Currin, one of the oldest clubs in Co. Monaghan (founded in 1886), are back in Intermediate ranks for the first time in thirty years, and have captured the Dr. Ward Cup (Junior Football League) for the first time since 1951, an achievement that surely ranks with the very best produced in Monaghan during 2004. By Seamus McCluskey. Their presence in the upper grade of football is one of the most eagerly looked forward to aspects of next year's competitions. It was 1951 that Currin captured the Dr. Ward Cup for the first and only time in their history, prior to 2004, and that great team is surely worth remembering at this juncture. The side that defeated Cremartin in the Final, delayed until April 1952, was;- Joe Connolly, Jimmy Boylan, Joseph Donaghy (capt), Mickey Beggan, Philip Moore, Charlie McEntee, Philip Clerkin, Michael Moore, James McGarvey, Eugene Moore, Petey Beggan, Jemmie Connors, Hubert Kearns and Mick Quigley. The League campaign for the Dr. Ward Cup opened on Sunday 22nd February when Currin faced a tough assignment when they travelled to Lough Egish to take on Aughnamullen, a side not that long back from Intermediate ranks. Currin, however showed signs of things to come when they returned to Scotstown with full points from that opener. This was followed a week later when they had Cremartin as visitors and again emerged victorious, 1-7 to 0-3, against a team that would feature much in their proceedings later on in the year. What a start - four points from two games. Scorers for Currin in this, the first home game of the year, were:- Gerard O'Callaghan (0-5), Ben Clerkin (1-0), Gareth Beattie (0-1) and Darragh Quigley (0-1) and the team lined out as follows: Waylon McEniff, Stephen McQuaid, Paul Rudden, Michael Quigley, Stephen Beattie, Thomas Maguire, Gareth McPhillips, Dick Clerkin, Seamus McQuaid, Gerard O'Callaghan, Ben Clerkin, Francis O'Callaghan, Declan Smith, Shane Morgan and Gareth Beattie. Subs used:- Sean Brady, Darragh Quigley and Paudie McQuaid. After a three weeks break Currin travelled to Toome on Sunday 28th March and were surprisingly held to a draw on a final score-line of Toome 3-3, Currin 0-12. Two first half goals had left the home side leading by 2-2 to 0-6 at the break, but Currin came much more into the picture in the second period. The scorers on this occasion were:- Dick Clerkin (0-5), Gerard O'Callaghan (0-4) and Gareth Beattie (0-3), and the team showed a few changes from the first two games, lining out thus:- Thomas O'Connor, Mark McEntee, Paul Rudden, Thomas Maguire, Stephen Beattie, Michael Quigley, Gareth McPhillips, Dick Clerkin, Seamus McQuaid, Gerard O'Callaghan, Ben Clerkin, Declan Smith, Shane Morgan, Aidan Rudden and Gareth Beattie. Subs used:- Darragh Quigley, Sean Brady and Thomas Maguire . Currin kept up their unbeaten run when they had neighbours Killeevan as visitors on Sunday, 11th April and the sides finished level at 1-6 each, the first of some great games between the clubs later in the year. Waylon McEniff was back in goals for this one, and the scorers on this occasion were:- Gareth Beattie (1-1), Dick Clerkin (0-3), Stephen Beattie (0-1) and Eoin Morrow (0-1). Currin were now joint table toppers along with Corduff, the team that would probably provide their stiffest opposition later on. By coincidence, their next game was against these same south county opponents but Currin really gained a psychological advantage when they travelled to Corduff and brought home both league points on a final score-line of Currin 1-11, Corduff 0-10. A week later Oram were visitors to Currin and the home side really showed some of their class in this one, winning convincingly by 3-8 to 0-5. It was now four wins and two draws from six games played. Could the unbeaten record be kept up? - that was the burning question. The answer came when they travelled to Killanny and again proved victorious, winning by 1-11 to 0-10. The Junior Championship now intervened and there was little challenge in the opening game when Currin proved far too strong for newcomers. Fergal O'Hanlons, winning by 4-18 to 0-3. With the issue never in doubt, Currin took the opportunity to give five of their subs a run out. Scorers in this big win were: Gareth Beattie (1-4), Ben Clerkin (1-3), Dick Clerkin (0-4), Declan Smith (0-4), Tommy Maguire (1-0), Paudie McQuaid (1-0), Stephen Smith (0-2) and Stephen Beattie (0-1). Staying with the Championship, Currin drew with their neighbours Killeeven, 2-6 each, in the next round, but won the replay by 0-13 to 0-11, but then exit from the series when Cremartin proved the stumbling block, but it is the Dr. Ward Cup League programme that we are really concerned with here, so, even though the Championship had gone, the league title still beckoned. And how sweet would be some of their final victories in the competition. After eight series of games Currin were still undefeated, having won six and drawn two. With wins over Blackhill and Aughnamullen, plus a couple of walkovers, Currin were still in the happy position of breathing down leaders Corduff's neck, twenty-six points from fifteen games, twelve won, two drawn and only one defeat. A place in the 'top four' was now assured and Currin could afford the luxury of trying out all their panel of players in the concluding games. One of their finest performances in this, the closing stages, of the league campaign was a fine 0-13 to 1-5 victory over visiting Toome. Corduff were still in pole position, however, and the tension was creeping in as Currin were paired with neighbours Killeevan for the semi-final stage. This eagerly awaited contest was at Scotshouse, as Currin had finished in second place on the League Table and so were entitled to home advantage, on Sunday 24th October. Currin eventually proved victorious although they were helped somewhat by an opportunist goal shortly before the end, but they had proven the better side for the greater part of the game and certainly deserved their victory. At the half way stage Currin had their noses in front, 1-3 to 0-4, and county star Dick Clerkin put them further ahead shortly after the re-start with two well taken points. It was tit-for-tat entering the closing minutes but Currin finished the stronger of the two on a final score-line of Currin 2-9, Killeevan 1-8. Currin had lined out for this one as follows: Waylon McEniff, Stephen McQuaid, Paul Rudden, Tommy Maguire (0-1), Stephen Beattie, Michael Quigley, Gareth McPhilips, Seamus McQuaid (1-0), Dick Clerkin (0-6), Conor McCaffrey (0-1), Francis O'Callaghan (1-0), Gareth Beattie, Gerard O'Callaghan (0-1), David Rafferty and Ben Clerkin. Sub used:- Stephen Smith. Sunday 31st October was the date for the Dr. Ward Cup final against the much fancied Corduff side, who had filled pole position for practically the entire League campaign and who had also overcome their semi-final opponents. Clontibret was the venue this time and what a contest ensued. Despite conceding a couple of early goals, Currin fought back bravely, but were still in arrears at the half-way stage, 3-3 to 1-4. A great opening to the second half, however, saw Gerard O'Callagan find the Corduff net and the issue was now very much in the melting pot. With time running out, Corduff still had their noses in front but O'Callaghan again came to the rescue, when he once again found the Corduff net in injury time, to draw level and send the game to a replay. Final score 3-7 each. Currin had lined out:- Waylon McEniff, Stephen McQuaid, Paul Rudden, Tommy Maguire, Stephen Beattie, Michael Quigley, Gareth McPhillips, Stephen McQuaid, Dick Clerkin (1-5), Gareth Beattie, Ben Clerkin, Francis O'Callaghan (0-1), Gerard O'Callaghan (2-1), David Rafferty and Conor McCaffrey. Subs used:- Declan Smith, Sean Brady and Shane Morgan. The replay took place the following Sunday, 7th November, at the same venue and what a result was forthcoming for the Scotshouse side as they triumphed by 1-10 to 0-11 and so earned for themselves a place in the history books and promotion to Intermediate ranks for 2005. Corduff were again installed as hot favourites to succeed as they had played for much of the drawn game with fourteen men, but they hadn't reckoned with the fighting spirit of the Currin brigade who, led by county player Dick Clerkin, showed that they are going to be quite a handful for the other Intermediate teams in next year's competitions. The Dr. Ward Cup had not rested in Currin since 1951 and there was no way that it would be allowed to slip from their grasp on this occasion. With time running out, it looked as if that might be the case, however, but this time it was Gareth Beattie who came to the rescue, with the right-half-forward finding the Corduff net for the winning goal well into injury time. It was a dramatic end to a dramatic game in which the south county side had led for most of the way, and were three points in front at the interval, 0-7 to 0-4. The sides were level on two occasions in the nail-biting second half and, as the game went into injury time, Corduff appeared to be coasting when they sent over a vital point only to see that slender lead disappear with Beattie's 'late-late' goal that sent the Currin supporters into delirium. The side that did Currin proud on this occasion and brought the Dr. Ward Cup back to Scotshouse for the first time in over half a century was as follows:- Waylon McEniff, Stephen McQuaid, Paul Rudden, Tommy Maguire, Stephen Beattie, Michael Quigley, Sean Brady, Seamus McQuaid, Dick Clerkin, (0-6), Gareth Beattie (1-0), Ben Clerkin, Francis O'Callaghan, Gerard O'Callaghan (0-3), David Rafferty (0-1) and Conor McCaffrey. Sub used:- Paudie McQuaid. Tweet

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