When Arva GFC look back on the 2007 season they will do so with some degree of satisfaction as they reflect on the performance of both their adult and juvenile squads. According to the club chairman, Padraig Brady: "Arva will certainly look back on the 2007 season in a positive manner. Our senior team but for a few poor results should have finished much higher than a mid-table position. They also had a good run in the junior championship making it to the semi-final only to loose out narrowly to Shannon Gaels who went on to contest the final. Our second team, while they did not win any silverware, nevertheless contested two finals. In the Division 6 league we finished in second place just four points behind Kildallan who gained the only promotion spot. We met the newly promoted Kildallan in the Division 6 league final and lost out in what can only be described as a 'cracker'. Our second team also conteted the Junior D football championship final against strong favourites, Cavan Gaels. All in all a year of great progress on the senior front. "Our U-16s did the club proud when they won the Division 3 league title in dramatic fashion against Kildallan. This victory is a great credit to the players and to the backroom staff of Cyril Sheridan and Brian Ellis. "The ladies of the club were also in the limelight when they contested the Junior football championship against Killygarry. Again there is trojan work put in not only by the players but the committee involved with ladies football, Michael English, Margaret McEntee, Fergal (Gunner) Brady and their many voluntary workers, credit must be accorded to them all," stated club chairman, Padraig Brady. Padraig who took over the chairman's role in 2007 has a long association with the Arva club. His family connection is well documented with football in Arva and previously with Cormore. His father Phil has had a life long association with Arva and his entire family are still deeply involved to this present day. Padraig acted as Vice Chairman for four years before taking up the position as chairman. Indeed Padraig was also a player with Arva right through the juvenile ranks up until his retirement in 2006. "I would see the 2007 season as a big improvement on the previous year and would see no reason why we cannot improve further in 2008. We have a dedicated team manager in Sean Pierson who has given us a focus and a self belief which has trescended itself onto the playing arena. He is ably assisted by selectors, Arthur McCabe, John Hamilton and Padraig McEntee. I feel with the panel of players at our disposal and the management team we possess we are capable of making it to a junior football championship final. There is very little between teams in Division 3," stated Padraig. Padraig like all good managers, is only too aware of the calibre of people who help run and sustain the club. "We have many people at Arva who give of their time voluntarily and to all of those we are greatly appreciative. The work put in on Saturday mornings with the underage teams from under 10, 12, 14 and 16 is our lifeline and to all the people involved we owe a great debt of gratitude. We have been fortunate in Arva G.F.C. to have had the services of a wonderful and efficient secretary who having served her three year term is standing down. As a secretary Emer Gormley proved to be highly efficient and while she relinquishes her position as secretary, there is no doubt that she will not be lost to the Arva club," stated the chairman. Junior D Championship Arva will have gained valuable experience even though they lost in the Junior D football championship final against favourites Cavan Gaels. This game which was played under lights at Our Lady of Lourdes Park, Mullahoran saw the town team come out in top in a low scoring encourter by six points 0-9 to 0-3. The Gaels started as favourites but it did not deter the Arva side who battled throughout the entire game and while down 0-5 to 0-1 at the interval made a valiant effort in the second half to try and wrestle the initiative from the Gaels. While the Gaels ran out winners, Arva can look back on this championship campaign and feel confident that they have gained some valuable experience from the competition. No doubt, they will be a force to reckon with next year. The side that lined out in the final was; Dean Harrington, Raymond Brady, Patrick Murtagh, Shane Finnegan, Conor Barry, Philip Brady, James Morris, Nicky O'Hara, Alan Barry, Eugene Fitzpatrick, Stene Ellis, Brian McEntee, Jim Giblin (0-2), Peter Morris (0-1), Niall Brady. Subs: Fergal McGlade for Eugene Fitzpatrick, Damien Maguire for Niall Brady. Division 6 final Arva could deem themselves unlucky to have contested two finals in the space of four weeks and to come out on the losing side on both occasions. Playing against high flying Kildallan in the Division 6 league final, at Templeport, Arva saw the title slip away from them by a mere two points, 0-7 to 0-5 in a fiercely contested decider. This was a game that was always going to go down to the wire and with the Kildallan keeper, John Conaty, in inspirational form throughout, that was probably the added edge in determing the destination of the silverware. In an opening period in which both defences were on top the sides were level 0-2 apiece as the game entered the final ten minutes of the opening half. Kildallan had the final say of the half when Jason Curry popped over an injury time point. The opening twelve minutes of the second half saw Kildallan hit three unaswered points to give them a four point advantage. Arva, tried valiantly to pull back Kildallan's lead and but for some brilliant goalkeeping by John Conaty, Arva could have hit the front. However, it took a Jim Giblin point in the sixteenth minute to help Arva get back on track. Arva, now with the bit between their teeth, exerted more pressure on the Kildallan defence and by the forty-ninth minute, Alan Barry pointed to leave just one point between the sides. Once again it was Kildallan's hero, goalkeeper, John Conaty, who came to rescue as Arva tried to get the killer goal. The sides exchanged points and with just six minutes of the game remaining, a single point separated these two teams. Arva piled forward in a desparate effort to get the equaliser but it was Kildallan who had the final say with a point on the stroke of the final whistle. The game was played in horrendous conditions with constant rain drenching the teams and ensuring that the underfoot conditions were perilous. Credit to both teams as they produced a tempo and skillful display regardless of the conditions. Arva: Dean Harrington, James Morris, Patrick Murtagh, Shane Bouchier, Shane McEntee, Philip Brady, Conor Barry, Brian Fitzpatrick, Nicky O'Hara, Stephen Ellis, Alan Barry (0-2), Sean McManus, Thomas Barry (0-1), David Bouchier (0-1). Jim Giblin (0-1). Juvenile Football Arva U-16s snatched the Division 3 league title which was played at O'Connell Park, Drumlane, when team captain Peter Morris showed his leadership qualities as he fired a late goal to the back of the Kildallan net to secure the title for his side. Kildallan who opened the livelier set the pace but a goal from Brian Ellis after good work from Fergal McGlade took the Arva lads right back into the contest. Further Arva scores with points from Peter Connelly and Jonathan McCabe gave their side a four point half-time lead. As in the first half, Kildallan opened brightly and registered two points in the first three of the second half. A spirited Kildallan effort saw them bring the game to level terms as Arva now seemed to be on the defensive. Arva did however, edge in front with a point from Brian Ellis and when Peter Morris and Kildallan's Daragh McGovern exchanged points Arva still held a slender lead with the game entering into the final ten minutes. Arva were stunned with nine minutes of the game remaining when Kildallan found a way through a resolute Arva defence to score a goal and put them two points in front. The Arva response was an inspirational point from Brian Ellis but with the game now creeping into injury time, it looked all over for the Arva side. The determination shown throughout the entire game by the Arva side was to reap a rich dividend when team captain, Peter Morris latched unto a pass from Kevin Bouchier and rifled his shot to the back of the Kildallan net. Arva: Kevin Bouchier, James Morris, Conor McEntee, Conor Doyle, Sean Connelly, Ciaran Brady, Fergal McGlade, Brian Ellis (1-3), Peter Conneely (0-1), Cian Sheridan, Jonathan McCabe (0-1), Peter Morris (1-2), Conal Sheridan (0-1). Ladies Football Arva ladies can look back on 2007 with some satisfaction at having reached the Junior Football Championship decider against Killygarry. Played at Our Lady of Lourdes Park, Mullahoran, Killygarry ran out winners by 4-10 to 0-6. While the final scoreline would appear one sided this was far from the truth as the Arva ladies battled throughout and refused to lie down. Arva were first on the scoreboard when Lisa Mulligan pointed but with both teams displaying nerves it was a further ten minutes before the next score arrived. It turned out to one of four killer blows to Arva's aspirations, as Killygarry shot their first of four goals. Stunned by this breach in defence, Arva showed sterling qualities as Lisa Mulligan replied instantly with a point. Arva now were in the ascendancy but failed to capitalise on their superiority at this point in the game. Killygarry on the other hand were making much better use of their possession as they fired over five unanswered points. Arva were struck with a killer blow just on the stroke of half time when Killygarry found the back of the net for their second goal to give them a 2-5 to 0-2 half-time lead. Arva were eager to try and reverse the trend of the first half and with Lisa Mulligan firing over a further three points, Killygarry's lead began to close. Just as Arva thought they might see some light at the end of the tunnel, Killygarry bagged their third goal and now effectively put the game beyond the reach of the Arva ladies. Arva showed plenty of spirit but it was Killygarry who had the last say as they recorded a further 1-1 in the dying minutes. Having been beaten in last year's decider, this was a particularly tough outcome for the Arva ladies who just failed to reach their own high standards on the day. Arva: L. O'Hara, M. Fitzpatrick, L. McGuaraghan, E. Guther, N. McEntee, N. Daly, L. Grey, C. Grey, D. English, R. Mulligan, L. Mulligan (0-6), C. McCabe, A. McGuaraghan, E. Connolly, O. Brady. Charity event Padraig was keen to stress the work put in by Arva G.F.C. in promoting and hosting the Breifni 20k challenge - a charity event that since its inception some seven years ago has raised over half a million euro. "We were very happy with the 2007 event, as we raised over ?100,000. The money raised is primarily donated to St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin with a smaller amount going to Cavan General Hospital. We at the club are deeply involved in this project and hope to continue it for many more years to come," stated Padraig. Cormore Gaels When Padraig speaks about the gala function organised to celebrate the successful 1957 Cormore Gaels winner of the junior football championship when they defeated Belturbet, he does so with great pride. "The event which was sponsored by Brady's of Arva was held in the Breffni Arms Hotel with former Offaly All Ireland team manager, Eugene McGee as guest of honour. This was a particularly memorable occasion, and a very personal one for me and my family. My father, Phil and his brothers were part of that great Cormore team, so with the family connection there was that extra bit of nostalgia involved. The night proved to be one of joy, laughter and nostalgia as members from Cormore Gaels and Belturbet met up and 'replayed' the close encounters of that 1957 final. The team was captained by Christy Morris, father of former Cavan county player, Bernard. The club produced a commemorative match booklet for the occasion and all in all it proved to be a very successful function," stated the Arva club chairman. Tweet

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