It was a long road that seemed to have no turning, but the turn came at last, and for the footballers of Tyholland, it was the most welcome 'turn' in their half century history ... a history that has seen them finally take the giant step into senior grade football for the first time ever, writes Seamus McCluskey. For this tremendously enthusiastic and energetic club in north Monaghan, Sunday 11th November 2001 must surely go down as the most important date ever in their record books. Other parties may have been celebrating the end of hostilities of a major world conflict on that particular date, but for Tyholland folk, it was the dawn of a new era; a step into the history books; a new beginning that opens up all sorts of possibilities for a club that has never been afraid to face challenges in the past, and a club that can surely be depended upon to grasp this whole new scenario with both fists and prove to the Monaghan sporting world that a dynamic new force has arrived on the football scene and is both eager and willing to take on the might of such great names as Faughs, O'Neills, etc., etc., The Intermediate League title and the Fr. Hackett Cup trophy that accompanies it have long eluded Tyholland's grasp and their disappointing defeats in the closing stages of this competition so often in recent years had even labelled them as a team that just hadn't got what it takes to win such an important title, but they finally settled the issue with a comprehensive display in the 2001 League Final and won their all important ticket to compete in the elite echelons of Monaghan football. The tag of "the nearly team" was finally ditched and the critics were finally silenced. Tyholland had "arrived" and, quite, rightly, rejoiced as they had never rejoiced before, while it will be "woe betide" those established senior strongholds if they think they are in for an easy ride when they take on this white-and-red brigade in the major competitions of 2002. Things did not look that bright in the early part of the season when they were defeated in their very first game by Drumhowan, 0-8 to 0-7, at the Drumhowan venue on Sunday 25th March. Significantly, it would be Drumhowan whom they would defeat in the final of the competition eight months later. Interestingly too, the Tyholland line-out on that first occasion was: - Damien Casey, Mark Treanor, Kevin McQuaid, Kevin Kavanagh, Ian Treanor, Gary McQuaid, Gregory Ronaghan, Cyril Ronaghan, Raymond Ronaghan, Sean McQuaid, Peadar Farrelly, Xavier Coyle, Ozzie Hughes, Paul Askin and Mark Finnegan and their scorers were: Paul Askin 0-4, Rayond Ronaghan, Cyril Ronaghan and Xavier Coyle 0-1 each. Matters could only improve, however, and they collected both points in their second outing when they met close neighbours Monaghan Harps at St. Patrick's Park and won by 1-9 to 1-5, Ozzie Hughes scoring the all important goal in the first half. A 1-8 to 0-7 away win over Aghabog followed and Tyholland were beginning to "fly high" as was very obvious in their next outing when they defeated ultimate Intermediate champions Ballybay by 3-9 to 2-8 and, after five series of games, they were sitting nice and comfortably in second place in the league table on eight points, just one behind leaders Drumhowan. The championship then intervened and Tyholland proved their worth when they lowered the colours of the hot favourites Drumhowan by 1-10 to 0-8 in the first round at Clontibret on 20th May. An unimpressive draw with Sean McDermott's 1-8 to 0-11, followed on 19th July at Emyvale, Xavier Coyle coming to the rescue with a late point but Tyholland made no mistake in the replay at the same venue the following Saturday evening when they had two points to spare, 0-11 to 0-9. Peadar Farrelly, was the top scorer on this occasion with five points to his credit in a fully deserved victory that put Tyholland through to the semi-final stages. A draw with Drumhowan in that semi-final saw Tyholland produce some of their best football of the year in the replay at Rockcorry a week later when they scored a deserved 1-11 to 2-6 victory that won them a place in the Intermediate Championship Final where they would meet Ballybay. Unfortunately, it would not be Tyholland's day as they lost narrowly to the Pearse Brothers, but the league title was still there for the taking and Tyholland would not be found wanting. After seven league games they still trailed Drumhowan by that single point, having won six of their seven outings and with Gary McQuaid and Raymond Ronaghan now starring on the county senior side, things were looking very bright indeed. Another trio of league victories followed, the most important of which was the 2-12 to 0-12 victory over Ballybay at Pearse Park. The significance of this one would become apparent when the mid-Monaghan club took the Intermediate Championship. A further string of successes followed, to earn Tyholland an important place in the semi final of the competition. In this they met Sean McDermotts on Sunday 4th November and Peadar Farrelly once again proved himself to be the side's "sharp-shooter supreme" in their 1-10 to 0-9 victory. At half-time Tyholland led by 1-7 to 0-4, Xavier Coyle having opened Tyholland's account with a point in the very first minute. Peadar Farrelly was also the goal scorer when he found the net in the eleventh minute. Tyholland had lined out as follows: Dwayne McCarey, Pauric Treanor, Kevin McQuaid, Owen Roe Kavanagh, Gregory Ronaghan, Raymond Ronaghan, Ian Treanor, John McConnell, Cyril Ronaghan, Xavier Coyle, Paul Askin, Mark Finnegan, Gary McQuaid, Peadar Farrelly and Paddy Hughes. Subs used: Barry Duffy and Paul Treanor. And the scorers were: Peadar Farrelly 1-3, Paddy Hughes 0-3, Xavier Coyle 0-3 and Paul Askin 0-1. It was now a case of "all systems go" for the final. Gavan Duffy Park in nearby Monaghan town was the venue for the final and Sunday 11th November was the date. The opposition would be provided by old rivals Drumhowan, a team that they had only enjoyed mixed fortunes with in the earlier clashes of the year. Tyholland, however, were taking no chances on this occasion, and it was a determined side that trooped out on the pitch under the eagle eye of referee Mickey Conlon, Castleblayney. Despite a tremendous performance, Tyholland still found themselves in arrears at half time, 0-5 to 0-7 but they applied the required pressure during the second period. With time running out, it was all square at eleven points apiece, but then long-serving player John McConnell took a hand in the proceedings and sent over the all important winner for the north county side, that saw them through to a 0-12 to 0-11 victory. That Tyholland team must surely go down in Monaghan football history. It read: Dwayne McCarey, Owen Roe Kavanagh, Kevin McQuaid, Pauric Duffy, Gregory Ronaghan, Raymond Ronaghan, Ian Treanor, Cyril Ronaghan, John McConnell, Mark Finnegan, Paul Askin, Xavier Coyle, Paddy Hughes, Peadar Farrelly and Gary McQuaid. Scorers were: Paddy Hughes 0-5, John McConnell 0-2, Xavier Coyle 0-2, Paul Askin 0-1, Peadar Farrelly 0-1 and Gary McQuaid 0-1. The scenes at the end of this one were truly remarkable. Tyholland folk who have been following football at their lifetime have never experience anything like this before. Almost half a century has gone since they first played in Monaghan Junior football, gradually progressing to the intermediate grade, but never before had there been a senior team in Tyholland, one of the smallest parishes in the county. County Chairman, Gary Carville, required ages before he was given the opportunity to present the trophy to the winning captain, Cyril Ronaghan, a player who led by example right through the campaign. In fact, the Ronaghan brothers have proven themselves the real back-bone of the Tyholland team during 2001 and, with a family of footballers like this in their line out, a lot more is going to be heard of this Tyholland team in the year ahead. But it wasn't all a one family affair - there were stars all over the place and it would have been very difficult to find even the semblance of a weak link in the entire panel. What a welcome sight Tyholland will be in the senior football championship of 2002. At long last there is a brand new name there, and the established senior clubs of the county are going to have to contend with a lot more than they expect. Intermediate teams have come up to senior ranks in the past, only to find themselves demoted a short time later, but this Tyholland side will not be demoted ... not in the near future, not even in the remote future. Quite rightly, the GAA in Monaghan extends a very hearty Cead Mile Failte to the Tyholland men to senior grade football and don't be surprise if the incoming county board chairman will be making yet another presentation to them in the months ahead, and it won't be intermediate ranks on this occasion. Tyholland add McKeown Cup to trophy haul Tyholland added to their glorious Hackett Cup success by scooping the Reserve League Division Three title in November last when beating Cremartin by 1-13 to 0-9 in a thoroughly entertaining decider at the well-appointed Clontibret ground. Fielding a number of the players who had figured in that aforementioned Hackett Cup success, Tyholland were to prove too strong for their opponents in most sectors of the field and, in the end, their seven point victory didn't flatter the winners. Tyholland led from pillar to post over the hour and although Cremartin were on level terms at 0-2 apiece after eight minutes, that was as good as it got for the Shamrocks. Inspired by the marksmanship of Xavier Coyle, Tyholland were much more clinical in their finishing in front of goal on a day which was perfect for football. Tyholland didn't waste any time in getting into their stride with a point by Keith McDonald in the third minute setting the tone for the game. Another point by Xavier Coyle put Tyholland in pole position although their opponents hit back with two points of their own to remind the winners-elect that the title would have to be earned. The enforced substitution of Paul Treanor due to a knee injury didn't help matters for Tyholland but, nevertheless, they slowly but surely began to get a grip on the exchanges. Indeed from the 15th to the 24th minute, it was all Tyholland with the aforementioned Coyle adding four more points to his personal tally with Alan Finnegan rowing in with one further point to leave Tyholland enjoying a five point lead with 24 minutes played. Cremartin tried everything they knew to get back into touch but a great point blank save by Dwayne McCarey kept them in frustrated mode. As things transpired, a brace of points by Mark Finnegan and Xavier Coyle left Tyholland in clear water at the interval, leading by 0-9 to 0-3. Tyholland continued to show their opponents a clear set of heels on the restart with points by Alan Finnegan and Barry Farrelly in the 36th minute catapulting the winners-elect into an eight point lead. Tyholland were coasting it at this stage and it wasn't long before the coup de gras was applied, the honour being left to Alan Finnegan who first-timed to the net after an initial attempt by Mark Finnegan was scrambled off the line by the Cremartin defenders. The winners-elect were content thereafter to play out time with a third point by Barry Farrelly 12 minutes from the death marking the team's final score. By then the game was all over bar the shouting. Tyholland's superiority was never in doubt. The following is the Tyholland team, subs and scorers, that lifted the McKeown Cup with victory over Cremartin: Dwayne McCarey; Paul Treanor, Barry Duffy, Mark Treanor; Owen Roe Kavanagh, Sean Treanor, Paraic Duffy, Paul Treanor, Conor McCoy, Sean McQuaid, Mark Finnegan (0-1), Xavier Coyle (0-6), Barry Farrelly (0-30), Alan Finnegan (1-2), Keith McDonald (0-1). Subs used; Paul Myers, Brendan McQuillan, Alan Farrelly, Michael Creighan, Paul Mullen. Tweet

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