Courage and vaulting ambition were the cornerstones of Aghabog's magical march to the JFL title in '08. Team-captain Gary McBride takes up the story. By Kevin Carney. It was the importance of the win to the club more so than how sweet it was. It was crucial that we bounced back after getting relegated last year." Aghabog captain Gary McBride's considered assessment of his team's JFL final success is replete with the sort of honesty which he and his team-mates brought to the table in 2008. If economy of effort is the quality which defines a successful side, then McBride's economic use of words to sum up the significance of Aghabog's title triumph is more than apt. The couple of years spent by Aghabog in the cloying bearpit of junior football were obviously tortuous for McBride and co. and the need to gain a release was a huge dynamo. "No disrespect to the rest of the teams at junior but we just had to get out of the division for the sake of the development of the younger lads in the squad," McBride explains. Aghabog had plenty of players of toughness, illusiveness and dynamism but, curiously, McBride ain't about to shout his mouth of about his team being the best junior team around. He argues that Aghabog deserved to clinch a place in intermediate ranks in 2009 because of the players' consistency and commitment over the course of some ten months. "Everyone of the lads put in 110% into the campaign and we were always one of the top four best teams in the league during 2008. "The team showed a lot of determination to hang in there all year, especially after losing out in the championship to Toome in Clontibret which was a real dagger in the heart. "After every championship defeat, a bit of soul-searching needs to go on. The championship was our priority - there's no point in saying otherwise and it was very disappointing. "We thought that we'd make good use of the backdoor system after going down to Clones but we didn't avail of it and so we paid the penalty as a result. "It looked a bit like mission impossible for us to come out of 2008 with some silverware but we dug in and rebounded and it's a great credit to the lads and the management team. "We may not have been the best junior team in Monaghan over the year but there's a lot to be said for a team that sticks it out for the whole season and wins the league win. "It (title win) was well-merited and I think both Killeevan who we beat in the semi-final and Currin would probably agree that we stuck it out the best of everyone." Having scared the pants of would-be provincial champions Drumhowan in their championship joust, Killeevan, for their part, certainly made Aghabog earn their place in the final. But Aghabog proved their credentials and showed a steely self-assurance as they powered their way to a hard-earned 2-9 to 1-8 victory in Threemilehouse in early November. Aghabog made a lot of the early running and were three points in front approaching the half-time whistle when Killeevan hit the jackpot with a goal to level matters at 1-4 apiece. One minute into added-on time, Shane Mulligan converted a free to ease Aghabog into a one point interval lead but it was a lead that was to come under consistent scrutiny. Initially it seemed to be plain sailing for Aghabog on the restart with Declan Smyth making it a two point game and then Francis Dolan pointing moments later to leave three in it. Between the 36th and 43rd minutes, Aghabog's goal was peppered but Killeevan's marksmanship left a lot to be desired but by the 48th minute only one point divided them. With the game finely balanced, the adage which ordains that 'when the going gets tough . . . ' was ushered in with a rejuvenated Aghabog side having one eye on the chequered flag. Aghabog got a huge leg-up with ten minutes to play when they were awarded a penalty when Declan Smyth was fouled. Our correspondent from Aghabog central takes up the story: "Every penalty is nerve-wreaking and there was a bit of pressure there and I have missed enough over the years, including one earlier in the year against Killeevan. "But I just concentrated on getting it on target and close enough to the posts to make it as difficult as possible for their 'keeper," recalls the 'oftimes Drumkill Rovers FC ace. Gary's successful spot-kick ("pulled us away from them") guided his side back into a four points advantage and cemented Aghabog's place in the driver's seat. Killeevan kept coming back though and reduced their deficit to just three points before a point by Ian Brady - after good work by Shane Brady - had insurance stamped all over it. "It was hard going beating Killeevan but I think the fact that every time they came up and scored, we were always able to hit back almost straight away which was very encouraging. "There was great spirit in the camp all year anyway; Tony McGorman brought in Alan O'Neill (Cullaville native) and he brought an extra element to the training and match preparations. "I think he (O'Neill) was able to introduce a more professional attitude to the training and matches. I suppose he must have taken a bit of the Armagh mentality with him to Aghabog." Reflecting on Aghabog's passage to the meeting with the Sarsfields, Gary fingers his team's gritty display against Toome in the early part of the season as portends of a good run. "I think it was only the second game of the season, up in Toome, and we got a vital point," recalls Gary, shortly to commence his 10th season at adult level with Aghabog. "I got a broken nose in the first ten minutes of that match but the rest of the lads showed a lot of character and determination that day. "We knew that if Toome got on top of us they could go on and dictate things but there was loads of fight and grit in the lads and it was great in the hospital to hear the result. "It was a tough but funny kind of season all-round though. We were beaten by Drumhowan at home and then turned around and beat them on their patch - that was a big two points. "A lot of people would have said that Drumhowan were the strongest team in the league but beating them, even though it was just by a point, was a great boost to the team's morale." Interestingly, Gary maintains he wasn't surprised that Currin beat Drumhowan (0-11 to 0-7) in the other JFL semi-final tie. "I know what Currin are like over the years. They beat us by ten points in Currin in the middle of the season and they've some quality forwards along with Dick Clerkin." Still, Aghabog were to prove too strong for the Scotshouse-based troupe, winning by 2-7 to 0-9 at St. Oliver Plunkett's Park, Emyvale in mid-November. Two second half goals did the trick for centre-back McBride and co. after they went in at half-time trailing by the odd point in nine, after the sides were level on three occasions. Aghabog looked to be in trouble at the start of the second half as they increased their lead to four points but then in the 39th minute Aghabog hit the jackpot. Mark McBride sent in a high delivery which was collected by Declan Smyth whose looping shot went in over the head of the advancing Currin 'keeper. Francis Dolan popped up moments later to knock over the leveller for Aghabog while at the other end a great save by Sean McBride kept Aghabog's goal intact. Shane Mulligan later rifled over a free to edge Aghabog back in front but Currin levelled and with the game racing to a conclusion, a draw looked the more likely result. However Aghabog had other ideas and they duly struck for the killer blow with just under four minutes of normal time to play. Gregory Treanor raced through on goal and screwed his shot into the path of Shane Brady who wasted no time in pulling first time and finding the Currin net. Currin tried everything in their locker to pull the fat from the fire but a Derek McCarville point at the death for Aghabog was the last score recorded. "Luckily it all came right on the day for us," Gary enthuses. "Some people have suggested that our name was on the cup but I don't go along with that. "I think a team makes its own luck - you only get the luck you deserve. The ball dropped kindly to Shane (Brady) but he still had to connect with it well and beat the 'keeper. "Over the hour and a bit, I thought we were the better team anyway. It'll be good to get back to intermediate and we're already looking forward to it." Tweet

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