Corlough can look back on their 2008 season with some degree of satisfaction and hope. Their performances throughout the campaign saw them record one of their best league finishes in the many years. With twelve games gone out of a possible thirteen, Corlough found themselves in a mid-table position with thirteen points just four behind leaders, Kill who were on seventeen points. Their thirteen point margin at this stage in the league saw them tied with three other teams, Laragh, Swanlinbar and Templeport. This impressive league standing is something that Corlough as a football club have not achieved for many years. This great progress is indeed commendable and when taken into account the geographic location of the Corlough club, their climb up the Division 3 table is indeed noteworthy. Nestled on the Leitrim border, Corlough is the last outpost of Gaelic football in west Cavan. Over the years, the club's nearest neighbour was the powerful bastion of Leitrim football, Aughawillan. When Gerry Prior, the club's PRO was asked what it was that made the difference from a near top of the table finish as opposed to lower end of the table he was magnanimous in his response. "I suppose you could not factor in any one thing. You have to look at the broader picture, and to that end, the contribution made by the coaches and selectors over the previous seasons who all contributed in their own way. A team is forever evolving and as such, it takes many inputs to help yield the desired result. We have been fortunate this year to have secured the services of a superb coach. Cathal Murphy from Kinawley took up the position of coach - manager, and he proved to be an excellent choice. This year we were fortunate that we had a healthy panel to choose from and with no real emigration drain, the club had the perfect start to the 2008 season. Our only absentee was the highly influential Fintan McGovern, who was on overseas duty with Irish army serving with the U.N," stated the club PRO. The new management team was completed with the acquisition of two selectors. Former Leitrim inter county player, Frank Smith was appointed along with the club's PRO, Gerry Prior. Frank had been a selector for the previous two years so his appointment provided a form of continuity to the process. Both Frank and Gerry have a wealth of knowledge of the players and conditions that exist at the club. Their appointment was indeed a step in the right direction as they were in a position to help guide the new manager as he came to terms with his new portfolio. Gerry points out that with Cathal Murphy, the club took a new approach to their competitive games. "With the arrival of Cathal, we began to see a systematic approach not only to his training but also to the way we went about preparing for games. He left nothing to chance and analyzes everything right down to the minute details. His philosophy that nothing is too small to leave to chance has indeed been a welcome approach. His professional outlook to his new remit as manager of the Corlough squad left no-one in any doubt as to his intentions for the club for the coming season. "The response from the panel was immediate and Cathal's professional approach had the desired effect. His motivational techniques helped to bring a greater belief to the squad while he revamped and gave a fresh approach to our training. It is generally agreed by all football people that a new voice on the training grounds or in the dressing-room is a good thing. We are working with a small panel of just twenty four players, so we can count ourselves lucky that we had no significant injuries to hamper our attempts to get the best out of the squad. We are a relatively young side, with many of the players in their early twenties. From the outset, the management team set out goals that we felt were both realistic and achievable. We began to see the players respond in a positive manner to the new management approach and the benefits began to accrue in the form of winning league games," stated Gerry. "While Rome was not built in a day, so too was our progress as we let slip some games that we felt we could have shaded. Even when the team slipped up the approach of the manager was always positive and his analysis as to why we lost out helped redeem and restore the self belief necessary to go on and get back to winning ways. The only black spot on the club's march through the Division 3 league were the championship performance. For the past number of seasons our early exit from this competition has become something of a concern. This year was to prove to be no different as we tasted defeat at the hands of Arva in the first round. The old failings of past championship skirmishes came back to haunt us. This was a game we could have won but let slip. Our follow up game in the relegation battle did little to turn the tide of fortune as we went out rather tamely to Butlersbridge. It is hoped that the team will have gained valuable experience with their good league performance during 2008 and use their experience from the league campaign when they set out in pursuit of championship honours in 2009," added Gerry. Gerry showed his realistic side when he set out what the management and the club would be looking for in the 2009 season. "To be frankly honest if we at Corlough hope to make a serious impact in either the league or championship then we have to look no further than what was achieved in 2008. It should be the starting point for the coming season, not the finishing point. I have no doubt that all the players at the club feel the same as the management and will be hoping to build on what was achieved during the 2008 season. It is not inconceivable to see Corlough make it to the final stages of the league and put themselves in a position to gain promotion. We certainly have enough young talent at the club to achieve this and with the present management team making a commitment for a further year then it is realistic aim. "Our championship displays have been a source of disappointment to the players over the past years and this is something that they would dearly love to rectify. Our aim should be to take one step at a time in the cauldron of championship football. When we see the achievement of a small club like Mountnugent in making it to the final then they should act as an inspiration to all of us. We played Mountnugent back in the league and were down by six points at half time. A spirited second-half performance during that game saw Corlough not only overhaul that deficit but go on to register a five point winning margin. It is performances like this that should act as inspiration to the players and show them that they have the fortitude of mind and braveness of character to overcome such hurdles. We would hope that in 2009 that Corlough as a club would make progress and get to the knockout stages of the championship. Our aim should be to get to a quarter-final and from there it is anyone's guess. These should be the targets for both players and management during 2009 and having performed so well during the 2008 season it is both realistic and achievable," stated a determined Gerry. At underage level, Corlough team up with neighbouring club, Swanlinbar to form Dernacrieve Gaels. A spirited display by the U12s saw them edged out at the semi-final stage of the Roinn C championship against a very lively Killygarry side. At U14 and minor little impact was made as they exited from their respective competitions. "The Corlough club would like to acknowledge the great work put at this level by Aidan Cassidy, Gerry Doonan and Eoin Doonan. Working with upwards of sixty juveniles, both girls and boys, they have coaching sessions throughout the entire season. Their efforts have been Trojan and unswerving and hopefully in the future their charges will go on to take one of the major trophies in their respective age groups. Our local national school, Tullyveela NS has shown the benefits of this coaching with both the boys and girls contesting the finals of their respective school groups," confirmed Gerry. Feile According to Gerry the hosting of Feile was a great occasion for the West Cavan club. They were hosts to Westmeath champions, St. Loman's and also to the Sligo champions. Corlough lost out to the Sligo side and thus exited from the competition. It proved to be a wonderful weekend of football where new friendships were forged and binding contacts for future cemented between all those involved. Ladies football The club PRO said that a review of the year would not be complete without the mentioning of the ladies football team. Playing under the banner of Templeport, the amalgamation of the two clubs, Corlough and Templeport proved to be a winning combination. With ten of the Corlough ladies on the panel, it was of great satisfaction to see them go on and win the Cavan Intermediate football crown. Their sojourn in the Ulster club championship got off to a flying start with a magnificent victory over Donegal champions, St. Eunan's of Letterkenny. Their progress in Ulster was halted with a defeat at the hands of Monaghan side, Emyvale. All in all, it was a great season for the ladies of the locality and one which gave pride to all in both Corlough and Templeport. Another small piece of satisfaction for the Corlough club was the fact that the ladies coach, Adrian McGovern, is a Corlough man. Recognition Paddy Archibald, the club's referee was the recipient of an award during the 2008 season. This was an honour well deserved as Paddy was recognized for his services as a 'knight of the whistle'. The length of his service as a referee was recognised and Paddy was duly awarded the title of the longest serving official in the game. On a night of celebration held in Feehan's in Corlough, Paddy was the recipient of numerous awards from all the various strands that make up Cavan GAA. His services to the underage football, ladies football, and to the senior county board were highlighted with each branch of the Cavan GAA making their own presentation to this affable and long serving referee. Paddy who originally hailed from Dublin has been resident in West Cavan for many years now. All at the Corlough club wish to extend their appreciation and thanks to an official who was duly recognised for his outstanding service to both club and the code of Gaelic games. Players input Gerry said that while strides were made on the playing field, the ongoing progress of development was still in hand. The erection of the new stand is now practically complete and it is hoped that it will be officially opened early in 2009. The effort put into the fund-raising has been great and to this end the players have been instrumental in helping to achieve this aim. Working in groups of four they take turns in selling our lotto. This they do with great success and their efforts have been vital in helping the fund-raising campaign. Our other main source of fund-raising is an annual draw which will be held at the end of the year. Hurling Playing under the banner of Dernacrieve and under the guidance and driving force of Limerick man, Mick Sullivan and Ciaran McGovern the young hopefuls of the Corlough and Swanlinbar have taken to the 'clash of the ash' with a relish more akin to the hotbeds of Kilkenny or Tipperary. A structure of training whereby Swanlinbar provide the facilities for a month with Corlough alternating the following month is proving to be very popular. With coaching taking place at school level the response has been very encouraging to all of those involved and hopefully it will not be too long before the young budding hurling stars of west Cavan make an impression on the Breffni scene. Social Gerry felt that while the club was well covered with football at senior, ladies and underage level, and the great development progress still being done, it would be wrong to exclude the social side of a club which is intrinsically woven into the fabric of the society of the locality. Gerry stated that on behalf of the club, he would like to extend best wishes to the club treasurer, Hughie McManus who recently got engaged to Leitrim woman, Fiona O'Rourke and also to another player, Alan Wright and Joanne Leonard from Swanlinbar, who got married during the season. The club conveys their best wishes to them all. Tweet

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