fully qualified operators use our latest in CCTV Technology together with its Wincan

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report (Version 8) to investigate access and categorise as part of a complete site survey.

The latest addition to the company is the launch of AquaWash, which will concentrate on leak detection and Oliver revealed that overseeing this end of the business an award winning plumber.

“This is a new area for the business and one that we are working hard on to develop. We have a lad that won the National Plumber of the Year award here a few years ago and he went on to represent Ireland in the international finals in Holland.”

High Pressure Jetting is one of the most popular services provided by the company and they have a range of Jetvac Vehicles.

“They are capable of removing silt and debris from pipelines, culverts, deep pumping stations, wet wells and soakaway's. All vehicles are equipped with a combination of root cutters and chain flails, which are used to extract roots from pipelines.

“We also use specialised spinning jets, which are guaranteed to remove grease or encrustation from the entire diameter of the pipe, allowing water to flow unimpeded.”

AquaJet are leading specialists in Liquid Waste Management, providing a cost effective own

responsible solutions, throughout the Industrial, Commercial and Construction sectors etc.

AquaJet is authorised in collection of all types of Waste Nationwide, under a Waste Collection Permit. No.: WCP/MH/09/0005-01 “We operate a number of high specifications vacuum Tankers purposely designed to collect & transport Hazardous & Non Hazardous Liquid Waste. The waste is confined to EPA Licensed Treatment Facility for Authorised Disposal under a C1 Form.”

As mentioned one of the directors of the company is John Joe, who is still on a high from the county final win.

“It was a great to win the championship again. A lot of people would have written us off, but we got it right this year and won the title,” said John Joe. “We have been doing a lot of work at underage level and hopefully the senior win can be a boost for the whole club, I'm sure it will be.”

CONTACT DETAILS: AQUAJET Environmental Drain Services, Tohernaross, Kilcogy, Co. Cavan Tel: 043 6681000 Fax: 043 6681998 Web: www.aquajet.ie Email: info@aquajet.ie

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REDHILLS Rory Dunne

2012 RESU LTS ACFL Divis ion 1 Redhills 0-8 0-9 Gowna Ramor 1-12 2-2 Redhill s Lavey 1-12 0-9 Redhill Redhills 1-9 s 3-17 Cavan Gaels Lacken 2-1 3 0-7 Redh ills Kingscourt 5-8 2-6 Red hills Redhills 2-1 3 1-12 Cúch ulainns Redhills 1-1 0 3-8 Beltu rbet Killygarry 0 -14 1-11 Re dhills Redhills 0-1 7 1-9 Drum alee Mullahoran 1-7 2-4 Red hills Redhills 1-8 1-11 Ballyh aise Drumgoon 5-16 3-10 R edhills Redhills 3-1 0 6-16 Cast lerahan Redhills 2-1 3 3-13 Balli nagh

ENDING IT ON A HIGH While 2012 may not have been the most memorable year for Redhills on the senior front, the junior footballers did the club proud in September by capturing the Junior D Championship title. Devoted PRO Frank Smith told us about a year which the border men ended on a high.

I

n a season which plagued them with injury and emigration, Redhills’ senior championship journey was cut short after two opening round defeats in their stern group, which consisted of beaten senior finalists and intermediate champions. Under the guidance of Newtownbutler man Raymond Johnston, who, incidentally, was a part of the Fermanagh side which reached the 2004 All-Ireland SFC semi-final, the border men set out

SFC Drumgoon 2-11 0-15 R edhills Redhills 1-9 1-18 Castle rahan Redhills 1-1 1 0-5 Ramo r

their stall for 2012 with survival as top priority.

With a new league format in place, which would see 20 teams competing in the intermediate championship for 2013, Redhills would be facing a battle which became an uphill one once they’d lost their Cavan ace Oisin Minagh to emigration for the year, while injuries to star forward and team captain Paddy Gumley and goalkeeper Fintan Reilly wouldn’t help their cause as the season

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progressed.

Nonetheless, the team’s objectives would not be altered as they opened their campaign at home to Gowna, who narrowly edged a 0-9 to 0-8 win at Max McGrath Park.

“We wanted to stay in Division One and the senior championship, but unfortunately it just wasn’t to be for us,” said Frank Smith, who has served as club PRO since 2006.

“It wasn’t all doom and gloom though. We did win the Junior D

The Redhills senior championship team 2012, front l/r: Francie Fitzpatrick, Andrew Dunne, Killian McSherry, Colin Reilly, Pierce West, Paddy Gumley, Kieran West, Kieran Smith, Joe Callan, Mark Kelly, Luke McEntee. Back: Barry Murphy, Gary Kelly, Conor Bannon, Alan Brady, Cormac Brides, Fintan Reilly, Alan Dunne, Mark Smith, Rory Dunne, Martin Brady, Ryan Smith

REDHILLS - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

The Redhills senior squad 2012, front l/r: Gary Kelly, Francis Fitzpatrick, Oisin Reilly, Mark Kelly, Dessie Gumley, Fergal McDermott, Joe Callan, Kieran Smith, Barry Murphy, Allan Brady, Pierce West. Back: Rory Dunne, James Brady, Killian McSherry, Alan Dunne, Derek Fay, Fintan Reilly, Cormac Brides, Packie Leddy, Colin Reilly, Paddy Gumley, Pauric Rudden

Championship in September after beating Laragh in the final. Hopefully next year a few of the younger players that helped win that can come and break into the senior team for us.”

Redhills’ struggling league form would see them towards the foot of the Division One table before the senior championship’s throw-in at the end of July. It meant that Johnston’s men would be all but consigned to relegation back to the intermediate ranks ahead of the SFC first round clash against 2011 intermediate champions Drumgoon.

The sides met at Hugh O’Reilly Park in Cootehill, where Redhills had made the better start with early points from speedy forwards Paddy Gumley

and Mark Kelly before conceding a penalty which Keith Fannin crashed to the net. Drumgoon pushed on after that and despite points from Colin Reilly and Kelly down the other end, they took in a 1-7 to 0-8 lead at halftime.

Disaster would hit Redhills again three minutes into the restart when Paddy McCabe fired past Fintan Reilly to the net, but Johnston’s side weren’t willing to throw in the towel as Gumley and Kelly kept them in touching distance, with Joe Callan threatening a goal in the 44th minute which was cleared off the Drumgoon goal line. With ten minutes remaining, only a goal separated the teams and despite the best efforts of the Redhills’ attack, with a fierce drive

from Gumley in the closing stages unfortunate not to yield a penalty, Johnston’s team would still finish on the wrong end of a 2-11 to 0-15 result to hinder their quarter-final hopes.

Redhills (SFC v Drumgoon): Fintan Reilly; Barry Murphy, Alan Dunne, Fergal McDermott; Andrew Dunne, Alan Brady, Ciaran Smith; Rory Dunne (0-1), Pierce West (0-1); Ciaran West, Cormac Brides (0-1), Joe Callan; Paddy Gumley (0-5, 4f), Colin Reilly (0-2), Mark Kelly (0-5, 4f).

Subs: Killian McSherry, Luke McEntee.

The defeat left Redhills needing a win against last year’s beaten finalists Castlerahan in order to have any chance of qualifying for the last eight of the competition. They would

The Redhills squad that captured the Junior D Championship title, front l/r: Kevin Duffy, David Faulkner, Adrian Fitzpatrick, Dessie Gumley, Francie Fitzpatrick, Mark Smith, Daryl Tierney, Gary Kelly, Luke McEntee, Conor Sexton. Front: Conor Bannon, Conor Sheridan, Declan Smith, Brendan Leddy, Packie Leddy, Martin Brady, James Brady, Brian Reilly, Brian Brady, Andrew McMahon, Pauric Rudden, Richard Murphy, Brendan Smith

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Barry Murphy

Alan Brady

Colin Reilly

be facing an uphill battle after the first quarter, however, by which time the Ballyjamesduff men raced towards a 0-6 to nothing lead.

Mark Kelly opened the trailers’ account before Paddy Gumley doubled their tally with a free, but they were still struggling to halt the momentum of the town side as they sent a goal chance just wide after adding more scores to surge into a commanding 0-11 to 0-3 half-time lead, with Kelly raising his team’s third white flag on the eve of the interval.

Gumley fired over two quick points after the restart, but the signs were still ominous for Redhills and they would fall further adrift before Gumley struck an opportunist goal in the 44th minute to cut the deficit down to four.

However, Castlerahan would soon respond with a goal of their own to all but kill off the game heading towards the closing stages, when points from Kelly and Joe Callan added some respectability to the score-board, as the maroons closed out an emphatic 1-18 to 1-9 win.

The result left Redhills’ final group game against Ramor United as a ‘dead-rubber’ affair in which only two dozen spectators travelled to watch at Hugh O’Reilly Park in Cootehill.

With nothing at stake, this contest was as flat as a pancake but to Redhills’ credit they rolled up their sleeves with the trusty boot of Paddy Gumley getting them off the mark inside the first minute before Ramor hit back with a point of their own. It was point for point after that, which saw the teams going in level at the break.

Redhills upped the ante in the second-half though as Derek Fay boomed over an early point, which was added to by Gumley, Colin Reilly and the returning Rory Dunne.

Dunne, who had enjoyed historic Leinster Junior Championship success with Cavan against Kildare back in June, netted the game’s only goal on 45 minutes to leave his team in a commanding position. In the end, Redhills would pull up in the closing stages to enjoy their first championship victory of 2012, albeit meaningless, on a 1-11 to 0-5 score-

337

Fergal McDermott

Derek Fay

Mark Kelly

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Redhills (SFC v Ramor United): Fintan Reilly; Barry Murphy, Alan Brady, Ciaran Smith; Andy Dunne, Joe Callan (0-1), Pierce West (0-1); Cormac Brides, Derek Fay (0-1); Kieran West, Colin Reilly (0-2), Killian McSherry; Rory Dunne (1-2), Paddy Gumley (0-4), Fergal McDermott.

“After the disappointment against Castlerahan, we wanted to play well in the Ramor game even though it didn’t make a difference to either team,” said Smith. “I think they actually only played 20 minutes a side that day in Cootehill, but we did put in a very promising second-half performance. Had we won the first game in the group against Drumgoon maybe things would have been different for us, but that’s how it goes. Hopefully, next year we can improve on our results.

He added: “When you have the likes of Packie Leddy coming back for the junior final and scoring five points, after spending the summer in Boston, it just shows that the players are there in the club. I personally would be very optimistic for next year. The likes of Conor Sheridan and Luke McEntee are bright prospects and hopefully they can continue to improve and represent the club at senior level in a couple of years.

CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY FOR JUNIORS In September, Redhills claimed a coveted Junior D Championship title when they overcame Laragh United’s stern challenge at St Aidan’s Park.

Redhills’ campaign began to gather momentum at the end of August when they defeated Ballymachugh convincingly by 1-7 to 0-3 in the quarter-final, before ousting Shercock by 1-10 to 1-3 to book their place into the championship decider. They would come up against a Laragh side in similar form, having

overcome Arva in their respective semi-final by 2-12 to 2-5 after receiving a walk over in the last eight against Templeport.

Both teams would journey to Bawnboy for the final which saw Redhills make the better start when county U21 ace Packie Leddy, fresh back from a summer stint in Boston, put former senior captain Adrian Fitzpatrick through for the opening point. Andrew McMahon doubled the lead moments after, but Laragh weren’t about to let their opponents run up a big lead as they levelled by the quarter hour mark. Brendan Leddy kicked the would-be winners back in front, before Laragh won a penalty which was sent wide by Noel Smith with James Brady standing tall in goal. The Stradone men looked to make amends by shooting the next two points, but a well struck free from Packie Leddy kept the teams even at 0-4 apiece for half-time.

Ruairi Power sent Laragh into the lead early in the second-half and they stretched it to three coming towards the final quarter.

A young and talented Redhills outfit had a big finish in them though, with their speedy forwards now finding a knack for earning frees, as Packie Leddy and Brendan Leddy ushered them back in front with some great scores before teen substitute Luke McEntee tapped over a free under a mountain of pressure. Laragh hit back with a hard-earned point, but another precision free from ‘Man of the Match’ Packie Leddy ensured that the crown would be heading back towards the border.

Redhills (Junior D final v Laragh United): James Brady; Francis Fitzpatrick, Mark Smith, David Faulkner; Des Gumley, Adrian Fitzpatrick (0-1), Martin Brady; Pauric Rudden, Packie Leddy (0-5), Gary Kelly, Brendan Leddy (0-2), Declan Smith, Andrew McMahon (0-1). Sub: Luke McEntee (0-1).

339

Mary Reilly with granddaughter Naofa

Junior D winning captain Mark Smith

Manager Raymie Johnston

In senior championship action against Kingscourt, front l/r: Andrew Cusack-Smith, Philip Galligan, Hubert Smith, Killian Brady, Ferghal Farrelly, Dean Hyland, Eoin McPhilips, Aidan McKiernan, Ciaran McGovern, Damien Callaghan, Ciaran Boylan, Martin McGovern. Back: Martin Cahill, Christopher Cahill, Alan Tierney, Adrian Cahill, Cillian Cahill, Tomas Corr, Padraig McGovern, Brian Boylan, Martin McKiernan, Noel Crowe, Cian McCann, Cormac Cusack-Smith, Jerome Kiernan, Fergal McConnell

DENN - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

DENN Dean Hyland

2012 RESU LTS

PROMOTION GOAL ACHIEVED In October, Denn announced their arrival back to Division One of the All County Football League with victory over Drumgoon in a tense promotion play-off. Club secretary Geraldine Lynch told us about a season in which league and championship campaigns differed greatly for the Crosskeys based club.

G

aining promotion is never easy, but 2012 was a year that saw Denn come through the test with flying colours as they scored 12 wins from 15 games to cement top spot in the ACFL Division Two and earn an October play-off for a coveted spot amongst the county’s top teams for next season.

When Leitrim man Liam Higgins took over the reins of the club’s senior team at the end of 2011 it was

ACFL Divis ion 2 Denn 1-8 0 -7 Killeshan dra Drumlane 1 -7 0-8 Denn Swanlinbar 1-10 2-11 D enn Denn 0-7 2 -10 Crosse rlough Cornafean 1-8 5-15 De nn Denn 0-6 2 -10 Cooteh ill Celtic Cavan Gae ls 0-5 1-8 D enn Denn 1-11 0-6 Butlers bridge Denn 1-16 0-6 Mountn ugent Munterconn aught 1-6 0 -12 Denn Shannon G aels 0-4 4-1 9 Denn Denn 2-15 0-4 Knockb ride Killinkere 1 -9 2-9 Denn Denn 5-12 0-7 Kill Drung v De nn – not pla Denn 2-5 D yed rumgoon 0 -9 - playoff

simply a matter of too little, too late as the damage had been done with the defeats inflicted on a then depleted Denn outfit to kill off their promotion hopes. Undoubtedly, the pain stayed with the players into 2012 and Higgins wouldn’t have too difficult a job to motivate the players when the new season rolled around by the end of February.

“Liam Higgins was manager this year and he had Donal Keogan and Pat Baker in with him as selectors,”

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SFC Denn 0-5 3 -12 Kingsco urt Denn 0-7 1 -14 Cavan Gaels Lavey v De nn – not pla yed

explained club secretary Geraldine Lynch.

“Our aims were to try and gain promotion back to Division One and compete well in the league, but I suppose you could say the league was our top priority because we wanted to hit the ground running as soon as the season started and try and get as high up the table as we could before the championship started.”

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be a clash with intermediate championship hopefuls Killeshandra at St Matthew’s Park, where the hosts recorded a 1-8 to 0-7 triumph to get their season off to a winning start. Defeat in Drumlane would follow (1-7 to 0-8) before a hard fought win away to Swanlinbar (2-11 to 1-10) looked to have things back on track.

However, a resounding win over strugglers Cornafean (5-15 to 1-8) would be sandwiched by heavy defeats at the hands of rivals Crosserlough (2-10 to 0-7) and Cootehill (2-10 to 0-6), before Higgins’ team hit a hot-streak of form which would have them in a strong position to stake a claim for a play-off spot by the club championships’ start. Cavan Gaels (1-8 to 0-5), Butlersbridge (1-11 to 06) and Mountnugent (1-16 to 0-6) would all fall on Denn’s sword in the next three rounds, but the latter game would see the club suffer a major blow to their season as stalwart Martin Cahill would be ruled out for months after suffering a serious facial injury in the win over the Meath-

The U16 Division 2 squad that played St Killians in the final, front l/r: Stephen Enright, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Thomas Galligan, Cormac McSherry, Micheal Gaffney, Michael Hyland, Caoin McCabe, Mark Quigley, Cathal Reilly. Back: Aidan Tierney, Colm Tracey, Paul Reilly, Michael Reilly, Mark Fegan, John Anthony Smith, Bernard Galligan, Ben Conaty, Bernard Gaffney, Michael Keogan

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More wins over Munterconnacht (012 to 1-6) and Shannon Gaels (4-19 to 0-4) saw Denn enter the senior championship in beaming form, but they knew that they’d be stepping up a tier when contesting a group compiled of champions Cavan Gaels, Kingscourt and Lavey.

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against Lavey for a place in the quarter-finals.”

Denn would enter their championship opener against 2010 champions Kingscourt minus the valuable services of the injured Cahill and Colin Kiernan (suspended) at Kingspan Breffni Park, where opening points from Dean Hyland and Hubert Smith would be as good as it got for the underdogs with a total rout from the Stars to follow as they finished 3-12 to 0-5 winners to all but put one foot in the quarter-finals.

Defeat to holders Cavan Gaels in the next round spelled an end to Denn’s championship hopes, despite getting a walk over in their remaining group game against Lavey, and it meant that the team would only have the league to play for heading into September.

With three games left, Higgins’ side gained maximum points with wins over Killinkere (2-9 to 1-9), Kill (5-12 to 0-7) and Drung (w/o) to seal a top place in Division Two and set-up a

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Thomas Edward Donohoe in U16 final action

Cathal Reilly (left) and Ben Conaty during the U16 Division 2 League final

U16 Michael Hyland

play-off with former intermediate champions Drumgoon on October 20, with the winners guaranteed complete senior status for 2013.

Drumgoon has secured a 10th place finish in Division One by the end of the season, but the newly implemented format meant that they would have to overcome Division Two’s top side in order to ensure their survival.

The two sides would battle it out under lights on the 3G pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park, where Drumgoon got off to the better start before failing to clear a goal-mouth scramble which saw Jerome Kiernan pouncing and burying to the net to hand Denn the lead. Kiernan would pick a straight red card minutes later, with Patrick McCabe pointing down the other end to send the teams in all square on 1-1 to 0-4 at the interval.

With the numerical advantage, Drumgoon looked the likely side heading into the second-half but consecutive points from Tomas Corr, Padraig McGovern and Dean Hyland had the Crosskeys men in the driving-seat with the final quarter approaching.

McCabe pulled back two points for ‘the Goonies’ to leave the difference at one before Denn struck one of the most important scores of their season which saw Fergal Farrelly get in behind the Drumgoon defence and bury to the back of Niall McIntyre’s net. John Smith made it a five-point lead in the next attack, much to the delight of the Denn contingent, and from there on it was a matter of hanging on for Higgins’ men as Eoin McPhilips, Ciaran McGovern and the returned Martin Cahill pulled off some brave blocks and interceptions in the closing stages to help their side seal a 2-5 to 0-9 win and a timely return to the top flight.

The Denn team that lined-out was as follows: Brian Boylan; Eoin McPhilips, Ciaran McGovern; Aidan Kiernan, Adrian Cahill, Noel Crowe; Tomas Corr, Padraig McGovern; Fergal Farrelly, Jerome Kiernan, Damien Callaghan; Colin Kiernan, Hubert Smith, Dean Hyland. Subs: Martin Cahill, John Smith, Cormac Cusack-Smith, Ronan Kiernan.

345

Bernard Galligan

Adrian Cahill

Senior team selectors Pat Baker (left) and Donal Keogan

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U16S NARROWLY PIPPED In May, Denn’s Under 16 footballers did the club proud when they reached the Division Two league final, narrowly losing out to St Killian’s a thrilling final by 4-7 to 2-12.

Played at PJ Duke Park in Stradone, Denn, who had impressed on route to the final with wins over Mullahoran and Dernacrieve Gaels, took the early advantage in the final with points from ace forward Ben Conaty before St Killian’s struck their first goal of the game in the 12th minute. Through the frees of Thomas Edward Donohoe and Conaty Denn pulled level and when the latter was found in acres of space he made no mistake in hitting the net before Cormac McSherry did likewise to send the young Crosskeys men in at the break seemingly cruising on a 2-7

Aidan McKiernan

to 1-2 score-line.

The Cuchullains-Killinkere amalgamation did their best to race out of the traps for the second-half, but through Conaty, Donohoe and Michael Hyland were able to cancelout their points. The concession of a 48th minute goal still saw Denn leading by five points, before the Saints summoned a deadly rally in the closing stages and bagged goals in the 57th and 60th minute to stun their opponents, who could only respond with a levelling free through Donohoe in injury-time. However, with the momentum firmly with them St Killians gained a last chance free which Evan Doughty converted to seal the win and break Denn hearts.

CAMOGS TAKE NOVICE TITLE June saw Denn’s camogie team claim the Novice League title when they defeated Cavan Gaels in a close final at Boyle Park in Drumgoon. The Crosskeys women got off to the ideal start in this decider when Carmel Galligan’s opening point was backed up by Sheila Reilly pucking to the back of the Gaels’ net. The Cavan town side hit back to only trail by two at the half-time interval, but Denn’s midfield controlled the game from there on as and supplied substitute Laura Carolan with two great passes to finish over which proved the difference in a 1-4 to 0-4 victory for the maroon and whites. The success marked a historic date for Denn, with a long awaited title in the camogie code coming back to the club.

Denn (Novice League final v Cavan Gaels): Tina Fitzsimons, Mary Reilly, Maggie Galligan, Jackie

347

Conaty, Carmel Galligan, Kara McCabe, Shelia Reilly, Deirdre Plunkett, Grainne Kelly. Subs: Laura Carolan, Noeleen Smith, Lindsay O'Toole, Catriona Heaslip.

RED AND BLACK FUNDRAISER A HUGE SUCCESS In March, the club’s development committee raised over €70,000 when they had contestants from all over the county choosing ‘Red or Black’ in their hugely successful fundraiser at the Farnham Arms Hotel. The event paid off after months of endeavour from the hard-working committee with Denn woman Sharon Shields taking home the €5,000 prize and St Clare’s College Ballyjamesduff winning €500 for second place. The club would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to make the night such a huge success.

Eoin McPhilips

Representing Crosserlough at senior level in 2012

CROSSERLOUGH - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

CROSSERLOUGH

2012 RESU LTS

Joint captains Andrew and Shane Galligan accept the Minor B trophy

GONGS GALORE IN CROSSERLOUGH IN 2012

ACFL Div ision 2 Crosserlou gh 1-7 1-8 Drung Killeshandra 0-11 0-6 Cro sserlough Denn 0-7 2 -10 Crosse rlough Swanlinbar 1-6 2-11 Cro sserlough Crosserlou gh 0-14 1-6 Cornafean Cootehill 1-5 0-6 Crosse Crosserlou rlough gh 3-17 0-4 Cavan Gae Crosserlou gh 1-15 1-5 ls Munterconn Mountnuge aught nt 2-7 2-12 Crosserlou Crosserlou gh gh 3-13 1-7 Shannon G Crosserlou aels gh 1-7 0-8 Drumlane Butlersbridg e 1-10 2-14 Crosserlou Crosserlou gh gh 0-12 2-7 Kill Knockbride 0-6 7-10 Cro inkere sserlough Kill V Cross erlough IFC Bailieborou gh 2-5 1-11 Crosserlou Swanlinbar gh 1-6 3-12 Cro sserlough Crosserlou gh 1-10 2-6 Cavan Gae Crosserlou ls gh 1-14 0-7 Drung – QF Crosserlou gh 1-7 0-10 Crosserlou Lacken – S gh 0-8 0-9 F Lacken – S F replay

Crosserlough's trophy cabinet was almost bursting at the seams in 2012, being replenished from all angles.

A

lmost too many to list. Title triumphs came along in 2012 for Crosserlough like punters feeding off an ATM machine doling out notes in the wrong.

Of the honours won 8-18 years, top of the pile was the club's success in camogie where a senior provincial title was secured with great vigour.

Following the black and ambers' 2-8

to 1-8 county final win, aspirations if not expectations soared among the girls based down Kilnaleck way.

The Crosserlough girls were determined to do their county proud in the Ulster arena and this they did . . .and some.

"After losing last year's Ulster final to Cushendall, we set out our stall to go one better this year," says joint

349

coach Charlie Galligan.

"Basically we looked upon this year as having to take care of some unfinished business. We were the nominated team to represent Cavan in 2011 and we owed it to ourselves to prove a point. We just didn't want any asterisks beside our name.

Winning titles on the field is what it's all about."

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Reflecting on his side's 2-6 to 0-7 provincial final win over Derry dynamos Dungiven, Charlie is unequivocal in his reasoning of how the west was won: "A never-say-die attitude; that's what won it for us. They're just such a determined bunch of girls and all they wanted to do all year was prove that they were the best in Cavan and then see how things went in Ulster."

Dungiven opened the scoring with a point but that score was soon eclipsed by a goal from Sinead McKenna which helped the Cavan ambassadors onto level terms, 1-3 to 0-6, at the interval.

Strong defence kept Dungiven at bay in the second half while at the other end of the field, Lorraine Day scored two points to boost the 'lough.

It was all hands to the pump late on as Dungiven pressed hard but Crosserlough 'keeper Denise Wilton and her team-mates held firm to book

a place in the All-Ireland play-offs with London.

The squad and mentors who engineered the Ulster win was as follows: Eveleen Smith, Josephine Maguire, Lorraine Day, Orla Smith, Angela O'Reilly, Siobhan Reynolds, Erinn Galligan, Roisin Martin, Michelle Fleming, Cathriona Byrd, Sinead McKenna, Caoimhe O'Reilly, Aisling Smith, Mary Lovett, Joanne Sheridan, Aine O'Reilly, Brenda Lynch, Orlaith Cusack, Erica Joyce, Georgina O'Reilly, Denise Wilton, Sinead Lynch, Clare O'Reilly, Emer McVeety. Mentors; Charlie Galligan; Grainne Lovett; Colm McEvoy; John O'Reilly.

UNDER 12 GIRLS LIFT FOOTBALL CROWN While 2011 was a bumper year in a lot of respects with regard to the ladies' haul of trophies in the club, the past year wasn't so bountiful.

"The under 12s winning the championship was the highlight of the year for ladies football in the club," Ladies Secretary Jacinta Leddy explains.

"Last year we won the under 14 division one league, the under 16 division one league and the under 16 championship which was great.

"I suppose, it was always going to be difficult this year to replicate that level of success but all the girls tried their best at all grades in 2012."

Jacinta recalls the club's under 14 girls reaching the Division Two decider only to lose out in agonising fashion, going down by a point to Killinkere.

"The fact that the girls were defeated by the narrowest of margins and after extra-time too which was really heartbreaking," Jacinta adds.

Crosserlough's amalgamation with Castlerahan and Denn (Inny Gaels) showed up well though and managed

The all conquering senior camogie championship, league, 7 a-side and Ulster winning squad

351

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Minor Mark Steward

to make the county final, albeit losing it.

"The girls have had two good years but then in 2012 they were playing in a higher division with a lot of girls being overage for 14s and 16s.

"There are a lot of camogie players in the club who play football and vice versa which is a positive thing, especially from a fitness point of view."

It's obvious too that the crème de la crème of emerging ladies football talent in the Crosserlough club has got the ambition and desire to do well.

In that respect, it was more than conspicuous that no less than five of the club's players got their hands on All-Ireland honours this year.

Cavan's under 16 success at national level was achieved in no small part with the assistance of Crosserlough starlets Shauna Lynch, Neasa Bird, Shannon Leddy, Ciara Shalvey and Shannon Maguire.

U14 Peter Smith

UNDER 14S IN DOUBLE DELIGHT

Crosserlough captain Oliver Costello accepts the JFC C trophy

Thomas Kearney receives the U14 Division 1 cup from Brian Seagrave

Jimmy Higgins, one of the coaches working with the under 14s in 2012 delighted in reviewing a season which saw them win the coveted double.

"We played well as a team but there are some very good individual footballers there as well and they showed their class at different times.

"Because of the Feile, we got the lads together a bit late in the year but after losing the Feile final (to Cavan Gaels) the team rebounded well.

"We won the league final against the Gaels and that gave the lads a great boost in confidence and set them up for the rest of the year."

The aforementioned league final was a real cracker with the Kilnaleckbased lads coming out on top by 3-9 to 2-10 in Ballinagh in mid-June.

As things panned out it was a second half injury time free from Stephen Smith which sealed the deal for the black and ambers in dramatic fashion.

Cavan Gaels had gotten off to the proverbial flyer with a goal in their first attack of the game, going onto lead by 1-4 to 1-0 after 10 minutes of play.

Playing into a strong breeze, Crosserlough hung in there though

353

Stephen Smith on U14 duty

Thomas Keaney receives the U14 league cup from Brian Seagrave

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The U14 Championship and league winners

but still faced a stiff challenge on the restart in trailing by 1-4 to 1-8.

And with just over twenty minutes remaining in the game, the 'lough still trailed by 1-4 to 1-10. Slowly but surely, the tide started to turn.

The would-be winners put the tie back in the melting pot when, in the 51st minute, they bagged their second goal with Thomas Keaney on target.

From the resultant kick-out, Eoin Smith curled over the equaliser, 2-7 to 1-10. Late on, a goal from Stephen Smith made it 3-7 to 2-10.

Stephen Smith turned out to be the match-winner with a free in the 61st minute and despite six minute of injury time, the 'lough held out.

"I suppose all champions tend to get

the rub of the green at some stage and our third goal from long range was a bit lucky to go under the bar.

"The lads gave great commitment all year and they played some really great football and they're all interested in bettering themselves as footballers."

Four months later, the same squad followed up by clinching the double with a convincing 2-12 to 2-1 win over Gowna on the 3G pitch.

Crosserlough's domination in the first half was almost total and they were 0-8 to 0-0 in front at the end of a pretty lop-sided first half.

To their credit, Gowna hit back with two goals on the restart but then goals by Caolain Galligan (52) and Darren Galligan firmly wrapped

things up.

So where can the Class of 2012 go from here?

"It's hard to know. The squad itself has good potential but it all depends on the amount of work they're going to put in over the next few years.

"You'd never know what would happen with under 14s in just a couple of years. We had only one 12 year old on the team so that was a big help."

Along with Jimmy Higgins, the under 14s in 2012 were looked after

by Donal Smith, Philip Smith, Breen Smith and Cormac Reilly.

MINORS IN MAJOR WIN Meanwhile the under 14s championship heroics was followed a

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355

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week later by the club's annexation of the Minor 'B' Football Championship.

In careering their way to an exciting 1-13 to 1-10 over Southern Gaels (Lacken/Gowna) at Kingspan/Breffni Park, the 'lough showed immense spirit.

However six unanswered points either side of the interval was all the propulsion Crosserough needed to drive their way to victory in the end.

The black and ambers proved to be a real revelation after recovering from a horrible start to win with a flourish against the odds.

The amalgam got off to a turbocharged start, storming into a 1-2 to no-score ahead after just three minutes and playing with a swagger and a purpose that carried the portents of glory-in-waiting.

Crosserlough showed tremendous spirit and cohesion in going about their task of winning their game of catch-up which saw them trail by 0-2 to 1-5 with 20 minutes on the clock.

In what was an all-action, thoroughable enjoyable decider, Crosserlough's resolve and appetite for the fight was admirable and their fitness telling.

Crosserlough eventually opened their account when David Shalvey and Shane Galligan combined to put Mark Stewart through for a point but it was a score that was scant reward for all their vim and vigour up to that juncture.

Crosserlough continued to find it tough to keep in touch but Pierce Smith fired over a long-range point in the 13th minute, four points from the Gowna ace helped his side ease their way to a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.

Crosserlough must have taken heart from their opponents' dependency on young Madden and also by the fact that surely they could only improve their own showing on the restart.

Improve Crosserlough did and some. The Kilnaleck-based side recorded the first four points after the interval with Shane Galligan, flying wing back Kevin Smith, Pierce Smith (free) and Christopher Tobin all on target as the Gaels faced into a deficit (1-6 to 0-10) for the first time in the match with 38 minutes on the clock.

From there to the finish, Crosserlough had the wind in their

The victorious minors celebrate

Crosserlough’s Minor B championship winning squad

The Junior C FC winning squad

357

The Crosserlough U16 squad, front l/r: Glen Smith, Patrick O'Reilly, Tommy Boylan, Darren Galligan, Eoin Smith, Pierce Smith, Nevin Galligan, Shane McVeety, Conor Rehill, Stephen Smith, Stephen Cahill. Back: Gerry Charters, Tom Boylan, Conor Smith, Conor Harten, Stephen Machelo, Darren Gaffney, Dean McDonald, Ian Talford, Ryan Galligan, Kevin Smith, Mark Steward, Stephen Boylan, Thomas Keaney, Martin Donohue

Siobhan Reynolds lifting the senior championship camogie cup

sails and the momentum to keep their noses in front especially when the outstanding Shane Galligan flashed a shot, soccer-style, to the net in the 47th minute to steer his side into a 1-10 to 17 lead.

The Gaels hit the side netting with an effort on goal in the 49th minute but Crosserlough were in near unstoppable mood.

The said, a brace of Southern Gaels points sandwiched efforts from Crosserlough pair David Shalvey and Pierce Smith and the chasing Best team also had the last two points (frees) of the day.

In the best tradition of sporting cliches, it was a classic case of too little too late though. The 'lough wouldn't be denied.

The Crosserlough

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358

team, and subs, that worked the oracle in the championship final was: John Reilly; Ciaran Cooke, Andrew Galligan, Conor Smith; Kevin Smith (02), Shane McManus, Raymond Lynch; David Shalvey (0-1), Pauric McManus (0-2); Pierce Smith (0-4, three frees), Shane Galligan (1-2), Mark Stewart (01); Christopher Tobin (0-1), Shane Reilly, Tommy Boylan.

Subs; Dean McCarthy for C Cooke (inj); Adrian Smith for C Tobin.

Wishes To Crosserlough GAA, From

LARAGH Patrick Rudden and Patrick King raise the Sean Leddy Cup

2012 RESU LTS AC

FL Divis Kildallan 0-6 ion 3 1-7 Laragh Laragh 2-2 0 1-6 Corlo ugh Laragh 3-1 0 0-9 Temp leport Laragh Utd 0-5 2-7 Baili eborough Shercock 2 -11 2-6 Lara gh Laragh 0-1 7 2-9 Arva Laragh 1-1 1 1-10 Kild allan Corlough 0 -3 1-12 Lara gh Templeport 3-4 2-11 La ragh Ballymachu gh 2-13 0-1 0 Laragh Laragh 1-2 4 1-3 Magh era Laragh 0-9 2-10 Ballym achugh Arva 2-13 0 -14 Laragh Laragh Utd 0-8 4-14 S hercock Bailieborou gh 1-15 0-1 4 Laragh Maghera v Laragh – n ot played

GLORY DAYS! With six finals reached and four titles delivered on the football front, 2012 isn’t a year that Laragh United are likely to forget any time soon. Shane Corrigan spoke to chairman Pauric Rudden about a historic season for the Stardone outfit which is sure to see them a shoo-in for ‘Club of the Year’.

W

hat a difference 12 months can make in the GAA. From the depths of relegation to the ultimate high of championship glory, Laragh United have been on a rollercoaster ride since 2011’s intermediate championship relegation final replay defeat to Kill Shamrocks. Since then Kevin McDonnell’s transformed team, with an average age of just 21, have made history for the Stradone club by capturing a first championship title

JFC Kildallan 1-7 1-13 Larag Cornafean h 1-6 0-13 La ragh – QF Laragh 0-1 1 0-9 Temp leport - SF Laragh 0-1 0 2-3 Moun tnugent – fin al

since 1994 this past October, while their underage colleagues had already set-up the platform to ensure that 2012 would be a stellar year for the club.

McDonnell’s ambition when coming into the Laragh hot-seat was solely to bring the Sean Leddy Cup back to Stradone and before long the players would be buying into the idea, with an agenda of making up for the disappointment of the previous year.

“Our aim was to compete well in the

359

league, but from the outset we wanted to win the junior championship and we felt we were good enough to do it,” explained chairman and devoted club man Pauric Rudden.

“Kevin brought a complete calmness to the team. He worked with the players one to one and they repaid him in full in the final. There wouldn’t be a player in the club that would have a bad word to say about him. He’d taken Denn to a county

The JFC winning Laragh squad, front l/r: Brian Shiels, Cian O’Rourke, Patrick Smith, Philip Fitzsimons, Kevin O’Rourke, Enda Clarke, Colin Oates, Colm McKenna, Conal O’Donohoe, Patrick Rudden, Patrick King, Adrian Cooney, Liam McKenna, Ruairi Power,Joseph O’Donoghue, Kieran O’Donoghue. Back: Martin Joe Smith, Raymond Maguire, Gerry Murray, Christopher Hand, Seamus Cooney, Barry Cullivan, Liam Brady, Declan Brady, Shane O’Rourke, Derek Hand, Martin Smith, Declan King, Darragh Brady, Seamus O’Rourke, Philip Devine, Enda Cullivan, Noel Smith, Brian Carolan

LARAGH - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

The U13 Roinn A championship winners, front l/r: Oisin O'Callaghan, Jamie Cooney, Hayden Smith, Max O'Dea, Lee O'Reilly, Paul Smith (capt), Adrian Lackey, Ryan Carroll, Niall Brady, Killian Byrd, Sean Maguire, Niall Fitzpatrick. Back: Noel Smith (Coach), Mark Brady, Gavin Brady, Barry Davies, Padhraic O'Reilly, Dominic Gillick, Ciaran O'Grady, Eoin Walsh, David Smith, Matthew Brady, Shane Tully, Alan Sexton (Manager)

final and had success with Ramor as well. He’s now won a junior championship and I suppose you could say he’s the king of Laragh after that.”

McDonnell and selector Paul Cooney would have a youth-packed squad to work with from the season’s start, and while most teams were keen to hit the ground running; Laragh were working on timing their top form to perfection with the business end of the season a whole eight months away from when the squad began training in January.

As Rudden explained, Laragh’s chief objective for 2012 would be the junior championship, with their league form merely gearing them towards the big opener with Kildallan

at the end of July.

“We started off pretty good in the league with wins over Kildallan and Corlough, but we got a rude awakening against Shercock in our third game,” he stated. “The next day Bailieborough beat us by two points in a real tight game and when we were beaten twice by Ballymachugh and again by Shercock our chance in the league was gone. With all respect to the other teams in Division Three, those three were the teams to beat and once we lost six games we knew wouldn’t be getting promoted.”

The mixed league form endured didn’t discourage McDonnell’s charges in the slightest as they headed into a battle with Kildallan off the back of a defeat to Arva.

Played at O’Connell Park in Drumlane, Laragh’s championship campaign got off to the perfect start inside just three minutes when Colm McKenna snuck in behind the Kildallan defence and buried to the net. The goal ignited McDonnell’s team and points from Conal Donohoe, Adrian Cooney and Declan Brady would see them into a commanding 1-7 to 0-2 lead by halftime. To their credit, the second-half saw the Ballyconnell men battle back gallantly to narrow the difference to two, but cool Laragh heads prevailed in the end as Patrick Rudden and Donohoe landed a brace of points each towards the end to seal a 1-13 to 1-7 victory and a long-awaited championship quarter-final berth.

U14 Roinn B league winners, front l/r: Oisin O'Callaghan, Matthew Brady, Niall Fitzpatrick, Barry Davies, Paul Smith, Eoghan Cooney (capt), Lee O'Reilly, Shane Smith, Jamie Cooney, Ryan Carroll. Back: Alan Sexton (Manager), Gavin Brady, Enda Tully (Coach), Niall Brady, Max O'Dea, Mark Brady, Padhraic O'Reilly, Dominic Gillick, Patrick Cahill, Jack McKenna, Ciaran O'Grady, Adrian Lackey, Brain Maguire (Coach), Eoin Walsh, Noel Smith (Coach), Ray Smith (Coach)

361

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Paul Smith on U13 duty

U13 Gavin Brady

Senior manager Kevin McDonnell

“We were beaten by Arva in our last league game before the championship started, so I suppose our form wouldn’t have been all that great heading into it,” said the chairman.

“We played Kildallan in the first round in Drumlane and started the game very strong. We went in at halftime leading by 1-7 to 0-2, but they came back at us in the second-half and cut the difference down to two points. We never panicked though and won comfortably in the end up to progress to the quarter-finals.”

While their first-half performance against Kildallan would have turned some heads, Laragh were still be touted as outsiders for the Sean Leddy Cup, with the likes of Mountnugent and Munterconnacht established among the favourites having safely come through to the quarter-finals. It was a tag that suited McDonnell and his players as they approached the knock-out stages against Cornafean, who were sure to provide them with a stiff test in Drumalee.

A Cian Geoghegan goal on the eve of half-time saw Cornafean go in with the 1-3 to 0-4 half-time lead, but the second-half saw Laragh put in the best half-hour of their season, with their marksman Patrick Rudden to the fore, to clinch a 0-13 to 1-6 victory and claim their place in the semifinals.

“We knew that Cornafean was going to be a very tough game for us,” said Rudden. “I felt that they were favourites along with Mountnugent and when we played them they were the better team in the first-half.

“However, in the second-half we scored seven points without reply and I think that was without doubt one of the turning points of our season.

We beat them by five points in the end and that second-half was definitely the biggest we’d put in all year.”

With their momentum steadily building, the win saw Laragh enter the last four tipped to come though against Templeport at Kingspan Breffni Park, where a slot in the county final would be at stake.

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Seamus Cooney accepts the JFC final ‘Man of the Match’ award from Paul Henry

Enda Clarke

Senior captain Patrick Rudden

Laragh were beaten in the Junior D Championship final by Redhills. Front, l/r: Christopher Hand, Martin Joe Smith, Kieran O’Donoghue, Derek Hand, Kevin O’Rourke, Ruairi Power, Colum Smith. Back, l/r: Brian Carolan, Noel Smith, Raymond Maguire, Darragh Brady, Joe O’Donoghue, Seamus O’Rourke, Phil Fitzsimons, Philip Smith, Stephen Hand

The dreaded favourites’ tag wouldn’t sit well with McDonnell’s team and in the end Patrick Rudden's accurate frees again proved crucial in a tight game for Laragh after their opponents had made a superb start in a first-half which saw the winners kick eight wides, but still lead by two at the break (0-6 to 0-4).

Templeport kept up the fight in the second-half, with young attacker Ben Kiernan doing damage, but with Rudden on song, along with Adrian Cooney and Colm McKenna, the Stradone outfit pulled through for a long-awaited county final appearance as they came away winners from Cavan town on a 0-11 to 0-9 scoreline.

“It was a game we were expected to win and I think nerves might have

got to our fellas going into it. We recovered from a bad start and we were never behind after that, but at the same time we were lucky enough to come through with the win,” Rudden admitted.

McDonnell and co knew they’d have to up their game ahead of a showdown with a talented Mountnugent side on October 14 at Kingspan Breffni Park, where the biggest game to date awaited the players.

However, Rudden was adamant that Laragh didn’t carry too many concerns going into the game, feeling as though most of the pressure was on their opponents heading in the decider.

“Our lads weren’t nervous at all,” he stated. “Mountnugent were hot favourites to win the game and they

won their semi-final in better fashion than we won ours. I’m telling you our lads just couldn’t wait to get out of the dressing room for that game and I really think they’re hunger showed in the end.”

It took 14 minutes for Laragh to move into their first lead of the game after points from Declan Brady and Patrick Rudden (free), but when they did it looked as though they were cruising as Colin Oates, who had marshalled Mountnugent’s chief threat David Givney superbly, doubled the advantage and wingback Declan King stretched it to three approaching half-time. They’d be rocked by the concession of an Adam Paterson goal however, which saw the Meath-border men go in at the break with the 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

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364

second-half, with another superbly struck free from Rudden being backed up by a Colm McKenna point for the lead on 34 minutes.

McDonnell would send on Darragh Brady soon after to try and nullify the influence of Givney around the centre of the pitch, but when the county ace was impeded 40 metres out he sent in a dangerous free which was fumbled by Laragh's defence and allowed Ronan Caffrey to punch to the net for what was truly a harsh blow for the men in orange. Ciaran Caffrey tagged on a point in the next attack to push Mountnugent's lead up to three, and it could have been more had two consecutive point efforts not come off both uprights and drop wide.

There was still plenty of time for Laragh to get themselves back in contention though and they dug deep to earn two frees for the reliable Rudden to convert, leaving the difference minimal. A minute later saw Liam Brady nabbing an equaliser from all of 45 metres and it could well have been all over when Declan Brady was threaded through, but the midfielder's shot hit the butt of the post instead of the net. With five minutes to ensue, a winning score looked destined and Laragh would get their chance when Cootehill referee Kieran McCarville spotted an impeding from the Mountnugent defence which presented Rudden with a 30 metre free which he dually slotted to clinch victory and send the Laragh contigent into an euphoric state.

Laragh United (JFC final v Mountnugent): Martin Smith; Patrick Smith, Shane O'Rourke, Enda Clarke; Declan King (0-1), Seamus Cooney, Liam Brady (0-1); Colin Oates (0-1), Declan Brady (0-1); Adrian Cooney, Patrick Rudden (0-5, 5f), Colm McKenna (0-1); Enda Cullivan, Liam McKenna, Conal O'Donohoe. Subs: Darragh Brady for Declan Brady (blood, 21), Ruairi Power for L McKenna (29), Darragh Brady for C Oates (37).

“In the first-half, Colin Oates was 50/50 with David Givney, which was more than we were hoping for, to be honest, and I think that had a big

U13 Shane Tully

effect,” Rudden stated.

“We got a free five minutes into the second-half which was from a distance that we shouldn’t have scored from and once it went over I never thought we were going to lose the game, even as close as it was at the end. Our half-back line was outstanding during the entire game and Seamus Cooney was rightly named ‘Man of the Match’ for his performance. In the last 10 minutes our full-back line really stood up to the mark as well when they were needed as well.”

He added: “This is my third year as chairman and I can tell you something like this is massive for the club. It gives the lads belief that they can go forward because for the past four years they’d have seen nothing but defeats in the championship up until now. The average age of the team is 21, with only three lads on the team over 23, so it just goes to show what can be done when young fellas get a bit of belief.”

THRIVING UNDERAGE SUCCESS

U13 Padhraic O'Reilly

Eoghan Cooney accepts the U14 Roinn B Cup

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In a year which saw the club reaching four underage finals, including the county minor decider as a part of North Eastern Gaels, it was Laragh’s Under 16 footballers that stole the show in August when they brought the Division Two Championship title back to PJ Duke Park.

Under the guidance of Thomas McKenna, Gary Smith, Colm McKenna and Gerry Murray, Laragh’s U16s strung together some impressive form on route to the final but saved their best performance until last when they met Templeport at Kingspan Breffni Park, where they recovered from a nightmare start to secure the title. The young Stradone men had conceded 1-4 inside the opening 17 minutes but hit back with 1-4 of their own, with the goals coming from Conor O’Rourke, to level the scores by half-time.

O’Rourke would give Laragh the lead after a minute of the resumption through a free and when Darren Brady and Stephen Cooney landed points it was the Bawnboy outfit that

The U16 Division 2 Championship winners, front row, l/r: Peter Donnelly, Jack McKenna, Eoin Cooney, Raymond Lackey, Jason Rahill (captain), Stephen Cooney, Aaron Reddington, Ian Leddy, Ryan O Donnell. Back: Fergal McKenna, James O’Rourke, Fiachra Donohoe, Darren Brady, Kieran O’Reilly, Fergal O’Rourke, Conor Rourke, Declan Smith, Cormac Reilly, Conor Tully, Ciaran Cooney.

Missing from photo: Ryan Smyth and Ryan Conway

Laragh captain Jason Rahill receives the U16 Division 2 Championship Cup from Brian Seagrave (Youth Board Chairman)

were now dwindling. The leaders bumped the advantage up to six when Templeport were awarded a late penalty which Fergal O’Rourke saved brilliantly before Conor O’Rourke wrapped up the 1-13 to 18 win with a marvellous point.

Laragh United (U16 Div 2 final v Templeport): Fergal O’Rourke; Fergal McKenna, Ciaran Cooney, Cormac Reilly; Jack McKenna, Jason Rahill, Peter Donnelly; Darren Brady (0-1), Fiachra Donohoe (0-1); Declan Smith (0-1), Stephen Cooney (0-2), Ian Leddy; Eoin Cooney (0-1), Conor O’Rourke (1-6), Raymond Lackey (0-1).

Subs: Aaron Reddington, Ryan O’Donnell The triumph had come a month on from the club’s Under 14 footballers’ steamrolling the opposition in Division Two of the league, which saw them capturing the title on an emphatic 8-14 to 1-6 score-line against Cornafean in the final at St Matthew’s Park in Crosskeys. Many of the team had also enjoyed an Under 13 Division Two championship triumph, with Alan Sexton having coached both teams to their respective successes.

Eoin Cooney

CAMOGS COMPLETE JUNIOR DOUBLE

Stephen Cooney

September saw the camogie scene in the club continue to go strong when Laragh United completed the junior league and championship double with victory over Drumgoon in

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Raymond Lackey

The Laragh camogie squad

the latter final at Rathluden Park in Kill.

After the two sides had drawn in their first encounter, it was the Stradone women that had enjoyed the better start to this replay with a goal from Grainne Power and points via Jenny O’Rourke and Power to lead by 1-3 to 1-1 at half-time. In the second-half, Nicola Collins added a second goal for Laragh before Shannon O’Reilly was set up by a brilliant combination of play from Power, Eimear Brady and Debra Smith to blast in number three and put her team on course for the title.

Drumgoon pulled back a goal of their own, but brilliant defending from the likes of captain Caoimhe Smith, Jenny O’Rourke and Debra Smith ensured that they wouldn’t get in for another as Laragh secured the title

on a 3-4 to 2-2 score-line.

The Laragh team which lined-out that day was as follows: Eimear Brady, Jenny O’Rourke, Aideen Coyle, Caoimhe Smith (Capt), Lorraine O’Rourke, Debra Smith, Katie Smith, Shannon O’Reilly, Grainne Power, Arlene Brady, Nicola Collins.

Subs: Paula Smith, Aoife O’Rourke, Maggie Farrelly, Edel Sexton. Amanda Collins, Meghan Denning, Ciara Fitzpatrick.

The victory would round off a remarkable year for the club’s camogs, who also saw a clean sweep of success at underage level with minor, Under 16 and Under 14 titles achieved.

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367

The Drumlane senior squad which reached the intermediate championship quarter-finals. Front row l/r: Fergal Brady, Pauric Dolan, Conor Lunney, Neil McCann, Gary Tubman, John O’Dowd (capt), Barry Cunningham, Stephen McCann, Darragh Brady, Francis Lunney, Donal Reilly, Cormac Fitzpatrick. Back: Gareth Corrigan, JP Kelly, Ciaran Keaney, Dane O’Dowd, Padraig Leddy, Brendan O’Reilly, Darren Murphy, Brendan McKiernan, Glen Fitzpatrick, Darragh Seagrave, Ciaran Crowe, Kian Monahan, Jamie Donohoe, Barry Corrigan.

DRUMLANE - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

DRUMLANE County Minor Kian Monahan rises above Killeshandra’s Declan McKiernan in this aerial battle

2012 RESU LTS

BATTLING TO THE END 2012 may have saw Drumlane’s intermediate championship hopes cut short in August by its eventual winners, but it was far from a meagre year for the club. Sons of O’Connell captain John O’Dowd spoke to Breffni Blue about a season which saw underage silverware delivered and the latter stages of the ACFL Division Two contested.

F

or well over a decade now the Drumlane Sons of O’Connell club have been staking their claim for intermediate silverware and coming up just short on more occasions than one. This year the west Cavan men set out their stall with the same targets; well in the knowledge that the championship would be twice as hard earned in 12 months’ time with 20 teams set to be thrown into the mix in the race for the Tommy Gilroy Cup under the new

ACFL Divis ion 2 Drumlane 1 -7 0-8 Denn Drumlane 2 -14 1-3 Corn Cootehill C afean eltic 1-10 0 -4 Drumlan Drumlane 1 e -10 Butlersbridg 0-6 Cavan Gaels e 0-7 2-8 D rumlane Drumlane 1 -4 1-7 Mun terconnaug Drumlane v ht Shannon G aels – not p Knockbride la yed 0-10 4-6 Dru mlane Drumlane 0 -10 1-9 Kill inkere Crosserlou gh 1-7 0-8 Drumlane Swanlinbar 2-10 2-11 D rumlane Mountnuge nt 0-12 0-1 2 Drumlane Kill 1-11 2-1 2 Drumlane Drumlane 1 -7 0-9 An D Killeshandra rong 2-11 1-16 D rumlane IFC Drumlane 0 -9 0-7 Kill Drumlane 1 -10 0-7 Bally machugh Killeshandra 1-11 2-10 D rumlane Drumlane 2 -4 1-11 Lack en – QF

format set to be implemented.

Que the arrival of joint-managers Paul Fitzpatrick and Phelim Plunkett, who had oversaw the club’s league promotion back in 2006, and were back to try go one better than they’re strong run in 2010 when the team suffered heart-breaking defeats in the intermediate championship and Division Two finals within the space of seven days. The following year failed to see the Sons of O’Connell bouncing back sufficiently, so 2012

369

would be about one thing, according to team captain John O’Dowd.

“What we all wanted was to win the intermediate championship after losing it in 2010 and try and get a semi-final place in the league as well,” said O’Dowd.

“We’d JP Kelly back from Australia, which was a massive help to us, and Daryl McNulty transferred into the club too and he’s been a solid player for us since the start of the season.

But we did lose Paul Kelly to

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The IFC panel which faced Killeshandra in First Ulsters Park, Ballyconnell. Front row, l/r: Donal Reilly, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Aidan Greene, Conor Lunney, Darragh Seagrave, John O'Dowd, Gary Tubman, Barry Cunningham, Neil McCann, Darragh Brady Back: Glen Fitzpatrick, Fergal Brady, Dane O'Dowd, Brendan McKiernan, Stephen McCann, Darren Murphy, Ciaran Crowe, Kian Monahan, Brendan O'Reilly, JP Kelly, Padraig Leddy

injury/retirement and Ciaran O’Reilly as well, so it did kind of balanced itself out.”

One of Drumlane’s most consistent performers in recent years, the fullback has been focal in many of his team’s biggest wins as of late, including the ideal start they achieved this past season when they toppled Division Two favourites and former senior championship finalists Denn by 1-7 to 0-8 in the opening round of

the league at O’Connell Park in Milltown.

More wins would follow before a first defeat to Crosserlough soon after the club had been shocked by the untimely passing of its devoted secretary Jimmy Kelly (see obituary section).

“We’d a good win the first day out against Denn and beat a few of the stronger teams in the division, but overall our league form was a bit

mixed and we lost some games that we shouldn’t have,” stated O’Dowd.

“We were coming towards the championship in good shape though and I think that showed with our results in the group stages.”

A hard fought win over Kill (0-9 to 07) at Max McGrath Park in Redhills would be the ideal start to the campaign for Drumlane, with the frees of Darragh Seagrave and a brace of points each from Barry

The 2012 Minor Division Three league champions. Front row, l/r: Ben Monahan, Seamus Flynn, James Dolan, Ciaran Seagrave, Donal Reilly, Francis Lunney, Sean Smith, Ryan Connolly, Philip King. Back: Hugh Monahan (selector), Brian McKiernan, Ciaran Keaney, Declan Lunney, Jamie Donohoe, Pauric Dolan, Kian Monahan, Donal Monahan, Nicholas Dolan (selector), Ollie Fay (manager)

371

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372

Minor Captain Donal Reilly receives the league trophy from fellow clubman and Youth Board chairman Brian Seagrave

Drumlane captain James Dolan receives the Under 16 championship trophy from fellow club man Brian Seagrave

JP Kelly puts his Lacken opponent under pressure as Stephen McCann looks on

Corrigan and Barry Cunningham enough to secure victory in a game which saw defences come out on top for the most part. Veteran defenders Neil McCann and Robbie Smith where also salient for the winners, while JP Kelly’s energetic drives from centre-field kept a constant supply into the Milltown outfit’s danger forwards. The win meant that Drumlane would only require two more points to cement their place in the quarter-finals, with a showdown against Ballymachugh up next on the cards seven days later.

Drumlane would be minus the services of their talisman Barry Corrigan for the clash in Lacken, where a strong second-half display made the difference for the winners after having only led by two (0-4 to 02) at the halfway stage. Darragh Seagrave, Neil McCann, JP Kelly and Ciaran Crowe had posted the green and whites first-half scores, with Seagrave doubling his tally minutes into the resumption before Barry Cunningham stretched the difference to six.

With some resolute defending from the likes of Glen Fitzpatrick, Dane O’Dowd and Darragh Brady, who made an impressive return to the number seven jersey this year, Ballymachugh struggled to hit back and their hopes would be extinguished once Seagrave buried a 47th minute penalty to the net, after Stephen McCann had been fouled in the Hughs’ square, as Drumlane ran out comfortable 1-10 to 0-7 winners to secure their place in the last eight.

Drumlane (IFC v Ballymachugh): Darren Murphy; Glen Fitzpatrick, John O’Dowd, Neil McCann (0-1); JP Kelly (0-1), Dane O’Dowd, Darragh Brady; Brendan O’Reilly, Kian Monahan; Fergal Brady, Ciaran Crowe (0-1), Stephen McCann (0-1); Darragh Seagrave (1-3), Daryl McNulty, Barry Cunningham. Subs: Shane Kelly, Gary Tubman, Donal Reilly, Padraig Leddy.

“It was a tight game in the first-half and we said in the dressing room at half-time that we’d have to get a good start to the second-half otherwise we were going to be dragged into a dogfight towards the end. Thankfully,

373

Kian Monahan breaks the kick-out down during the minor final as James Dolan (8) waits underneath

Philip King receives the 'Man of the Match' award after his performance in the Under 16 final

Senior net-minder Darren Murphy.

Under 16 Championship winners: Front row, l/r: Luke Longair, Colin Bourke, Philip King, Conor O'Reilly, James Dolan (capt), Seamus King, Declan Burns, Michael O'Reilly, Conor Connolly. Back: Ollie Fay (manager), Anthony Galligan, Brandon Kaye, Ryan Connolly, Ciaran Seagrave, Shane Dolan, Killian Tubman, Donal Monahan, Sean Smith, Declan Lunney, Vincent Connolly (manager), Donal O'Connor (selector)

we came out and scored something like 1-3 in the first 10 minutes of the second-half and saw out the win,” O’Dowd stated.

The triumph over Ballymachugh left Drumlane’s remaining game of the group stages a dead-rubber affair. It wouldn’t halt the team from maintaining their 100 per cent record though when they met Killeshandra at First Ulsters Park in Ballyconnell and came away with a 2-10 to 1-11 win. By that stage, however, sights in the club had been firmly set on a quarter-final showdown with championship favourites Lacken on September 1.

Paul Fitzpatrick and Phelim Plunkett’s only injury concern going into the game would be Barry Cunningham, but the experienced attacker would be deemed fit enough to start at corner-forward at Kingspan Breffni Park, where a dire start proved a killer blow to his team’s prospects.

“We knew it was going to be tough against them,” said the 26-year-old.

“They were favourites coming into the championship, but we still reckoned that we had the capability to beat them. They’re a team that we’d always have played well against, but

for some reason it just didn’t go our way on the day.”

The concession of 1-8 in the opening half-hour would prove too much of an uphill battle for Drumlane in the second-half, when they registered their entire 2-4 tally which saw Fergal Brady and rising county minor star Kian Monahan netting the goals that had them finishing four points short to confirm their championship exit, as Lacken advanced through to the semi-finals and went on to claim the title after defeating Cootehill in a replay in midOctober.

Despite the disappointment of more championship hopes going by the wayside, O’Dowd explained that the players still weren’t ready to give up on their season and regrouped for the remainder of the league campaign which saw them gain hard-earned wins over Drung (1-7 to 0-9) and Killeshandra (1-16 to 2-11) to clinch fourth place, with 10 wins and four defeats (one draw), and set-up a league semi-final clash with Denn at the end of October.

“We had tried to peak around the time of the Lacken game, but it didn’t happen,” said the skipper. “Maybe if we had met them on a different day it

374

would have been a different outcome, but we said ourselves afterwards that we weren’t going to waste the whole year just because we went out of the championship. We decided to concentrate on getting into the league semi-finals and got the wins we needed from our last two games to get there.”

CONNOLLY’S CLASS HELPS MINORS TO TITLE In April, Drumlane’s minor footballers secured the Division Three league title with a resounding 2-17 to 1-6 victory over Drumgoon at Terry Coyle Park.

Under the managership of club stalwarts Ollie Fay, Hugh Monaghan and Nicholas Dolan, Drumlane’s campaign grew by the game as wins over Blackwater Gaels (4-15 to 0-5), Cootehill (4-10 to 2-10) and neighbours Kildallan (1-14 to 2-7) in the latter rounds saw them top Division Three and set-up a final showdown with Drumgoon on April 13 in Cavan town.

On the day, the Sons of O’Connell simply had too much for their counterparts, with their talisman Ryan Connolly kicking 1-11 (1-8 of which came from play) over the hour

Donal Reilly pounces on the breaking ball

to devastate Drumgoon, who had no answered to the ace attacker’s skill and deadly accuracy. At the back Philip King, Ciaran Seagrave and rising star Francis Lunney were all outstanding for Drumlane, as they kept their men scoreless to help reduce their opponents to just seven scores, while at centre-field powerhouse Kian Monaghan and James Dolan kept constant supply to the likes of Connolly, Brian McKiernan, Ciaran Keaney and team captain Donal Reilly to ensure the latter would be collecting the Cup on his club’s behalf come the fulltime whistle.

Drumlane (MFL 3 final v Drumgoon): Jamie Donohoe; Donal Monaghan, Philip King; Ciaran Seagrave, Francis Lunney, Sean Smith; Kian Monaghan, James Dolan; Donal Reilly (0-3), Ciaran Keaney (1-1), Pauric Dolan (0-1); Brian McKiernan (0-1), Ryan Connolly (1-11, 3f). Sub: Seamus Flynn

Kaye further cushioned their team’s lead before King and Conor Connolly netted late goals to ensure the title on a 3-14 to 0-5 score-line.

Drumlane (U16 Div 3 final v Drumgoon): Shane Dolan; Declan Burns, Declan Lunney; Seamus King (0-1), James Dolan (0-1), Philip King (1-0); Killian Tubman (0-1), Donal Monaghan (1-1); Brandon Kaye (0-2), Conor Connolly (1-2), Ryan Connolly (0-5, 1f); Ciaran Seagrave (0-1), Sean Smith. Subs: Anthony Galligan, Michael O’Reilly.

Great credit must go to the players, having bounced back from their league final defeat to Templeport earlier in the year, along with their mentors Vincent Connolly, Ollie Fay, Tonny Lunney and Donal O’Connor.

U16S DELIVER CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN

Francis Lunney is a rising star in the club

Brian McKiernan reaches out for possession

August saw the Under 16 footballers doubling the club’s silverware count for the season when they defeated Drumgoon in the Division Three Championship final.

Having demonstrated decent form in the run up to the final, the Sons of O’Connell saved their best performance until last when they meet ‘the Goonies’ at Kingspan Breffni Park, where an 11th minute goal from Brandon Kaye had the young west Cavan men off to an ideal start. With Philip King and Donal Monaghan pulling the strings, Drumlane bumped their advantage up to 18 to 0-1 towards the halfway stage after points from Ryan Connolly, Conor Connolly and Ciaran Seagrave.

Drumgoon struck the first two points of the second-half, but there was no upsetting Drumlane’s rhythm as more points from Ryan Connolly and

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Phelim Plunkett returned to the hot-seat in Drumlane in 2012

Newcomers Daryl McNulty and Ciaran Crowe (background) have bolstered the senior squad recently

Cavan JFC finalists, front l/r: Eoghan Givney, Jack Brady, Ben Brunton. Middle: David Sheridan, Charles Adams, Ronan Kearney, Kevin Plunkett, Reamon Finnegan, Eoghan Smyth, Johnaton Givney (capt), Felim Farrelly, Eurick Reilly, Ciaran Caffrey, Stephen Smith, Frank Conaty, Killian Fitzsimons, Seany Reilly, Aidan McCabe. Back: Mark Rehill, Joseph Adams, Adrian Garry, Ronan Caffrey, Tomas McCabe, Darren Hennessey, Gerard Barkey, David Givney, Liam Hennessey, Tomas Hennessey, Graham Paterson, Tomas Brady, Adam Paterson, Ciaran Duffy, Liam Smyth, Terry Rehill (medical officier), Keith Greene

MOUNTNUGENT - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

MOUNTNUGENT David Givney

2012 RESU LTS

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR After a rollercoaster few months, 2012 would end in bitter disappointment for Mountnugent as they suffered the narrowest of defeats in October’s county junior championship final. Nevertheless the Meath-border club will be lining-out in the intermediate ranks next year after safely securing their league status, as team selector Norbert Hanley explained.

B

ouncing back from a championship final defeat is never easy but it’s something the Mountnugent club fully expect to do in 2013, according to club stalwart Norbert Hanley.

Under the management of Johnny Guirke, who had Hanley and Sean Brady in as selectors, for a third year running, Mountnugent were bidding to back up their Division Three triumph and league promotion achieved in 2011 by landing the Sean Leddy Cup back in the parish for the

ACFL Divis ion 2 Munterconn aught 2-9 2 -8 Mountnu Knockbride gent 3-6 1-11 M ountnugent Mountnuge nt 1-13 0-1 3 Killinkere Kill 1-12 2-8 Mountnuge n Mountnuge nt 1-5 0-8 D t Killeshandra rung 1-11 0-9 M ountnugent Denn 1-16 0-6 Mountn Mountnuge ugent nt 2-7 2-12 Crosserlou Cornafean gh 2-12 0-5 M ountnugent Mountnuge nt 0-9 0-5 S hannon Ga Mountnuge els nt 1-15 2-1 5 Swanlinb Mountnuge ar nt 0-12 0-1 2 Drumlane Mountnuge nt 0-9 0-12 Cootehill Cavan Gae ls 4-5 3-14 Mountnuge Mountnuge nt nt 0-11 0-5 Butlersbridg e JFC Mountnuge nt 1-13 1-1 0 Corlough Mountnuge nt 1-13 1-1 0 Corlough Kildallan 1-6 - QF 1-11 Mountn Laragh 0-1 ugent - SF 0 2-3 Moun tnugent - F inal

first time in 20 years. When Guirke and co outlined their 2012 plans to the players, all involved agreed that it wouldn’t be too big an ask to stay in Division Two and push hard for the junior championship crown.

“We wanted to stay in Division Two and try and win the junior championship as well, and we knew that we had the players to do it,” said Hanley.

“We’d went up in the league in 2011 and knew that we were good enough to win the championship, so it was

377

just a matter of getting the team as best prepared for it as we could. We didn’t lose any players to emigration from last year or anything like that and actually gained a player for the season after David Sheridan came back home from Australia.”

Guirke’s team would be breaking new ground in Division Two and were keen to hit it running when late February came around. They’d get off to a shaky start though, with onepoint defeats suffered in their opening two games against Munterconnacht

got the win we needed against them, because if we had lost that game things could have been completely different for us in the backdoor.”

In the end, it was Mountnugent’s superb final quarter display at Crowe Park, where David Givney and Ciaran Caffrey, who both finished with 0-5 each, hit the forefront to pull their team from 1-9 to 1-6 behind to Mountnugent’s finest in 2012, front l/r: David Sheridan, Mark Rehill, Kevin Plunkett, Felim Farrelly, Ciaran level with under 10 minutes Caffrey, Eurick Reilly, Jonathon Givney (capt), Reamon Finnegan, Frank Conaty, Eoghan Smyth, Killian Fitzsimons, Seany Reilly, Stephen Smith. Back: Charles Adams, Joseph Adams, Adrian Garry, Darren to go. In those closing stages Hennessey, Ronan Caffrey, Graham Paterson, Gerard Barkey, Tomas Hennessey, David Givney, Tomas McCabe, Tomas Brady, Aidan McCabe, Liam Hennessey, Adam Paterson, Ronan Kearney Givney landed a superb score before Caffrey struck a Division Two of the All County (2-9 to 2-8) and Knockbride (3-6 to 1late brace of points to secure a 1-13 to 1-10 win and a quarter-final berth.

Football League for another year.

11). The first win of the year would The last eight would draw Quirke’s “Our form was just good enough to arrive in Killinkere, where the visitors men against a Shannon Gaels side keep us up. We got a vital win against came away with a 1-13 to 0-13 victory that were welcoming back some of Butlersbridge a few weeks before the before the team’s form dipped again the big absentees that they had championship started and it was a big somewhat. missed sorely during their league lift going back into the After a few more narrow losses to campaign earlier in the season. The championship,” said Hanley. the likes of Kill (1-12 to 2-8) and two teams would have to journey to “We had Corlough in the first round Swanlinbar (2-15 to 1-15), Killeshandra for the showdown for and they have always been a bogey Mountnugent’s results picked up midwhich Mountnugent were slight team for us and we knew that it was championship with a hard fought favourites, but needless to say the going to be tough going in against draw against Drumlane (0-12 to 0-12) Meath-border men would be taking them. It was a very tight game played before crucial wins over Cavan Gaels nothing for granted. in Lacken and the lads just dug deep (4-5 to 3-14) and Butlersbridge (0-11 Mountnugent edged the early towards the end and thankfully we to 0-5) guaranteed their place in

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Ronan Caffrey

David Sheridan

David Givney

proceedings, with points from Ciaran Caffrey, who contributed 0-5 from play in an outstanding display, and David Givney to help their side towards a two-point lead at the interval. Centre-back David Sheridan lashed over a gem point minutes into the resumption and when Ronan Caffrey got in for the game’s only goal on 37 minutes Guirke’s side looked to be cruising towards the semis.

The Gaels hit back almost immediately, however, with Niall Walsh and PP O’Hara sending over the consecutive scores that brought the game level with a little over five minutes to go. Crucially, Guirke’s team never panicked and through the immense Ciaran Caffrey they had someone to stem the tide as he inflicted late points on the westerners to seal a 1-11 to 0-13 win and a place in the last four for Mountnugent.

“We knew going in that we wouldn’t be meeting the same Shannon Gaels side that we played in Division Two earlier in the year,” said Hanley.

“They had a bad league campaign but they were welcoming a lot of lads back for the championship that they were missing and that day lads like David Givney and the two Caffreys stood up for us when it mattered.”

In the semi-finals Mountnugent would meet a Kildallan side in hot form after coming through their first two championship outings with comfort before handing a defeat to Division Three leaders Bailieborough in the league. Many had touted the Ballyconnell men to upset the odds when the two teams met on September 22, but Guirke’s side were hands down the best team in the last four clash at Kingspan Breffni Park, where they dominated the majority of the opening half-hour with their opponents failing to register a score until the 27th minute.

Kildallan looked as though they were about to stage a mini-revival after opening their account, but they were quickly brought down to earth just before the break when wing-back Ronan Kearney finished off a slick Mountnugent attack to the net. The trailers side tried to get themselves back in contention in the second-half, but rued their poor start as the likes of Joseph Adams, Tomas McCabe and David Sheridan held firm at the back for the men in saffron and Kildallan would only goal when it was too late via a Darragh McGovern penalty, as it

379

Senior team manager Johnny Guirke

Ronan Caffrey

Eurick Reilly

finished 1-11 to 1-6.

Mountnugent (JFC semi-final v Kildallan): Jonathan Givney; Kevin Plunkett, Joseph Adams, FelimFarrelly; Tomas McCabe, David Sheridan, Ronan Kearney (1-0); Tomas Brady, David Givney (0-2); Eurick Reilly (0-1), Ciaran Caffrey (02, 1f), Adam Patterson (0-2), Darren Hennessy, Ronan Caffrey (0-1), Eoghan Smyth (0-2). Subs: Reamon Finnegan for K Plunkett (20, inj), Liam Hennessy (0-1) for E Smyth (48), Graham Patterson for E Reilly (53), Killian Fitzsimons for F Farrelly (60), Gerard Barkey for R Caffrey (60).

“We got off to a great start against them and even though they came back at us in the second-half, I always felt confident after the way we played in the first 20 minutes,” said the selector.

The victory had spirits at an all-time high in the club as the team looked to be on course for a first championship triumph since 1992. In the final they’d meet a Laragh United side that had edged by Templeport in their respective semi-final and came into the decider as underdogs.

Ronan Caffrey opened the scoring for Mountnugent90 seconds into the final at KingspanBreffni Park, after some brave defending from a tuned in Enda Clarke had snuffed out a goal chance which would have had Guirke’s team off to the perfect start.

Laragh shot two wides before getting off the mark with a rousing score from midfielder Declan Brady and marksman Patrick Rudden had them into their first lead by the 14th minute when he nailed a 40-metre free along the left flank. Colin Oates doubled the advantage with a cracking score on 20 minutes and when the lively Declan King was sent through the defender made no mistake in splitting the posts to put the Stardone men firmly in the driving-seat heading towards the break…Or so it seemed…

Three minutes shy of the interval Mountnugent worked the move of the game, which saw Darren Hennessy and Ronan Caffrey combining to unlock Laragh's rear guard and send Adam Paterson in one-on-one with Martin Smith, who had no chance of stopping the corner-forward's effort hitting the top corner of the net. In the next attack Ciaran Caffery, who saw a few of his frees sail wide up until this point, got in for another chance of the

2nd and 3rd class in Scoil Bhríde Mountnugent with Kevin Smith (Coach), Barry Cahill, Mrs McEvoy (Class Teacher), Mrs Dolan (Classroom Assistant) and Con Mc Enroe

1st and 2nd class pupils of Scoil Bhríde with Conor Kelly, David Givney, Barry Cahill, Mrs Reilly (Class Teacher) and Mattie Finnegan (Juvenile Chairman)

Junior and Senior Infants of Scoil Bhríde with local hero David Givney, Barry Cahill and Miss Kiernan (Class Teacher)

380

5th and 6th class pupils get their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup, also in picture are Mattie Finnegan (Juvenile Chairman), Barry Cahill and local hero David Givney

net but his low shot came off the legs of Smith and he would instead have to settle for his first point on the eve of half-time, which left it at 1-2 to 0-4.

Kevin McDonnell’s team flew out of the traps for the second-half, with another superbly struck free from Rudden being backed up by a Colm McKenna point for the lead on 34 minutes. McDonnell would send on Darragh Brady soon after to try and nullify the influence of David Givney around the centre of the pitch, but when the county ace was impeded 40 metres out he sent in a dangerous free which was fumbled by Laragh's defence and allowed Ronan Caffrey to punch to the net for what was truly a harsh blow for the men in orange.

Ciaran Caffrey tagged on a point in the next attack to push Mountnugent's lead up to three, and it could have been more had two consecutive point efforts not come off both uprights and drop wide.There was still plenty of time for Laragh to get themselves back in contention though and they dug deep to earn

two frees for the reliable Rudden to convert, leaving the difference minimal. A minute later saw Liam Brady nabbing an equaliser from all of 45 metres and it could well have been all over when Declan Brady was threaded through, but the midfielder's shot hit the butt of the post instead of the net.

With five minutes to ensue, a winning score looked destined and Laragh would get their chance when Cootehill referee Kieran McCarville spotted an impeding from the Mountnugent defence which presented Rudden with a 30 metre free which he dually slotted.

The favourites searched desperately for a leveller and almost had it when Givney pulled off brilliant work to carve out a long range shot which tailed just wide much to the Laragh contingent's relief as they hung on for a historic 0-10 to 2-3 win.

“We’ve a good young team and nerves can happen when you’re going into a first championship final with your club,” said Hanley.

“We beat Laragh the three times we Best Wishes To Mountnugent GAA played them last year but just couldn’t get over the line against them that day. It Superb quality Hardwood, choice of Ash & Beech was very Good Honest Clean Firewood with no disappointing for deadwood mixed through us, but there’s certainly good Loose fill or 1M3 Bags with the option of collect or deliver players there and Also large quantities of Kindling available they’ll be able to bounce back from it.”

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Tomas McCabe

The Cavan Gaels senior squad for 2012

CAVAN GAELS - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

CAVAN GAELS

2012 RESU LTS

Levi Murphy

KEEN TO BOUNCE BACK A shock SFC quarter-final defeat to Killygarry on the first Sunday in September turned Cavan Gaels’ season on its head in 2012. New chairman Michael Mooney says the club are now relishing next year, with regaining the Oliver Plunkett Cup as top priority.

I

t’s not too often a club of Cavan Gaels’ calibre are left emptyhanded by mid-October when it comes to silverware, but then again 2012 wouldn’t turn out to be a typical season for the Terry Coyle Park outfit.

After having appointed club stalwart Mickey Graham as senior team manager at the end of 2011, the Gaels were looking forward to the coming season with enthusiasm.

Graham had established himself as one of the county’s premier coaches

SFC Cavan Gae ls 1-10 0-11 Lavey Denn 0-7 1 -14 Cavan Gaels Kingscourt 1-6 2-9 Cava Killygarry 0 -10 0-9 Cava n Gaels n Gaels - Q F ACFL Divis ion 1 Cavan Gae ls 3-7 2-7 K ingscourt Killygarry 1 -4 1-7 Cava n Gaels Gowna 1-1 1 1-13 Cava Cúchulainn n Gaels s 1-10 0-12 Cavan Gae Redhills 1-9 ls 3-17 Cavan Cavan Gae Gaels ls 0-9 0-9 C astlerahan Cavan Gae ls 2-15 0-8 Ballyhaise Cavan Gae ls 3-17 0-9 Dru Ballinagh 0 -8 0-16 Cava malee n Gaels Cavan Gae ls 2-16 0-13 Cavan Gae Ramor ls 1-13 3-10 Drumgoon Belturbet 2 -10 2-10 Ca van Gaels Mullahoran 0-11 2-12 C avan Gaels Cavan Gae ls 2-8 1-9 L avey Lacken 1-1 1 3-15 Cava n Gaels

after steering neighbours Drumalee to an intermediate championship title in 2006, while also leading Cavan to an Ulster minor championship final and Ballyhaise to two Under 21 triumphs. 2011 saw the former Cavan forward guide Clonguish to the Longford SFC final, where they went down by a mere point to favourites Longford Slashers.

Graham would take the reins of his native club at the AGM at the end of 2011, with full intentions of retaining

383

the coveted Oliver Plunkett Cup which was no doubt on the table in front of him, but as the New Year rolled in, and progressed, he realised that his team would have to do it without a few players that had been so instrumental in the past for the club.

“Mickey Graham was the manager this year and he had Mark Leddy and Mark Gillick in with him as selectors,” explained Michael Mooney.

“This is my first year as chairman

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A victory over Kingscourt Stars (3-7 to 2-7) would be the first of 11 to come in the ACFL Division One, with wins over Killygarry (1-7 to 1-4), Redhills (3-17 to 1-9), Ballyhaise (216 to 0-8), Drumalee (3-17 to 0-9),

The Cavan Feile winning U14 squad

The squad that represented the club in the Cavan Gaels IFC and ACFL Division 2

385

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386

Martin Dunne

Declan Meehan

Senior manager Michael Graham

Ballinagh (0-16 to 0-8) and Ramor United (2-16 to 0-17) to follow and leave the Gaels sitting pretty at the top of the table heading towards their championship opener with Lavey at the end of July.

“We had a great start to the league,” the chairman stated. “I think we could have won our first six or seven matches and with the new league format in place, it was important that we hit the ground running with the amount of teams that were being relegated out of Division One this year.”

With a semi-final place all but secured in the league, the Gaels entered the senior championship as red-hot favourites once more and opened their title defence on a summer’s evening at Kingspan Breffni Park against a Lavey side that had been impressing in the league themselves with some big results.

Declan Meehan’s first-half goal had the Gaels in the driving-seat at halftime, 1-7 to 0-6, but the resilient New Inns men were never willing to throw in the towel at any point in this contest as they kept with their opponents. The second-half saw Martin Dunne, Niall Smith and Kevin Meehan lashing over crucial scores for Graham’s team, who were indebted to the endeavours of Niall Gurhy, Darragh Sexton and Robert Maloney-Derham at the back as they held out until the very end, when Dunne had a goal disallowed, for a 110 to 0-11 victory.

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387

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backed up by another McClarey goal on the eve of the interval.

In the second-half, more scores from the deadly accurate Dunne and Declan Meehan helped to keep Kingscourt at bay as the Gaels’ maintained their 100 per cent start to the championship on a 2-9 to 1-6 score-line.

Cavan Gaels (SFC v Kingscourt): Martin Cassidy; Karl Crotty, Niall Gurhy, Darragh Sexton; Levi Murphy (0-1), Eamonn Reilly (0-1), Paul O'Connor; Enda King, Dominic Reilly; Declan Meehan (01), Kevin Meehan, Niall Smith (0-1); Michael Lyng, Conor McClarey (20), Martin Dunne (0-5, 1f). Subs: Sean Reilly for King (37 mins).

“We played Lavey on a Wednesday night,” Mooney stated.

“They put up a spirited display and we only won by a couple of points in the end. It wasn’t a spectacle by any means, but it was tough for players travelling up from Dublin to play a game in the middle of the week.

“We played Denn in Ballinagh the next day and won well, which left us playing what was a dead-rubber affair, if you will, against Kingscourt in the last group game. It turned out to be a very good game, which we won by a six points in the end.”

The draw for the quarter-finals would pit Cavan Gaels against a Killygarry side that were moving well under Kells native Benny Reddy. The champions would enter the game as favourites, with their Crubany counterparts ranked as 6/1 underdogs, and made the better start at Kingspan Breffni Park, where scores from Martin Dunne, Sean Reilly and Robert MaloneyDerham sent them towards a 0-6 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Paul O’Connor increased the Gaels’ lead in the opening seconds of the second-half which looked to have the holders picking up where they left off, but Killygarry struck the next four points for the lead and despite late points from Declan Meehan, who would see red towards the end, and Dunne, Reddy’s team would hold out for a 0-10 to 0-9 win to stun the town side and bring the curtain down on their

championship campaign.

“We were confident going into the quarter-finals and maybe we were a bit overconfident, to be honest,” said Mooney.

“Killygarry had their homework done on us and they were better than us on the day. This year was always going to be difficult with the players we lost but we still felt we were good enough at the start of the year to win the championship, but it just wasn’t to be. Hopefully, we can regroup next year and come back fighting.”

U14S REACH LEAGUE FINAL Mark Gillick, Mark Leddy and John Farrelly look on

Andrew Graham

In June, Cavan Gaels’ Under 14 footballers did the club proud by reaching the Division One league final against Crosserlough. After having overcome a stiff challenge from Gowna, the Gaels, who represented Cavan at the Feile in 2012, travelled to Ballinagh on June 8 to take on Crosserlough in the league decider. In a thrilling battle, Dylan McMullan’s early goal surged the Gaels towards a 1-8 to 1-4 halftime lead, with Luke Fortune doing most of the damage with regards to points for the blues. The second-half saw Crosserlough up the intensity though as they hit their opponents for two more goals and despite Matas Gledraitis pulling back a major for the Gaels, it was the young Kilnaleck men that emerged victorious to clinch the title on a 3-9 to 2-10 score-line.

TERRY COYLE PARK DEVELOPMENT

Cian McKiernan

389

This past March saw the club embark on a five-year development plan in Terry Coyle Park, with the ‘Friends of Cavan Gaels’ initiative ensuring that the sufficient funds are put in place to carry out the work, which will see a brand new club house being built at the club’s GAA grounds. With ladies football, which is being coached by devoted clubmen Martin Dunne and Peter Sexton, and camogie having started up again in the club, the committee has moved to ensure that the proper facilities are in place for the future.

The Butlersbridge squad that took part in the intermediate championship

BUTLERSBRIDGE - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

BUTLERSBRIDGE

Cahir O’Reilly

2012 RESU LTS

‘BRIDGE CHASING THAT ELUSIVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP To really get an understanding of what it is that Butlersbridge football club is all about the Breffni Blue took time out to get the views of its Life President, Mickey Reilly.

M

ickey is well placed to talk as his family’s name is deeply entwined in the historic fabric of this enduring club.

His grandfather, father Hugh Pa and all his family have donned the yellow and blue of the ‘Bridge. Mickey along with brothers, Eamon and Frank were members of the first ever junior championship winning team back in 1963. Younger brother Brendan also represented the club at all grades.

Both Brendan and Eamon were

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members of the Bridge team that won the championship and league double back in 1974.

Mickey, Eamon and Frank all represented Cavan at minor, with Frank going on to play for the U21s while Eamon progressed to the full senior panel. Indeed Eamon holds to this day a national GAA record scoring five goals in an Ulster minor championship game against Fermanagh. Many felt that Mickey too would have made it into the

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senior ranks only for his departure to Canada where he spent eight years.

During his time in Canada, Mickey played his football with St. Patrick’s of Toronto where his talent was recognized when he was awarded the North American Player of the Year in 1971.

Quietly spoken and immensely knowledgeable about the game, Mickey is also a realist with a great eye for seeing potential and ability in players and teams. When asked how

The U12 squad celebrate their championship win, front l/r: Oisin McCorry, Adam Dunne, Shane Leddy, Patrick McPhillips, Daire Connolly, Sean Murphy, David English, Colin Dugdale, Eoin O’Reilly, Eoin Lavin. Back: Ciaran O’Reilly, Fearghal O’Reilly, Conor Flood, Leo Doyle, Joseph Flynn, Micheal Leddy, David Emmo. Missing from picture: Matteo Puscascu

he felt the game, particularly at his own club, had progressed over the years he was honest and fair in his assessments.

“I suppose when you look back at your own playing career and try to judge it against what you now see in front of you now, a number of factors have to be weighed up. Back in the ‘60s and 70s I would probably feel that the simple skills of the game, catching, tackling, taking on an opponent and scoring from longrange were more prominent,” said Mickey.

“Back during that period, the club’s county player Con Smith would, have

hugely influenced my career. He was an inspiration to all of the young players in the Bridge at that time.

Today the level of fitness is far superior with the speed of the game much improved. Tighter marking and packed defences I feel has made it more difficult for players to express themselves.

“Today, modern life provides many more distractions whereas back in the 1960s and 70s kids had little to occupy their minds other than the outlet of GAA. This ensured that anywhere there was a ball available you were guaranteed to see the local field packed for hours at a time. With

The Butlersbridge U12 Division 2A championship winners

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soccer, rugby and indeed other sports constantly being screened on TV, children have a wider choice and are less inclined to participate. This I feel has taken its toll on our sport, player-wise and spectator-wise,” said Mickey.

“In the ‘Bridge we always had a great pedigree at junior level. The one regret I have is that as a club we have failed to capture that elusive intermediate title. In the past, we failed to capitalize on our successes when we should have gone on to greater things.

“Over the years we had good opportunities to go on and win an Ulster Junior club championship but missed out. However, I do feel that Butlersbridge as a club are currently making tremendous strides. Over the past ten years we have won the Junior football championship no less than on three occasions. This I feel is all down to the great work being put in at all levels at the Bridge.

“Development at juvenile level was always of primary importance and the club has developed a great coaching structure, which I feel, should be acknowledged as a great depth of gratitude is due to all the coaches past and present,” said the club president.

“Currently we have a vibrant juvenile section with a strong committee led by an energetic chairman, Joe English. Fruits of their work was evident this season when

Daire Cassidy and Sean Murphy raise the U12 cup

Eoin Ryan in the U12 final

Sean Murphy

the U12s won the Division 2A championship.

This was a tremendous achievement by this young side,” said Mickey.

“The importance of a good juvenile structure is essential for the lifeblood of a club and to this end we are now in a strong position. We at the Bridge are blessed with the influx of a number of new families to the area who are helping to increase the playing numbers at underage.”

With the loss of so many of our senior panel through emigration, retirements and injuries you see the importance of developing juvenile football. On the point of emigration the club have lost a number of their top young talents. Brian Greenan, Senan Flanagan and Ciaran Greenan have been lost to the Bridge. The departure to England of Lorcan Mulvey a few seasons back was also a great blow to the club.

“We also lost, Jonathon Leddy, one of the best young talents in the county to professional soccer. While the club wishes him great success, they are aware of the huge loss of this talented young man. In one of his last competitive games for the club, many neutral observers felt that his display earned the ‘Bridge an under14 title,” said Mickey.

“At senior level we are holding our own but had to see our playing numbers eroded through a number of factors. At the beginning of the season, we appointed one of our own as team manager. To my mind the appointment of Mickey Fitzpatrick was a masterstroke. Mickey I would feel is probably one of the best allround players the club has ever produced. As a player, he was always a winner and this is a passion he has brought to his new role as manager. I feel under his guidance

AUSTIN COSGROVE

we can maintain our Division 2 status and push on from there.

“Mickey has a winning attitude and we sincerely hope that he will take the difficult position on again next season. He has the backing of the club and the respect of the entire panel,” said the club president.

In conclusion Mickey said that he would like to on behalf of the club convey sympathy to the extended Sheridan family on the death of one of the club’s former stars, Tom Sheridan. Tom was an established figure in the yellow and blue for many seasons and recognized as a defender of note. “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis," said the club president.

Michael Fitzpatrick could be best described as a ‘dyed in the wool’ clubman. He was a prominent performer at all the grades from

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underage right up to senior level. Throughout his long career, he has amassed a great deal of silverware along the way. With three junior championships and one league title to his name, he was an ideal choice to help guide the club. For many seasons he was their talisman and with his knowledge of how to win close games was an ideal candidate for the position of team manager.

According to Mickey: “I was approached last Christmas about the position but it was not something that I was going to rush into. I had been playing with this group of players for years and to suddenly have to make hard calls regarding them was something I needed to be sure I could do.

“A number of factors helped me make my decision. Injuries and the support of my fellow players swayed me to take on this demanding role. I was also given the support of a great backroom team with David McEntee as selector and Darragh Keogh as our statistician.

“I approached the start of the season with the same approach I had when I was playing with the club, that of a winning mentality and a belief that we are as good as anything other team out there. Even with a strong mentality and the will to win, it was still a tough ask,” added Mickey.

“We are always working off a small player panel of players and from the start of the season we estimated that we lost in the region of just over twenty players. This drain was down to a number of factors, emigration, injuries and retirements. This meant that we were now put into a position that we had to bring younger players on stream much quicker that we would normally have done,” said the new team manager.

“Early season commitment was good and we had high hopes of getting off to a good start in our league campaign.

We played reasonably well in our early season but that luck of the ‘green’ seemed to desert us in a number of games that we lost narrowly.

“We had tremendous team spirit and I felt we deserved more than being on the losing end of some very narrow defeats. We had mixed results throughout the season but the players never dropped their heads and we managed to register four wins and two draws. In the two drawn games we could have emerged victorious and this would have really set us up for the season.

“Having dropped points in those drawn ties, it meant that we were fifth from bottom with one game to play. If we had won the two drawn games we would have ended up in a mid-table position, which I felt would have been a great achievement for us having lost so many players at the early part of the campaign,” said Mickey.

“Our league season while not showing the desired results we had hoped for did not deter the determined outlook for our championship campaign. Playing in the Intermediate championship was always going to be difficult but we felt we were up for the challenge.”

The first game was against neighbours Ballyhaise and Butlersbridge saw the game snatched from their grasp in the final few minutes. They looked set for victory but a late flurry of points by Ballyhaise against the run of play swung the result in their favour. Undaunted by this defeat they went forward to face one of the favourites for the championship

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title and league table toppers, Cootehill Celtic. Once again they gave a good account of themselves with the players undaunted by the challenge posed by one of the favourites to win this competition.

Butlersbridge started brightly in this game and got off to a good start.

However, once again lady luck failed to smile on them and they lost inspirational midfielder, Andrew Nelligan with a dislocated shoulder.

While the team battled gallantly for the remainder of the game this setback was probably the difference between winning and losing.

“We lost out in the end by five points which I felt did not reflect the great effort put in by the players on the field,” said Mickey.

“Having lost the opening two games in this three-team group we were effectively out of the hunt for a quarter-final place. The final game against Drung, while competitive, was still only a formality for us. Now out of the championship we could focus all our attention on retaining our Division 2 status.

“We also had our second team playing in the Reserve League of Division 2. This was always going to be a tough competitive cauldron for this group of players. As I stated earlier, the loss of so many players pre-season meant that we were working on the edges of our panel.

While we did not set the world on fire in this league, we nevertheless competed and tried to bring through some younger players.”

This was a tough baptism for these young players in the highly competitive arena of this division.

They will have benefitted from the experience and will be much better for it.

“At this level the championship is down to strict knockout stages, which leaves little room for error. We had a tough first round clash against Cornafean who proved to be much more physical than us and ran out winners on the day. Our lads tried hard and to their credit never gave up until the final whistle,” said the team manager.

When asked if he was prepared to take on the challenge for a second

year, Mickey was directly honest in his answer.

“I doubt I would have the time in the coming year. Too many things are going to influence my decision not least, I am getting married and moving to Leitrim. So you can see it would be a big call for me and I feel that if you cannot give your undivided attention to the job then it is time to step aside,” said Mickey.

JUVENILE FOOTBALL Juvenile football at Butlersbridge is indeed in a healthy state according to Joe English, Juvenile chairman, the club’s driving force at this level. Joe points out that work at this level is down to a group of very dedicated people who freely give their time and experience to help maintain the growth of Butlersbridge GFC. “We start our underage football with our minikickers (U-6s and U-8s).

What we lack in numbers in this area is more than compensated with quality. Coached by Cian Murtagh, Packie Graham and Colm Murphy the U-8s have taken part in a number of blitz competitions. With the U-6s working with coaches Trevor Shannon, Gareth Henry and Aishling Shields, the skill and enjoyment factor is evident with those attending training sessions,” said Joe. The ‘Bridge field teams from U10 up to U14 and join with neighbours, Redhills to compete as Redbridge at U16 and minor level.

Once again dedicated coaching at U10 level by Paddy Greenen, Ciaran Maguire, Joe English and Harry Conaty paid dividends as this young group of players showed their talent by qualifying for the final of the prestigious Cunningham-Stakelum tournament hosted by Drumlane.

Bouyed by this great run, the U10 side went on a step better a month later by winning the annual Dennis O’Keeffe tournament hosted by Drumalee GFC. Following a very exciting final against a strong Ballyhaise team the cup was presented to winning captains Andy McEvoy and Kevin McPhillips.

“I would have to say that the highlight of this year for us at juvenile level has to be the historic victory of

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Kevin Connelly

Stephen Murphy

Paul Murphy

U12s who won the Division 2A championship,” said Joe. The final was played against Munterconnaught on the 3G pitch in Breffni Park and, although the conditions were not ideal for either team, the ‘Bridge served up a fine display running out eventual winners by a final margin of four points. The final score on the day was Butlersbridge 4-5 Munterconnaught 2-7. After the cup was presented to the winning captains Sean T. Murphy and Daire Connolly, the Bridge brigade made a convey back to the clubrooms where they were treated to a very nice reception hosted by members of the senior committee.

The management team was Colm Murphy, Joe English and Ronan Flood who put a huge effort into looking after this team all season.

“At U13 level we were unfortunate to be drawn in the first round against U14 league winners, Maghera. Although our lads performed well and gave it their all – sometimes dominating the game – we were eventually edged out by the physically

superior Maghera side who proceeded to win the competition outright. We suffered the narrowest of defeats in the U14 championship when we edged out by Kilinkere by a single point in the first round of the championship.

“This is a very young and skilful side with most of the players still eligible to play at this level for the next two years. The club is grateful to the management team of Gareth Henry and Andy McConnell for all their efforts in preparing this team throughout the league and championship campaign. We amalgamated with Redhills at U16 level and it was through a combination of good team management and a strong work ethic on the playing field that helped guide us to the semi-final stages of the Division 3 Championship. After a sterling performance by the team we had to eventually settle for a narrow defeat to Drumlane who went on to win the final. Great credit is due to all the players and team management of Gary McEntee, Pat Smith and Carlos Conlon,” added Joe.

Goalkeeper Leo Doyle clears the ball

Patrick McPhillips

Paul Flynn

Noel McPhillips

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BALLINAGH Niall O’Reilly carries the ball with Damien McInerney in the background

2012 RESU LTS

BALLINAGH STILL ONE OF CAVAN’S DARK HORSES Is there a better crop of young players in the county than that sported by Ballinagh? SFC winners in-waiting?

I

n 2007, Ballinagh won the Ulster IFC title by ending a 15 year barren period in Cavan. A year before that, the club annexed the All County Football League Division one title.

In between times, a couple of under

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21 titles have been bagged as well.

Talk about a coming team? But haven't we been here before.

Ballinagh old boy Brian Gumley nods the head.

Thirty years ago when Gumley was in his pomp, the Ballinagh club

397

inarguably proved itself Cavan's club of 1978 when it won the IFC, the Under 21 championship and the senior league division two title all in the space of a couple of months.

The combined talents in those squads failed to consolidate their

The Ballinagh seniors, front l/r: Peter Donohoe, Killian Devine, Henry Daly, Kevin Smith, Cathal Bogue, Niall McDermott, Padraig O’Reilly, Micheal Ward, Terry Smith, Paul Urbanski, Micheal Higgins, Daryl Gaynor, Ciaran Harrison, Eamon McEvoy, Blake Carthy. Back: Paul Galligan, Enda Brady, Anthony Gaynor, Niall O’Reilly, Conor Smith, Paul Wilson, Daragh McCarthy, Craig Wright, Tomas Moore, Declan Beard, Killian McBride, Shane Wharton, Patrick Carroll, Fergus Bogue, Alan Smith.

BALLINAGH - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

On championship duty, front l/r: Colin Gumley, Henry Daly, Shane Wharton, Terry Smith, Paul Galligan, Micheal Ward, Padraig O’Reilly, Niall O’Reilly, Paul Urbanski, Thomas Moore, Killian McBride, Ciaran Harrison, Eamon McEvoy, Daryl Gaynor. Back: Killian Devine, Padraig Maguire, Enda Brady, Peter Donohoe, Declan Beard, Kevin Smith, Paul Wilson, Conor Smith, Cathal Bogue, Patrick Carroll, Andrew Ward, Alan Smith, Fergus Bogue.

burgeoning promise though and go on and secure the SFC title despite expectations from outside the club.

But the sort of ambition that saw the Saffrons rebound from their defeat in the 2006 IFC final to go on and annex the provincial title 12 months later still abounds in Ballinagh.

In addition, a lot of the same talent

is still on board, six years on. Indeed, so many of the same faces are still on the scene that few other teams can sport such experience.

A brief perusal of some of the following all-conquering line-ups tells a tale about the sort of mileage and experience accumulated by a lot of the current senior Ballinagh stars.

Ballnagh (v Dunloy) 2007 Ulster IFC final: Dara McCarthy; Killian McBride, Patrick Carroll, Anthony Duffy; Niall O'Reilly, Pauric O'Reilly, Damian McInerney; Adrian Maguire, Cian McDermott; Colin Gumley (0-3, two frees), Declan Beard (0-1), David Finnegan; Niall McDermott (1-2), Anthony Gaynor (0-2, one 45), Paul

The Cumann na mBunscol hurling winners, that defeated Mullagh in the final

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Galligan (1-2). Subs; Kevin Smith (01);Terry Smith; Ruairi Brennan; Thomas Moore;Conor Brady.

Ballinagh (v Lavey) 2006 under 21 county final: Patrick Carroll; Killian McBride, Pauric Reilly, Terry Smith; Adrian Cahill, Enda Gavin, Gary Keane; Cian McDermott, Anthony Gaynor (1-1); David Finnegan, Ruairi Brennan, Niall O'Reilly; Colin Reilly (0-6, five frees), Ciaran Brady (0-3), Michael Higgins (0-1). Subs; Damian McInerney (0-1); Kevin Smith (1-0).

Ballinagh (v Gowna) 2006 ACFL Division One final: Darragh McCarthy; Anthony Duffy, Cian Brady, Killian McBride; Niall Reilly, Padraig Reilly, Damien McInerney; Padraig Maguire, Cian McDermott; Enda Brady, David Finnegan, Declan Beard (0-5); Paul Galligan (0-2), Anthony Gaynor (1-1), Kevin Galligan (1-0). Subs; Terry Smith for Enda Brady; Kieran Brady for Paul Galligan.

"Given the amount of talent we have, I think we could win the senior championship title in the next couple of years," says 2012 selector Gumley. "Nobody knows what the story will be next year or the years after that but if they get the rub of the green, show the commitment that's necessary and are prepared to put in the work, then they have the ability to go the distance.

"They showed in the first round of the league when they beat Ramor that, on their day, they're as good as any team in the county.

"The lads played some fantastic football that day but in a lot of games over the past year, they did a lot of good stuff but didn't close out the games.

"It was the same when we played Kingscourt. We were three points ahead of them with eight minutes to go in the league but they got three goals."

One got the sense that once Cavan Gaels were knocked out in the SFC quarter-finals that it was anyone's title, including Ballinagh?

"Yeh, but any of a number of teams could have been thinking at that stage that they were in with a great chance of winning the championship.

401

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"The Gaels have lost a number of players and I'm not sure why but they'll still be a force to be reckoned with next year. It's no harm though to see a few new teams in the county final. Fair play to Mullahoran and Kingscourt for standing up to the plate this year. It's up to the others to do the same."

Brian says that he fancied Kingscourt to take the title from the outset of 2012 and that feeling he had was underscored after the Gaels' shock exit.

What did he think of the fact that nobody involved with Cavan seniors in the championship of 2012 featured in this year's county SFC final?

"I would be surprised if that ever happened before over the last 40 years or so and it'd be a surprise too if it happened in any other county.

"I'm not sure what it says about Cavan football but I don't think, overall, that it's a positive reflection of where we're at now as regards a county team."

Ballinagh's successes on the field over the years have mirrored the advances it has made in improving its facilities since moving from Lowry's field to its current site in '74.

It's present headquarters was redeveloped in the 'eighties and more than a decade ago, a complex consisting of two new dressing-rooms, a kitchen, a referee's room and toilets was constructed.

Later, a 300 capacity terraced stand was built while a training pitch alongside the main pitch, incorporating floodlights, was also developed.

An astro-turf pitch on the stand side of the ground was installed a handful of years ago and has proven to be a good source of income.

Ballinagh is clearly a club that is going places with steady progress at underage ranks over the past ten years now manifesting itself at adult level.

That said, there are some rough edges that have to be ironed out if the Saffrons are to realise their potential and win the blue riband title.

The facts show that while they played some really good football in

2012, maybe they had too many good coming into place in 2013." footballers and not enough The SFC was a typical case of 'what 'destroyers' in their ranks for, going might have been' for the town team. forward, they were classy and potent Opening round opponents Drumalee but, in attempting to cut out opposition were dispensed with in facile fashion. attacks at source, they seemed a bit "We started well against them brittle.

(Drumalee) and were well in front at "We definitely need to be tougher half-time. The issue was never in when it comes to stopping attacks doubt in the second half," Brian before they get too near our goal and contends. we need more drive around the "The Belturbet game in Killeshandra middle; a bit more aggression in the was a dead rubber and was middle third of the field and more cute abandoned near the end 'cause of the when we do get on the ball." fading light but both of us were Brian is keeping his fingers crossed through." that Ballinagh will not lose any more The quarter-final draw saw Ballinagh players to emigration. He bemoans lock horns with eventual champions the loss of former county under 21 Mullahoran and things looked Cian McDermott (midfield) and Conor extremely promising after a half-hour.

Brady (defence).

"We played very well against the Father of livewire attacker Colin wind in the first half and were a point Gumley (27), Brian is upbeat about ahead by half-time. We were confident Ballinagh's future prospects and truly at that stage that we could push ahead believe that they'll be in the mix in '13. and win the game but I don't know He knows though that the Saffrons' what happened after that. It couldn't flagship team will have to be more have been a lack of experience. We consistent for them to beat the best of just didn't push on and nail it down." the rest at the very top level.

Ballinagh's catchment area is one of "We didn't play that well for a good the smallest in the county. It is limited part of the year," Brian opines. "We to approximately one mile out the mostly underperformed. After the Crossdoney road and one mile out the opening win against Ramor, we went Kilnaleck road. At the other end of the and lost the next two or three games town, Ballinagh's catchment area and struggled to get rid of our patchy form. We didn't build on the Ramor stops at the bridge before the climb game. out of the town towards Lacken.

"We left a lot of games behind us by And yet, an impressive array of talent doing some stupid things. We went up has been engineered and in the new to Mullahoran and lost by a point when football landscape where Mullahoran we should have won the game 'cause and Kingscourt are up there to be we wiped them off the field in the knocked down, bet on Saffron to be second half. We had two goal one of those pressing hard for a place opportunities in the second half but in the winner's enclosure in the didn't take them. coming year(s).

"Niall (Mc Dermott) didn't get Best Wishes To Ballinagh GAA In 2013, enough support up From front either during the year but, luckily, we won the last five or six games in the league which made us safe which was i m p o r t a n t Telephone: 086 2869580 considering the Dreenan, Cavan new system that is

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403

The Killygarry seniors, front l/r: Breen Reilly, Darryl Dunne, Declan Gallen, Enda Gallen, Brendan Murray, Cathal Keaney, Ross Sheridan, Donal Thomas, Andy McGovern, Fergal Clarke, Darryl McKenna, Michael McGovern, Padraig Cahill, Andy O’Brien, Thomas Leonard jnr. Back: Damien Keaney, Cian Duffy, Darren McCahill, Michael Flood, Daniel Talbot, Peter Fay, Stephen McGovern, Eoin Smith, Patrick Galligan, Paddy Lynch, John Lyng, Conor McInerney, Shane Kelly, Connor Connelly, Frank Crowe, Paul Leonard

KILLYGARRY - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

KILLYGARRY

2012 RESU LTS SFC Killygarry 1 -12 1-9 Cúch ulainns Killygarry 1 -7 0-11 Mu llahoran Gowna 1-1 0 2-10 Kill Killygarry 0 -10 0-9 Cava ygarry n Gaels - Q Killygarry 1 F -9 0-15 Mu llahoran - S F

Donal Thomas

‘REDDY’ FOR MORE Killygarry marked a stellar season in 2012 when they scored a long-awaited senior championship victory over Cavan Gaels in September. Benny Reddy has oversaw the team’s fortunes for the past two years and described the latter 12 months as being a big step in the right direction for the Crubany club, despite no silverware.

A

ll in all, 2012 was another year which saw Killygarry fall just short at the semifinal hurdle of the senior football championship in Cavan. However, Benny Reddy’s men made massive strides in comparison to their previous season, and backed that fact up by ousting champions Cavan Gaels at the quarter-final stage at 6/1 odds, which turned heads all across the county and even beyond its borders.

ACFL Divis ion 1 Cúchulainn s 2-9 0-11 Killygarry Killygarry 1 -4 1-7 Cava n Ga Killygarry 1 -12 5-2 Beltu els rbet Ramor 1-10 1-6 Killygarr Killygarry 1 y -14 0-11 M ullahoran Killygarry 0 -15 0-11 Ba llinag Killygarry 2 -8 0-12 Lack h Ballyhaise en 1-10 1-12 K illyg Kingscourt 1-15 0-5 Kill arry ygarry Killygarry 0 -14 1-11 Re dhills Castleraha n 2-13 1-7 K ill ygarry Lavey 0-8 2 -8 Killygarr y Killygarry 1 -6 2-14 Dru mgoon Gowna 0-1 5 0-10 Killyg Killygarry v arry Drumalee – not played

With new league structures set in place, the objective, according to Reddy, was to get the team up the Division One table as far as possible before entering the championship, where he was confident that his side could reach the knock-out stages once more.

“Our aim was to get as high up the league as we could and try and get to safety, then concentrate on the championship,” said the Kells man.

“But we lost two league games in the

405

middle of the championship, which was a bit of a set-back for us. One of them was against Gowna after having beaten Cavan Gaels.

“Killygarry are a good championship team,” he added. “Over the last ten years they’ve always been there in quarter-finals or semi-finals, but it’s just getting over that hurdle that seems to be the problem. In all honesty, I can tell you that we were very disappointed with the

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Continued Success to Killygarry GAA 406

The Killygarry senior squad for 2012, front l/r: Damien Keaney, Breen Reilly, Paddy Lynch jnr, Fergal Clarke, Andy McGovern, Padraig Cahill, Donal Thomas, Cathal Keaney, Michael McGovern, Enda Gallen, Darryl Dunne, Thomas Leonard jnr, Darryl McKenna. Back: Stephen McGovern, Frank Crowe, Ross Sheridan, Shane Kelly, Peter Fay, Paul Leonard, Patrick Galligan, Eoin Smith, Brendan Murray, Daniel Talbot, Barry McGovern, John Lyng, Conor McInerney, Jason Smith

Mullahoran result.”

With a team that had recently developed a knack of going far in the championship, Reddy and his management team of PJ Galligan and Barkley Gilsenan turned their attentions solely turned towards the league, where survival and a strong start were going to be two key factors for every team approaching.

Killygarry’s start was far from ideal, as Reddy explained, but their form would start to come good towards the summer to keep them in the fight for safety once the championship commenced. Incidentally, that June had saw Brendan Murray and Martin Reilly both play focal parts in Cavan’s

historic Leinster Junior Championship final victory over Kildare in Newbridge.

“We started off the league against Cuchullains and lost by two points, and our next game was against Cavan Gaels which we lost in injurytime. So we would go on to lose our first four games in total before we settled down and beat Mullahoran and Ballinagh,” said Reddy.

“After that we beat Ballyhaise and Lacken, who were going well in the league, before we played Redhills.

Around that time we had a lot of lads either doing exams or away on holidays and I remember having to put out a lot of our second-string that

day and in the end we drew the game. Castlerahan was our last game before the championship and they just walked into us in the firsthalf that day. We were playing Cuchullains the following weekend in the championship and a lot of their lads came down to look at us that day, but they picked a bad day because we weren’t ourselves in that game at all, which I suppose would have suited us going in against Cuchullains.”

The next day out Killygarry would meet Cuchullains at the New Inns and put forth a much improved performance to see off the Mullagh men by 1-12 to 1-9. The narrowest of

The Killygarry senior ladies team – intermediate championship finalists 2012

407

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Stephen McGovern

Martin Reilly

Donal Thomas

defeats to Mullahoran (0-11 to 1-7) meant that Reddy’s men would have to defeat Gowna in their remaining group game in order to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the SFC. Played at Kingspan Breffni Park on August 25, goals from team captain Donal Thomas and ace forward Martin Reilly made all the difference for the Crubany men as they booked their place into the last eight at Gowna’s expense on a 2-10 to 1-10 score-line.

After having established an impressive nine-point lead in the second-half, the Reddy’s charges were made hang on for dear life when David Hyland crashed in a late goal which gave Gowna a glimmer of hope heading into six minutes of added time. However, with their ace forward Conor Madden forced off with injury, Gowna couldn't come up with the scores to inflict damage on their opponents late on and it was Killygarry that clung on for a quarterfinal meeting with Cavan Gaels the following weekend.

Killygarry (SFC v Gowna): Patrick Galligan; Fergal Clarke, Eoin Smith, Paddy Lynch; Padraig Cahill, Andy McGovern, Michael McGovern; Brendan Murray, Ross Sheridan (01); Martin Reilly (1-3, 2f), Thomas Leonard, Shane Kelly (0-2); Cathal Keaney (0-2), Donal Thomas (1-2), Daryl McKenna. Subs: Damien Keaney for M McGovern (50 mins), Stephen McGovern for Keaney (56 mins).

While many of the Killygarry contingent would gave groaned during the interval of the Gowna game, when it was revealed that the winners would be meeting Cavan Gaels, Reddy said that he was upbeat over facing the champions.

“We were drawn against Cavan Gaels during the Gowna game and after we’d won the game I just knew that it was a good draw for us,” stated the Meath man.

The Gaels would enter the game as massive favourites, with Killygarry ranked as 6/1 outsiders to overcome the Terry Coyle Park outfit.

Reddy’s team would be given little chance by the county’s neutrals, however, after trailing by just 0-6 to 0-

409

Andy McGovern (left) and Paddy Lynch

Manager Benny Reddy

Grainne Smith

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Killygarry’s U16 ladies were Division 1 finalists

4 at half-time, they would summon a massive second-half performance to cause one of the biggest championship upsets in the county in years.

After Paul O’Connor had increased the Gaels’ lead to three early on in the second-half, Killygarry would put on tremendous pressure with a Shane Kelly free being backed up by an exquisite Martin Reilly ‘45’. The next three scores would come down the same end as well, with Cathal Keaney, Shane Kelly and Ross Sheridan firing their team into a 41st minute lead (0-8 to 0-7).

The holders levelled and would have a point disallowed moments later, before Killygarry left it late to snatch back the lead through the scores of Kelly (free) and Reilly with two minutes of normal time left. Both teams would be reduced to 14 men in the added minutes, while Martin Dunne came off the bench for the Gaels to make it a one-point game but it wouldn’t stop Killygarry from hanging on for a famous 0-10 to 0-9 victory which would echo around the county.

Killygarry (SFC quarter-final v Cavan Gaels): Patrick Galligan: Fergal Clarke, Eoin Smith, Paddy Lynch; Padraig Cahill, Andy McGovern, Michael McGovern; Brendan Murray, Ross Sheridan (01); Martin Reilly (0-1), Thomas Leonard, Shane Kelly (0-4); Cathal

Keaney (0-2), Donal Thomas (0-2), Daryl McKenna. Subs: Damien Keaney for M McGovern (46), Declan Gallen for D McKenna (55), John Lyng for C Keaney (60).

“We stopped Cavan Gaels from playing and on the day pure hunger was what swung it in our favour,” Reddy stated.

“We played four men across the middle of the field and they could not get the ball past us in the secondhalf. The belief in the players that day made all the difference. I know it’s said time and time again, but once you have the belief you can do anything.

“I know there was a point disallowed against Cavan Gaels, and it probably was a point, but that’s how football goes against you sometimes.

Mullahoran had a point given against us that probably wasn’t a point but we didn’t cry about it – what goes around, comes around. That weekend there was good celebrations in the club, but we were back training the following night in Killygarry in preparation for the semifinal.”

For the third time in four months, Killygarry would be coming up against Mullahoran but this time a first county final slot since 1971 would be on the line for the red and blacks.

Played on September 16, Killygarry would be made rue a drab opening half-hour display at Kingspan Breffni

411

Park, where they only registered two scores (1-1). Mullahoran cruised past their opponents in the last quarter but were still made hang on for dear life at the death as Reddy's charges summoned a late surge which left them within two points in injury-time with Martin Reilly standing over the last kick of the game from 13 metres.

The Dreadnoughts’ entire 15 stood in Reilly’s way and managed to avert the ball flying to the net, which saw them exit the championship on a 0-14 to 1-9 score-line, with Mullahoran advancing to a final showdown with Kingscourt on September 30.

“We were disappointed with the defeat to Mullahoran but, maybe, they were a bit cuter than we were on the day,” Reddy admitted.

As for 2012 being a successful season for Killygarry, Reddy stated: “It’s how you mark success.

Killygarry have never won a senior championship and have only ever got to one final. It was great to finally get over Cavan Gaels this time and although I felt sorry for them after the Mullahoran game, we probably did lack that doggedness that they had to get through to the final.”

He added: “There’s a good young team there and hopefully players like Brendan Murray, Ross Sheridan and Shane Kelly will be around for a long time because they certainly have the talent to go on and win things.”

All of Killygarry will no doubt hope the same, Benny.

Cootehill Celtic – Intermediate Championship Finalists, front l/r: John Grogan, Odhrán Reilly, James McKitterick, Stevie O’Connor, Mark Mullen, Ryan O’Reilly, Tom Hayes, Joshua Hayes, Gerard Argue, Enda Hessin, Dean Connolly, Daragh McCarney, Cian McPhillips, Colm Smith, John Deery. Back: Kieran Fox, John McCutcheon, Barry McGahan, John Carney, Neil McCluskey, Niall McMullen, Glen Nulty, Ryan Carroll, Damien Sherlock, Brian Sherlock, Kieran Ryan, Aidan McCabe, Jason O’Connor, Cathal McCabe, Aaron Cosgrove, Barry Dempsey, Ciaran Boyle

COOTEHILL - SENIOR FOOTBALLERS 2012

COOTEHILL

2012 RESU LTS

Kieran Fox about to clear the danger

COOTEHILL SHINE WITH TWIN-TRACK APPROACH It's not a bad year when you can make it to a final at adult level. In 2012, Cootehill Celtic made it to two county deciders.

W

e've a team in place that has the ability to win the i n t e r m e d i a t e championship, sooner rather than later. You'd have to say that all the lads should take great heart from the way they competed in 2012."

So stated Cootehill Celtic's outgoing senior selector Johnny Farrelly ahead of the Celts' participation in the ACFL Division Two final at the tail end of last October.

A cracking 2-11 to 1-12 win over

ACFL Divis ion 2 Cootehill C eltic 0-5 0-7 Killinkere Kill 2-4 2-7 Cootehill C Cootehill C eltic eltic 1-10 0 -4 Drumlan Denn 0-6 2 e -10 Cooteh Cootehill C ill Celtic eltic 1-5 0-6 Crosserlou Cornafean gh 1-10 2-6 Co otehill Celti Cootehill C c eltic 0-9 2-7 Cavan Gae Butlersbridg ls e 0-13 3-11 Cootehill C Cootehill C eltic 6-14 0 eltic -4 Munterc Cootehill C onnaught eltic 4-8 0-7 Killeshandra Drung 2-5 1-10 Co otehill Celti Swanlinbar c 0-11 1-6 Co otehill Celti Mountnuge c nt 0-9 0-12 Cootehill C Cootehill C eltic eltic 3-17 1 -7 Shannon Knockbride Gaels 0-7 1-11 Co ote Cootehill 2-1 1 1-12 Cross hill Celtic erlough - S F IFC Drung 0-8 1 -10 Cooteh Butlersbridg ill Celtic e 0-8 1-10 Cootehill C Cootehill C eltic eltic 1-12 1 Cootehill C -9 Ballyhais eltic 1-11 0 e -10 Killesha Cootehill C ndra - QF eltic 4-11 0 -1 2 Swanlinb Cootehill C ar - SF eltic 1-10 1 -10 Lacken Cootehill C - Final eltic v Lack en - Final replay

Crosserlough in the 2012 All County Football League semi-final was just the panacea the club needed after suffering the huge disappointment of losing out in the IFC final, after a replay, to Lacken Celtic.

In the company of team-manager Donal McAdam (Drumhowan) and fellow selector Kenny Connolly, the hard-working Farrelly - a former county minor - has just spent the last two years coaching and cajoling Cootehill's finest so he ought to know

413

the team's capabilities at this juncture.

"I think that between their exploits in the championship and their success in the league, the players have proven themselves to be among the best at intermediate level in Cavan over the past year," he enthuses.

"In fairness, any team that get to two finals in the same year has to get a lot of credit and I think Cootehill deserved to get their hands on some silverware in 2012 for the

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Cootehill Celtic before the league game against Shannon Gaels in Hugh O’Reilly Memorial Park, front l/r: Ryan O’Reilly, Gerard Argue, Joshua Hayes, Mark Mullen, Dean Connolly, Stevie O’Connor, Colm Smith, Tom Hayes, Enda Hessin, Aidan McCabe, Brian Sherlock. Back: Seán Fitzpatrick, Kieran Fox, Neil McCluskey, Ryan McCluskey, Barry McGahan, Niall McMullen, Glen Nulty, Cathal McCAbe, John McCutcheon, Damien Sherlock, Ciaran Boyle, John Grogan, Kieran Ryan, Christopher Keenan. Mascots: Finn Sherlock, Darren McCarville, Eli Argue

commitment and the quality of football they played."

Farrelly is fulsome in his praise for Cootehill's parent committee, saying that they couldn't have been more helpful or supportive to the club's senior team-management.

Apparently no stone was left unturned. No excuses for the championship 'failure' are proffered.

Even on mature reflection?

"No, I don't think we'd have done anything different along the sideline.

They say you make your own luck but I don't think we got that much luck in the run up to the final and then we had a man sent off at an important

time in the final itself (against IFC opponents Lacken).

"We knew we were always going to be up against it though in playing Lacken in the county final. They were a division one team and had beaten the senior finalists, Kingscourt and Mullahoran, in the league and it was easy to see why they were the oddson favourites to win the championship final and why they were everyone's favourites from the start of the year. As far as most people were concerned, it was basically a case of who was going to finish runners-up to them in the championship."

On duty in the U16 county championships

415

Johnny was a selector also in 2010 and says that the past year was a step forward on that year because "we didn't get out of the group in the championship and lost out to Drumalee in the league semi-final."

2012, he says, saw the club make progress in strengthening the senior squad by the introduction of "some new, young, fresh blood who have pace and good ball skills. We also probably ended up with having the best half-back line at intermediate level."

His first impressions of the 2012 championship group Cootehill found themselves in made him cautiously

The U14 hurling league winners

optimistic that a good run was on.

"The group wasn't the toughest but it was fairly tough all the same. Drung beat us in the championship the last time we played them; Ballyhaise have two or three quality forwards the 'bridge are always hard to beat."

As things panned out, the team

sailed through the group matches.

"John McCutcheon stood out against Drung, scoring four or five points in the second half. The 'bridge game was a tough one on a very tight pitch but the lads stood up to the physical battle and, against Ballyhaise, all sectors of the team played some

great football and we seemed to be the fitter team."

Apart from "a blip just before halftime", Johnny says he wasn't really ever concerned during his team's subsequent quarter-final tussle with Killeshandra.

On the semi-final tilt with

Up against Drung in the IFC, front l/r: Aidan McCabe, Jason O’Connor, Tom Hayes, Barry McGahan, Mark Mullen, Damien Sherlock, Gerard Argue, Neil McCluskey, Stevie O’Connor, Dean Connolly, James McKitterick, Aaron Cosgrove, Ciaran Boyle. Back: Christopher Keenan, Kieran Fox, John McCutcheon, Niall McMullen, Paul Smith, Ryan Carroll, Brian Sherlock, Glen Nulty, Enda Hessin, Ciaran McBreen, Kieran Ryan, Cathal McCabe, Seán Fitzpatrick, Barry Dempsey

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The U14 team in the All-Ireland Feile final

Swanlinbar, he says the fact that the Celts had lost out to them in the league meant that there was never going to be any complacency in the camp.

"I knew if we moved the ball quickly out of defence and into the forwards, they wouldn't match us," he explains.

Was there any stage in the year when he felt the team's potential shone through in particular?

"Our league game in Killeshandra three weeks before the first round of the championship. We were four points down in the first half and playing badly but turned things around great to win by four points.

That day the players showed a lot of character and they didn't panic and every game after that they just got better and better."

Johnny says that all belonging to the senior squad set out to win every game in the league even if "there was a lot of swapping of players and changing things around to get the right mix for the championship."

Sadly the IFC final against Lacken Celtic proved a bridge too far for

Cootehill.

"We went to see Lacken three times in 2012 and they've a big, strong group of footballers but we had no reason to be scared of them going into the final.

"We stuck to our game plan in both the final and the replay but having a man sent off the first day was a blow even though we showed great will-towin by getting the equaliser that day but then they got the goals that counted in the replay."

Even with the wound of the championship final defeat still raw, Johnny is optimistic that Cootehill can continue to improve: "The squad is young enough and they showed in 2012 that they'll keep going to the end. I think they're good enough too. Things could come right in the championship for them in 2013."

Mark Moffett accepts the U14 hurling league cup from Brian Seagrave

Damien Sherlock holds onto the ball

HURLING REMAINS ON AN UPWARD CURVE

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Glen Nulty on the ball

weekly indoor sessions being held at St. Aidan's Comprehensive school from the autumn period onwards.

The under 10s have been put through their paces all year and have attended a number of blitzes in 2012 with good success and much fun.

Present committee members recognise these young Celts are the building block for the sustainability of the hurling family of Cootehill.

Competitive hurling begins at under 12 and the club boasted a young but skilful and keen squad at that age group in 2012.

The Celts finished joint top in the Cavan Spring League while being narrowly beaten by eventual winners East Cavan Gaels in the semi final of the winter league.

Meanwhile, after a 30 year drought, our under 14 squad made their entry into the All-Ireland Feile na nGael arena by winning the Cavan Feile final last February with a narrow and hard fought victory over St. Feilims (Lacken/Ballinagh/Arva/Cornafean/C rosserlough).

Cootehill Celtic v St. Feilims (U14 county final): Niall Clerkin; Conor Reilly, Padraig Jackson, Shane Clerkin; Mark Moffett, Gary O'Rourke, Diarmaid Carney; Niall Fitzpatrick,

Glen Nulty with his eye on the ball

Conall Farrell; Ben McIntyre, James McKay, Kevin Treanor; Colm Shalvey, Cormac Wall, Jesse Holland. Subs used; Cillian McGahan; Killian Delaney.

The same squad soon added the Monaghan Shield to their trophy cabinet but their claim to fame in 2012 was their subsequent progression to the All-Ireland Feile na nGael final.

An opening round defeat to host club Setanta (Ballymun) was followed up victory over St. Mark's (Dublin) and Ballinamore (Leitrim) which propelled Cootehill into a semi-final meeting with St. Fecins of Louth.

A dramatic two point victory in testing conditions served to book a place in the final against, ironically, their erstwhile conquerors and hosts Setanta.

Sadly utter despair was to be the order of the day in the AllIreland final as Setanta emerged victorious by a single point.

Like their under 12 and under 14 counterparts, the under 16 squad competed in both the Monaghan and Cavan leagues with great effect.

Pre-season concerns about the strength of the squad were soon allayed as they gave as good as they got to qualify for a semi-final spot in the Monaghan league by beating Cavan rivals St. Feilims by four points in Cootehill.

Unfortunately, St. Feilim's turned the tables on the Celts in the subsequent semi-final but better things were just around the corner!

The Cavan league saw Cootehill overcome Mullahoran by 6-10 to 3-7 before producing the game of their lives - after going down to 14 players with only 18 minutes on the clock - to beat 'Feilims by 0-12 to 0-3 in the county decider at the 3G on October 22nd last.

Cootehill Celtic v St. Feilim's (under 16 county final): Niall Clerkin: Niall Duffy, Josh Crowe, Gareth O'Reilly; Brendan Brady, Gary Tiernan, Stephen McCooey; Enda Shalvey, Ronan Brady;

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John Carney launches another attack

Glen Nulty holds off the Drung defender

Brian Sherlock clearing the ball out of defence

Senior captain Joshua Hayes

Dean Connolly driving forward

Josh Crowe and Caoimhin Carney on Ulster selection

Adam Crowe, Dermie Connolly, Emmett Magee; Stephen Shalvey, Shane Clerkin, Caoimhin Carney.

Subs used: Darragh Kennedy; Conal Farrell; James McKay. At the time of going to print, the club's minors were tipped as favourites by many punters around the county to make it a dream treble of county title wins for Cootehill Celtic.

With ten of the club's players including team captain John Carney featuring on the Cavan squad that went all the way to the 2012 AllIreland 'C' MHC final (only to lose out to a very strong Fingal side at Ashbourne on September 8th), hopes are high that another cup can be added to the trophy cabinet but more anon.

The 2012 season will also go down as a truly memorable year off the field of play too for the local hurling fraternity.

On May 4th last, the hurling subcommittee of the club undertook a world record attempt for the largest “ring o’ ring o’ roses."

Supported by all the local primary schools in Cootehill, Drung, Bunnoe, Kill and Dernakesh, the event took place at St Aiden’s Comprehensive School and was a rip-roaring success.

Amidst jubilant scenes, the record was broken and recognised as such by the World Record Academy.

Finally, the hurling wing of the club held its end-of-season party and presentation of awards ceremony in St. Michael's Hall on Saturday November 26th, 2011.

A great crowd of players, parents and coaches attended with refreshments and music on the day adding to the gaiety of the occasion.

The 2011 award winners were: U12 Most Improved Player - Killian McGahan; U12 Player of the Year Niall Fitzpatrick; U14 Most Improved Player - James McKay; U 14 Player of the Year - Gareth O'Reilly; U16 Most Improved Player - Ryan Rogers; U16 Player of the Year Aaron Cosgrove; U18 Most Improved Player of the Year - Shane McCann; U18 Player of the Year John Carney.

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The U8 and U10s at a blitz

Kieran Fox in possession

Barry McGahan in action

SPECIAL FEATURE The Kingscourt-based company specialise in precast sports walls and training alleys in various shapes and sizes to suit all sites and pitches

LOVELY HURLING FROM O’REILLY CONCRETE O’Reilly Concrete specialise in the provision of precast sports walls and training alleys. Former Cavan footballer Terry Farrelly works as a Contracts Manager with the Kingscourt-based company who are currently involved in the construction of the GAA’s National Hurling and Camogie Centre of Excellence which is located at Waterford Institute of Technology.

F

ifteen years have passed since Terry Farrelly and the Cavan crew of ’97 brought the Anglo Celt Cup to the Breffni County.

It was the county’s first provincial success in 28 years and remains the last of their 63 titles.

The hurdles of Fermanagh, after a replay, and Donegal were safely negotiated before favourites Derry were downed in the decider on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-16 in Clones.

At 22 years of age, Terry lined out at corner-back on that memorable day and was part of a new breed of Cavan footballers that included the likes of Peter Reilly, Dermot McCabe, Jason Reilly and Mickey Graham.

An Ulster Under 21 title victory in 1996 and All-Ireland final appearance against Kerry had instilled a winning mentality in those players which they successfully transferred to the senior grade.

“You don’t find time flying by. We were lucky to have a good blend of youth and experience, and Martin McHugh as manager,” pointed out Terry who made his senior intercounty debut under McHugh against Derry in the 1996 National Football League.

“The county was starved of success up until then. We won the Ulster under 21 title in 2006 and were unlucky to be pipped by Kerry in the All-Ireland final. So, the following year we were confident that we would give the Ulster SFC a good go and, luckily, things worked out well for us.”

Time has certainly flown but it can’t be said that Cavan gaels have been having fun in the meantime.

Unfortunately, the 1997 success is a distant memory now and hopes of a new dawn for Cavan football failed to materialise.

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O’Reilly Concrete design and manufacture precast terracing units, steps and complete precast frames for spectators’ stands

walls, agricultural precast and training walls and sport alleys.

The latter product is proving to be increasingly popular with GAA clubs throughout the country.

O’Reilly Concrete design, manufacture and supply precast sports walls and training alleys in various shapes and sizes to suit all sites and pitches.

A precast training wall is a very fast and economic option giving players opportunity to practice any time and in any

Still hope springs eternal and the 37 year old sees evidence of some green shoots of recovery regarding the future of Cavan football. He holds up Donegal as a template to what can be achieved provided the proper attitude and an aptitude for hard work is in place.

“A big emphasis is being placed on under age in Cavan at the moment and there are signs of improvement.

“When you see what Donegal has achieved with five to six outstanding players. They built a successful team on workrate and there is a big incentive for every county manager and player who are prepared to emulate that work-rate.”

Injury brought a premature end to Farrelly’s intercounty career in 2000. A combination of groin and ankle injuries cut his days in the county jersey short.

He played his last game against Derry in that year’s Ulster SFC but continued to soldier on with his club, Cuchullains, up until 2010.

His club medal collection includes two IFC medals (1993 and 2005) as well as two Under 21 souvenirs (1995 and 1997).

2012 won’t go down as a particularly profitable year for the east Cavan club who failed to make an impression in the senior football championship.

They fell to Group 3 defeats to Killygarry, Gowna and eventual champions Mullahoran but enjoyed better fortunes in Division 1 of the league.

Like many clubs throughout the country, Cuchullains have experienced their fair share of hardship due to emigration.

“We had a poor run in the championship but did very well to stay up in the league. We lost players to emigration but the club is hanging in there and there is a lot of good work going on.”

Terry is playing his part by coaching the club’s Under 10s in his spare-time from his work commitments with O’Reilly Concrete.

Based in Kingscourt, O’Reilly Concrete is a family business that was founded in the 1930s and currently employs 105. Terry is employed as a Contracts Director with the company.

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weather conditions.

Precast sports walls and training alleys are essential in player development.

Walls can be fitted with the company’s unique electronic ‘Target Wall Game System’ which significantly helps to improve the shooting skills of players.

Examples of O’Reilly Concrete’s hurling walls can be seen at the grounds of Dublin clubs Na Fianna and St Brigid’s as well as Navan O’Mahonys in Meath.

Meanwhile, the progressive Cavan based company is currently involved in installing walls at the GAA’s National O’Reilly Concrete is currently installing training walls at the GAA’s new National Hurling and Camogie Centre of Excellence at Waterford Institute of Technology Hurling and Camogie Centre of Excellence which Despite the current economic climate, O’Reilly Concrete is is located at Waterford Institute of Technology. holding its own at the moment.

The new centre - which will be the home of hurling and “We’re lucky enough insofar that our UK sales are strong. camogie development for all clubs across Ireland - will 30-40% of our sales go to the UK now. We’re keeping our become a mechanism for providing sport science support to heads above water,” Farrelly concluded. teams at both club and county level through fitness assessments, diet and nutrition, strength and conditioning etc.

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“It is a €1.2m contract,” Terry explained. “Work started in March of this year and it is due to be Suppliers to the quarrying Head Office completed in April next year before its official industry of: Annagh Industrial Park, opening.”

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SPECIAL FEATURE

D

CMP Chairman Michael McGovern

CMP’S VITAL ROLE IN CAVAN

ue to its labour-intensive nature, the mushroom sector is a major employer in County Cavan. Collectively, it is represented and promoted by Commercial Mushroom Producers Ltd., a producer organisation which was established in 1999. The mission of CMP is to strengthen the power of the grower network, both in terms of quality and marketing of their produce, as well as promoting the virtues and benefits of mushrooms.

Leitrim native Micheal McGovern is chairman of CMP. He underlines the importance of the mushroom industry to the Breffni County: “Nationwide, the industry employs approximately 2,500 people directly and 1,000 indirectly. Within this, Cavan / Monaghan is a very active area. In Cavan, mushrooms are a very important industry and a substantial employer in the county.”

In contrast to the recession that is gripping the nation, the mushroom sector is thriving. “The food industry in general is doing well and this sector is one of the better performers. We are at the cutting edge in terms of technology and also invest heavily in research and development. Through exports, we expect to bring €170m worth of foreign currency into Ireland this year, which is a major achievement when you consider that we are exporting into a lower-wage economy than Ireland.”

That economy is the UK, whose multiples account for about 85% of CMP’s total production. In order to maintain competitiveness, it is imperative that costs are kept under control: “We are working in a very high-cost country in terms of taxes and labour cost and we are selling predominantly into a lower-wage area,” Micheal points out. “If this continues, it is bound to have an effect on the competitiveness of the industry going forward.”

CMP members produce 97% of the mushrooms grown in Ireland.

CMP – which is a commercial organisation - acts as a partner to its members along every step of the process, organising and coordinating everything from the provision of compost to the moment when the product appears on shop shelves throughout the UK and Ireland.

This includes negotiating with retailers to secure the best price possible. Impressively, despite the volatile times that prevail, the farm gate value of the product has been maintained and, with the consumption of mushrooms increasing at a rate of 2-3% per annum, the sector is actually enjoying growth.

As a progressive producer organisation that represents the mushroom growers of Ireland in a wide range of capacities – from planning production and technical advice to investment, training, packaging and marketing – Commercial Mushroom Producers Ltd. (CMP) is very much the voice of the Irish mushroom industry. As such, its contribution to the economy here in Cavan cannot be over-stated.

CMP is headquartered in Newgrove Industrial Estate, Monaghan

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mushrooms himself, having started his mushroom business in 1993 and currently employing 14 people. He has also been active in the co-operative movement for over three decades, serving on the board of Killeshandra Co-Operative, Lakeland Dairies Ltd, Goldenvale Marts Ltd., Europacks in Limerick. He also serves on the IFA executive and was Leitrim County Chairman from 20062010. He concludes by stressing the key role played by CMP in advancing the Irish mushroom sector: “CMP ensures that our members are fully up-to-date regarding the stringent quality-control requirements needed for top-price produce and coordinates supply to the marketplace and gives us the power to get the best possible price for our produce.”

Delegates of European Mushroom Grower Groups attended a convention at the European Commission buildings in Brussels.

From left: Thomas Martin (CEO), Gerry Reilly (secretary), Brian O’Reilly (vice-chairman), Michael McGovern (chairman) of CMP

Best Wishes To CMP, From

Commercial Mushroom Producers is one of only three producer organisations in. With a turnover of €180m, it is by far the biggest.

In fact, CMP is one of Europe’s leading horticultural Pos, evidenced by the EU invitation to CMP to join its stand at this year’s Ploughing Championships.

Adopting a hands-on approach to all aspects of the mushroom industry, CMP offers assistance to its members throughout every phase of the production and marketing processes.

The compost supply of each producer is scheduled, directly affecting mushroom supply to meet fluctuations in demand. CMP monitors mushroom production by compiling weekly compost fills to each member. This is used to project the expected volume of mushroom production and to plan marketing activity.

In recent years, the CMP on-farm investment programme has invested approximately €20m on producer member farms, focusing on energy-efficient boilers, air handling & ventilation systems, equipment for filling and ruffling, additional shelving, automatic watering systems and improved refrigeration on farm for mushrooms.

A comprehensive technical support service is provided, meaning that members are technically very strong. An example of the strides made in this area is the FETAC-approved harvester training programme, which has benefits for both the harvester and the grower. CMP also provides technical support to members on picker training and methods of production that improve yield and quality.

Looking to the future, Micheal McGovern forecasts further growth and also some diversification: “We want to grow the PO to take in other horticultural products and we envisage ongoing growth in employment. For example, we used to import our packaging [CMP organises the supply of packaging for its members, achieving savings of 30% for its members] but we’ve recently started to use a local supplier, Quinn Packaging. This arrangement is going very well and we will be placing substantial business with them going forward.”

Micheal McGovern has first-hand experience of growing

Tel: 048 8778 4096 | www.mcdon-mushroomcasing.co.uk

Best Wishes To CMP

Continued Best Wishes To CMP

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SPECIAL FEATURE Fellow Lacken clubman Tom Moore presents the Intermediate Cup to Raymond Galligan with Co. Board Chairman Tom O’Reilly (centre)

I

A QUALITY SERVICE

Anyone in business will tell you that these are testing times for all, but providing a quality, reliable service goes a long way to ensuring survival during the current economic climate. This is the approach that Cavan native Donie O'Reilly has adopted since he established his business Granard Tool Hire in the Longford town.

t is nine years now since Donie opened up the tool hire and stores facility and even in that relatively short period of time, he has seen many changes. The opportunity arose to open the business and Donie reveals to the Breffni Blue Yearbook that the chance to be his one boss was one that he wasn't going to let pass by.

“I saw an opportunity to open a hire centre and stores in Granard and I decided to go for it. Fortunately, the customer base grew fairly quickly and we would still have most of those people with us today,” said Donie.

“When I first opened the building trade was still going very strong, but that has all changed and the tool hire end of the business has quietened down significantly. However, the stores are still quite busy and I would have a lot of farmers as customers.

“These really are tough times for everyone, but anything connected with the building trade has suffered and it's just a case of knuckling down and working hard. It is important to ensure that you continue to provide the level of service that the customers have become use too. Thankfully our customers here are happy with what we provide and we thank them for that.”

As Longford's number one independent tool hire outlet, Donie and his staff of two have provided a professional service to the building D.I.Y and service industry. Granard Tool Hire strives to listen to their customers and any equipment or machinery that they may not have, will be got as soon as possible.

“We will continue to seek out the new and the best, but we can only achieve this if you carry on telling us how we can help. We will listen and advise you for free. Tell us what you are doing; we have many years experience and knowledge to share. “ Donie revealed that they have a large range of stock at their disposal. “We have a large stock of quality consumables for use with our equipment: abrasives, drill bits safety wear, diamond blades etc., etc.

“We demonstrate equipment to you - if you want. There is large stocks of all popular equipment. We can deliver as fast as possible,

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to ensure that the customer hasn't a long wait for equipment. “ Health and Safety is paramount in this industry and to this end Donie and his team go to great lengths to make sure that all machinery is in proper working order.

“We test and check every item of equipment for safety and functionality after every hire. It is in our and the customers best interests to make sure that all equipment is working well.

Everything we hire and sell or if it belongs to you, we will fix and maintain.

Donie admitted that his customer base expands beyond the Granard area as he has customers from Cavan and other areas also. “We cover Longford and surrounding counties. We have a wide range of equipment for hire

and we are continuously adding to that to make sure we have what the customer wants.

“These new, exciting and safetyconscious products have been developed to maintain our quest to bring to you new and improved equipment that helps you to carry out your work quickly, easily, but above all safety.”

Donie feels that the economy could take a while to get back on its feet and he fears for the youth of the country, who have been forced to leave the country in their droves. “You can't blame young people for leaving the country. Things are a lot tougher now than when they were in the eighties when we last experienced a recession.

People are in bigger debt now and it is

a very tough time for everybody and it could take years for the country to get back anywhere near where it was.

“It's just a matter of keeping the heads down and hoping that everything works out. We have no plans to expand any further for the time being. The tool hire end of the business is very quiet, but thankfully the stores are busy enough and long may that continue.”

Donie is a proud Cavan man and hails from Lacken, although his GAA career ended in his teens, he would still like to see his native county back battling for major honours in the near future.

“Cavan have gone through a good few lean years now, but there seems to be a lot of young lads coming through and hopefully it won't be long before they are winning again.”

Donie is hoping that young players like David Givney can bring back the glory days to Cavan football

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SPECIAL FEATURE

The Farnham medical Practice

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR CAVAN U16 LADIES Cavan’s U16 ladies footballers made history this year when they captured an AllIreland title and proud to be associated with Fergal Brady’s all-conquering charges were their sponsors, Farnham Medical Practice.

I

would like to congratulate the Cavan U16 girls on winning the All-Ireland and say just how proud we are to be their sponsors.”

So says Dr Tom Prior, principal of Farnham Medical Practice which was established three years ago, providing a comprehensive range of routine and enhanced general practice services for the people of Cavan town and surrounding areas.

“To win an All-Ireland title is an extraordinary achievement by any standards. It takes skill, fitness, determination and character to win an All-Ireland and this team clearly had all these attributes in abundance. Last year, Cavan returned from Croke Park disappointed after losing an All-Ireland intermediate final replay to Westmeath, but this success goes a long way towards atoning for that.

“It has also given the county a great lift and bodes well for the future of ladies football in Cavan,” he adds.

Farnham Medical Practice employs six doctors, five nurses and five administration staff.

Originally located on Railway Road, Farnham Medical Practice relocated to its current site a couple of years ago. In cooperation with the HSE further expansion is planned. “With the potential for further expansion, we could be on the move to a larger facility in 2013,” Dr Prior says.

The practice facilitates the provision of a wide range of services. The premises are also easily accessible to persons with disabilities. The practice maintains excellent links with the HSE, as well as other health-related agencies in the Cavan area, as well as the voluntary sector.

Farnham’s close proximity to Cavan General Hospital enables convenient access to a wide range of diagnostic facilities such

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The Ladies U16B All-Ireland winners, front l/r: Teresa Clarke, Colette Donohoe, Shannon Maguire, Martha Coyle, Ciara Shalvey, Captain Kate McIntyre, Roisin Leddy, Roisin Galligan, Eimear Gallen, Kerri McGuirk.

Middle: Dessie Cahill (management), Patricia O'Reilly (management), Rebecca Smith, Caoimhe McDermott, Beth Farrelly-McGee, Ashling Smith, Caoimhe Smith, Shauna Lynch, Shauna Murphy, Sarah Nulty, Shannon Leddy, Bronach McGovern, Denise Downey (management), Fergal Brady (management). Back: Paige Conroy, Frida Dolan, Sarah Murray, Neasa Byrd, Sarah McCabe, Hannah Duggan, Holly Lynch, Amy Gaynor, Niamh O'Shea, Rachel Talbot, Aideen Coyle, Breffni McEntee, Aishling Sheridan.

Missing from the picture is team mate Lucy McFarlane

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SPECIAL FEATURE

The Farnham medical Practice

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR CAVAN U16 LADIES Cavan’s U16 ladies footballers made history this year when they captured an AllIreland title and proud to be associated with Fergal Brady’s all-conquering charges were their sponsors, Farnham Medical Practice.

I

would like to congratulate the Cavan U16 girls on winning the All-Ireland and say just how proud we are to be their sponsors.”

So says Dr Tom Prior, principal of Farnham Medical Practice which was established three years ago, providing a comprehensive range of routine and enhanced general practice services for the people of Cavan town and surrounding areas.

“To win an All-Ireland title is an extraordinary achievement by any standards. It takes skill, fitness, determination and character to win an All-Ireland and this team clearly had all these attributes in abundance. Last year, Cavan returned from Croke Park disappointed after losing an All-Ireland intermediate final replay to Westmeath, but this success goes a long way towards atoning for that.

“It has also given the county a great lift and bodes well for the future of ladies football in Cavan,” he adds.

Farnham Medical Practice employs six doctors, five nurses and five administration staff.

Originally located on Railway Road, Farnham Medical Practice relocated to its current site a couple of years ago. In cooperation with the HSE further expansion is planned. “With the potential for further expansion, we could be on the move to a larger facility in 2013,” Dr Prior says.

The practice facilitates the provision of a wide range of services. The premises are also easily accessible to persons with disabilities. The practice maintains excellent links with the HSE, as well as other health-related agencies in the Cavan area, as well as the voluntary sector.

Farnham’s close proximity to Cavan General Hospital enables convenient access to a wide range of diagnostic facilities such

428

The Ladies U16B All-Ireland winners, front l/r: Teresa Clarke, Colette Donohoe, Shannon Maguire, Martha Coyle, Ciara Shalvey, Captain Kate McIntyre, Roisin Leddy, Roisin Galligan, Eimear Gallen, Kerri McGuirk.

Middle: Dessie Cahill (management), Patricia O'Reilly (management), Rebecca Smith, Caoimhe McDermott, Beth Farrelly-McGee, Ashling Smith, Caoimhe Smith, Shauna Lynch, Shauna Murphy, Sarah Nulty, Shannon Leddy, Bronach McGovern, Denise Downey (management), Fergal Brady (management). Back: Paige Conroy, Frida Dolan, Sarah Murray, Neasa Byrd, Sarah McCabe, Hannah Duggan, Holly Lynch, Amy Gaynor, Niamh O'Shea, Rachel Talbot, Aideen Coyle, Breffni McEntee, Aishling Sheridan.

Missing from the picture is team mate Lucy McFarlane

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Cavan players celebrate at the final whistle

as X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI, as well as other hospital-based services such as 24-hour Accident and Emergency.

As well as providing general practice services, Farnham provides visiting specialist services relating to dietetics, psychology and audiology.

In addition, the practice provides general practice services at Ballinagh Health Centre. This is a purpose-built facility which opened in January

2008. It also houses HSE staff who provide primary care services to the local area. Staff of Farnham Medical Practice liaise closely with other primary care providers at the health centre in relation to areas of mutual concern.

A graduate of TCD who has special interests in GP training, practice management and male healthcare, Dr Prior played Gaelic football in his

youth for Cavan Gaels and St Patrick’s College. Having lived in Tyrone for a period, he fully appreciates what success on the football field can do for the morale of a county, and looks forward to the day when the Breffni County is challenging for the big prizes once again.

A bright future would appear to be on the horizon for Cavan ladies football following last August’s historic All-Ireland U16 ‘B’ success.

Under the management of Fergal Brady, who won a Cavan SFC medal with Mullahoran in October and is a brother of four-in-a-row World Handball champion Paul, and his selectors Dessie Cahill, Patricia O’Reilly and Denise Downey, the Breffni girls made amends for their heavy 2011 semi-final defeat to Tipperary when they overcame the Premier County by 4-11 to 5-6 at Banagher, Co. Offaly on August 25 to reach the Promised Land.

It was no more than this dedicated

Best Wishes To Farnham Medical Practice From

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Farnham Medical Practice, From

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Cavan Belturbet Ballyconnell Manorhamilton

Cavan's Kate McIntyre presented with the trophy by LGFA Leinster President Marie Hickey

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and talented group deserved after the management had put them through 80 training sessions during the course of the season. They opened their campaign with a facile 6-12 to 1-7 victory over Down before going on to hammer neighbours Fermanagh by 8-18 to 0-2 in the Ulster final.

In the All-Ireland semi-final at Killoe, Co. Longford, Cavan once again showed no mercy to Connacht champions Sligo who they demolished on a 3-19 to 03 scoreline. Martha Coyle, Beth Farrelly-McGee, Aisling Smith, Sarah Murray and Aisling Sheridan were all on the mark as Fergal Brady’s side eased into a 0-7 to 00 lead after 15 minutes.

Murray, McGee, Sheridan and the aptly-named Breffni McEntee tagged on further scores to leave Cavan 0-12 to 0-1 ahead at the break.

It continued to be oneway traffic in the second half with Farrelly-McGee’s

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36th minute goal ending the game as a contest. Sarah Murray grabbed two more to round off an excellent performance.

Revenge for their 1-3 to 214 defeat to Tipperary in last year’s semi-final was foremost on the Cavan players’ minds when they renewed their rivalry with the Munster champions in the All-Ireland final. Cavan signalled their intent by posting the first three points before they were rocked by the concession of a goal from a penalty.

But the girls in blue responded with points from Aisling Sheridan, captain Kate McIntyre and Sarah Murray (free) to retake the lead. Tipp scored a second goal before Cavan hit back with four more points from Murray (two), Sarah McCabe and Niamh O’Shea. However, Tipp went into the break leading 3-3 to 0-10 thanks to a third goal from Roisin Howard.

The Breffni girls rediscovered their goalscoring touch in the second half to pull off a famous victory.

Sheridan, a daughter of former county player Gerry, got the ball rolling with their opening goal before substitute Rachel Talbot and Beth Farrelly-McGee raised further green flags which propelled the Ulster champions into a 3-11 to 33 lead by the end of the third quarter.

Tipp replied with a quick 12 to leave a goal between the sides before Talbot fired home her second major to give Cavan some breathing space again.

Another Tipperary goal with five minutes remaining set up a grandstand finish, but the Cavan defence, in which Ballyhaise’s Hannah Duggan was superb, held firm to bring a long-awaited All-Ireland title to the county.

SPECIAL FEATURE

O

A CLEAN ACT TO FOLLOW

The poultry industry is one that is centred on a good, reliable service, but not only that hygiene and animal welfare play a massive part in the regulation of this growing sector.

ne business that places a great emphasis on these areas is Smyth Poultry and Transport Ltd, incorporating Acorn Farm Eggs which has been supplying a specialised service for 40 years now.

For this month's edition of the Breffni Blue GAA Yearbook, we profile this Fermanagh headquartered company and speak to managing director Gerry Smyth about the success of the business over the past five decades.

Recently, the company invested in a new washer to keep up with developments in the industry, and Gerry revealed to us that the implementation of this new equipment has been a massive addition to the company.

“Hygiene is a key factor in this industry and we recently purchased a specialised machine for washing the plant. It was a big investment, but one that was needed to keep up with the developments in this industry. It is a bio-cleanse machine and it is used for the prevention of disease.” stated Gerry.

Animal welfare is another section of the business that draws a huge amount of attention and it is an area that Smyth Transport has worked continuously to ensure over the years.

“We make our own trailers and ensure that the animals are catered for to the proper standards. This and hygiene are two areas that we have worked on.”

A family-run business with depots in Fermanagh, Monaghan and Bradford, has established a tradition of value-for-money and total dedication to customer service. While specialising in the transport of live poultry, refrigerated and dry freight, Smyth Transport offers a complete transport service, which also includes groupage, low loader, curtain-side and bulk haulage throughout Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

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Best Wishes to Smyth Transport

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Tel: 049 95 26040 Fax: 049 95 26043 Email: testcentre@adirl.ie Beestt Wishhes Too Smyyth Pooultry & Trran nspoort Ltd Frrom

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Our brand is a commitment to your business

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Best Wishes To Smyth Poultry & Transport Ltd

Best Wishes To Smyth Poultry & Transport Ltd 434

The company endeavours to meet the individual needs of each customer and prides itself on providing a flexible, reliable and topclass service. It also offers a professional, next day delivery service from Scotland, England and

Wales to Ireland.

“Our fleet and workforce have grown over the years. As everyone knows, the industry is going through a tough time at the moment, but we have to stay positive and continue to offer the best service we possibly

435

can. We have a large and loyal customer-base and we want to keep it that way.”

Gerry runs the business with the help of his wife Pauline, son Damian and daughter Geraldine who are also directors.

The company's headquarters are located in Roslea, Co. Fermanagh which is also where its sister company, Acorn Farm Eggs, is located. Smyth Transport also has depots in nearby Smithboro, Co. Monaghan and in Bradford.

Smyth Transport was one of the first Irish companies to specialise in live poultry transport. Gerry recalls: “As someone who has been involved in the poultry industry for all of my life, I saw an opening for the type of service we are now providing. It's a very specialised business in that all our drivers need to be trained in the carriage of livestock and must hold a forklift license.

All drivers appointed to the transport of live poultry hold a Certificate of Competence in the transport of animals by road. Smyth Transport is a Freedom Food and Red Tractor

Best Wishes To Smyth Poultry & Transport Ltd

accredited company, and all staff are fully committed to the welfare of each individual bird. In addition, Smyth's offer a pullet vaccination service and specialise in the depletion of end-of-lay hens and broiler breeders.

Smyth Transport's fleet consists of Volvo, Mercedes, Scania and DAF. All vehicles are fitted with GPS Tracking which provides an instant location update, allowing the company to keep its customers aware of the progress of their consignment 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From its offices, the company has instant, on-screen surveillance of vehicles and communication with drivers.

“We have been opting more and more for Mercedes in recent years,” Gerry says. “While Scania, Volvo and DAF are a good reliable truck as well, Mercedes are the best in my view. Since we bought our first Actros in 1997, we have found them to be the most reliable, while the cost of maintaining them is less than that of the other trucks we have.”

Gerry concludes by paying tribute to his staff: “They have played a huge part in the growth and success of our company over the years. We have a very dedicated team around us, some of whom have been here from day one. Our drivers know the roads of Ireland and the UK inside out and can always be relied upon to do a good job.”

Tractor units with or without tipping gear Rigid Trucks with box body or curtainsider Recovery Truck with Hiab & Winch

CONTACT DETAILS:

Continued Best Wishes To Smyth Poultry & Transport Ltd

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For more information about Smyth Poultry & Transport Ltd, telephone: (0044) 28677 51330; fax: (0044) 28677 51916 (accounts), fax: (0044) 28677 51777 (traffic) or email: info@smythtransport.com

Angretia Haulage Lecks, Shercock, Co. Cavan Telephone: 042 9669398 | Fax: 042 9669678 | Email: martin@angretiahaulage.ie BEST WISHES & CONTINUED SUCCESS TO THE CARTON GROUP

Continued Success To The Carton Group From Frank & Elizabeth McConnon

FRANBETH POULTRY

The Packaging Professionals Unit 1, Village Mills Business Park, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.

Tel: 0404 69851 Fax: 0404 69861 Email: sales@packex.ieWeb: www.packex.ie Best Wishes to The Carton Group For The Future

Kilanny, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan Tel: 087 2511350

Continued Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

Leo & Catherine Treanor

Corvoy Chicks Corvoy, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan Contact 087 9087285

CONTINUED BEST WISHES TO THE CARTON GROUP

Best Wishes & Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Wishing Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Michael & Enda Connolly Gortnawinney, Clones, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 087 9390375 437

SPECIAL FEATURE

Pictured on a walkabout of Main Street Bailieborough on Thursday evening 21st May 2009 are Senator and European Candidate Joe O’Reilly, Local Elections Candidate John O’Hare, Deputy Enda Kenny, Leader of Fine Gael, Deputy Seymour Crawford and Local County Councillor and candidate Sean McKiernan, Vice Chairman of FG Executive Council

n this year's edition of the Breffni Blue Yearbook, we profile the Maudabawn native and he tells us about his work with the council and also about his job as production manager with renowned poultry processing company, Carton Bros.

John has held a life long interest in politics, but it was Irish history and his hero Michael Collins that set him on the political path. Having been elected to the County Council at the first attempt in 2009, John has gone on to represent his area with great vigour.

Over the course of the last three years, there has been a great improvement in the roads and other infrastructure in Bailieboro and surrounding community and he is efforts have pleased the locals.

“I've always had a passion for history in particular and I suppose that is where my interest in politics began. No other member of the family have been directly involved in politics, but I held a few positions in Fine Gael, before being asked to go forward for the 2009 County Council elections. Thankfully, the campaign went well and I got in the first time of asking,” said John.

The County Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity John O’Hare is a member of Cavan County Council and culture, and

I

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

The position of a County Councillor can be a time consuming, but very rewarding role, according to Bailieboro electoral area councillor John O'Hare.

438

Cost-effective and extremely versatile, Calor LPG is the complete energy source for home and farm.

Whether you're heating poultry houses or rearing sheds, drying crops or burning weeds, or if you need an instant supply of hot water for cleaning and sterilising, Calor Gas can provide an ideal energy solution. Calor LPG burns efficiently and cleanly, meaning it won't contaminate your crops, feed or litter.

To find out how Calor Gas can offer a complete energy solution for your needs contact Calor on: Dublin: Belfast:

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or log onto www.calorgas.ie

POULTRY WATERING SYSTEMS POULTRY FEEDING FLEX AUGER DAIRY FEEDING SYSTEMS FIBERGLASS WATER TANKS POULTRY EQUIPMENT Duffy Engineering, Ballybay Rd, Monaghan P: 047 82779 M: 0879132527/0872449377 F: 047 82779 E: duffyeng@eircom.net www.duffypoultryequipment.ie CONTINUED BEST WISHES TO THE CARTON GROUP

Providers of quality equipment for the poultry industry for over thirty years

FOR ALL YOUR GAA NEWS www.hoganstand.com/cavan 439

Carnmoy Ltd carnmoy@hotmail.com Tel: 046 924 4444 Fax: 046 924 4183 Moynalty, Kells Co. Meath.

Carnmoy Ltd. Poultry Producers wishes The Carton Group all the best in the future

Associated Companies: McCartney Contractors Ltd Drydoc Sportsfield Drainage - www.Drydoc.ie

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

The Irish Farmers’ Association Nobody WORKS HARDER for Farmers

Ivan Dawson & Family Corvalley, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 042 9691860 Mobile: 087 9441771

Wishing Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Wishing Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Dermot Crinion Poultry

John & Tracy Moyna Poultry

Belfaddock, Slane, Co. Meath

Quiglough, Ballinode Co. Monaghan

Tel: 087 2529504

Tel: 047 89234

Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Continued Success To The Carton Group From

James & Brendan O’Harte

Margaret & Pat O’Donnell

Transporters For the Carton Group Smithboro, Co. Monaghan Tel: 047 89681 | Mob: 086 2508610 Email: jamesoharte@eircom.net

Ahawilk, Feoghanagh, Co. Limerick Telephone: 069 72166

440

environment. The council has 25 elected members.

Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (Chairperson). The county administration is headed by a County manager, currently Jack Keyes.

“It is a very interesting role and each day is different. We all have to sit on different committees and I'm on the transport and heritage committees. The one thing about the council, unlike other areas of politics is that we all work together to achieve the same goal.

“There are monthly meetings to discuss a wide range of topics and there is certainly never a dull moment. I've enjoyed my three years here so far and look forward to the next two before the election in 2014.”

John is delighted to be part of a Fine Gael party that is in Government and he acknowledges the fact that it will take time to get the country back on its feet. “This is something that is not going to happen overnight. There is a lot of work to be done, but I do feel that the current Government are heading in the right direction.

“The recession has hit the country very hard and sadly more and more young people are deciding to emigrate as they feel there is no choice but to go. Bailieboro has not escaped the recession, but thankfully unemployment is not as high there as it is in other places. There is work to be done, but we are here to do it over the next few years.”

John's role in the council is a demanding one and takes up a lot of time, but his role of Production Manager for Carton Bros is also one that takes a great lot of attention to detail.

John has been with the company for the past 40 years now and his worked his way up from the ground floor to hold such an important role. Based in Shercock, Carton Bros. employ over 600, which is a staggering amount given the

Alo Mohan, IFA National Poultry Committee Chairman

441

Specialist in the Manufacture of Steel and Timber Poultry Houses Cost-effective and top-quality housing solutions to meet your exacting needs. We can design and construct specialised free range, breeder, broiler or laying units. Every housing unit is built to customer specifications within our range of housing designs. Ventilation systems may be either natural or forced.

Our main structures include:• Solid beam birch plywood clad timber Clear span trusses (to 57ft wide) • Double Posted timber trusses with birch plywood at connections or Single posted Glu-lam beams (for structures up to 80ft wide).

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Contact us for more information www.jameskillen.co.uk Tel: (048) 42738327 • Fax: (048) 42738881 Email: info@jameskillen.co.uk

Wishing Carton Brothers Continued Success

Wishing The Carton Group continued success in the future!

Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

Brendan Rooney

CONOR, JIMMY, PAUL & FINIAN O’HARTE Growing Chickens For Carton Group Since 1952

Muff, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 042 9378437

Legnakelly, Clones, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 047 51572

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

William Brogan & Family

Michael O’Regan Monalena House, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick

Crover, Newbliss, Co. Monaghan

Telephone: 069 72121

Tel: 086 6051365

442

Shercock were Cavan JFC winners in 2011

current economic climate that we live in today.

Carton Bros. are the largest supplier of processed chicken in Ireland and it has been supplying poultry from Shercock since 1970. Two years later John joined the company and he has been there ever since and he revealed that he has seen many changes in the industry during that time. “There has been a huge amount of change over the years, animal welfare, legislation and hygiene are probably the three biggest areas of transformation, but we comply strictly to all regulations in place. “We would have contract farmers that provide us with the poultry and there are over one million chickens processed here every week. Apart from

Best Wishes & Continued Success To THE CARTON GROUP

Carton Bros creates a large number of jobs in the haulage sector

443

INDUSTRIAL & AGRICULTURAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Poultry | Agricultural | Industrial | Equestrian

2 Sixtowns Road, Draperstown BT45 7BA T: 028 7962 7963 | F: 028 7962 7968 | E: info@tircon.co.uk | www.tircon.co.uk WISHING CONTINUED SUCCESS TO THE CARTON GROUP Best Wishes & Continued Success To The Carton Group, From

Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Andrew Boylan Poultry

John D Nash

Tonyellida, Donaghmoyne, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

Monalena, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick Telephone: 087 8177534

Telephone: 087 1319656

Best Wishes To The Carton Group, From

JOHNSTONS HATCHERIES (Since 1960) Custom Hatching Service

TOM NASH

Ballyrobin, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick Telephone: 069 76450

PTM ENGINEERING

MARTIN NASH

Proud of our long business association with the Carton Group

Ardagh, Co. Limerick Telephone: 069 625031

Porthill Road, Mountnorris, Armagh BT60 2TY Tel: +44 (0) 7968761794 F: +44 (0) 2837507333 E: jam.johnston@btconnect.com www.johnstonspoultry.com

Continued Best Wishes To The Carton Group, From

FOR ALL YOUR GAA NEWS A2/A3 IDA Industrial Estate, Santry Avenue, Dublin 9 t: +353 1 842 1700 f: +353 1 842 1827 e: solutions@labeltech.ie w: www.labeltech.ie

www.hoganstand.com/cavan

444

The Cavan U21 side that defeated Armagh in the Ulster Championship

providing employment here at the manufacturing plant, we would also contract a number of hauliers to transport our products around the country as well as the U.K and France. So we would employ a number of people outside the company as well.”

John is a keen follower of the GAA and in particular the local clubs as there is plenty of banter created during the summer time. He has also followed Cavan all his life and craves for the day that the county will be back challenging for major honours.

“It's been too long for a football mad

county like Cavan to have gone without winning anything at senior level. For a county with such a proud tradition, it is hard for the supporters and indeed the players themselves.

Hopefully, the success of the under21s in the last few years will help bring on the seniors. I do feel that Terry Hyland will get the best out of them.”

It may strange for some that John's first love is hurling, especially coming from a county that has no real affinity for the small ball game, but that is the case and he has a special place in his

Niall McDermot gets away from Eoin Donnelly of Fermanagh

445

heart for Galway hurling.

“Growing up as a child, I would have spent many summers in Galway in my mother's homestead in Peterswell, which is situated between Gort and Loughrea. The local club is St Thomas and I would have played with my cousins there many times.

“I was hoping Galway would win the All-Ireland this year and they came very close to doing so the first day against Kilkenny. But, they will have learned a lot from this year and I'm sure they will come back stronger next year.”

environment. The council has 25 elected members.

Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (Chairperson). The county administration is headed by a County manager, currently Jack Keyes.

“It is a very interesting role and each day is different. We all have to sit on different committees and I'm on the transport and heritage committees. The one thing about the council, unlike other areas of politics is that we all work together to achieve the same goal.

“There are monthly meetings to discuss a wide range of topics and there is certainly never a dull moment. I've enjoyed my three years here so far and look forward to the next two before the election in 2014.”

John is delighted to be part of a Fine Gael party that is in Government and he acknowledges the fact that it will take time to get the country back on its feet. “This is something that is not going to happen overnight. There is a lot of work to be done, but I do feel that the current Government are heading in the right direction.

“The recession has hit the country very hard and sadly more and more young people are deciding to emigrate as they feel there is no choice but to go. Bailieboro has not escaped the recession, but thankfully unemployment is not as high there as it is in other places. There is work to be done, but we are here to do it over the next few years.”

John's role in the council is a demanding one and takes up a lot of time, but his role of Production Manager for Carton Bros is also one that takes a great lot of attention to detail.

John has been with the company for the past 40 years now and his worked his way up from the ground floor to hold such an important role. Based in Shercock, Carton Bros. employ over 600, which is a staggering amount given the

Alo Mohan, IFA National Poultry Committee Chairman

441

Specialist in the Manufacture of Steel and Timber Poultry Houses Cost-effective and top-quality housing solutions to meet your exacting needs. We can design and construct specialised free range, breeder, broiler or laying units. Every housing unit is built to customer specifications within our range of housing designs. Ventilation systems may be either natural or forced.

Our main structures include:• Solid beam birch plywood clad timber Clear span trusses (to 57ft wide) • Double Posted timber trusses with birch plywood at connections or Single posted Glu-lam beams (for structures up to 80ft wide).

• Structural Steel Portal framed buildings for Clearspan Select broiler and Enriched Cage Units.

Contact us for more information www.jameskillen.co.uk Tel: (048) 42738327 • Fax: (048) 42738881 Email: info@jameskillen.co.uk

Wishing Carton Brothers Continued Success

Wishing The Carton Group continued success in the future!

Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

Brendan Rooney

CONOR, JIMMY, PAUL & FINIAN O’HARTE Growing Chickens For Carton Group Since 1952

Muff, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 042 9378437

Legnakelly, Clones, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 047 51572

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

Best Wishes To The Carton Group From

William Brogan & Family

Michael O’Regan Monalena House, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick

Crover, Newbliss, Co. Monaghan

Telephone: 069 72121

Tel: 086 6051365

442

Shercock were Cavan JFC winners in 2011

current economic climate that we live in today.

Carton Bros. are the largest supplier of processed chicken in Ireland and it has been supplying poultry from Shercock since 1970. Two years later John joined the company and he has been there ever since and he revealed that he has seen many changes in the industry during that time. “There has been a huge amount of change over the years, animal welfare, legislation and hygiene are probably the three biggest areas of transformation, but we comply strictly to all regulations in place. “We would have contract farmers that provide us with the poultry and there are over one million chickens processed here every week. Apart from

Best Wishes & Continued Success To THE CARTON GROUP

Carton Bros creates a large number of jobs in the haulage sector

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INDUSTRIAL & AGRICULTURAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Poultry | Agricultural | Industrial | Equestrian

2 Sixtowns Road, Draperstown BT45 7BA T: 028 7962 7963 | F: 028 7962 7968 | E: info@tircon.co.uk | www.tircon.co.uk WISHING CONTINUED SUCCESS TO THE CARTON GROUP Best Wishes & Continued Success To The Carton Group, From

Continued Success To The Carton Group From

Andrew Boylan Poultry

John D Nash

Tonyellida, Donaghmoyne, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

Monalena, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick Telephone: 087 8177534

Telephone: 087 1319656

Best Wishes To The Carton Group, From

JOHNSTONS HATCHERIES (Since 1960) Custom Hatching Service

TOM NASH

Ballyrobin, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick Telephone: 069 76450

PTM ENGINEERING

MARTIN NASH

Proud of our long business association with the Carton Group

Ardagh, Co. Limerick Telephone: 069 625031

Porthill Road, Mountnorris, Armagh BT60 2TY Tel: +44 (0) 7968761794 F: +44 (0) 2837507333 E: jam.johnston@btconnect.com www.johnstonspoultry.com

Continued Best Wishes To The Carton Group, From

FOR ALL YOUR GAA NEWS A2/A3 IDA Industrial Estate, Santry Avenue, Dublin 9 t: +353 1 842 1700 f: +353 1 842 1827 e: solutions@labeltech.ie w: www.labeltech.ie

www.hoganstand.com/cavan

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The Cavan U21 side that defeated Armagh in the Ulster Championship

providing employment here at the manufacturing plant, we would also contract a number of hauliers to transport our products around the country as well as the U.K and France. So we would employ a number of people outside the company as well.”

John is a keen follower of the GAA and in particular the local clubs as there is plenty of banter created during the summer time. He has also followed Cavan all his life and craves for the day that the county will be back challenging for major honours.

“It's been too long for a football mad

county like Cavan to have gone without winning anything at senior level. For a county with such a proud tradition, it is hard for the supporters and indeed the players themselves.

Hopefully, the success of the under21s in the last few years will help bring on the seniors. I do feel that Terry Hyland will get the best out of them.”

It may strange for some that John's first love is hurling, especially coming from a county that has no real affinity for the small ball game, but that is the case and he has a special place in his

Niall McDermot gets away from Eoin Donnelly of Fermanagh

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heart for Galway hurling.

“Growing up as a child, I would have spent many summers in Galway in my mother's homestead in Peterswell, which is situated between Gort and Loughrea. The local club is St Thomas and I would have played with my cousins there many times.

“I was hoping Galway would win the All-Ireland this year and they came very close to doing so the first day against Kilkenny. But, they will have learned a lot from this year and I'm sure they will come back stronger next year.”

LORCAN MULVEY

IN LONDON TOWN Since moving to London last year – where he is a site agent with Berkeley Homes – former Butlersbridge and Cavan star Lorcan Mulvey has established himself as a driving force at centrefield for both Fulham Irish and London. We caught up with the talismanic midfielder to reflect on 2012 and look forward to 2013.

E

ven though Paul Coggins’ London produced some very impressive performances in 2012 – none more so than against Antrim in the SF qualifiers – Lorcan Mulvey wasn’t content with how things panned out. Mulvey’s strong fielding and powerful running were key features of the Exiles’ campaign, but the Cavan native expected them to do even better: “I’m not particularly happy,” he concedes. “I thought we could have gone a couple of stages further. We were very optimistic this year because we had a very strong panel with a lot of very strong players who we wouldn’t have had at our disposal the previous year.

“Against Leitrim in the Connacht championship, we simply didn’t play to our potential on the day. Against Antrim, it wasn’t that we played badly but Antrim were a better team and they edged past us. But the Leitrim game is the one we look back on with most regret – we were very disappointed because not one of us played to our potential that day.

“The national football league campaign got better as it went on. We were getting to know each other as the league progressed because it’s a new team in London each year and it takes time for the players to get used to each other.

“Even though this was my first year involved with London, I have looked at different London teams in the past and they tend to have completely new players each year, which presents a massive challenge in

itself. People tend to come over and back, maybe stay for one year or emigrate to Australia or somewhere else, or else they just don’t want to give the commitment for a second year. This is definitely one of the biggest problems facing London football; if we could get a settled team, year in year out, it would make a big difference.”

Encouragingly, there appears to be a very good chance of this happening in 2013: “The ways things are, there don’t seem to be too many players intending to move on this time,” Mulvey notes. “But it’s still only September and there’s a few months to go yet before the start of the season and you don’t know what’s going to happen between now and then. However, the manager is optimistic and if we could overcome that problem everything else might fall into place.”

Will the Cavan man be there himself? “At the moment I’m with a very good company and I have no intention of leaving. Of course, if the perfect job opportunity ever came up at home, I would have to jump at it.

But the work over here is good and London is an excellent city that I would recommend to anybody. It’s very self-sufficient workwise – a mini economy in itself. There’s a big population in London and there’s always lots of work; it’s like a bubble, separate from the rest of the UK economy. At home, if you get a job it will be short-term, but this job I’m on at the moment is high-profile and it’s

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a good one to have on the CV.” Any regrets about leaving Cavan?

And Butlersbridge? “I never wanted to do it. I was only out of work for two weeks when I left, but I couldn’t afford to hang around so I decided to go for it. London is a nice city and it’s very easy to get on with people. There’s a huge Irish community and once you join a GAA club you have 40 friends straight away!”

The club Lorcan joined is Fulham Irish. “They’ve been in existence seven years and we won the SFC last year for the first time. This was my second year with them and I was lucky enough to captain the team.

Unfortunately, we got knocked out at the quarter-final stage, having never really got going. It’s hard to put titles back-to-back but there’s a very good bunch of lads there and we hope to win it back again next year.”

Lorcan hopes to kick on with the Exiles next year as well and the aim is to win three or four games in Division Four of the NFL. Long term, he admits that the lure of his homeland never diminishes: “It’s always in my head to go back to Cavan and I would love to play a couple of good years with Butlersbridge. I’m not getting any younger and I’d like to play for them again while I still have something to offer. I’d say the Cavan thing could be gone for me now but I’d like to get back to Butlersbridge within the next two or three years.”

Is travelling over and back an option? “I played a few games with them last year but it’s very tough flying over and back for games and you would be wrecked after it.”

Mind you, it’s also tough playing for London with the amount of travelling that’s involved! “It’s easier to live in Dublin and play for Cavan,” Lorcan concludes. “It’s an hour and a half from Dublin to Cavan but in London it’s an hour and 45 minutes to get to training and the same back. There are three of us from South London on the panel and we have to travel to North West London for training, because that’s where the majority of them are based. It’s hard on the body and hard on the mind but you just have to get on with it.”

Thank you To all the individuals and clubs that assisted in making this yearbook possible, we say thank you. Well done to all those who claimed silverware in the season just finished and best of luck to every club in 2013.

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