November 4th last was a day which offered all success-hungry clubs a mighty injection of hope and confidence. Blackhill's achievement in swooping to claim the Crawley Cup with a magnificent win over Scotstown in a well-contested decider at Rockcorry was, quite simply, a great day for the underdog. The gaels of Blackhill have had to show the patience of Job over the years. Times have been tough for the success-starved club over the years. In fact there aren't too many of the local faithful still around who can remember with any great clarity the club's intermediate double win of 1953 - the club's most recent great hurrah. That never-to-be forgotten league and championship success had been preceded by similar joy in the Dr. Ward Cup. Those were high-octane, heady days for the Blackhill club. Sadly, nothing vaguely similar - bar a sprinkling of underage trophies - was seen in the locale . . .up until last November that is. In terms of proximity, Blackhill may be county kingpins Castleblayney Faughs' nearest neighbours but that's really where the relationship between the two clubs starts and finishes. There's light years difference in the resources and, frankly, football talent which currently exists between the record-breaking Faughs and their country cousins. However, in all other respects, Blackhill can hold their heads high. Blackhill is a proud club and as committed to the ideals and aspirations of the GAA as any club in county Monaghan. The rock-solid gaeldom that is Blackhill has shown tremendous resolve, ambition and dedication over many barren years. Who then could begrudge the club its Crawley Cup success in 2001 - its first adult success since that aforementioned 1953 double. What a difference a year makes. In 2000, the Blackhill club could scarcely be confident of fielding a full team in the Crawley Cup from one round to the next. In 2001 they proved to be the best in the county, well-merited victors in the competition and endowed with the sort of potential which bodes very well for the rejuvenated club. With the advent of Pauric Loughran and Phil Courtney to the helm as joint-managers of the Blackhill Crawley Cup panel, a new sense of purpose and direction was lent to the reserve team's campaign. Fortunate enough to be able to inherit a group of underage players rich in talent and bursting with enthusiasm, the plans laid down by the Loughran/Courtney axis just after Christmas were to work to a tee. Simply said, things couldn't have worked out any better for the duo as they set about bringing some much-needed silverware to the club. Under the expert training of Kieran Mulligan, the players attached to Blackhill's two adult teams responded with gusto to the promptings of Mulligan and the respective team-managements as the season progressed. While defeats in the Junior B league were inevitable, lessons were nonetheless learned from setbacks such as that suffered at the hands of Killeevan. All lessons learned would be put in the locker and teased over in pursuit of an illustrious Crawley Cup win. Blackhill's Crawley Cup campaign began with a predictably tricky preliminary round opening joust with a highly-fancied Truagh side at the Blackhill venue. After a tense, see-saw contest, the winners-elect contrived to make hard work of the challenge before eventually edging home on foot of a one point win. One down, four to go. With under 16 starlets, Stephen Duffy, Michael Woods and Colin Woods, adding much zest and youthful exuberance to the team, Blackhill next faced the challenge of Monaghan Harps. In many ways, the game against the Harps was to be the making of the would-be champions. In some ways, it could be said that Blackhill performed a great escape against the county town team for the rural-based side looked ill at ease in a first half which was dominated by the Harps. Like true champions though, Blackhill rolled up their sleeves in determined fashion and restricted their opponents to just a single point in the second half while - inspired by ace goalpoacher Colin Woods - bagging a hat-trick of goals themselves after the restart. The significance of Blackhill's win over the Harps couldn't really have been appreciated at the time of course but those who witnessed the victory were fulsome in their praise of the character, will-to-win and pride demonstrated over the hour by the Blackhill players. Behind by nine points at half-time, Blackhill fairly flew out of the blocks on the restart and played some brilliant football for the duration of the second half to triumph by the narrowest of margins. A quarter-final meeting with Killeevan in Killeevan now beckoned. It was a match which again saw Blackhill at their very best. Blackhill had been beaten by Killeevan in an earlier league meeting and were favourites to advance in the corresponding Crawley Cup tie but the script was promptly torn up by Blackhill as they impressed in romping to a seven points win. Led superbly by the 'veteran' and captain of the team, Tony Comiskey, Blackhill's dander was well and truly up by now. The defence was miserly, the midfield hard-working and the forwards in fine scoring form. Everything was panning out just nicely. The semi-final pairing threw up the proverbial mother and father of all local derby matches in Doohamlet with Blackhill down to lock horns with the host team. Played in difficult conditions, the game resulted in a comprehensive 6-7 to 2-4 win for Blackhill with all six forwards hitting the target with Colin Woods topping the scoring charts with two goal brace. By that stage the Blackhill faithful were eyeing the silverware. Only Scotstown - victors over Clones in the corresponding semi-final clash - now stood between Blackhill and the winners' enclosure. In what was a real test of character for the young Blackill crew (average age, approx. 19), the match underdogs came through their test with flying colours. Having created their own wee bit of history in making it through to the decider, the Blackhill players fairly made up for the disappointment of losing out in the under 21 Division Three final just the previous week with a tremendously gutsy 0-13 to 2-4 win. Ironically, it was the vanquished who started the game in more sprightly fashion. The north Monaghan side leaped into the lead with a goal after just five minutes. A point one minute later by the Blues added to Blackhill's concerns. However Blackhill gradually got a foothold in the match and playing some intelligent, direct football turned things around in their favour courtesy of points from Darren Woods (3), Stephen Duffy (2) and two converted frees by Colm Woods to leave Blackhill 0-7 to 1-1 to the good. Just before half-time Scotstown rallied and successfully reduced the deficit at the break to two points. It was Blackhill who were out of the blocks the quickest on the restart and a Darren Woods point on the break served to extend his side's lead. A point moments later by team-mate Colin Woods boosted Blackhill's prospects of victory even further. It was nip and tuck entering the final quarter with both sides giving it their all in pursuit of the silverware. Four points separated the sides as Tony Cumiskey exchanged points with Scotstown's Paul Rooney. Scotstown recognised that time was ebbing away and in a desperate push to save the match, they careered forward and were rewarded with a goal by from a penalty in the 52nd minute which was converted to leave just the minimum between the sides. It was now all to play for and no quarter was given as the tackles flew in but in a very sporting fashion. It was Blackhill though who proved to be the most resilient of the combattants with match-winning scores coming off the boots of Eamonn Byrne and Colm Woods. The final score of Blackhill 0-13 Scotstown 2-4 fairly reflected the closeness of the exchanges but also the meritorious nature of Blackhill's ground-breaking win. For the record, the following is the Blackhill team, scorers and subs, which featured against Scotstown at Rockcorry in the Crawley Cup final: Alan McArdle; Peter Walsh, Terry Woods, Michael Woods; Martin Griffin, Eamonn Byrne (0-1), Barry Callan; Brian McGuinness, Stephen McQuaid; Stephen Duffy (0-2), Tony Cumiskey (0-2), Stephen Courtney; Colm Woods (0-4), Darren Woods (0-4), Brian McShane. Subs used; Gerard Donnelly, Ciaran Woods. Blackhill's Year For a club that has seen hard times in the past fifty years, the year 2001 will probably rank as one of the best they have experienced in generations. A first Junior Championship victory in many years arrived over neighbours Toome on the 22nd July in Aughnamullen when they had six points to spare on a scoreline of Blackhill 0-10 Toome 0-4. The team returned to the same venue a week later only to suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of the eventual winners of the Junior Championship, Doohamlet. While the team struggled through the league without making much headway it was left to the second string the Junior B side who competed well in the league and fared better in the Junior B championship. In the first round they defeated Truagh by 0-12 to 0-10. They were drawn against Monaghan Harps in the next round and on Friday the 15th June young Colin Woods was the hero with a goal in the very last minute of the game to give Blackhill a place in the quarter final against Killevan on a scoreline of Blackhill 3-3, Monaghan Harps 1-7 The quarter final was played in Newbliss on Wednesday the 9th July where Blackhill advanced to the semi-final with a good win. Final score Blackhill 2-8 Killevan 0-9. Colin Woods and Tony Cumiskey were the goal scorers for Blackhill. Blackhill were now drawn against near neighbours Doohamlet and this game was played on Sunday the 14th October in Doohamlet, where Blackhill qualified for the Crawley Cup final on a scoreline Blackhill 6-7 Doohamlet 2-4. This game was played in a down pour and it was a credit to both teams that they produced an entertaining hour's football. Blackhill led by 3-2 to 0-4 at halftime, their goals coming from Stephen Courtney, Stephen McQuaid and Gerard Donnelly. In the second half Blackhill continued where they left at halftime with a goal a piece from Darren Woods, Colin Woods and Gerard Donnelly to secure a place in the final against Scotstown. Team and scorers, Alan McArdle, Peter Walsh, Terry Woods, Michael Woods, Martin Griffin, Stephen McQuaid, Barry Callan, Brian McGuinness, Eamonn Byrne, Stephen Duffy 0-2, Tony Cumiskey 0-1, Stephen Courtney 1-0, Colin Woods 3-0, Darren Woods 1-2, Gerard Donnelly 1-2. Subs: PJ McShane for Tony Cumiskey, Paul McShane for Barry Callan, Martin Cumiskey for Michael Woods and Brian McShane for Martin Griffin. Team Trainer Kieran Mulligan selectors Phil Courtney and Pauric Loughran. One would have to say that progress was made by the club in 2001 and with a bit more commitment from the players more silverware could be on the side board. With a good juvenile structure in place in the club and young talent coming through the ranks the future of Blackhill Emeralds GFC looks bright, with coaches of the calibre of Phil Courtney, Seamus McEneaney, Pauric Craig and Pauric Loughran at the helm. Other events to recall during the year was a very successful football match between the married men and the single men which raised a substantial amount of money for local charities. The sports day on August Bank Holiday was marred by the inclement weather conditions while the club celebrated the first anniversary of it's new social centre during the August Bank holiday weekend by staging a very successful Carnival. The social centre is proving to be a great success for functions and is being used by patrons from a wide area. So another year comes to an end and everyone at Blackhill Emeralds GFC is looking forward to 2002 with anticipation. Minor and Under 21 scene Both these teams performed very well during the year and both reached their respective league finals. The minor team competed in the 3rd division for the St Dympna's Cup and reached the semi-final and a meeting with Drumhowan. The game ended in a draw and the replay took place in Doohamlet on Monday the 3rd of September. It turned out to be a very entertaining game with Blackhill ahead at the final whistle by two points. Final score; Blackhill 4-9 Drumhowan 4-7 The final against Doohamlet was played on Saturday the 15th September in Drumhowan and ended in a draw 1-8 each. The replay took place in Oram on the 22nd September and it turned out to be a cracking game. The teams were still level at full time and the game went to extra time and still could not be separated final score Blackhill 1-18 Doohamlet 2-15. The second replay took place in Drumhowan on the 6th October. Blackhill could not find their form on the day and it turned out to be a disappointing hour for the team as they were beaten by a better Doohamlet team. Final score; Doohamlet 3-6 Blackhill 0-3 Our Under 21 team defeated Killanny, Oram, Rockcorry and Cremartin to reach the knock-out stages of the Under 21 League Division 3. Rockcorry were their opponents and the game took place in Doohamlet on the 8th September with Blackhill reaching the final on a scoreline; Blackhill 3-5 Rockcorry 2-7. Team and scorers; Martin Comiskey, Michael Woods, Barry Callan, Gerard Caulfield, Stephen McQuaid, Brian McShane, Brian McGuinness, Eamon Byrne, Stephen Duffy 0-3, Darren Woods 0-1, Stephen Courtney, Colin Woods 2-1, Gerard Donnelly 1-0. Juvenile Scene The year 2001 saw two county board titles coming to the club at under 13 and under 14 level while the under 12 team reached the Magill Cup final and were beaten by Oram. The Under 14 team won the Farney Cup on the 19th July in Donaghmoyne when the defeated Oram 3-13 to 0-7. The whole team played with great determination from the start with the hero of the game Paul Murphy in goals who brought off some fantastic saves. Gerard McArdle, Ciara Malone, Shane and Sharon Courtney held the Oram attack at bay. Niall Loughran and Michael Slevin dictated matters at midfield while Daryl Craig, Alan Donnelly, Pauric Murphy and Dermot Malone did the damage up front. There were scenes of great jubilation when the captain Niall Loughran was presented with the Farney Cup by Jimmy Finnegan of Bord na nOg. The Under 13 season commenced on the 21st August. The team competed in Division 4 and remained unbeaten throughout the league with victories over Killevan, Corduff, Currin, Latton and Oram. On Saturday the 22nd September they had a comprehensive win over Corduff in the final and capped a fantastic season by bringing the Cabra Castle Cup back to Blackhill. The Under 12 team competed well in the league reaching the semi-final before losing to Oram on a final score line Oram 4-7 Blackhill 1-6. Our under 15 team were unfortunate not to have reached the league playoffs while the Under 16 team were defeated by Corduff in the championship and failed to qualify for the league semi-finals. On Friday the 22nd June, 51 of our juvenile players visited the museum at GAA headquarters in Croke Park and everyone had a wonderful day. John Costello and Johnny Courtney spent Sunday mornings during the summer coaching up the 30 young players from the Under 10 and Under 11 age group the basic skills of the game and by all accounts the talent is there with a lot of hard work to be done in the years to come. All in all a most successful year for our juvenile teams and mentors involved Pauric Craig, Kieran Donnelly, Mac Malone, Seamus McEneaney, PJ Harkin, Seamus McQuaid and Tom Griffin can be well satisfied with their years work. - Blackhill GFC Tweet

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