Looking back on the events of 2009, Butlersbridge have every reason to be happy with their lot. The 'Bridge won the JFC in fine style and also achieved their ultimate objective in the all-county league, the sum total of which means they have intermediate championship and Division Two fare to look forward to in 2010. Happy days indeed for the town club, who were worthy victors in the county's third-tier 'knockout' competition.

The first of Cavan's county finals of 2009 went ahead at Kingspan Breffni Park at 2pm on Sunday September 27, pitting Butlersbridge against Swanlinbar to see who'd claim the Sean Leddy Cup. This was an intriguing contest as both clubs were well-known specialists at this level over the past decade, with the 'Bridge having tasted glory in 2002 and 2004, while 'Swad' enjoyed a more-recent success in 2006.
After a two-year stint with the Cavan senior management team, Phelim Plunkett had returned to coach Butlersbridge - who he steered to the JFC back in '04. The goal was to lead the club to their third junior championship of the decade - and a fifth in all. The manager had shown his credentials in his native Ballyhaise and Drumlane, and he would prove himself once again by getting the ingredients just right when it counted…
On county final day, the west Cavan raiders of Swanlinbar were never going to be an easy touch, having proven throughout the course of the season that they were a genuine force to be reckoned with. But they were missing star midfielder Gearoid McKiernan for the final and that was a big blow.
Butlersbridge drew their opener against Kildallan (0-10 each) before eliminating Templeport on a 2-8 to 0-4 scoreline. This set up a quarter-final date with their first-round group opponents and this time the 'Bridge made no mistake, beating Kildallan narrowly, by 1-7 to 2-3. So followed a semi-final clash with Cavan Gaels and Phelim Plunkett's charges made a blistering start to the game in Kingspan Breffni Park with veteran forward Michael Fitzpatrick bagging an early goal. However, their opponents more than matched them in the second half and the sides were level in the dying stages. Up stepped Butlersbridge substitute Carlos Conlon to curl over the winner from the narrowest of angles. To underline the extremely competitive nature of the JFC in '09, 'Swad' had also secured their progress to the decider with a late, late point. Clearly, it was never going to be easy on county final day, but the 'Bridge seemed to carry all the aces as county midfielder Lorcan Mulvey was on top form heading into the game, while their opponents were also without the suspended John Cunningham.
On county final day, a goalfest from the 'Bridge proved decisive as they prevailed by 4-8 to 0-11, with captain Michael Fitzpatrick going on to lift the Cup. All the damage was done in a blistering eight-minute spell just before the break. The opening stages had been very tight, with the losers edging the first quarter, but the 'Bridge hit top gear in the second quarter to capture a third Sean Leddy Cup in seven years.
It was Butlersbridge who opened the scoring when Sennin Flanagan (who top-scored with 1-4 over the hour) pointed his first of the afternoon with a sweet strike off his left boot. The same player popped over the Bridge's second after Robbie Prior had got 'Swad' off the mark.
The west Cavan side settled into the game better after that with efforts from Michael Cunningham, Prior and Michael Curran. Cunningham and Curran were on top at centrefield at this stage, as 'Swad' opened up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead. The 'Bridge were having their mettle well and truly tested. And boy did they come up with all the right answers!
The champions-elect bagged the first goal when Lorcan Mulvey picked out Michael Fitzpatrick in front of goal and the veteran centre forward smashed his shot past substitute goalkeeper Gavin Leydon to give his team a badly-needed lift. To their credit, the losers rallied to sneak back in front but Flanagan pounced for a second 'Bridge' goal shortly afterwards to give his side a lead they would not relinquish. When Martin Fitzpatrick netted just before the break, it left Butlersbridge firmly in the driving-seat at half time, ahead by 3-3 to 0-7.
In the second-half, the winners played with composure and certainty, making sure that the expected comeback from Swanlinbar never materialised. Flanagan pointed again and 'Swad' replied with two minors. Flanagan took his fourth point from distance twelve minutes from the end and Butlersbridge hammered home their advantage with more scores courtesy of Martin Fitzpatrick and Mulvey. The west county side never gave up and tagged back two frees but full forward Noel McPhillips raised the fourth green flag of the afternoon to send his club into intermediate ranks with something to spare. Not even the most optimistic 'Bridge supporter would have dreamed of a nine-point win on county final day, but those quickfire goals before the break did the trick for the 2009 Cavan junior football champions.
Butlersbridge - 2009 Cavan JFC winners: Keith Gumley; Stephen O'Hara, Mark Shannon, Kieran Greenan; Andrew McConnell, Padraig McGearty, Brian Greenan; Lorcan Mulvey (0-1), Killian Shannon; Paul Murphy, Michael Fitzpatrick (1-0), John Shannon; Sennin Flanagan (1-4), Noel McPhillips (1-1), Martin Fitzpatrick (1-1). Subs: Fergal Flanagan (0-1), Eamon Diver, Carlos Conlon, Paul Flynn, Patrick Flynn.
The Cavan champions went on to give a commendable account of themselves in the Ulster junior club championship, losing narrowly to Antrim representatives St Teresa's at Casement Park on Sunday November 8, 1-7 to 0-8. Trailing by 0-5 to 0-2 at the break, the 'Bridge were on the backfoot throughout but they came with a late surge that almost saw them through. A brilliant double save from Keith Gumley in the 38th minute seemed to have denied Teresa's but their full forward raced in to bag the only goal of the game.
Butlersbridge refused to give in and they held their opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter whilst firing over points from Michael Fitzpatrick, Noel McPhillips and substitute Eamon Diver. It was a gallant fightback but the Cavan men ran out of time and they could hold their heads high when the final whistle sounded. Anything from this competition would have been a bonus; they had already done what they set out to do at the start of the year.
Butlersbridge - 2009 Ulster junior club football championship V St Teresa's: Keith Gumley; Stephen O'Hara, Mark Shannon, Kieran Greenan; Andrew McConnell, Padraig McGearty, Brian Greenan; Lorcan Mulvey (0-2), Killian Shannon; Fergal Flanagan (0-1), Michael Fitzpatrick (0-2, 2f), Martin Fitzpatrick; Sennin Flanagan, Noel McPhillips (0-2), Carlos Condon. Subs: Paul Murphy, D Fitzpatrick, Eamon Diver (0-1).
In Division Three of the Cavan all county football league, Butlersbridge finished second, behind Bailieboro, with nine wins and two draws from 13 outings. Thereafter, in the John Brady Insurances Ltd Division 3 final, they accounted for Laragh Utd. by 1-7 to 0-3 to take the spoils and finish their brilliant year on a suitably high note. Tweet

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