If you were to epitomise the Arva club, you would have to go no further, than current player, and last year's PRO, Damien Maguire. Damien, is without doubt, a pragmatist but above all, he his fiercely loyal and proud of his club. When he talks, he does so with a belief that the club will return to glory days. An era when they had former county players of the calibre of Cyril Sheridan, Sean Kiernan, Niall O'Donnell, Mel Bouchier, Ken Smith, John Hamilton and former star county minor, Damien Maguire. "The truth is that we played the entire league this season but failed to make any real progress. A number of factors could be issued for our form but the reality is that as a club we have to look forward and try to get the best out of the panel players that we have. While our league form was poor we did manage to re-group for the championship and were unfortunate to lose out to eventual finalists, Shannon Gaels by a mere two points. The team is relatively young and we have a number of new young faces who we hope might make the breakthrough in the coming seasons to help get us back on winning ways. Many of young players were involved with Cormore Gaels when they won the U-21 championship two years ago. We would be looking at the likes of the talented Gavin Doyle, Alan Barry, Dermot McGlade, Pat Murtagh and Shane Bouchier to help give the team that much needed input to revitalise us a force in Cavan junior football. We are lucky to have a number of talented 'veterans' still lining out and Sean Donnelly, Patrick Mulligan and Kenneth Smith will be of vital importance in helping bring out the best in the younger players". New Manager Damien feels that the appointment of the new team manager, Sean Pierson should also be an added bonus. "Sean has had great experience at county and club level and was recognised as one of the best football brains in the county. He was a member of the Gowna management team last year and his shrewdness should be of tremendous benefit to us and provide a much needed impetus. Sean has won a number of senior football championship medals with Gowna and knows what it takes to make the breakthrough." Vibrant Committee While Damien acknowledges that things did not go to plan in 2005 on the playing field, he speaks highly of the work and commitment of all those involved at the club at committee and team management level. "As far as people willing to work and give their time to the club there are few clubs better. The willingness of those at the club to work to the benefit of Arva GFC is highlighted by the fact that for most of 2005, my commitment to team militated against my position as PRO but the slack was taken up by the current holder of the title, Barney Cully, who did trojan work on my behalf. Barney is just one member of the club that gives much of his valuable time to the service and promotion of gaelic games in the area. We have been very fortunate to have a great and dedicated executive. Chairman, Arthur McCabe, Secretary, Eimear Gormley and Secretary, Margaret McEntee have shown through their dedication and hard work that football in the Arva area is still a vibrant proposition. Their enthusiasm should see rewards in the future and while they are not in this for the personal glory, their contribution should be acknowledged. This kind of dedication runs through the various committees at club level and is also very evident with our hard working park committee where John Hamilton, Vincent Reilly and the two Paddy Mulligans have all provided great work throughout their involvement with the Arva club." Park development This is an area that the club have constantly worked at to upgrade all aspects of the facility. "We have just received a grant for this coming year and it is hoped to build new ladies and gents toilets. There will be ongoing improvements put in place in and around the playing field. The playing surface which was put down by local contractor, Michael Hyland is top class and his work and contribution have been greatly valued by the club" stated Damien. Urban Expansion Like most rural towns throughout the country, Arva is seeing an influx of new families to the locality. The population growth of the area can only benefit the club in the long term. "Yes we are seeing a number of new developments in the locality and it should be of great benefit to us in the future. We have also seen the return to the area of one of our former stalwarts, Conal Conneely. Conal was a guiding force within the club for many years where he played a staring role as a midfielder. He has returned to the area with his young family and his son, Peter, was a member of the winning U-12 team that defeated Gowna in the final of the Roinn C league," stated Damien. U-12s Success ARVA'S U-12s proved to be heroes of the club for the season of 2005 when they captured the Roinn C league title when overcoming the challenge of neighbours, Gowna in an tremendously exciting replay on a scoreline of Arva 4-12, Gowna 4-5. In the drawn game, it looked as if Arva had just about made it past the winning post when deep in injury time, Gowna forced the game to a replay with a last gasp equaliser. With grit and determination, the young Arva hopefuls were not about to let this final replay slip away from their grasp as they dug deep to ensure that the trophy headed back to the club. The game which opened with at a fast and furious pace was to be the standard for much of the entire contest. The tropical like conditions only added to the tempo and both sides played the game with an abandonment and flair that only contributed to it as a spectacle. It was Gowna who made the better start as they had the Arva defence under severe pressure for the first ten minutes. At the end of this period Arva found themselves 1-3 to no score in arrears. Gowna who were in dominant mood during this period were to taste what was to come when Kevin Bouchier, redressed the balance with a well taken goal, albeit against the run of play at this stage. Bouchier was on hand again minutes later to get his side's second goal, which now really ignited the game to a new frenzied pitch. From having being six points down after ten minutes, Arva now had wrestled the lead from Gowna and found themselves in front by a single point, 2-1 to 1-3, with just twenty minutes gone. Further goals, one from Martin McCabe and one from Gowna's Conor Madden had the large crowd on the edge of their seats as the game ebbed and flowed with goalmouth tension on both sides being the order of the day. Arva held the advantage as the interval approached and ended the half with a four lead lead - 3-5 to 2-4. The tempo and heat of the first half, took its tool on all as the game never reached the same momento during the second half. It was Arva who made the better start to this final half and had registered two points in the opening seven minutes. Gowna were handed a lifeline when Arva conceded a penalty in the ninth minute which John Hyland converted. This Gowna score only seemed to alight the Arva team and the influential Peter Connelly, produced what was to be not just the winning score but an inspirational piece of play as he raced some forty metres through the Gowna rearguard before unleashing a superb drive to the back of the Gowna net. Gowna's response was typical of the momentum of the game as a contest as they had found the back of the Arva net just minutes later to reduce the Arva lead back down to five points. Just like the previous Gowna goal, Arva's response as a team was impressive as they committed themselves to a man to destination of the trophy as they pinned Gowna back into their own half to ensure that they did not have a repeat of the first day's encounter. This victory is a morale booster to the club and much credit should be afforded to the people who helped guide these young heroes of the locality to this win. Credit is due to their joint managers: Brian Ellis and Cyril Sheridan. ARVA: Gareth Lynch, Kevin Norbury, Paul Bouchier, Niamh McEntee, Ciaran Brady, Thomas McConnell, Peter Conneely (1-4), Jonathan McCabe, Ciaran Cooney (0-1), Kevin Bouchier (2-3), Conal Sheridan (0-3), Danny Conneely, Martin McCabe (1-1). Ladies Football The season 2005 proved to be a successful one for the ladies of Arva as they won the County 9-a-side Division 2 league final when they overcame table topping Ballyhaise in an exciting game played at Cornafean. This victory ensured the Arva ladies will play their 9-a-side football in Division 1 for the season 2006. A good run in the Junior championship came to an end at the semi-final stage where they lost out to Killinkere by 3-12 to 2-03. Playing in the Division 4 of the league, the team displayed an energy and vitality that earned them a fourth place finish, Indeed it was felt that with a little bit of luck they could have made it into the top echelon of this Division. Having won the 9 a-side league, expectations will be much higher for the coming seasons. Tweet

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