While some pundits in Cavan football circles were already writing the epitaph to this great footballing club, the men of Gowna were quietly infusing their team with a set of youthful players that was to serve notice to all involved in football in Cavan. The introduction of players of the calibre of Joe McLoughlin, Shane Briody (both minors), Colin Briody, Ciaran Brady jnr (both U-21s) and the youthful but experienced, Emmet Madden, Niall Madden, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Cathaldus Harten, Willie Stephens, aligned with their more and experienced senior counterparts, showed that the new look Gowna could be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. Gowna, who were quietly making their way through the senior league, had to contend with what many thought was an obstacle too great when they met Cavan kingpins, Cavan Gaels in the first round of the senior football championship. In an absorbing contest, Gowna's talisman, Gerald Pierson, proved that he is without doubt the most lethal forward in Cavan football as he produced a breath-taking point as the game was closing out to earn Gowna a deserved draw. In a tense replay where tempers flared, Gowna were trailing 1-10 to 0-3 as half-time approached but a goal by the ever dominant Dermot McCabe threw a lifeline to his Gowna team-mates. In a resurgent second-half Gowna had registered 1-3 in the opening seven minutes and threw this game wide open as a contest. While they failed to overhaul the Gaels, they nevertheless made them work all the way for this hard-earned victory. These two sides were to take their separate paths in the championship only to end up meeting again in the championship final. Indeed they both met again at the year's end when contested the senior league final. "It would be my belief that the two opening games against Cavan Gaels, proved to be more beneficial to us than we would have anticipated at the start of the competition, said club PRO Philip O'Reilly. "While we went on to make our way through the back-door system, the two tough games against the Gaels, had given us the belief that we could go all the way with this young team. Our more experienced players like Gavin and Fergal Hartin, Christy Madden, Ronan Bannon, Dermot McCabe, Mark McKeever, Bernard Sorohan, Gearoid O'Reilly, Gerald Pierson and Ciaran Brady snr., were all working that much harder and producing some great performances. I think their commitment helped bring our young players along and contributed to our great run in the championship. The back-door system only seemed to help us as the younger players began to gell into the Gowna set-up and we approached the county final with a great deal of hope. We lost Dermot (McCabe) early on in the final and it is a measure to the team's resilience that having lost such an inspirational figure, they did not drop their heads. While we ended up on the losing end of 0-11 to 0-15 scoreline the response from the people in the locality was just as good as if we had won it. This group of players had given the hope of another generation that could be capable of adding more silverware to the Gowna cabinet. The reception afforded to the players after the championship final on their return to Gowna was akin to those that were staged when we won it. It is my belief that the people of the locality have recognised that this team can win and will win," stated Philip. "We made it to the league final and once again it was the Gaels we faced. This made it the fifth time that we had met in 2007. This game was always going to be a tough battle. The strong gusting wind ensured that free flowing football was down to a minimum but this did not stop both teams producing a teak tough and close encounter. While we lost by three points 0-8 to 0-5, what I found particularly encouraging was the approach of the young Gowna players to the game. I felt that their attitude was 'spot on' as they held no fear of the Gaels and felt that they could win. This kind of attitude can be built on and hopefully, we can approach the 2008 season injury free. If we can stay relatively injury free and hopefully, the Hartin brothers, Ciaran Brady snr, Christy Madden and Bernard Sorohan all make the commitment to be involved again, then I think we will have a serious impact on the destination of any silverware in the senior ranks," stated Philip. Team Management When reflecting on the season gone by, the club PRO paid tribute to the enormous commitment put in by the team management. "We had just got a new manager for 2007, Mick McCormack, who has a wealth of experience both at club and county level took over. He was aided by selectors Laurence Brady, Gerry Cadden and Sean McGahern. It is a credit to the work put in by them that Gowna made so much progress both in the league and championship. We are fortunate to have retained the services of the team management again for the 2008 season," stated the PRO. Juvenile football When speaking about the juvenile section of the club, Philip is enthusiastic about the approach and commitment from all those involved. Philip who has a had a life-time of commitment to Gowna having acted as vice chairman, chairman and now PRO is in a good position to gauge the work being done by the club at underage level. An astute judge of football, Philip has always shown great interest in the younger players at the club and taken a realistic outlook when it comes to Gowna G.F.C. "When we look at the effort that is being put in at present at juvenile football, I feel that it will produce its own rich reward in the future. A pleasing aspect of the coaching of underage football is the input from some of senior players. We have Fergal Harten, Laurence Brady, Christy Madden, Ciaran Brady snr. and Kevin Madden who are presently working with the U-8s and U-10s. Todate they have been successful in a number of blitz comptitions in Lacken and Virginia. I have not doubt the vast experience of this management team will produce a winning formula as these young aspiring footballers move into competition proper in the coming years. We have attained some degree of success at underage football during 2007 with our U-14s winning the Roinn B final when they overcame Lurgan by 4-16 to 1-7. This team was managed by Gerry Cadden and Sean Pierson, both of whom are actively involved with the juvenile club," stated Philip. U-14 Title This game which was played at Kingspan Breffni Park saw the sides evenly matched throughout the first half and with only two points separating them at half-time as Gowna led 0-5 to 0-3. A scoring blitz at the start of the second half, saw points from Niamh Halton, Conor Madden, which set the scoring machine in motion with Gerry Cadden and Pat Briody tagging on two goals to put daylight between the sides. Cadden was on hand again in the twelfth minute to net his second goal and at this point the game as contest seemed to be over. It was fitting that the outstanding performance of Andrew Dewart who had opened the scoring for Gowna had the final score when he cracked home his side's fourth goal. GOWNA: Steven Leddy, Gerry Brady, Pauric Bannon, Damien Bannon, Niall O'Reilly, Karl Kiernan, Jason Longtree, Andrew Dewart (1-1), John Hyland (0-2), Ryan McGahern (0-1), Conor Madden (0-6), Niamh Halton (0-2), John McLoughlin (0-1), Gerry Cadden (2-3), Pat Briody (1-0). Subs used: Aaron Longtree, Ryan Brady, Cian Bannon, S. Fitzpatrick and B. Martin. "We did not have a very strong minor squad but we showed great determination in capturing the Division 3 Shield. It was victory fashioned by the tremendous performances from two of our senior panellists, Joe McLoughlin and Shane Briody. Both players were excellent on the day and contributed to Gowna's convincing win," stated Philip. Ladies football Gowna ladies proved they have acquired the winning touch when they captured the Cavan Intermediate Ladies championship title as they defeated a strong and determined Templeport side at Kingspan Breffni Park on a scoreline of 5-12 to 3-9. This game proved a much more competitive affair than the scoreline suggested with Gowna trailing by four points at half-time 2-4 to 2-8. In a second half which produced a great deal of fluid and skillful football both sides tried valiantly to exert their dominance but failed to get the upper-hand until the final ten minutes when a long ball played into the Templeport square saw Mary McLoughlin crash the ball to the back of the Templeport net. This was the score that finally broke the Templeport resistance. With a powerful midfield duo of Aishling Harten and Patricia Lynch (both Cavan senior players), Gowna finally took control and with two goals in quick succession from Harten and Lynch finally closed this game out as a contest. This victory was testimony to the great team work of the Gowna ladies and to their team manager, Gerry Cadden and selector, Gerald Pierson. Gowna had the added bonus of Paula Fitzpatrick, another of their Cavan senior players, receiving the accolade of 'Player of the Match' an award richly deserved for her sparkling peformance in the final. Gowna scorers: Paula Fitzpatrick (1-3), Niamh Fitzpatrick (0-7), Kathleen Lynch (1-1), Patricia Lynch, Aishling Hartin, Marty McLoughlin (1-0) each; Aine O'Reilly (0-1). Gowna: Graine Conaty, Ann Maire Lynch, Siobhan Brady, Aoife O'Reilly, Ciara Bannon, Elaine Smith, Sandra White, Patricia Lynch, Aishling Harten, Yvonne Madden, Kathleen Lynch, Laura Pearson, Niamh Fitzpatrick, Paula Fitzpatrick, Aine O'Reilly. Subs used: Jenny Fitzpatrick, Sheree Gaffney, Mary McLoughlin, Aishling Brady, Emma McKeever. Ulster club campaign Having captured the Cavan Intermediate championship crown, the Gowna ladies made their sojourn into the Ulster club competition where they overcame Donegal champions, Glenswilly, in the first round. A comprehensive win in the quarter-finals against the famous Burren of Down saw them draw Armagh champions, Carrickcruppin. On the day the Armagh champions lived up to their pre-match tag of favourties and went on to gain their place in the final. Gowna made them work all the way for their victory and credit must go the entire panel for their wonderful sojourn in the Ulster campaign. Scor According to the PRO this is an area that the club had allowed to lapse over the years. "In the past Gowna won a number of titles at Scor and now have embarked on a programme of re-establishing both junior and senior Scor. Under the guidance and driving force of Gerry Cadden, he has already put in place a number of junior Scor acts and is presently working enthusiastically at reforming the senior section. The response seems positive and no doubt Gerry will yield the results needed to revitalise this section of the club," said Philip O'Reilly. New Pitch Development work at Gowna is still in progress as the club are presently in the throes of building a new complex which will house four dressing rooms and showers, an upstairs tea and meeting rooms along with a gymnasium. "Work on the second playing field at Gowna is complete and should be open for league games for 2008. It is a full length playing area and will be an added bonus and much needed asset for the Gowna club," added Philip O'Reilly. Tweet

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