After what many in the club felt had been quite a successful 2010 season, hopes were high at Cuchulainns for the incoming 2011 campaign - there was an air of optimism and excitement as the new season geared up for competition.

The panel was young but experienced and with a new crop of young players coming through the juvenile ranks, all seemed healthy as the east Cavan club set their ambitions on a good league and championship run. This was not to be the case as the storm clouds of the financial downturn showered its unwanted hardship on the working lives of many of the players.
The blight of emigration, a scar on our past history, was now back with a vengeance, as a number of their young promising players joined the emigration queues seeking work in foreign lands.

"When we stand back and look objectively at the loss of players from our panel we have to be realistic and know that the 2011 season was always now going to be a struggle. It meant that we had to realign our ambitions from hoping to make further progress to ensuring that we did not lose out on our senior status, something as a club we value very highly," stated the club's PRO Paul Taite.

"The calibre of players we lost to emigration was to leave a void in the panel that was going to be hard to fill in the immediate future and while we have some good young players coming through the ranks, the loss of experience was going to be a hurdle that would be difficult to cross. Players of the calibre of Paul Tully, Killian Lynch and Aoghan Daly joined up with Conor Daly and Martin Callaghan in Australia and Paddy McKenna headed for London. Eugene Keating departed for America for the summer.

The loss of Eugene Keating was a tremendous loss to the club's attacking force and he was badly missed in their championship campaign. The depletion of the squad through emigration was to have a serious effect on performances. This disruption of the panel was highlighted with an erratic league performance in which they struggled and found themselves dangerously close to the bottom as the campaign reached its final conclusions. The loss of so many young players was slightly offset with the return to the club's ranks of John Flanagan who returned home from Canada. John once again proved to be an invaluable player for Cuchulainns.

At the start of the season the club felt that they had a reasonable chance of making good progress in our league campaign and were expecting to have a good championship run. The club had just secured the services of former Cavan senior county player, Peter Reilly as the club's new team manager. A highly respected former inter county player, it was expected that with his fresh approach and long inter-county experience he was in the best position to bring on the players at the club's disposal.
His appoinment was backed up with a strong management team of Fergal Kenny and Martin Quinn.

"The harsh realities of the financial upheavel and its implications saw many of our promising young players forced to emigrate to find work. This setback was to create an imbalance as the team management were forced to bring on players earlier than expected to fill the void," explains Paul.

"We had some notable successes in our league campaign and showed that we were capable of playing at the higher level with great wins over Cavan Gaels and the emerging force of Ballinagh. However, with the loss of so many established players it was always going to be a struggle to survive in the league. A gritted determination saw us produce a hard earned victory over Drumalee in the group stages in the championship which was enough to ensure that we secured our status at this level. We showed a determination on that occasion which was a credit to all the players and team management."

This gritty display gave the club hope that they might progress in the senior championship but an erratic performance against Denn ended their hopes of advancing in this championship.
"When you realistically look at the current situation, you can only hope that the emigration drain to seek employment will not adversely affect the club in 2012. However, this something that clubs can do little about. While many clubs are in the same position it is club's who lose their core players that will suffer the greatest in competition. In truth there is not a lot anyone can do. Players cannot be blamed for leaving in search of work when it is in such short supply here, and the club cannot stand in their way," stated a very pragmatic club PRO.

Paul is keen to emphasise that off the field Cuchulainns are in a healthy and robust position.
"As a club we have always had people of vision and good management skills guide us through the years and this year is no exception. I would consider that the club is very lucky to find they are in safe hands under the guidance of chairman Sean Smith, secretary Kilian Monaghan and treasurer Fergal Kenny.

"The commitment and workrate of the executive and the many volunteers associated with the club has ensured that all the required facilities are in-situ for the future growth of the club. At Cuchulainns we have some of the best facilities of any club in the county and with all the required infrastructure in place all we need is a return to full employment to see the club grow and reach its full potential. Our club's finances are also in a healthy position which is a credit to all those involved.

"On a lighter side of things, life is not all doom and gloom as the club travelled to London for a 'bonding' weekend in mid-October. An invitation to play a game against our namesakes, Cuchulainns of London was eagerly taken up by players and supporters alike. This trip proved to be an excellent experience and it is hoped that the bonding experience will have beneficial results for 2012. The club would like to extend their gratitude to their London hosts and hope that they will have them visit Mullagh in the not too distant future." said Paul

"We should not lose sight of the future. This something that we at Cuchulainns have always embraced and have throughout our history held a strong ethos of catering to underage football. We have been blessed over the years to have had so many talented and committed people guide our young emerging players through the juvenile ranks."
Once again the current crop of officials and volunteers working at juvenile level is not just inspiring but also a credit to their commitment. While they may not have had meteoric success this season the club did nevertheless manage to win the Roinn C Under 14 shield final in an exciting and highly entertaining final. The game which was played at county headquarters, Kingspan Breffni Park saw them overcome the stern challenge of neighbours Killinkere on a scoreline of 3-8 to 2-9.

"It is through our underage structure that holds the future key for the success of the club and to this end we feel are well placed. The work that has been put in over the years and the current work now being provided by the dedicated officers and volunteers will hopefully help offset any future emigration drain," stated the club PRO.

"As a club we will once again approach the incoming 2012 season with confidence and have high hopes of achieving our potential. The quiet drive and commitment of all involved at Cuchulainns will once again click into gear and the new season will be faced with a determination and purpose that is a core characteristic associated with the people of this east Cavan parish. It will be this characteris aligned with our hopes of the future that will eventually see us reach our full potential." Tweet

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