No club has dominated the Monaghan Gaelic football scene down through the years as has the Castleblayney Faughs club, frequently dubbed 'The Mighty Faughs' and for very good reason. They hold more Monaghan Senior Football Championship titles than all other clubs combined, and even though they are not the current holders of the crown, they are, and have always been, the chief contenders in the title race. This year Castleblayney Faughs have just celebrated one hundred years of tremendous continuing success on the Monaghan scene and certainly no-one, at least in our day, will ever see their proud achievements being equalled or even remotely approached. On 12th November 1905 the Castleblayney club was founded in a room at Beech Corner, a prominent landmark in the town, and the first meeting was chaired by the local curate, Fr Mark Clinton. There had been an earlier club in the town, dating from circa 1888, and called Castleblayney Gladstonians, later called Castleblayney William O'Brien's and later still 'The Young O'Brien's' which took part in championships and tournaments of that period. That club went out of existence, however, and it was only when Willie McGrath came to the town as Town Clerk in 1902 that the great Faughs club came into being three years later. An article entitled 'Short Sketch of Co. Monaghan Football in the Past' written by 'Point Post' was published in the 'Co Louth GAA Annual 1905-06' and included the following interesting piece - "Castleblayney had an excellent team, the Gladstonians who were a pretty active set and played many decisive games, amongst which they defeated the Carrick Sextons, and engaged the Carrick O'Brien's soon after, but retired from the field before the finish, with the latter club three points ahead." At the inaugural meeting on 12th November 1905 at Beech Corner, Fr Clinton was elected as chairman and Willie McGrath as secretary and team captain. Two years later they took their first ever Monaghan Championship title when they defeated Monaghan Harps, 0-9 to 0-4 in the final, played on 29th March 1908. This was the first in a string of amazing successes, a further thirty-six County Senior Football Championship titles being brought home to the mid-Monaghan town, as well as almost two hundred other trophies, making Castleblayney Faughs one of the most successful clubs, not just in Co. Monaghan but in the entire country. Nine years would elapse before the second championship title came their way, defeating Clones in the 1916 final and then retaining the title the following year when they defeated Clontibret in the 1917 decider. The 1917 champion selection was; Willie McGrath (captain), Peter McGrath, Tom McGinn, Tom Farrell, M Kavanagh, W Fleming, Packie Daly, Mickey Loughran, Owen Marray, Johnnie Marray, James Burns, John Flanagan, J Comiskey, Dick Kiernan, F Finnegan. The club set up an amazing record during the same highly successful period, with twenty four consecutive victories. They rounded it off when their second-string won the first recorded Monaghan Junior Football Championship title the following year, 1918. The 1917 team also made history by winning the first ever Ulster Club Championship, which was inaugurated that year but then fell by the wayside. 'The Best in Ulster' marked them as a club set apart, and they would regain their title many years later, in 1986 and 1991 when that particular tournament became officially recognised by the Ulster Council. The 'thirties was a particularly rewarding decade for the Faughs, as they captured the county title in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937 and 1939. During that period, they had not only a county player but a national and inter-national star to lead them, in the person of the late Christy Fisher, often described as 'The Daddy of them all'. He first togged out in the 'Blayney jersey with the local National School team. On leaving school he joined the staff of the local Post Office, and on the formation of the National Army in 1922, he enlisted for a two years period. As soon as he donned the Faughs senior jersey he immediately came to the attention of the county selectors and was drafted onto the county team, where his speedy elusiveness and unerring marksmanship, coupled with the distinctive catch-and-kick style, of which he was the perfect exponent, made him a certainty for every county selection thereafter. He first played for the county in 1924 and, from there until 1938, his was the first name to be written down by the selectors each year. As one county official later put it - "We wrote Fisher's name down first and then picked the rest of the team around him'. He won several county championship medals, two Dr. McKenna Cup medals, and three Ulster Championship medals. Picked for the Ulster Railway Cup team on several occasions, he was a substitute on the Ireland team that played America in the Tailteann Games of 1928 and played on the Monaghan team in their first ever All-Ireland final appearance in 1930. Castleblayney took their first three-in-a-row in 1933 when they retained their 1931 and 1932 titles, thus equalling the record previously set up by Carrickmacross. Great names of that period were Christy Fisher, Billy Mason, Johnny Moore, Jimmy Duffy, Benny Leavy, Joey Farrell, the Marray brothers, the Hughes brothers, Owenie Duffy, the Loughmans, Joe McElroy, Gerry Carragher, Tom Flanagan, Jack Burns and Charlie McGrath to mention just some. In 1937 they defeated Donaghmoyne in the final, 1-6 to 1-4 with this team: - P Hughes, P Brady, J Conlon, Tony Bradley, J Hanratty, Billy Mason, P Murphy, Owenie Duffy, Frank Kelly, D Ward, Christy Fisher, B Connolly, M McMahon, Jack Burns and John Loughman. WW2 then took a hand, but Castleblayney were still strong enough to bring the title home again in 1939, 1940 and 1946, the latter their 13th title win, but then began a losing sequence and it looked as if that 'unlucky thirteen' would never be passed. Beaten but unbowed in the 1960, 1961 and 1962 finals, they finally came through in 1963 to break the 'rising hoodoo'. And so began an amazing resurgence, this 'new era' Castleblayney team became practically unbeatable. They defeated Ballybay 0-5 to 0-3 in the low scoring 1963 final and went on to break their own record and set up a new one by winning the championship for an amazing and first ever five-in-a-row of Monaghan titles in 1967. Some of their most outstanding players of that era were Tony Loughman, Tony Carville, Mac Moore, Tom McManus and Gerry Fitzpatrick to mention just five. The record breaking team of 1967 defeated Clontibret, 2-9 to 1-10 in the final with this team: Tommy Duffy, Frank Marron, Tony Carville, Noel Carville, Eamonn Toal, Brian Duffy, John Duffy, Tom McManus, Dinny Brereton, Brian 'Barney' McDonald, Gerry Fitzpatrick, Tony Loughman, Peadar Kerley, Brendan Irwin and Eamonn Tavey. If the 'sixties were great for Castleblayney, the 'seventies were even greater, with no less than six championships coming their way in the new decade. In 1970 they overcame Clontibret in the final, 1-10 to 0-9, with this side: - Brendan Hughes, Frank Moran, Brian Duffy, Harry Conlon, Martin Moore, Mac Moore, John Duffy, Tom McManus, Tony Loughman, Tony Brennan, Brian McDonald, Gerry Fitzpatrick, Maurice Hanratty, Eamonn Tavey and Brian Murphy. Sub used: - Brian Malone. Eamonn Tavey was captain when they took the 1971 title, with a youthful Des Mulligan figuring at corner forward. In 1973 they recorded their first four-in-a-row with Kevin McNeill, Gene McManus, Larry McKenna, Thomas Hughes, Pat McEneaney, Vincent McDonald and Brian Duffy among the new arrivals. In 1976 they took their 25th title with a youthful Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes now coming to the fore, not to mention Phil Brady and Anthony McArdle, among other newcomers. "Nudie" would soon become the 'second Christy Fisher' leading the team for the next dozen years and winning recognition on Ulster and Irish 'All Star' selections. Castleblayney added to their glory with great performances right through the 'eighties and nineties'. And following the Millennium Year, they immediately began planning for their Centenary Year of 2005. First event was a trip to Dromore in Co. Tyrone where they held their Centenary Mass on Thursday 18th August, especially offered for the founder of the club Fr Mark Clinton, and following which a wreath was laid on his grave in Dromore cemetery. Saturday November 12th 2005 would be the 'Big Day' - one hundred years to the day - and they celebrated in style at a Gala Dinner in the Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney, where the main guest and speaker was Nickey Brennan, president-elect of the GAA. A major photographic exhibition was also put on display but, more important than anything else, it was an occasion for the meeting of old friends, not to mention an 'exaggeration' (as one reporter put it) of the many parts played in great championship battles of long ago. Castleblayney celebrated in style, and justifiably so, as there has not been their equal in Monaghan's footballing history, and there hardly ever will be again. We say 'Well Done' to the might Faughs and long may you reign. BLAYNEY HURLERS MAKE HISTORY 2005 will go down in the annals of C'Blayney hurling as the year they made the big breakthrough in Ulster and created a first in the process. Firsts are special and there was no doubt that winning the Paddy O'Rourke Cup, the trophy for the Ulster Junior Hurling Club Championship, was very special to them. The cup commemorates a special Monaghan man and one who had done much to put Inniskeen on the hurling map, so much so that they almost scuppered C'Blayney's championship aspirations in their golden Jubilee year. The fact too that they were the first winners of this new trophy was also special according to team captain Michael McHugh. "It's a great honour to be captain of any Castleblayney team but to be captain of the first that wins an Ulster title, that is a big honour for me personally and the fact that it is the Paddy O'Rourke Cup adds to that honour. Paddy was one of the all time greats in Monaghan and it is great that this cup is going to Monaghan first, he would have liked that." The senior hurling championship this year had a new format with five teams taking part following the courageous decision by Inniskeen to affiliate for the senior championship. That meant a preliminary round game when the new kids on the block were pitted against the reigning champions with Inniskeen serving notice that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the not too distant future as they ran the champions to two points. "We were lucky" C'Blayney manager Jarlath Denny was to admit afterwards and he even recalled that on the day they clinched the Ulster title; "Inniskeen could well have been here today instead of us as they gave us our hardest game in the whole championship and it is a proud day for us that we take the Paddy O'Rourke Cup back to C'Blayney and when we are celebrating we will be thinking of Paddy," he said. To get there though C'Blayney had to play a lot of hurling and dig deep into their reserves of strength and commitment but it was in their young players that they had the basis for the big breakthrough. Gary Boyd was inspirational, Declan Crowe improved with every game, Brian McGuigan showed a range of skills and touches beyond his tender years, Alan and Stephen Lambe are developing into two very accomplished players, Patrick Conlon, Jimmy Bates, Paddy Collins and Gordon Coleman all made sterling contributions and when that was added to the experienced core of the team it was the right mix. That experience came in the likes of Rory Woods, David Connolly, Barry Reilly, Paul Murphy, Jim McHugh, Michael McHugh and Ciaran Connolly. Following their victory over Inniskeen it was on to the two leg semi final against Clontibret and two cracking games with a point by Stephen Lambe three minutes into stoppage time in the second game seeing Castleblayney clinch the narrowest of victories in an exciting contest that built to a sizzling finish. The victory was all the more noteworthy in that they played the final seven minutes of the first-half and the entire second half with 14 players following the dismissal of Ciaran Connolly. "Fortunes changed throughout but there were some passages of fine play and another excellent performance from Gary Boyd whose high fielding was a feature of our game. We only carried a two points advantage into the second leg so it was always going to be tough and we could afford any mistakes. We were level at half, 1-4 each and we got a great start to the second half with a goal and three points without reply to open a six points gap. Clontibret came back at us and drew level with eight minutes left and we really had to dig deep to hold out". In the final Castleblayney experienced little difficulty in retaining their senior hurling championship title in what was a fairly low-key decider in Gavan Duffy Park, Monaghan. Castleblayney were never headed in this encounter after Barry Reilly opened their account with two early points. "That settled us down early but Carrick could have been closer at the end if they had converted more of and we killed the game off as a contest completely in the 22nd minute of the second-half Rory Woods, and Brian McGuigan conspired to release Barry Reilly who made no mistake from close range". Teams and Scorers v Carrickmacross: Hugh Cullen, Jimmy Bates, Jim McHugh, Paddy McArdle, Alan Lambe, David Connolly, Gordon Coleman, Declan Crowe, Paul Murphy 0-1, Patrick Conlon, Michael McHugh 0-2, Steven Lambe, Patrick Collins 0-1, Barry Reilly 1-6, Brian McGuigan 1-4. Subs; Gary Boyd 0-1 for P Collins, Rory Woods 1-0 for S Lambe, Wayne Funcheon for P Conlon, David Murphy for P McArdle. Following their county success C'Blayney moved on to the new Ulster junior club championship and literally cantered through to the semi-final after recording a facile 22 points victory over Cavan champions Mullahoran, St. Joseph's, in Kingscourt. The predatory instincts of Rory Woods who posted a personal tally of three goals and two points was the platform for this Castleblaney success while Ciaran Connolly at full forward, Mickey McHugh at wing half from frees and Gary Boyd all contributed substantially. The game as a contest was effectively over at the halfway stage when Castleblaney led by 3-9 to 0-1 although better finishing could have seen Mullahoran with a few more scores on the board. A goal by Rory Woods four minutes into the second-half turned the contest into something of a procession and while the standard of play deteriorated in the second-half there was simply no way back for the Cavan champions. The semi final was a different affair but C'Blayney deservedly booked their place in the final with seven points to spare over Burt in Dungannon. "Burt had proven something of a stumbling block to us in the past but on this occasion we had the answers and on the day Paul Murphy, Jim McHugh Gary Boyd and Declan Crowe drove us on to victory. We were dominating the outfield exchanges with Gary Boyd and Declan Crowe working extremely hard around midfield but poor finishing was again a problem and while we led by a goal at half time I thought we should have been further in front. We missed a couple of chances in the early minutes of the second-half but Declan Crowe and Gary Boyd again worked very hard to keep us on track and any time Burt threatened we were able to respond. We built up a four or five points lead and I knew we would need that because Burt had caught us late before. They did have a good spell and caused us a few problems but the defence and Hugh Cullen held firm but it wasn't until we got our second goal from Patrick Conlon that the game as a contest was effectively over and we were through to the final." The game against Strabane was fixed for Dungannon but problems with pitches saw the game moved three times on the morning of the match and eventually it was played in Donnelly Park, Trillick. Despite the heavy rain during the weekend the Trillick pitch was in great condition but the game as a contest was marred by a very strong cross-field wind that made life difficult for everyone but particularly forwards as it was difficult to judge the flight of the ball even in short passing movements. "The changes of venue did have an unsettling effect in that there was an uncertainty as to where we were going to play the match and that probably affected the concentration a little bit as we had to contact cars on the road and change arrangements. That might have effected us as it took us a while to get going and we couldn't blame the wind completely for that but I suppose we fell into the old habit that it took us a while to get settled down but when we did get going I thought the boys played very well even though it wasn't an easy day for hurling". Castleblayney were only headed once in the entire contest but they regained the lead in the 12th minute when a speculative centre from Michael McHugh deceived the Strabane keeper. " It was a lucky goal," McHugh admitted afterwards but when it came it kick started a purple patch that saw C'Blayney up the tempo to hit seven points without reply between the 19th and 33rd minutes to go in eight points in front of the break, Castleblayney 1-8, Strabane 0-3. Strabane started the second half with renewed purpose and an early point by Patrick Shields got what developed into a close third quarter under way with the sides exchanging points on four occasions but the C'Blayney defence was coping well. The early minutes of the final quarter however saw Castleblaney step up their performance again and a goal and four points without reply between the 20th and 26th minutes effectively wrapped up the title. "In the second half the forwards were doing the business and the defence really got stuck in with young lads like Jimmy Bates and Declan Crowe doing the business. It was a good all-round performance and everyone did very well although coming into this game we found it hard to pick the team because we have a strong panel. That's a good thing though but it does give us problems in selection and we wanted to get a few boys in at the end there, lads who have been putting in the work during the year and deserved to get a run in an Ulster final but the main thing was we came out on the right side and at the end of the day in a final winning is the important thing". Teams and Scorers v Strabane: Hugh Cullen, Jimmy Bates, David Connolly, Patrick Conlon, Declan Crowe, Jim McHugh, Paul Murphy, Gary Boyd 0-1, Alan Lambe 1-0, Barry Reilly 0-1, Rory Woods 0-4, Michael McHugh 1-4, Brian McGuigan 0-2, Ciaran Connolly, Steven Lambe 0-3. Subs: Paddy McArdle for P Conlon, Gordon Coleman for B Reilly. Others on the panel: David Murphy, Patrick Collins, Peter Treanor, Wayne Funcheon, Padraig Kelly, Daniel Duffy, Sean Connor. Tweet

Most Read Stories