Last September Butlersbridge claimed their fourth county junior football championship title. Here's how they added to their last such success in 2002. Hunting for the Sean Leddy Memorial Cup was always going to give Butlersbridge's JFC campaign that added bit of an edge. But it was a long, long route to the winner's podium for the 'Bridge, as things turned out. Seldom has any team, at any grade, in Cavan had to show staying power that Mickey Graham's men showed in 2004. For starters, Butlersbridge hadn't it easy from day one. They had to produce a late, late show to nick the spoils out of the clutches of a shell-shocked Shercock side in an absorbing opening round JFC clash at Hugh O'Reilly Park, Cootehill which ended in a 1-12 to 1-10 victory for the 'Bridge. Spring-heeled Shercock romped into a more than useful 1-2 to 0-1 lead and were hitting all the high notes and apparently had the 'Bridge on the rack. Trailing by 0-5 to 1-4 on the restart, the 'Bridge began in sleeves-rolled-up fashion and with John Shannon in fine free-taking form, the would-be winners soon began to eat into Shercock's less than secure lead. Shercock's old reliable Jodie Clarke began to show glimpses of his old form though and a brace of points from him left the 'Bridge still chasing the game. However a shock goal by Senan Flanagan, after good work by Carlos Conlon, really put the cat amongst the pigeons and, suddenly, Shercock's lead was cut to just two points. It was anyone's game at this juncture but a fine solo point by Paddy McPhillips in the 47th minute suggested that Shercock had the bit between their teeth. Back came the 'Bridge though with two converted frees before similar efforts by Brian Hamilton and Jodie Clarke edged Shercock back in front with less than three minutes left on the clock. However the 'Bridge weren't finished and a cooly taken free by John Shannon served to square matters just approaching the end of normal time. It appeared as if Shercock had done just enough to secure the spoils but a concerted spurt to the finishing line by the 'Bridge saw Darragh Keogh and Matt Boylan career through to rifle over a point apiece to secure a deserved if unlikely two point win. Thereafter the 'Bridge made it two wins from two starts with a workmanlike 0-12 to 1-5 win over Templeport in Ballyconnell in mid-June. The winners had to pull out all the stops despite controlling the game for long periods. In specific terms, the 'Bridge spurned a number of goal chances but, to their credit, the village side held their nerve right to the end to seal their win. The 'Bridge came under pressure early in the first half and Templeport actually hit the woodwork on three separate occasions. The eventual winners were still good value for their 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead but they never really looked that secure as the second half gathered pace and when their opponents banged in a goal to cut the 'Bridge's lead to one point, 0-9 to 1-5, it was very much a case of game-on. However Fergal Boylan steadied the 'Bridge with an opportunist effort and when when Carlos Conlon added a similar score moments later to open up a three point lead, Templeport appeared to run out of ideas and time. And then the subsequent dismissal of one their players conspired to leave the 'Bridge home and dry with an injury time insurance point from Micheal Fitzpatrick putting the icing on the cake for his side. The following month the 'Bridge consolidated their early championship promise with their third successive championship victory. A win over Kildallan left their passage through to the play-off stages all but assured thanks to a very hard-fought 1-10 to 0-12 victory in what was a dogged duel in Belturbet in late July. In a tit-for-tat encounter, the decisive score came from Noel McPhillips when he slotted over a point late in the game to seal the spoils for the would-be champions. Earlier there had been little to separate the teams with the scores being level on five different occasions over the hour. The 'Bridge fell three points behind midway through the first half but a converted penalty by Michael Fitzpatrick just before the break helped put his side 1-5 to 0-6 in front. However that lead was cancelled out by the west Cavan side by half-time as the sides went into the dressing-room deadlocked at 1-5 to 0-8. The 'Bridge kept their focus as the second half gathered pace as the spoils dangled invitingly in front of both sides. Points were exchanged in often rapid fire motion as the game progressed but, in the end, it took a steely nerve by match winner McPhillips to separate the sides at the death. August 7th and a date with Maghera in Stradone was next on the list. Fortunately for the would-be champions, the script held good and a 1-12 to 0-6 victory was recorded. Although the margin of victory slightly flattered the 'Bridge, there was an obvious difference in class between the teams. In fact the contest, in truth, was very much killed off in the opening five minutes of the second half when Mickey Graham's side notched 1-3 without reply to put themselves very much into the driving seat. Earlier the 'Bridge had been far from impressive as they limped rather than raced into a 0-5 to 0-4 interval lead with Micheal Fitzpatrick's brilliant solo run and clinical finish just before the break the stand-out score from a 'Bridge perspective. As things turned out, Maghera were clinging to a faint hope of getting out of jail when Senan Flanagan reaped a rich dividend from good work by Fergal Boylan and Micheal Fitzpatrick four minutes from time to blast the ball to the Maghera net, easing the 'Bridge into the quarter-finals with a bit to spare. One week later, the 'Bridge made short work of Arva to career their way into the last four. After a sluggish start, the 'Bridge produced a stunning second quarter display to eventually leap their way to a 1-16 to 2-4 victory at the Ballinagh venue.Arva were at their best in the opening quarter. But thereafter there was only one team in it with a Micheal Fitzpatrick penalty - after team mate John Shannon was fouled - helping to catapult the 'Bridge to a 1-8 to 0-2 interval lead. Despite pulling a goal back shortly after the restart, Arva still found themselves on the backfoot and points by Andrew McConnell, Fergal Boylan and Fitzpatrick left the blues trailing by 1-3 to 1-15 and all but home and dry. By the end of August, only Kildallan stood between the 'Bridge and a place in the county decider. The semi-final tie took place at Kingspan/Breffni Park but despite notching a goal via Senan Flanagan in the opening minute, the 'Bridge weren't at their best in the first half, at the end of which they trailed by 1-3 to 0-7. It could have been a greater deficit but for a great save by Keith Gumley from a Liam Martin piledriver. On the restart, three early points in the opening four minutes of the second half seemed to give the initiative to the 'Bridge with Flanagan, Fitzpatrick and wing back McConnell all on target. However in the dying minutes of the second half it looked as if Kildallan had stolen a march on their opponents when sub John O'Neill and Fergal Maguire edged them two clear nine minutes from time. It was the 'Bridge's turn to show character and they responded in the right fashion. Mulvey drove over a great point and then Senan Flanagan popped over a free to tie the scores at the death, 1-10 apiece. The replay saw the 'Bridge ease home by three points, 0-8 to 0-5, in their semi-final replay in Kingspan Breffni Park. On a day when the respective defences were mostly on top throughout, ultimately it was the 'Bridge's ability to scores at vital stages that eventually swung the game their way. In this respect, it is worth noting that once the Bridge took the lead they never relinquished it. The first half was a nervy period with the 'Bridge marginally the better team as they edged into a slender one point advantage at the interval, 0-3 to 0-2. The final was a similarly cagey affair fought out between two very evenly matched teams. Redhills proved to be doubty battlers in a final which also went to a replay. Like most draws, the 2004 blue riband junior decider ended in dramatic circumstances with Redhills' Brendan Leddy fisting over the equaliser for the Monaghan border side well into injury time to leave the sides deadlocked at 1-6 to 0-9. In a typically dour derby clash, the 'Bridge found it difficult to fully capitalise on the fact that they had the wind at their backs in the first half yet nevertheless managed to skip into a 0-5 to 0-2 interval lead. As things panned out, a Redhills goal in the 18th minute sensationally squared the issue, 1-5 to 0-8, and left a huge question mark over the destination of the spoils. With three minutes left to play, the 'Bridge may have been convinced their luck was out when Micheal Fitzpatrick's free came back off the upright and into the hands of the grateful Fintan Reilly in the Redhills' goal. But less than two minutes later, the 'Bridge had better luck when Lorcan Mulvey fired over what looked for all the world like a probable winning point. It wasn't to be, of course, as Leddy swept up on the blindside to sweep over a dramatic leveller. One week later at First Ulster's Park, Ballyconnell on September 25th, Butlersbridge proved the more resilient and potent in a dogged battle, winning out by 0-14 to 1-6 in a hugely enjoyable replay. The 'Bridge dictated the pace for most of the game as they grabbed control of the exchanges from the start and never really allowed their opponents into the game. By the end of the opening quarter the 'Bridge led by four points, 0-5 to 0-1, and even at that stage looked good for the title. Redhills battled hard to get back on terms but promising approach work wasn't matched by the requisite finishing. The 'Bridge remained the more cohesive, forceful side and by the half-time break they had increased that lead to six points, 0-8 to 0-2. Redhills started the second-half in determined fashion in a renewed bid to reduce the leeway. However, the 'Bridge learned from the drawn game, and were tight and committed in defence and allowed their opponents few chances. In the closing minutes with the game gone away from them, Redhills 'threw caution to the wind' but found their opponents defence equal to the test. Despite grabbing a late goal, the title was on its way to the 'Bridge for the fourth time in their history. Appropriately, 'Bridge captain Pauric McGearty received the Sean Leddy Memorial Cup, a cup dedicated to the memory of the late 'Bridge player who was a great servant of the club and a regular on the Cavan senior team in the seventies and early eighties. The all-conquering Butlersbridge team, subs, and scorers on duty against Redhills was as follows: Keith Gumley; Brian Greenan, Pauric McGearty, Mark Shannon; Stephen O'Hara, David McEntee (0-2), Andrew McConnell; Micheal Fitzpatrick (0-5), Matthew Boylan; Paul McCorry, Lorcan Mulvey (0-1), Darragh Keogh (0-1); Senan Flanagan (0-2), Noel McPhillips (0-1), John Shannon (0-2). Subs used; Diarmuid Smith; Fergal Boylan; Carlos Conlon. Club review The year of 2004 will long be remembered by the players and members of Butlersbridge Emmets as one of their most successful, on the field of play, for many a long year. Although the club won the Junior Championship (The Sean Leddy Cup, named after the late Sean Leddy, a Butlersbridge and Cavan player) in 2002 and also won Cavan A.I.B club of the year in 2002 and 2003, the achievements in 2004 were rather special. Early that year Cavan Gael club-man Mickey Graham was appointed as team manager, with selectors Ronan Flanagan, Paddy McGovern and later Dr. Gerry McDermott. Mickey's first aim was to win promotion to Division 2. That was achieved through an excellent league campaign, where they topped the league table. In the top four play off for the league trophy Butlersbridge were edged out by Shercock who in turn were beaten by Redhills. The Second aim of the management team was to get a good run in the Junior Championship. Again this was fully achieved when on a September Saturday in Ballyconnell's beautiful new pitch, Butlersbridge beat near neighbours Redhills in the Junior Championship Final Replay, on a score of 0-14 to 1-06. Two weeks earlier the teams had drawn the final in Breiffni Park. The Sean Leddy memorial Cup was making its way back to Butlersbridge for the second time in three years. The captain Pauric McGearty, was recently honoured when he was voted Cavan Junior player of the year for 2004, by the Anglo-Celt readers and the Shannon Side/Northern Sound listeners - a great honour for Pauric, his family and his Club. The Reserve Team reached league and Championship semi-finals. Further success on the playing field came during the summer of 2004 when the under 12 team won the Roinn D League for the first time in many years. Great credit goes to their mentors, Paddy Greenan, Harry Conaty and Paddy Leddy. In the final they defeated Kill. That success was built upon in October of 2004 when Butlersbridge National School won the Cumann na mBunscol competition, with a great win over Ballynarry N.S. in the final. Terry Leddy was in charge of this team and is in no doubt that gaelic games are alive and well in the Butlersbridge area. A young camoige player from the village, Brid Boylan playing with the Castletara club was voted Camogie player of the year for 2004. The successes of Butlersbridge in 2004 can be attributed to a number of things. Firstly there is a very sound under-age structure in place spear-headed by Paul McCorry. A team of willing workers are prepared to work with the youth and encourage them along. Secondly the committee structure in the club is excellent. The club officers - Chairman - Gerry McPhillips, Secretary - Tara McGearty, Joint Treasurers - Sinead Gilsenan and Andrew Boylan Jnr put in trojan work and are extremely well organised. The fund raising committee can boast, that over the years, the club has never been in debt despite all the work that has been done. As the club looks forward to 2005 there are good reasons to be optimistic, having won the Junior Championship Butlersbridge took part in the Ulster Club Championship and after an easy win over St. Bridgets of Antrim they faced Stewardstown from Tyrone in the Ulster semi-final. After a fantastic display they were, rather unfortunately, edged out by one point, Stewardstown went on to win the Ulster Final. Hopes are high that 2005 can be another successful year and that some of our talented young players will go on to wear the blue jersey of Cavan. Castletara complete Centenary dream The game of camogie has been played for the last one hundred years and last year throughout the country, different events and competitions were held to mark the centenary of the establishment of the sport. In Cavan, one of the highlights of the camogie calender in 2004 was the staging by the Cavan County Camogie Board of a special Centenary Shield nine-a-side competition and also a Cup competition. Unsurprisingly when it came to sorting out the winners, the usual suspects came to the fore with Crosserlough defeating Bailieboro by 3-1 to 0-3 in the Shield final and Castletara emerging victorious in the cup competition. The Shield tournament was staged at Kill Shamrocks' ground in Rathluden while the final of the cup competition was held at Boyle Park, Drumgoon in front of a good attendance. The cup competition was keenly contested with Drumgoon, Ballinagh and championship winners Castletara reaching the knockout stages with some glorious, open play. In the opening game of the tournament, the hot favourites, Castletara, took on host side Drumgoon in a tie which many believed would have a major bearing on the destination of the spoils. To the surprise of all the pundits though, the game turned out to be a rather lop-sided encounter on the scoreboard with the Ballyhaise-based side emerging clear winners by nine points, 2-3 to 0-0. However, in fairness to the losers, the final scoreline hardly reflected their true worth and, for the most part, Drumgoon quite often gave as good as they got from open play. Indeed one of Castletara's more impressive players on the day was their goalkeeper Geraldine Mulvanny whose timely interceptions and keen eye saved Castletara's bacon on several occasions. Ultimately though, Drumgoon's fate was sealed by their failure to match Castletara's potency and guile in the final third of the field and, therein, lay the principal difference between the sides. The second game of the competition saw would-be winners Castletara take on a vaunted Ballinagh side in a game which was always destined to go down to the wire. Thankfully, the game fully lived up to the pre-match billing as one team and then the other sought to gain a vice-like grip on the exchanges only to see their 'grip' loosened in double-quick time. It is said that all champions need a wee bit of luck to carry them over the finishing line in pole position and in reflecting on their Centenary triumph, perhaps the Castletara team will look back on their win over Ballinagh as a tad fortunate. To the winner the spoils though, and Castletara's victory was certainly deserved even if it was in the end by the narrowest of margins, 0-4 to 1-0. With Samantha O'Reilly and Katie Gavin in particularly fine form for the town team, Castletara had to pull out all the stops to successfully advance their cause in the competition. And despite some consistent pressure late in the game by Ballinagh, the experienced Castletara troupe stood firm to hold out for a hard-earned victory. In the third game of the competition, it was a case of sudden death as Drumgoon and Ballinagh went head to head in their bid to meet up again with Castletara in the decider. After a very close but sporting contest, Drumgoon caused somewhat of a surprise by beating their opponents after a high-tempo affair by four points. And so to the final and the pairing of Castletara and Drumgoon in a game which promised to be a much more closely-contested game than their initial meeting earlier in the competition. And so it proved as Drumgoon put their former poor result behind them to test the champions-elect to the full in a game fairly befitting the significance of the tournament. Understandably, tensions were high in the final with both sides acutely aware of the importance of the game and the high-profile of the competition and, in truth, the quality of the play suffered somewhat from the tentativeness and nerves in evidence. As such, plenty of untypical mistakes ensued on both sides with clearcut chances created in front of the respective goals far and few between over the the course of the hour. Adding to the tension factor which served to undermine the final as a spectacle was the high degree of close and often brilliant tackling on the part of both combatants. Still, there were some very, very good individual performances on display and in Elaine Reilly and Aisling O'Reilly, Castletara had two outstanding performers whose displays did most to negate the influence of Drumgoon's main players, Caroline Shalvey and Pamela Crowe. However, in the end, Castletara's better balanced side, superior nous and greater experience stood out in a big way and conspired to deliver another comfortable victory. After such an all-conquering year, it was perhaps fitting that Cavan's finest team should emerge on top of the pile in the Centenary Cup competition. Castletara has arguably been the top camogie club in the county over the last twenty years and, as such, the fact that the club came out on top in the cup was, perhaps, wholly predictable. Tweet

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