When you mention Gowna in football parlance, the image that immediately springs to mind is that of winners. For over a decade, the Gowna club dominated senior football in Cavan producing some of the Breffni County's best inter-counties players for many a season. By Tony Dunne. The off-spring of a well thought out coaching policy reaching back as far as the 1980s, the astute football minds of the area, worked on coaching, blending and moulding a team that turned out to be a formidable football force in the county. Players of the calibre, of Bernard Morris, Laurence, Dessie and Ciaran Brady, the gifted and talented Sean Pierson, and the committed Hartin brothers, Fergal and Gavin, and Dermot McCabe all of whom graced the Cavan senior team for over ten years, aligned with the drive and determination of players like Kevin Madden, Declan Reilly, Terry Hartin, Christy Madden all equally talented in their own right proved to be the foundation of a golden era in Gowna. The contribution of the club to football in Cavan has to be viewed with the realisation that the area is so small that it defies the understanding of the word parish. As champions, they carried it with pride, and above all, a humility that only real champions display. Throughout that era of success, the club were fortunate to have had the services of former Derry kingpin, Eamon Coleman, whose role in the club's success should never be underestimated. The committed Coleman fitted easily into the fabric of the Gowna dressing room displaying the same characteristics as that of his charges and expecting nothing less than success. So it was with a deep heart that the collective feeling in Gowna football circles saw this year as something of a milestone. Under the guidance of the local man, Martin McCabe, the club made a valiant effort to reinstall itself as dominant force in Cavan football, but a quarter-final exit to Killygarry and a senior league final defeat to Ballinagh, failed to help propel the Lough Gowna club along the hoped for path back to the glory days. While it is difficult for a club that has dominated the dizzy heights of success in Breffni football, not to register a county title since 2002, the hope is that the younger players will now take on the mantle and help steer them back to the elite circle. Transition While it is warm to look back and bask in the glory of the club's success throughout that period, it is a reality, that with many of the players from that era, now approaching the wrong end of the scale in sporting terms, the club are now looking for the younger players, equally as talented as their predecessors, to take up the mantle to help sustain their status as worthy challengers for any title in the fixtures calendar of Cavan football. The void created by the departure of Bernard Morris, who retired from the game, meant the club lost a driving force that will be difficult to replace. According to the former Gowna stalwart: "While talent is a blessing, there is no substitute for honesty, hard work, determination and setting you goals high. Hard work, determination and belief are some of the strong qualities that helped shape us be champions throughout that period". Club PRO and former chairman, Philip O'Reilly's, whose family have been deeply involved with the club from its humble beginnings, is a realist when it comes to football and even more pragmatic when it comes to his own club. "The reality is that a number of our more established players have been around for a long time and the burden of carrying and winning games must now be taken up by the younger players. We lost the services of Bernard Morris, Dessie Brady and Laurence Brady who played very little last season and their loss was immense. While, we still have Ciaran Brady, the Hartin brothers, Gavin and Fergal, Christy Madden, Bernard Sorohan and Dermot McCabe, the time has now come for players like Patrick Brady, Mark McKeever and Gerald Pierson to take up the challenge and lead the club to further glory. While many pundits in the county believe Gowna to be an aging team, nothing could be further from the mark. Indeed a number of the 'older' players are now in their early thirties, but the bulk of the panel, is still quite young. When you look at the age profile of the Gowna players, the majority of them are just in their early twenties, with Dermot McCabe, Fergal and Gavin Hartin, Christy Madden and Ciaran Brady all in their thirties." According to the highly passionate Gowna PRO: "We have an abundance of talent coming through from the juvenile section and our hope is that we can sustain a high performance at senior level to provide us with a platform for success for this bunch of young players. While we have many young players in our ranks, many of them have already tasted success in winning county championships". Philip is quick to point out that during the club's last great run in 2002 when they won the league and championship double, many of that side were under-21 and should now be in a position to reinvent itself as a football force. "During that season, we had Ronan Bannon, Gearoid O'Reilly, Emmet and Niall Madden, Cathaldus Hartin, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Willie Stevens all of whom were on that winning squad. Many of that senior double winning squad went on to win the U-21 championship with Cormore Gaels that same year. Since then we have introduced a number of younger players into the squad with the inclusion of the Briody brothers, Colin and Shane, Ciaran Brady jnr., and Brendan Madden. We know that we have the talent, now we have to focus on getting three or four of our more seasoned younger players to take on the mantle as leaders. If we can achieve this then I feel we have a great chance of contesting the major finals again." Underage football While their senior counterparts failed to land any silverware during 2006, this was not the case when it came to the underage section of the club. The work put in at this level saw the U-12s reach the league final only to loose out at the final hurdle while the U-14s suffered a similar defeat this time in the championship final. At U-13 level Gowna made sure that the name of the club would be among the honours list when they won U-13 Roinn C football championship. The young Gowna charges showed many of the characteristics associated with the club when they overcame Drumalee 3-13 to 2-11 in an exciting final played at Kingspan Breffni Park. An explosive eight minute spell at the beginning of the game set Gowna on the road to victory. A brace of goals from Conor Madden had the Drumalee side in turmoil and while they rallied and contributed to an exciting open game of football they challenged posed by Gowna proved to great on the day. With a half time lead of four points 0-5 to 2-3 Gowna started the second half in bullish mood and registered their intentions of securing this title with an early point from Andrew Dewart. In an equally exciting second-half, Drumalee tried valiantly to rescue their position but great defensive qualities, and all round team work aligned with some superb finishing ensured Gowna would be crowned champions. Gowna: Stephen Leddy; Gary Brady, Damien Bannon, Karl Kiernan, Niall O'Reilly, Jason Langtry, John Hyland (0-1), Andrew Dewart (0-4), Ryan McGahern (1-0), Padraig Bannon (0-1), Niamh Halton (0-1), Padraig Briody (0-1), Conor Madden (2-5). Hurling With hurling being introduced to the club just four years ago, when an enthusiastic Terry Hartin (former chairman and player) along with Mark McEntee spearheaded a drive to give an added dimension to the club's curriculum, things have progressed with rapid speed. Working at underage level, the club won the U-14 hurling league and championship double in 2006. Award The club were honoured when one of its members, Mark McEntee was selected on the Nicky Rackard team. Mark, who is a former member of Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin, is a brother-in-law of Dermot McCabe's. Mark who is enthusiastic about his hurling, has lined out for the Cavan hurling team for the past number of seasons and is presently playing his senior hurling with neighbours, Mullahoran. New football field A recently acquired field adjacent to the present playing pitch has been purchased and converted into a second playing area. The demand for such a facility required a major fund-raising drive to be undertaken. With typical Gowna commitment the necessary funding was raised and work immediately commenced on the provision of the new playing field. It is hoped that this facility will be ready for use sometime at the end of the summer of 2007. Rightfully proud of the new playing area, PRO Philip O'Reilly pointed out that the total cost of purchasing, developing and finishing off the field set Gowna back over 200,000 euro. "While we will not be officially opening the new field this season, we will however, play some games on during the course of 2007," stated Philip. Ladies Football Under the guidance of senior players, Sean Pierson, Raymond Finnegan and manager Barry Martin, Gowna ladies grabbed themselves some silverware to ensure that their 2006 season was one to be remembered. The Gowna ladies grabbed the JFC when overcoming neighbours, Arva in a thrilling final on a scoreline of 2-9 to 0-13. An outstanding display on the day earned Laura Pearson, 'player of the game' award. Gowna: G. Conaty, S. Gaffney, S. Brady, E. Smith, L. Pearson, K. Lynch, P. Lynch, C. Phillips (0-2), A. Harton, Y. Madden, S. Brady, J. Fitzpatrick, N. Fitzpatrick (1-3), P. Fitzpatrick (1-4), A. O'Reilly. Sub: Ciara Bannon. League title Three week's after capturing the JFC title, Gowna were back in the winners enclosure when they overcame Lavey in a tense tight game. The final scoreline of 3-3 to 3-5 tells its own story. Lavey had a dream start and caught the Gowna girls flat footed with two girls in the opening five minutes. Unphased by this setback, the newly crowned junior champions, stemmed the Lavey onslaught and took complete command during the second half to run worthy winners. Gowna: G. Conaty, E. Smith, S. Brady, S. Gaffney, A. M. Lynch, L. Pearson, P. Lynch, A. Harten, J. Fitzpatrick, S. Brady, C. Phillips, N. Fitzpatrick, P. Fitzpatrick, Y. Madden, Subs: Ciara Bannon, Aisling Brady. Tweet

Most Read Stories