Pauric Owens is one of the most efficient PROs in county Cavan. But given his media connections, it's hardly surprising. Want to get your club's message across? Like to add a professional touch to your efforts to build good public relations? Why not catapult a degree holder in media studies into the PRO hot seat! Lavey GAA has always been one of the more progressive clubs in GAA but when they secured the services of Pauric Owens to spread a black and white gospel, they certainly hit the jackpot. Pauric is to the manor born in his role as PRO of the Lavey club. He's got a grand qualification in media production management and is currently chiselling out a modest living in the world of print media. No less significant is the fact that he has a passion for Gaelic games, an innate interest in the Lavey club and a good memory to boot! His memory of Lavey football matters in 2006 is suitably vivid; certainly at least enough to portray a clear picture of ongoing progress by the New Inns-based club. "The club got to a lot of finals last year," Pauric explains. "It's a good year when one of your teams reaches a final but we made a few appearances in county finals in 2006." Not that everything went to plan of course. Pauric remembers the All County Football League Division 2A final when Killinkere played the part of party-poopers to a tee. Pauric recalls: "We were always in with a shout of winning the final but they were able to close the game out in the second half." And then there was the Division Two decider versus Lacken Celtic. "Lavey didn't do enough at the start of the game. Cathal Donohoe got a good goal near the end but it was a classic case of too little too late unfortunately." Surprisingly Lavey didn't reach the one final that most club members felt they were a shoo-in to contest in 2006 - the Under 21 Division Two Championship. "I'd say a lot of people in the club expected us to at least get to the final because of the team's record in the under 21 championship over the last couple of years," Pauric adds. "I'm not sure too many Lavey supporters recognised just how good Shercock were, that they're a very good up-and-coming team or that they had beaten Ballinagh on the way to the semi-final. "The fact that Ballinagh had gotten the upper hand on us over the last few years meant that Shercock were obviously a very good team but, in fairness to everyone involved with Lavey, they weren't taken for granted." Pauric is as keen to see black and white garlands decorating cups as anyone in Lavey and despite the near-misses in 2006, he says getting to finals is indictative of the progress being made at his home club. "We know we have the players but it's just about getting things right on the day and getting our share of luck which will give us the chance to get our hands on some silverware. "There are a lot of very good players coming up through the underage ranks too which should keep us involved at the latter stages of competitions at senior level in the years to come. "The minor team got to the league final and played very well but lost out to Ballyhaise but there was no shame in that because they did very well to get to the final. "But you can't take anything for granted; just because you're doing well in juvenile competitions doesn't say you're going to win things at adult level and I don't think too many people believe that anyway," the 21 year old believes. Reflecting on defining moments of the past season for Lavey gaels, Pauric has no hesitation in fingering the deaths of long-time club stalwarts Andy Smith and Tommy Monahan. Andy, Pauric tells us, was an ex-Chairman of the club and a hugely influential figure in Lavey Gaelic games circles. Tommy, meanwhile, was one of Lavey's honorary Presidents and a real dye-in-the-wool gael. Lavey, the gaeldom; Lavey the community is much the poorer for their passing, all agree, and Pauric says that all matters on the playing field and off it were put into perspective by the deaths of Andy and Tommy. Off the field activity included the opening of the club's impressive new Astroturf facility at New Inns - a facility which has been attracting custom and patronage from near and far over the past year. There's little doubt though that while all the structures are in place, Lavey GAA Incorporated is itching to post a handsome profit and not merely succeed in doing a bit more than breaking even as was the case in '06. Pauric accepts that expectations for 2006 in Lavey fell short of being realised with defeat to Ballyhaise in the quarter-final of the intermediate championship being a real hit to the solar plexus. "We showed excellent form against Redhills and beat them fairly convincingly but weren't so good against Drumalee. It was a really dreadful game, one to forget for both teams to be honest. "It was a big pity we didn't beat Drumalee because a win over them would have set us up for a game against Laragh in the quarter-final. "I think most of the team's best form came in the league and the lads were unlucky to miss out on promotion, finishing in fourth place. "Considering all the injuries they had during the year, it wasn't a bad finish in the league, especially when you have to play without the likes of Sean Maguire and Joey Jordan - two very important players." A former classmate at Aughadreena National School of such Lavey luminaries as Mark Brady and Terence Ferguson, Pauric envisaged a place in GAA administration rather than as a player awaited him. Despite the fact his health wasn't always top notch over the years, Pauric enjoyed togging out for Lavey until his time at minor level passed. There was no getting away from Lavey football affairs though for Pauric's home place is hardly the length of two football fields removed from the club's headquarters at New Inns. But how did he become involved in the administration side of the Association? And why PRO, an office notorious for scaring off everyone accept the least work-shy in the club. "I was invited to get involved in the club by John Joe Maguire so its him I have to thank," Pauric says. "He knew I had an interest in journalism and the media and I was keen to help the club anyway I could. "I'm not one of the best PROs in the county but I do my best to portray the club in the best possible light and so far I've found the job to be okay. "I try to see the matches involving Lavey in as neutral a light as possible and try to write a fair report on whatever match I'm reporting on," says Pauric. Son of well-known local musician Eddie Owens, Pauric cites Irish Independent pair Martin Brehony and Eugene McGee as two of his favourite sports journalists while on the broadcast side, Micheal O Muircheartaigh and Jimmy McGee are the two journalists he favours the most. Looking ahead to the 2007 season, Pauric is optimistic that his beloved club can do well on both the league and championship fronts. He is looking forward to seeing how new team-manager Brian Cummiskey (2006 Kingscourt boss) fares out but he'll be disappointed and surprised if Lavey don't at least reach the IFC semi-final. Pauric is glad to see the back of the group system in the championship and believes that there will be more 'bite' in the IFC this year now that the system has been revamped. A fervent follower of Cavan's various representative sides, Pauric reckons a concerted push to get out of division two of the NFL is a must for team-manager Donal Keoghan and his players. "I think you have to be playing against the top teams to get the best out of whatever players are available to you," Pauric opines. "I don't see any reason why the county team can't go and win the division two title this year but promotion is the priority." And the 2007 Ulster SFC race? "We should beat Down anyway, going on the form book from last year and so far this year but after that it's anyone's guess". Words to the wise. Tweet

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