Winners of the JFC in 1995 and 1998, Swad went gunning for a repeat success in 2006 and duly hit the target. Prior to last autumn, Swad had experienced their fill of disappointments at adult level. It was time to lay down a marker for the up-and-coming younger members of the club, to make a bridge to a better future. Most gaels in Cavan have a bit of a soft spot for the denizens west of the county because, traditionally, west Cavan teams have been forced to survive on meagre resources. But Swad et al have never looked for the sympathy vote and were never ever sated by the scraps from the table. So when the blue and white brigade came good in the JFC in 2006, even the most die-hard citizens of the vanquished Munterconnacht club would hardly have begrudged Swad their success. When the draw for last year's JFC was made, the winners-elect were pitted alongside the varying talents of Maghera and Shercock. The group stage is always a minefield as players aren't yet at their best but Swad showed sufficient concentration, focus, determination and ability to progress through to the quarter-finals. The best from the west met Arva in the last eight at Ballyconnell and after an entertaining hour's football, Swad triumphed by 1-17 to 1-12 to book their place in the semi-finals. A storming first half display which saw them engineer a comfortable nine point lead at half-time proved all the springboard the west Cavan side needed to progress in the competition. Arva were left shell-shocked after just three minutes of the game when Paul Prior goaled after good approach work by Gearoid McKiernan and Robert Prior. Although Arva converted a free in the 6th minute, countering a Michael Cunningham point just 40 seconds earlier, a subsequent stream of Swanlinbar points followed, barely without interruption. Arva had to work overtime to hang in there but a point was their sole reward in the 10th minute after David Bouchier's powerful shot was saved by Gavin Leydon in the Swanlinbar goal. Niall Fox followed up less than 90 seconds later with another free but from there to the interval, Swad had things very much their own way. Backed by a stiffening breeze, Swad seemed destined to bag a goal but the Arva 'keeper produced a great save in the 19th minute to deny Gearoid McKiernan. Arva tried their best to de-rail the Swad train but they were left facing an uphill battle as Swad proceeded to boast a 1-9 to 0-3 cushioned lead at half-time. It seemed like Arva were about to benefit from their second wind on the restart but Swad were still 1-12 to 0-4 to the good with ten minutes left to play. And three points in as many minutes from Kevin Brennan, Paul Prior and John Cunningham served to underpin their team's dominant position. Staring at a 0-6 to 1-16 deficit after Gearoid McKiernan and Michael Cunningham had tacked on especially fine points for the winners-elect, Arva belatedly made a spirited burst to eventually make the final scoreline a more respectable one. Swad fought a confident rearguard action in the closing minutes, seemingly happy in the knowledge that only the concession of a brace of goals could rob them of victory. their passage through to the penultimate round. The semi-final draw paired Swad with dark horse Cornafean but, as things panned out two sweetly-executed goals seven minutes from the close of play in both halves paved the way for Swad to progress to the final (2-17 to 1-9) after an exciting and high tempo penultimate round tie. The winners' trickery, pace and accuracy up front was manifest throughout the hour but never more so than in the 23rd and 53rd minutes when they found the net in devastating and thrilling style. Cornafean weren't so much rocked as ushered back on their heels in the opening ten minutes with Swad having a purpose and a conviction about their play that was ominous for the Reds. Underage starlet Gearoid McKiernan was on fire in that opening spell for the leaders and his two points from play had quality stamped all over them. However when Cornafean combined with pace and accuracy in the 11th minute to forge a wonderful goal, all of a sudden Swad found themselves briefly on the ropes and in danger of taking a standing eight count. Swad showed no inclination to seek some breathing space though and, instead, proceeded to regain the initiative, albeit without any particular haste. As the second quarter gathered pace, quite a bit of niggle began to infiltrate proceedings but, thankfully, malice was as conspicuously absent as rain-bearing clouds. It was all intriguing stuff with the tempo of the game and various head-to-head tussles enriching what was a value-for-money contest. The Swad think-tank weren't idle in the first half and the introduction of Padraig Leydon in the 20 th minute and the relocation of Paul Prior into the defence was a fairly radical move. One minute minute later, Swad's momentum got a timely assist when Mark Cunningham swung over arguably the point of the half from a very acute angle in the left corner-forward position. If Cunningham's effort was a morale-booster then the blues got a right royal injection of confidence a delightful 'through' ball from Mark Cunningham fell right into the path of the in-running Robert Prior who made no mistake in sliding the ball, soccer-style, past the advancing Andrew Smith. Prior's unerring finish left Cornafean facing into a 1-3 to 1-7 deficit and in need of inspiration or at least sustenance in the run up to the interval. But Swad's greater overall mobility and speed off the mark presented Cornafean with a 1-4 to 1-9 interval deficit. Cornafean hung in there though, matching their opponents in the determination and aggression stakes but falling short though on putting real pressure on their opponents' cushioned lead. Not that the Reds didn't try their damndest to gain parity. On the restart, Swad's attacking forays had an efficiency and a conviction about them that Cornafean were destined never to come close to equalling. With Robert Prior pulling the strings in a sometimes roving role and Mark Cunningham dovetailing intelligently, Swad looked as if they could score each time they moved into the last third of the field. In the 33rd minute a piece of quick-thinking by Robert Prior set up Michael Curran for a fine point and Cornafean's task became all the harder as they trailed by 1-5 to 1-10. As is their wont though, Cornafean never allowed their heads to drop and they notched a hat-trick of points without reply left just two points beetween the sides with 20 minutes left to play. Then apparent disaster struck for Swad when midfielder Michael Cunningham was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card in the 42nd minute. Swad quickly circled the wagons and a great block effected by Neil McGovern on a goal-bound effort emboldened the blues' no surrender attitude. Despite being reduced in personnel, Swad looked to have more in the tank as the final ten minutes beckoned and with Robert Prior's free-taking adding to his team's momentum, the coup de gras loomed onto the horizon. But not before Swad notched the kind of point that would grace any venue and any competitioin to leave them sitting pretty on the back of a 1-13 to 1-8 lead. The score of scores came in the 51st minute with Thomas Prior's block tackle on Art McSeain the starting point for a move which continued the length of the field and finished with Mark Cunningham banging the ball in skilful fashion to the Cornafean net. Two minutes later, Swad were home and hosed with Rory McBarron nettting from the penalty spot after Andrew Smith could do nothing but bring down Robert Prior honing in on goal in a one-on-one situation. The final against Munterconnacht in late September was to end in a draw with Swad's 1-14 tally being matched by Munterconnacht's 2-11 at Kingspan/Breffni Park. Swad almost paid very dearly though for a lethargic first half display - the beginning of which was heralded by a very heavy shower - which saw them trail by six points, 0-7 to 2-7, at the short whistle. Goals from Munterconnacht in the 7th and 26th minutes threatened to spoil Swad's title dreams but in a blistering display of spirited football the champions-elect gradually chipped away at their opponents' lead before left-half back Damien Leydon fired over the levelling point two minutes into injury time. Two weeks later Swad were left celebrating as the men from the west triumphed in emphatic fashion by 0-18 to 0-9 at headquarters. Midfielder Michael Cunningham and full-forward Robert Prior made the art of putting the ball over the bar look as simple as ABC in what was a real tour de force by the novel red and black clad brigade as a whole. In contrast to the drawn game, Swad were quickly out of the blocks and were 0-4 to 0-0 ahead after just five minutes with, significantly, four players weighing in with a point apiece. Predictably Munterconnacht came more into the game the longer it went on and Swad's lead was cut to two points by the 22nd minute. But from there until half-time Swad took control and three further points from Robert Prior left the leaders 0-9 to 0-4 in front. An air of inevitability hung over proceedings in the second half as Swad comfortably consolidated their cushioned interval lead. Michael Cunningham was unlucky not to bag a goal but got a point nonetheless and while Munterconnacht reduced their deficit to four points five minutes into the second half, that was as good as it got for them. Swanlinbar showed a real killer's instinct and went for the jugular with five unanswered points in a ten minutes spell helping to put their opponents to the sword. The final ten minutes was all about Swad embellishing their emphatic win and, predictably, it was they who notched the last four points of the game to seal the championship title and a place in the IFC in '07. The triumphant Swad men who featured in the JFC final replay were as follows; Gavin Leydon; Liam Prior, Thomas Prior, Seamus Corrigan; Neil McGovern, John Cunningham, Damien Leydon (0-2); Michael Cunningham (0-6), Gearoid McKiernan (0-1); Paul Prior, Kevin Brennan, Padraig Leydon; Mark Cunningham (0-2), Robert Prior (0-6), Rory McBarron. Sub used; Michael Curran. Blue (and white) is the colour Whether it's in the blue and white of Swad or the blue and white of Cavan, Michael Cunningham is determined to make '07 a year to remember. For some reason, most people imagine county players to have a barrel of medals at home. Your commoner-garden supporters presume the words 'much' and 'decorated' adorn each and every countyman's c.v. Well in Michael Cunningham's case, it ain't so. In fact in 2006, he landed his first major gong when spearheading Swad's annexation of the Cavan JFC. Aside from an under 16 medal way back yonder, Swad's latest bluechip player has got little to show for his honest efforts west of the county. But medals aren't everything of course. No, representing your county at the top level is something else entirely. It signifies individual talent, commitment, dedication, ambition and pride. Michael exudes all those characteristics and more besides. Of course, it's early days yet but the coming together of the midfielder 'cum forward and the county set-up looks like it has the makings of a marriage made in Heaven. Cavan boss Donal Keoghan, Cavan fans and, not least, Michael Cunningham will be hoping that it can be consummated this Summer on Ulster finals day. The signs are so far that a brand new chapter may be born in late July next if Michael and his colleagues' form holds up. Things have been going pretty well so far in Michael's personal relationship with his beloved county. Pointedly he started off in 2007 the way he finished '06 by claiming yet another man-of-the-match award. Last Autumn, he was selected as the most outstanding player in the Cavan Junior Football Championship final as Swad scooped a precious county title. Winding the tape fast forward and Michael put behind him Swad's disappointing Ulster club campaign to play one of the games of his life in Cavan's impressive win over Derry in the Gaelic Life McKenna Cup first round clash at Celtic Park last month. Reflecting on his bow in the Cavan senior colours, the laidback 22 year old recalls how the man-of-the-match award he received up North wasn't the only shock he got over that particular weekend. "I was shocked on Sunday morning when I learnt that I was going to be starting against Derry," Michael confessed. "We had a meeting in Monaghan on the morning of the match before heading onto Derry and when the team was announced I was surprised to say the least that I was picked to play. "Luckily being told just that morning that I was playing left me with little time to get nervous. "It was just as well I wasn't told the night before because I don't know how much sleep I would have got," the half-forward 'cum midfielder quips. Having played out of his skin against the Oak Leafers, Michael confesses that by the time he made it back home to west Cavan, sleep was very much on the agenda. "I was wrecked by the time I got back to Swanlinbar so I only watched about 20 minutes of the tape of the match, had something to eat and went to bed. "It was a long day and a tough match and it was a bit of a journey too, there and back." Michael says he was "amazed" to be told by a TG4 reporter that he had won the man-of-the-match award for his performance against the Oak Leafers. "I did alright in the game but I missed a few chances too and I couldn't believe when this reporter tapped me on the back and I turned around and he told me I was the man-of-the-match," reflects Michael who was joined on the team at Celtic Park by fellow debutants Jonathan Crowe and Donal Thomas. Currently taking some time out from his third level studies, the erstwhile Queens University Belfast student has seen his star shoot skywards over the last six months. He says he's thoroughly enjoying the experience of training alongside, and locking horns with, some of the best footballers in Ulster. A player who has never found football training a chore, he's revelling in the heavy going on rain-lashed pitches and he's razor keen to get stuck into helping Swanlinbar climb the pecking order in Cavan football circles, emboldened no doubt by the confidence and experience garnered by his county outings. Michael brings power and punch to the Swad team and his performances in helping his home club sweep to the JFC title last year helped to wipe away the disappointment of being on the losing side in the ACFL Division Two final in times past when Cuchulainns triumphed. "We were ahead by a point with about ten minutes left in the game," Michael remembers. "We had a young team and I think most of the players were suffering from nerves on the day. We just didn't perform on the day." Since that disappointment, young guns such as Liam McGovern, Gearoid McKiernan and Michael's brother Mark have come to the fore. "I think with the younger fellas coming through, we've now more ammunition up front than we had a few years ago. "For a good few years we were too dependent on Robbie (Prior) getting us out of trouble." Nestled in one half of the parish of Kinawley, Swanlinbar GFC is renowned as one of the more resilient, doubty battlers within the Cavan football family. Small resources, big heart, sort of thing. Expectations in the southern half of the parish never skirt the stars. Unsurprisingly, last year's JFC success caught a number of Swad's supporters on the hop a bit. "We would fancy our chances most years of doing something in the championship but I'd say our win last year caught a right few locals by surprise. "It (the JFC title win) meant an awful lot to the club. I felt we shouldn't have been relegated from the intermediate championship in 2005 so it was good that we rebounded so well after going down. "The longer 2006 went on our fitness and form steadily improved and I thought it would take a fairly good team to knock us out of the running for the junior championship. "I think getting relegated was maybe just the kick-up-the-backside we needed to find our best form and get our act together." Michael is fulsome in his praise of the part played by team-manager Dermot Smith in shaping what ultimately became a hugely successful season for Swad in 2006. The flying-fit countyman says Dermot's theory that if Swad didn't get out of junior ranks at the first time of asking, it would be increasingly difficult for them to do so was a good source of motivation for the would-be championship winners. There were some very bumpy parts of the road though that led Swad to the elysian fields last Autumn. Their championship semi-final tussle with Cornafean wasn't so much a bump as a drumlin. The game evokes mixed memories for Michael for while Swad progressed to the decider at the first time of asking, Michael headed for an early shower. His dismissal with just less than 15 minutes left to play in the second half threatened to guillotine the pride of west Cavan from sealing their path to the final. However the other fourteen Swad players redoubled their efforts, generated a terrific division of labour and held out for a magnificent win. "I was a relieved man when we edged our way over the finishing line," Michael concedes. "But I don't think I should have got the line. I couldn't believe it when I was shown a second yellow card. "Luckily for us, they didn't use the extra man too well." Reflecting on his grave misfortune, Michael can almost grin at the experience now, months on. He recalls how he rushed off up the road immediately after the match to help out Sean Doherty with the management of the Kinawley ladies team. The duo made it a day to celebrate on the double by steering the Fermanagh girls through to the intermediate championship semi-final. Michael was waiting for some wag that night to ask him did he get sent off on purpose against Cornafean in order to head up the road to the ladies match that bit earlier than scheduled! Brother of vaunted duo John and the aforementioned John, Michael is hoping that maybe one day all three Cunningham brothers might get a run out simultaneously for the Cavan senior team. He hesitates to say that he thinks they will but you have to live in hope. Then again, the three siblings sport a good pedigree as their mother Colette is a sister of former Fermanagh star Dominic Corrigan. Looking forward to doing his damndest for club and county this year, Michael admits that he's never been as fit as he is right now. His confidence is high too and he is determined to give of his best for club and county over the course of the coming months. Having already been blooded at minor and under 21 and now at senior inter-county level in the recent past, Michael has gotten to appreciate just what is expected of a player playing for Cavan. And he knows for a lot longer what Swanlinbar expects of its denizens. He is convinced that picking a likely winner of the Cavan IFC this year is a lottery-like affair. Picking a likely winner of the Ulster SFC is less unpredictable. Unsurprisingly, he's not quite willing to finger a likely winner of either! Tweet

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