Corduff achieved their primary goal for 2010 by winning the Monaghan junior football championship, beating Cremartin in a thrilling final after a replay. Thus, the club returned to intermediate ranks at the first time of asking. Not content with that, they subsequently blazed a blistering trail through the province to qualify for the Ulster junior club championship final. Therein, they made history by beating Cavan champions Swanlinbar by 2-7 to 0-8 at Breffni Park on Sunday December 12th. Despite the controversy that followed it was still a magnificent year for Corduff.

When the draw was made for the 2010 Monaghan JFC in late January, Corduff were paired with Fergal O'Hanlon's in the preliminary round. Over ten months later, the Gaels were still very much involved in championship football as, having claimed county glory, they were waiting to meet Swanlinbar in a re-fixed Ulster junior club championship final, the original fixture having been postponed due to the arctic conditions that gripped the country in late November / early December. When the game was played in Cavan on the second Sunday in December, Corduff recorded a magnificent win to claim provincial glory. What a journey it was!
Of course, the Cavan champions were subsequently awarded the provincial title after objecting to the involvement of Corduff substitute and goalscorer Padraig Keenan. But this doesn't alter the fact that Corduff had won where it counted - on the field of play.
That preliminary round match in Monaghan against the O'Hanlons was played on Thursday May 27th and Corduff ran out convincing 3-17 to 1-1 winners. The match took place in blustery conditions at Blackhill and it was only in the fourth quarter that the champions-elect really imposed themselves on proceedings. Corduff led by seven points at the break (1-5 to 0-1) and coasted to victory thereafter, with full forward Raymond Byrne wreaking havoc. In the final 15 minutes, the winners reeled off 2-7 without replay as they marched through to the next round.
The team on duty against Fergal O'Hanlon's was: Jason Hand; Ciaran Malone, Ciaran Brennan, Gerry Mee; Shane McNally Snr. (0-1), Declan Larkin, Shane McNally Jnr. (0-1); Shane Connolly, Fran Monaghan (1-1); Martin Mills (0-2), George McKitterick (0-3), Lee McArdle; Noel Crossan, Raymond Byrne (2-5), Mark Gilsenan (0-2). Subs: Paddy McMahon, Alan Mee, Pauric Gollogly (0-1), Niall Reilly (0-1), Michael Fox (0-1).
It was a much more competitive contest when Clones provided the opposition in the first round proper at Ballybay on Sunday June 20th. On this occasion, Corduff survived a late scare to progress to the last eight with four points to spare, 2-9 to 1-8. A Clones goal reduced the gap to three with twelve minutes remaining but Corduff kept their composure to deservedly advance. County minor Keith McEnaney put in a solid shift, while Martin Mills also caught the eye.
Mills hit the leveller after Clones had opened the scoring and Raymond Byrne also drew them level in the 12th minute. A minute later, Declan Larkin had the winners ahead for the first time but Clones got back on terms on 16. The losers then moved two ahead before Gareth King's goal turned the match on its head. McEnaney and Pauric Gollogly points ensured a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead. When McEnaney found the net again in the first minute of the second half and added a free four minutes later, the game was done and dusted. Mills put the margin to six before Clones battled back, but two late McEneaney points made sure there was no doubting who would go through to the quarter-finals.
Corduff's team for this one was: Jason Hand; Gerry Mee, Ciaran Brennan, Paddy McMahon; Gareth King (1-0), Shane McNally Jnr., Christopher McEnaney; Fran Monaghan, Shane Connolly; Pauric Gollogly (0-1), Declan Larkin (0-1), Martin Mills (0-2); Brendan McNally, Raymond Byrne (0-1), Keith McEnaney (1-4). Subs: Cathal Connolly, George McKitterick, Aidan Ward.
Next up were neighbours Killanny and Corduff showed their class to prevail by 1-10 to 0-7 at Inniskeen on Sunday July 4th. There was a gael-force wind tearing across Pairc Grattan but Corduff adapted superbly, tailoring their game accordingly in each half. Brendan McNally had a big say after coming off the bench in the second half, while a total of six Corduff players got on the scoreboard - as opposed to two for Killanny. It was a bad-tempered game at times but the winners led from the second minute, when George McKitterick opened the scoring. Raymond Byrne added two points before McKitterick netted the game's only goal. Martin Mills made it a six-point game after 19 minutes and Corduff led by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time. Despite playing into the wind, Corduff led by six at the end of the third quarter as their shortpassing game took them across the winning line.
The Corduff side that beat Killanny at the quarter-final stage was: Ben Woods; Paddy McMahon, Ciaran Brennan, Alan Mee; Christopher McEnaney, Gareth King, Shane McNally Jnr.; Cathal Connolly (0-1), Declan Larkin; Pauric Gollogly; George McKitterick (1-2), Martin Mills (0-1); Keith McEnaney, Raymond Byurne (0-2), Mark Gilsenan (0-2). Sub: Brendan McNally (0-2).
And a final berth was sealed by virtue of an excellent 2-11 to 1-9 defeat of Killeevan at Emyvale on Friday September 3rd. With the bit between their teeth from the off, Corduff were the more purposeful and focussed side. A brace of George McKitterick (2-2) goals inside the opening quarter sent Corduff on their way and they never looked back. Raymond Byrne also had another effective outing on the edge of the square, finishing the evening with four points in brackets after his name. As had been the case through practically all their games in the championship thus far, Corduff were never headed and (leading by nine at one stage in the first half) bossed proceedings from the front of the field. Killeevan closed within two points seven minutes into the second half.
These are the men who booked passage to the JFC decider: Darren Byrne; Paddy McMahon, Ciaran Brennan, Gerry Mee; Shane McNally Jnr., Declan Larkin, Gareth King; Shane Connolly, Cathal Connolly; Pauric Gollogly (0-1), Keith McEnaney (0-1), Martin Mills (0-1); Shane Malone (0-2), Raymond Byrne (0-4 ), George McKitterick (2-2). Subs: Brendan McNally, Ben Woods, Christopher McEnaney.
Thus, Corduff has reached a championship decider for the first time since 2002. Therein, they faced Cremartin at Aughnamullen on Sunday, September 26th. It was the first-ever JFC final meeting of these two clubs.
Eight days earlier, the club's minor team had taken on Killanny in the Division two championship final at Ballybay. Corduff started brightest with two points in the opening stages, the first coming from Keith McEnaney after a Brendan McNally run. Blain McEnaney added the second after a great catch from Jason Hand. Killanny responded with 2-02, the first goal coming after a great save from Kyle Christy. Corduff's backs worked hard, especially Charles Cooney, David McGardle and Christopher Mc Mahon.
Brendan McNally pulled back two points before the break, both coming from frees after hard work from Stephen Farrelly and Cathal McEnaney. Killanny went in leading by five points.
Corduff's management's half-time talk must have worked as - within the opening seconds after Jason Hand and Blain McEnaney got their hands to the throw-in and worked a ball to Padraic Keenan, Ben Woods connected and hit the back of the net. Padraic Keenan then pulled the margin back to two points, after some great fielding from Mark McEnaney. Keith McEnaney added another point. Corduff drew level after a great catch from Mark McEnaney and run by David McGardle … Blain McEnaney finished the run with a point.
With all the momentum behind them, Corduff went a point ahead with a score from Padraic Keenan after a great pass from Brendan McNally. The sides were level with seven minutes left. But Killanny ended the game with two unanswered points, leaving the final scoreline reading: Corduff 1-8, Killanny 2-7. It was hard luck for the club's minors, but they had done themselves proud.
Returning to the JFC, draws seemed to be very much in vogue in Monaghan this year and the original county JFC final ended level, 1-10 apiece, with Cremartin finding an equaliser four minutes into added time. Prior to that, early in the last quarter, Pauric Gollogly's goal had put Corduff ahead for only the second time in the match and they looked destined for a battling win. All in all, it was an excellent match played out dramatically at a frenetic pace and the draw was a fair result. Cremartin had led by 1-4 to 0-5 at the interval and moved four points clear within nine minutes of the resumption, but this Corduff side never concedes defeat, rallying back with a rip-roaring run of 1-4. The double introduction of Ben Woods and Brendan McNally
The team in the drawn county final was as follows: Darren Byrne; Paddy McMahon, Ciaran Brennan, Gerry Mee; Shane McNally Jnr., Declan Larkin, Gareth King; Shane Connolly (0-1), Cathal Connolly (0-1); Pauric Gollogly (1-2), Keith McEnaney (0-1), Martin Mills (0-1); Shane Malone, Raymond Byrne (0-1), George McKitterick (0-1). Subs: Ben Woods, Brendan McNally (0-2), Shane McNally Snr.
The sides returned to Aughnamullen the following Saturday. Brendan McNally and Ben Woods had made major impacts in the drawn game so there was plenty of food for thought for Shane Donoghue (co-manager), Raymond Byrne (co-manager), Ciaran Connolly (selector), Barry McArdle (trainer) and Brendan McEnaney (selector) as they sat down to figure out their game plan. What would be their formation for the replay?
As it worked out, the management quintet resisted the urge to start either of their super-subs and bravely went with the same starting XV again. It all went superbly as they won the Packie Boylan Cup with a wonderful 0-14 to 2-6 success at Sarsfield Park. Player-manager and top scorer Raymond Byrne added three more points to his competition tally, bringing it to an impressive 3-16. All in all, it was a superb year for the new backroom team, who took charge after the club had been relegated at the end of 2009.
Gary Boyd's goal three minutes from time made it a nervy ending to the decider but Corduff had opened a six-point gap by the 55th minute and that cushion saw them home safely. Centre back Declan Larkin delivered a memorable Man of the Match display and - amid a great all-round team display - there were also brilliant endeavours from Shane McNally Jnr. and Keith McEnaney along with the impressive George McKitterick. Corduff started the better with points from Pauric Gollogly and McKitterick inside four minutes. However, a goal from Darren Bishop two minutes later and a point from Kevin Atkinson suddenly had Cremartin in front. Martin Mills and Shane McNally Jnr. had the winners level but Cremartin - who were losing the battle territorially - went back in front. Corduff finally began to make their dominance count and finished the half with three unanswered points from Keith McEnaney, Raymond Byrne and Mills to lead by 0-7 to 1-2 at the break.
That lead was wiped out within nine minutes of the resumption. It was now that Corduff took control to put some daylight between the sides. Shane McNally Jnr., Gollogly and Byrne (free) established a lead that they would maintain until the end. Liam McVicar made an important save and McNally, Byrne, McKitterick and McEnaney were all on target as Corduff led by six with only five minutes left. Cremartin rallied with a goal and point but it was too late and there was no denying Corduff a first JFC title in eight years.
Corduff, 2010 Monaghan junior football champions: Darren Byrne; Paddy McMahon, Ciaran Brennan, Gerry Mee; Shane McNally Jnr. (0-2), Declan Larkin, Gareth King; Shane Connolly, Cathal Connolly; Pauric Gollogly (0-2), Keith McEnaney (0-3), Martin Mills (0-1); Shane McNally Snr., Raymond Byrne (0-3), George McKitterick (0-2). Subs: Ben Woods, Brendan McNally, Shane Malone.
In the Ulster junior club championship, Corduff drew their opener with Killyman of Tyrone at Campbell Park, Coalisland (1-12 each) before winning the replay at Inniskeen on Sunday, October 24th - 1-10 to 0-7. A week later, on Halloween, they progressed to the last four with a 1-8 to 0-6 win over Naomh Colmcille of Donegal. Armagh champions St Colmcilles (Grange) provided the provincial semi-final opposition and Corduff won by 0-15 to 0-10 to set up an Ulster final date with Swanlinbar of Cavan. The game was originally postponed due to the severe weather nationwide in late November.
Victory in the decider on December 12th completed the journey in style before Corduff were rather cruelly stripped of the provincial crown when Ulster Council penalised them for using an U16 player in an adult match. Tweet

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