Corlough GAA has always been more about quality rather than quantity. And as a new season approaches, local mentor Aidan Cassidy is convinced that the white and greens' will show their quality at junior level in the months ahead. Corlough GAA has never had it easy. It has never been blessed with the sort of resources which a plethora of clubs elsewhere in the county almost take for granted. Yet those at the coalface of promoting Gaelic football in that part of west Cavan have never looked for sympathy votes. When, at times, survival was the name of the only game in town, the good and the great gaels of Corlough never baulked at the challenges which threatened the club's very existence. These days, thankfully, it seems much better days are just around the corner. With underage titles now wafting Corlough's way of late, the future looks more rosy than it has in a long time. And there are few more delighted by the vista currently presenting itself to the white and greens than outgoing junior team mentor and underage coach Aidan Cassidy. "The days are gone when we have to fear any of the teams in Division Three or the junior championship. "On our day, we're capable of beating any of the other sides and I'm confident that the club can build on the obvious promise that was shown in 2003," Aidan enthuses. Last year saw Corlough impress in both league and championship without any tangible reward in terms of silverware. Pitted into a championship group alongside a vaunted Shercock side plus near-neighbours Templeport, the Corlough lads needed to play well above their station to emerge from the group, local afficionados concurred. As things transpired, Corlough shocked Shercock in their opening group match. "The championship is the acid test for any team and I think the lads showed what potential they had that day when beating Shercock," Aidan opines. Sadly though, Aidan's favourites then proceeded to lose out by 1-6 to 2-10 in their next game to the local St. Aidans. As things eventually transpired in the group, a three-way play-off was called for with Corlough and Templeport drawing a sizeable crowd to Belturbet in mid-August. Buoyed up by their shock victory last time out against Shercock, the Corlough side had every reason to expect to improve their dismal record over the years against the St. Aidan's outfit. Sadly Corlough were prolifgate in the extreme with their inability to round off some promising approach work turning out to be a veritable millstone around their necks. Wind-backed, Corlough disappointed in going behind by 0-1 to 0-5 and despite puttting in a stirring late rally a missed penalty and some poor wides ultimately scuttled their dream of staying in the competition as they exited on foot of a 0-4 to 0-8 defeat. All told, Corlough made a bold attempt to put one over the big-hitters in their group, even if the team's heavy loss to Shercock, second time around, at Killygarry arguably represented Corlough's poorest display of the year. It was a campaign which, for his part, Aidan felt was commendable. "The lads gave it 100% and you can't ask for more than that. Missing players like Fintan McGovern and Gerry McBrien and a couple of others isn't something we can compensate for too easily because of the small pick that we have. "Patsy Prior, our team-manager, got a great response from the players though and everyone put a lot of effort into the year, including the league games which we always treat as important anyway even though some clubs look on those games as meaningless. "But with the addition of three or four promising minors like Joe Prior, Padraic McGovern and David McGovern, the club is hopeful that the squad will be that bit stronger and better able to deal with injuries in the coming year." Aidan believes that the infusion of fellas full of "youthful exhuberance and confidence" can only help strengthen Cormore's challenge for long-awaited honours at adult level. "A lot of the youngsters coming up through the ranks have won medals at underage level. "They're not afraid to express themselves and you won't catch them being in awe of any player or team for that matter. "Winning has got to be a habit with them and we hope that such a habit rubs off on everyone on the panel. "From what I have seen, there's a particularly good batch of good under 16s on the way through as well so we've got to be optimistic," Aidan explains. Given a sufficient number of jobs and a continued decrease in the numbers emigrating from the area, one can imagine Corlough finally shaking off that 'poor relation' tag placed on them by so many gaels from other parts of Cavan. After all in rural parts of the Breffni county, the numbers game can often dictate just how much success a club can ordinarily reap. "The population in Corlough hasn't increased an awful lot in recent years but, on the other hand, emigration isn't a big thing here anymore either. "Like most clubs though, we have to wise to the fact that youngsters face many more distractions these days and clubs have to work harder to get them to commit the time and effort to do well in competitions," Aidan suggests. Nevertheless the hard-working clubman is pleased to report that everyone in the Corlough club is putting their shoulder to the wheel in a bid to forge more fruitful times. And if more fruitful times are garnered at underage level, for instance, while in tandem with neighbours Swanlinbar, then so be it. "There's a lot of work being put in by a lot of people at the club. "All our resources are being utilised to the last and if the resources aren't there at any one grade in any particular year, then we're only to willing to link up with Swad to make things happen for everyone involved." Sharing a parish with Aughawillan and Coraleehan, the Corlough faithful aren't ones for looking over the hedge at their neighbours with a green eye. Aidan personally rejoiced in seeing Aughawillan's finest dominate Leitrim senior football ranks a few moons ago. He is glad though that one of their main men then, Patsy Prior, is part of the Corlough think-tank nowadays. "Rivalry with neighbouring teams is one thing but I would never begrudge a neighbouring club any success it achieved - that's not sport. "When Patsy (Prior) and the rest of the lads at Aughawillan were winning major titles, we were probably at our worst ebb but we were happy for them," Aidan insists. In 2003 Corlough got to within three matches of winning a title. Unfortunately in a cracking division three league quarter-final tie, the west Cavan ambassadors lost at home to north countymen Redhills by a couple of points. "Our lads weren't overshadowed by any team in 2003. Any team that finished above us in the league only beat us by a point or two," Aidan points out. Despite his belief that football in west Cavan "isn't as strong as it was a number of years ago", the approachable Quinn Group employee believes that it's important to keep the chase for silverware in perspective. "Football, to my mind, isn't all about winning. "A club can achieve a lot even if it doesn't succeed in getting hold of a few cups during the year. "Gaelic football is a sport which, like all other sports, is there to be enjoyed and to be promoted, especially among the kids of the area. "There are some very talented young footballers in Corlough right now and they're very committed too but if they don't succeed in winning some medals, there'll be no shame attached to them or the club. "It's not all about winning and it's good to see how the games are much more sporting than they used to be when some games could be far too physical. "Fitness levels of players are incredibly high now and all credit to anyway playing football now for the way the effort they put in." Convinced that the promise shown by the club's premier team in 2003 can be consolidated in the coming season, Aidan insists that a wee bit of help from Dame Fortune and a full complement of players in 2004 could see the club enjoying some rare success. "Every club needs a bit of luck to negotiate their way to a title and if we get it we're well capable of winning either the league or the championship . . .or both. "Clubs are no longer taking us for granted and they'll be watching us this year in the same way we'll be keeping our eyes on them." Tweet

Most Read Stories