Cornafean are working hard at developing underage talent and their juveniles enjoyed another reasonably productive year in 2005, both in their own right and amalgamated with Killeshandra as part of the Parnells combination. Despite operating from a relatively small catchment area, the club boasts plenty of exciting young emerging talent. Having captured two juvenile trophies in the past three years through the Parnells team-up - a feat that many clubs in the Breffni County would be positively thrilled by - Cornafean have reason to be happy with their underage lot. The partnership with Killeshandra is working well for the U16s, minors and U21s, while the club is progressing in a satisfactory manner on their own from U14 down to U10. All encouraging news as the club's 2008 Centenary Year is now just around the corner! Cornafean also excelled in Scor once more in 2005 - and again in the early months of '06 when multiple county crowns were successfully retained - while the adult team is shaping up nicely in preparation for an impending crack at the 2006 JFC (they are in Group C alongside Munterconnacht and Templeport). All in all, club stalwart Kevin Geoghegan is happy with how things are shaping up. Kevin plays a big part in helping organise juvenile activities in the club and was instrumental in bringing Tyrone star Joe McMahon and the Sam Maguire Cup to the resplendent new sports hall towards the end of last season. Looking back on the juvenile events of '05, he notes: "It was a good year at underage. We won the U16 league Division Three as part of the Parnells team and we also got to a minor Division Two final, as well as an U13 final on our own. Even though we didn't set the world on fire, we have certainly had worse years, so we're happy enough. "We did better two years ago when we won a minor league and championship double, but with three trophies in two years we can't complain. Things are looking up." Cornafean take their underage section seriously, with coaching offered to kids at nursery level from as young as six. U10 teams represent the club in Blitz competitions in the locality. Art McShane, Brian Doyle and Val Sheridan did a great job with the U10s last year. Kevin notes: "We have a rota drawn up with various players from the senior team getting involved. Everyone tries to get down to the field to lend a helping hand…" Seamus Doyle, Philip Wilson and Fergus Barry took charge of the U12s and U14s in '05, while the Parnells U16s were managed by Eamonn O'Reilly and Cormac Geoghegan from Cornafean alongside Justin Hayes and Sean Feaney from Killeshandra. Cornafean clubman Rory Geoghegan took charge of the minors, where the management triumvirate was completed by Donnagh Reilly and Micheal Murphy (both Killeshandra). The U21s were managed by Liam Young (C), Eamonn Gaffney (C), Stephen King (K) and Junior McKiernan (K). Kevin feels that the Parnells amalgamation has become a vital part of Cornafean's ongoing development: "The amalgamation is working well," he relates. "Both clubs are committed to it and have invested their resources accordingly. We contest finals or semi-finals most years and we're playing in Division One and Division Two, which is a higher level of football and good for player development. We don't have the numbers to go on our own at those grades, but we have some good footballers coming through and the amalgamation plays a big part." With Anna Corcoran and Marie Caffrey pulling the strings, the juvenile committee worked as hard - and fruitfully - as ever in 2005. A huge emphasis is placed on youth, with anything between 25-40 six-to-twelve-year-olds catered for at the park on Saturday mornings. A number of players have taken coaching courses and the new sports hall, opened in November 2004, has proven to be a godsend as training can continue indoors right through the dark, dreary winter months. "The two schools also get together on Friday afternoons and one of the county coaches comes down for a couple of hours to train them," Kevin adds. As ever, the club fielded at all grades in '05. Though the U12s were weak, they competed gamely in the league. The U13s contested a championship final and the U14s had a decent run which left them in the shake-up for honours. The Parnells U16s, captained by Cornafean's Fergus Reilly, won the Division Three league, beating Belturbet in the final. They also reached the semi-final stage of the Division Two championship, only to come unstuck against Ballinagh. The minors, meanwhile, reached a Division Two final against Cuchulainns but were hampered on the day by the unavailability of players who were involved with the county minors at the time. The U21s lost their first-rounder against Killygarry. "It started very early and there wasn't a lot of preparation put in as a result, but this is indicative of U21 football in Cavan," Kevin notes. At present, about seven or eight players from the double-winning Division Two minor side of 2004 (a team that came through building on U14 success in 2000) are acquitting themselves well on the Cornafean first team. Three clubmen - Liam Duignan, Mark Johnston and Cormac Geoghegan - have been invited for trials with the county U21s this year, so the club's future is in good hands. "We have a good blend of youth and experience, though we're lacking players in the 23-28 age group," Kevin notes. Looking forward to the 2006 JFC, how does he think the Reds will fare in their attempt to regain intermediate status? "We played Munterconnacht five times last year and never beat them once and Templeport are another good side, so it's going to be tough enough. The first challenge is to get out of the group and we can't look beyond that. "The minors have started well in the league and I hope they can keep it going. Numbers are still a problem at underage, but the ambition is there and we'll keep it going. We plan to build new dressing-rooms and an extension to the sports hall, which will be of benefit to the community. The sports hall is proving to be a great focal point to the community, with a variety of activities available to both young and old, and we're going to keep building on that." One of the highlights of the year on the social front was the special presentation night in the sports hall for the all-conquering U16s. Kevin helped arrange this night by liaising with Cuthbert Donnelly (Sam's designated 'minder' in the O'Neill County) and the most famous piece of silverware in Irish sport was on hand as well as All-Ireland winner Joe McMahon, who presented the medals. "Joe is a lovely fellow and we had a great night, with a massive crowd and lots of good photos taken to remember the occasion," says Kevin, before adding cryptically: "Hopefully this year we won't have to go to Tyrone to get Sam…" Cornafean remain exceptionally strong in Scor. In early 2005, the club's juvenile Quiz team contested the All-Ireland final, having won county and Ulster titles. This team consisted of Helen Cartwright, Cian Geoghegan and Seamus Cullen. In senior Scor, All-Ireland finals were also contested in both the Quiz (Tommy McGibney, Brian Doyle and Michael Dinnenny) and Recitation (Michael McGibney) sections. Tommy McGibney, Brian Doyle, Michael Dinnenny and Rita Martin claimed an All-Ireland Tea na gCeist title in 2004. They were runners-up in '05 and are back in this year's national decider at the time of writing. Cornafean won the county junior Quiz again in 2006 as well as Question Time, Recitation and Novelty Act honours and the overall county Scor crown was retained for the third successive year. The Novelty Act team was made up by Michael McGibney, Rory and Cormac Geoghegan, Richard Keith and Gavin McDermott. Congratulations to all! The O'Reilly's of Cornafean by Joe McManus 'Brave Clan O'Reilly, Oh proud is your name You've raised many sons of great honour and fame' - The foregoing is an extract from the ballad, 'The Gallant John Joe'. Since the foundation of the G.A.A. in County Cavan very few County teams, or indeed, few clubs teams have taken to the playing fields without an O'Reilly or Reilly. Foremost among the O'Reilly clans was that of the O'Reilly's of Cornafean. In the early 1910s the O'Reilly's of Drumcoghill and another football family, the O'Reilly's of Drumconlester, were connected through marriage when John O''Reilly (Drumconlester), and later of the Derries, Killeshandra, married Sara Ann O'Reilly (Drumcoghill). Their best-known sons were 'Big' Tom and John Joe O'Reilly who played such a prominent part in Cavan Gaelic Football during the thirties and forties. In all there were thirteen in family - Michael, Brian, Tom, Vincent, John Joe, Frank, Seamus, Maureen, Margaret, Eileen, Kathleen, Josephine and Anne. John O'Reilly gave outstanding service to Cornafean and Cavan County teams. He was popularly known as 'Big' John O'Reilly. He retired from the playing fields about 1919, but returned to play in goal for Cornafean in 1923 and 1924 when he was about forty-three years of age. His final retirement came after the County final in January, 1924. He was club Chairman for a number of years. Afterwards he was more popularly known as the father of 'Big' Tom and John Joe. As previously stated, the family of John and Sara O'Reilly certainly played their parts in the history of the G.A.A. in Cavan. The late Tom O'Reilly, known as 'Big' Tom, was often described by the late Micheal O'Henir as 'The Pride of Gaeldom and the Idol of Ulster'. Tom played minor football for Cavan in 1933 and at eighteen years won his first All-Ireland senior medal in 1933 playing at mid-field against Galway. In 1935 he won his second senior All-Ireland medal playing at centre half-back against Kildare. In the 1937 final and replay he was at centre half-back against Kerry, after which the late Larry Stanley (Kildare) stated that Tom's display reminded him of the Jack Higgins at his best. In the 1940 Dr. McKenna Cup Final, Tom was Cavan's full-back but was again at centre half-back against Kerry later in the same years for the All-Ireland semi-final. The 'Anglo-Celt' described features of his game as his 'huge catching and kicking'. In the previous year (1939) he was full-forward in the All-Ireland semi-final against Meath. In the 1943 All-Ireland final and replay v. Roscommon he was again centre half-back, and he gave a wonderful display at right full-back against Wexford in the semi-final of 1945. He was in the same position against Cork in the final of that year. When Antrim surprised Cavan in the Ulster Championship of 1946 he was introduced as a sub and was only minutes on the field at full-forward when he scored two goals. Unfortunately, one was disallowed as the ref thought the player who passed the ball to Tom had handled it on the ground. Tom again made his contribution to the Ulster Championship of 1947 and was a sub in the Polo Grounds final of that year. He was centre half-back on Ulster Railway Cup '34 to '41, left full-back on the first Ulster Railway winning team of 1942, and I had the pleasure of watching him giving an outstanding display in a great Railway Cup Final at left full-back in 1943. Tom played at half-back, mid-field, and centre half-forward for Cornafean. Anyone who ever saw Tom O'Reilly play could never forget his tremendous fielding, prodigious kicking with either foot, solo-running, or pulling on a rolling ball. While attending school in Cavan town during the late thirties I was introduced to Tom by some of my friends from Cornafean and had the pleasure and privilege of meeting the genial Captain on several occasions during the years which followed. Tom was an Independent T.D. from 1944 to 1948, but did not go forward for re-election, and went into the auctioneering business in Dublin. He died on 12/02/95. I first heard of the late John Joe O'Reilly after my brother went as a boarder to St. Patrick's College in 1935. John Joe was beginning his last years in the College and he was chosen as what was known as 'Captain of the Senior House'. Obviously, even then he was held in high regard by his fellow students and staff and was looked up to as a leader. He captained the College team to victory in three McRory Cup finals and was also on the Ulster Colleges inter-provincial team in those years. I first saw him play in a College game versus St. Mary's, Dundalk in Breffni Park in the late thirties. I was amazed by his fielding and the pin-point accuracy by which he transferred the ball to his colleague at centre half-forward, V. Rev. Fr. Harry Bouchier, with either foot on several occasions. Writing about St. Patrick's College and its footballers (1952) one 'Laudator temporis acti' had this to say after naming outstanding players - "There is one other, one of the greatest, now in the Autumn of his career - John Joe O'Reilly. Beginning as a Minor in 1934, he has given almost nineteen years unbroken service to our County, seventeen of them on the Senior team. As a Club, County and inter-Provincial player he has won every honour in the game, as a thorough sportsman. What Jim Smith represents to the past generations of students, John Joe shares in representing to the present and future - a model to be imitated, an ornament to the game, a fellow-student of whom his Alma Mater is ever proud. Wherever Gaelic football is played, be it in the smallest parish in Ireland, the smoke-filled cities of Britain, or American Metropolis, the name of John Joe O'Reilly will always be honoured for what it symbolises - true Irish sportsmanship at its best." Simon Deignan, one of his colleagues along with the late P.J. Duke in Cavan's famed half-back line told the author of 'Football Immortals' - Raymond Smith - that there was one place John Joe's name would never be seen and that was in a referee's note-book. John Joe played for Cornafean in the County Senior Finals of 1935 and 1936, and in the County League Final and replay of 1937. It was in that year (1937) that he went to the Army as a cadet. He later rose to the rank of Commandant. His first game on the County Senior team was against Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final at Mullingar in 1937, when he was at left half-back. In that game he was marking the late Peter Laffey (Mayo) who lived in Sligo until his death. Peter often talked to me about that game and how 'Big' Tom kept running over to John Joe with words of encouragement. J.J. played for Cavan from then until the date of the re-opening of Breffni Park in 1952. He played in six All-Ireland finals, 1937, '43, '45, '47, '48 and '49. There were replays in 1937 and 1943. He was Captain for the Polo Grounds final of 1947 and again against Mayo in Croke Park, 1948. He played with Ulster for ten years and captained the first Ulster team to win the Railway Cup in 1942. From 1944 onwards he was Cavan's regular centre half-back after 'Big' Tom had reverted to the full-back line. He usually played at mid-field for Ulster. It is true to say that there was great sorrow throughout the whole country when John Joe died unexpectedly on 21st November, 1952. Raymond Smith in his 'Football Immortals' stated "I unhesitatingly pick John Joe O'Reilly as my ideal of the great footballing Captain. The Polo Grounds in 1947 was his finest hour - leading Cavan to a historic win from the very jaws of defeat. You see his photograph in army uniform in homes on Cavan and this in a way is a salute to a player and a captain who stood apart". It was no surprise when John Joe was picked at centre half-back on team of the Century, and team of the Millennium. I first met John Joe in June, 1940, at Armagh when Cavan Seniors played and won the Dr. McKenna Cup Final by defeating Tyrone and the minors lost to Antrim in the Ulster Championship. Although seeing him play on numerous occasions afterwards, I did not meet him again until the opening of the new Tuam Stadium in 1950. When the victorious Polo Grounds team visited the Cavan hospitals with the 'Sam Maguire' my mother was a patient in Lisdarn. The staff was looking for a place to hang the Kerry colours, and as my Mother was from Cork, the Southern colours were placed over her bed. When John Joe came in, he glanced around and on seeing the Kingdom colours, in his own chivalrous way went to my Mother's bedside first saying "You are well used to seeing this cup in Kerry." He then discovered that he was talking to the Mother of my Priest (now Monsignor) brother whom he knew in St. Patrick's College. Reverting to the Tuam Stadium opening, John Joe was playing at right full-back for Cavan v. Mayo in one of the games. After the games the teams went to the Imperial Hotel, Tuam, and before long a queue formed up to meet John Joe who was standing on a stairs. When my turn came I was glad that he gave me plenty of time for conversation in which he remembered to inquire about my Mother and brother. I thanked him for the many hours of pleasure he had given myself and thousands of others, especially for the Polo Grounds display. Then he asked - "Which of the players would you most like to meet?" When I replied 'Tony Tighe' he left others waiting and brought me upstairs where I met Tony and his wife, Betty. I listened in to the radio reports of the Ulster Championship games in 1950 and 1951 when John Joe's name was repeatedly mentioned. As one ballad put it - "This is my salute to thee, May we all be as fit as you were for the call of the Great Referee." I have a rather hazy recollection of being at a Cavan/Fermanagh game in Breffni Park, 1935. Records show that Cavan beat Fermanagh in the Ulster final of that year on the score of 2-6 to 2-1. I am not sure if it was that Cavan had a very precarious lead at half-time after playing with the aid of a very strong breeze. On the re-start Cavan forced three fifties in succession. It was the same player who took all three and he scored a point from each of them. Those around me said that player's name was 'Brian O'Reilly'. The late Fr. Brian O'Reilly played football for Cornafean but was not long on the County team as he was ordained a Priest in June, 1938. He was educated at Corliss N.S., St. Patrick's College, Cavan and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. He ministered in Wales, Ballaghmeehan (Kilmore), Trenton (New Jersey), Buffalo (New York) and died on 15th December, 1987. Michael O'Reilly played for Cornafean and Cavan Slashers and some games for Cavan Juniors. Vincent, Frank, and Seamus also played with Cornafean. I did not know Vincent or Seamus but I met Frank when he played for Ballinagh minors against Denn in the summer of 1941 at Crosskeys. Many years later (1982) I was in Naas and called to his pharmacy there. I met Frank and we discussed the Ballinagh/Denn games of the forties. He said my memory was better than his! Anyway he won a County Minor Championship medal with Ballinagh that year. To all of the O'Reilly family of Cornafean who have left us and gone at Shli na Firinne, Beannacht Dilis De lena n-anamaca, and to those still with us go mba fada buan sibh, likewise to all other people mentioned herein. I wish to acknowledge, with sincere thanks, the kind assistance given to me in preparation of this article by Mr. George Cartwright, Cathaoirleach Choiste Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Co. An Chabhain, and hope he will forgive me for taking some extracts from his book - "Up the Reds - The Cornafean Achievement". Slan go Foill, agus go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo aris. Tweet

Most Read Stories