If you take the statistical view of Maghera MacFinns football club, the first impression would not have your heart palpitating with excitement. Looking back on their 2006 season the club won only two league games and failed to register a win in the championship. It appears to be pretty dim reading but like all good stories it is just the surface dressing. To understand a club with such a proud tradition, who have during the recent past failed to reproduce some of the great exploits of former teams you just have to listen to the club secretary Martin O'Reilly. When Martin speaks about the present day club he is forthright, honest and has an understanding of what is needed for Maghera to make their way back to the top. "I know when you look at how we progressed last year, it is not very impressive reading, but there were many factors that influenced that outcome. During 2005 we finished bottom of the league and in 2006 we managed to take ourselves up one position. When we look back at the results over a number of years they were erratic and did little to build confidence for a sustained run in either league or championship. Two years ago, the players themselves decided that the time had come for them themselves to take a rather more dedicated approach and try to redress this imbalance. Commitment would have been a problem over the years but that has changed and while we may not have gained the results of this new found approach, I have no doubt that it will come in the not too distant future. "In Maghera we have some very talented and exciting players and the age spread is just right for the team to make the next quantum leap. The average age is 24-25 which gives us not only youth but a fair degree of experience. The new approach now being adopted by the players is commendable. After the 2006 season the players have committed themselves to a programme of training involving gym and aerobic fitness on a scale hitherto unheard of at Maghera. Further proof that the mindset of the players at the club had changed was the great effort put in last year for training. Players travelled from far and wide to training midweek and on weekends we nearly always had a full contingent. Players resident in Dublin come midweek as does, Fergus McHugh who travels from Celbridge while his brother Breen, travels from Cork on Fridays to make weekend training and playing commitments of the club," stated Martin. Rub of the green Martin recalls the 2006 season and in his opinion while the results did not go their way there were a lot of contributory factors. "There were many factors that hampered a good run in both the league and championship. We are a small club with a playing base of around twenty-six players. Like most other clubs we had a number of players who took time out to travel to Australia. We loss the services of two of our top class performers, Brian Duffy and Declan Brady. We commenced the league in spirited fashion but lost out in a number of games by the narrowest of margins. We actually managed to produce some of the best football seen at the club for many a year but just failed to get that final bit of luck as we were often edged out having done all the playing. "Our cause was further exacerbated as we collected an unprecedented run of injuries. By the time the championship came around we had nine of the team on the injured list and this left us in a very vulnerable position in the white heat of championship football. We played our two championship games over the space of a week taking on a fancied Swanlinbar side in the first game. Swanlinbar who went on to win the championship showed us little mercy and just one week to recover mentally and physically the task for our second group game against another of the league's strong contenders, Shercock was a journey too far. We also had to face that game with another injury crisis with some of players out from the previous game against Swanlinbar. This run of bad luck however, has done little to dent the belief of the squad that they can make a big impression in the coming season. When we look at the year, we can see that as a team we are capable of taking on the best and competing. Prior to the commencement of the 2006 league we played a total of sixteen challenge games against teams from Cavan and Meath some of them two divisions higher than us. We lost four, drew one and won eleven. While we lost league games, we did manage to produce some quality football and I believe that one of the problems is the legacy of the recent past of not being used to winning games. We were in a winning position on a number of occasions but failed to take the final step." Realistically, this mindset will not change overnight. The players at the club have now put themselves into a position with a dedicated approach to overcome this psychological weakness. Their dedicated approach and new found commitment along with the knowledge that we have the players must contribute to a better approach and to the next step of winning competitive games. With the return of Jason Fitzsimons and Kevin Lynch from abroad the club have regained two players of importance who can contribute to the new drive presently in place." Team Manager Martin knows while ultimately it is all down to the players, he is unstinting in his praise for the manager during 2006. Under the guidance of Meath man, John McEnroe the club began to regain its sense of itself. "John was a great addition to the club, coming from Oldcastle, just a few miles from Maghera he had an understanding of the problems faced by the club. His work at bringing on younger players will no doubt prove to be beneficial over the coming year and in the future. Due to farm commitments has been unable to continue in his role a manager for the 2007 season. His place is now being filled by George Plunkett. George is from Ballinacree and has worked with both Ballinacree and Drumbaragh. He has a strong pedigree in junior football in Meath and will bring with him the experience necessary to drive us onto the next level. He will have the backing of all the team and with his experience and our approach we will be looking forward to the 2007 season", stated Martin. Player Involvement As a club, Maghera must hold a unique place in Cavan. When you look at their top executive positions you are left in no doubt that the players at this club are willing to make drive to change things. The present Chairman, Derek Dunne and secretary, Martin O'Reilly are both members of the current playing squad. "Our former chairman, Patrick McNamee was playing football up to just three years ago. We are fortunate that the players are willing to recommit at another level other than playing. This to me is a good thing and healthy one for the future of Maghera. To this end we have players like Jason Fitzsimons, Andrew Brady, Declan Brady and Kevin Lynch to mention but a few who are willing to throw their lot into activities of the club. "We are also fortunate that over many years we have had a large number of very dedicated people who have contributed enormously to the good of Maghera. In this bracket we have had former vice chairman, Jimmy Brady, Michael Clarke, Noel Lynch, Jim McHugh and Ambrose Tobin whose work on behalf of Maghera has never wavered. "Another tireless worker who holds the club dear to his heart is Dan Daly. Dan never refuses any job, is always ready to do what is needed and is forever making himself available. I have no doubt that the Dan Daly's of this world are an endangered species. On behalf of all at the club I would like to recognise Dan in this article for the great work he has done over the many years. "Another man who holds Maghera close to his heart is our main sponsor Jim Brady from the Lakeside Manor. Jim's commitment to the club should be an example to us all as he steadily backed us over a number of years," stated Martin. Development With the new found approach now evidenced in the players the club have also looked to the future and have now embarked on an ambitious programme to develop the complex and club grounds. "Having obtained a grant from the Arts and Tourism Board and along with a sizeable amount of finance raised through the club lotto plans are now in place to upgrade the avenue to the changing facilities, extend the complex to provide a meeting room for the many groups in the area that will have access to it, put in a referee's room and install floodlights so that games can be played at night," stated Martin. Outlook for 2007 When talking about the outlook for the 2007 season Martin is realistic in his approach. "While I know that we are going in the right direction as a squad of players, I would hope that we could foster a winning profile. If we can do that early in the year, then I believe that we will overcome that psychological weakness that dogged us in 2006. Should we banish that profile then I know we can compete with the rest. All we have to do is look who made it to the top in both league and championship in our division and we know that we can do equally as well as them. With a little rub of the green at the right time in games we can be a force to be reckoned with. "We will need to stay relatively injury free and have the majority of players available for all competitive games. If we can those small factors in place, we will pose a threat to many of the sides in our division and with a little bit of lady luck could be there or thereabout in September. Have no doubts, the pride, drive and ambition of all the players at Maghera is to make it to a championship final in September and to run out at Kingspan Breffni Park. While this is a dream, it is one that we feel we can realistically achieve," stated Martin. Martin shows a forward looking approach, when he talks about Maghera and the prospects for the club. While he can talk about the immediate plans for the team, he also has the ability to look at the long term future for Maghera as a club. He is quick to acknowledge the great growth rate now being experienced in the area and while Maghera is surrounded by a myriad of clubs from both Meath and Cavan, he has no doubt that the future will see major changes that should bring back the glory years to this great and proud club, Maghera MacFinns. To this end Martin who is now in his third year as Secretary will be working along with many dedicated Maghera men to ensure that this will come to full fruition. Tweet

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