Since establishing McConnon's Super Valu in 1996, Jim McConnon has been a committed supporter of Castleblayney GAA. This year, he was the main sponsor to the club's juvenile hurling section and also took great satisfaction from Magheracloone's historic SFC success. Well-known Castleblayney supermarket proprietor Jim McConnon has plenty to smile about after a successful year for the Faughs and his native Magheracloone. In hurling, Castleblayney savoured league and championship success while Magheracloone's long wait for a first senior football championship ended when they recorded an emphatic victory over traditional giants Scotstown in September. Jim has a close affiliation to both clubs, having played underage football with Magheracloone and sponsored various Castleblayney teams. This year, he sponsored the Faughs under 16 hurling team. "It was a great year for both clubs," says Jim, who is owner of McConnon's Super Valu, Arro and Wine Cellar in Castleblayney. "Castleblayney have a great tradition in football and hurling and it was good to see them winning back the senior hurling title this year. Hurling may be a minority sport in Monaghan, but the people who are involved in promoting the game put in the same effort or more than those in the successful counties like Cork and Kilkenny. "Noel McGuigan and Mickey Byrne asked me at the start of the year if I'd be interested in sponsoring the under 16 team and I was delighted to do so. I've sponsored Castleblayney underage hurling teams in the past and it's great to see the effort that's being put in with the young players is leading to success at adult level." After losing their county hurling title to Clontibret in 2003, Castleblayney bounced back in the best possible fashion this year. They signalled their intentions with a 3-8 to 1-9 victory over the holders in the semi-final before overwhelming Monaghan Harps in the decider on a 3-14 to 1-7 scoreline. The outcome of the county final was never in doubt with a fired-up 'Blayney leading from start to finish. Man of the match Rory Woods set the ball rolling with a goal in the 14th minute and by half-time, the Faughs had established a commanding 1-10 to 0-3 lead. It continued to be one-way traffic after the changeover with a second goal from Mark Kelly giving them a 12-point cushion. And whatever hopes Monaghan Harps had of staging a recovery were well and truly dashed when Woods bagged his second goal in the 46th minute. To their credit, the Harps replied with a goal of their own two minutes later, but points from team captain Kieran Connolly and Brian McGuigan saw 'Blayney regain the Mick Quigley Cup in fine style. They later added the league title with an equally impressive 4-10 to 0-8 victory over Clontibret. Like all Magheracloone supporters, McConnon rejoiced in the club's historic senior football championship triumph. "Winning a county championship was something that was always talked about in Magheracloone but more often than not, there was disappointment at the end of every season. "However, this year's team put that right with a fantastic victory that will be remembered for some time to come. Winning that first title was the hardest thing, but now that that particular monkey is off their backs, I can see Magheracloone going on to win several more in the coming years. There is a good young squad of players there at the moment and I think a bright future beckons for the club." Similar to the Castleblayney hurlers, there was no shortage of motivation in Magheracloone after their replay defeat to Clontibret in what was their first county final appearance two years ago. Further disappointment followed last year when they succumbed to Latton at the penultimate stage. But those setbacks were forgotten about when they swept to Mick Duffy Cup glory on September 19 last. With the Freemans, Damien and Tom, in fine form and Fintan Kindlon and Paudie Finnegan also making major contributions, the south county outfit always held the edge against Scotstown in a final not for the faint-hearted. Finnegan scored the only goal after 17 minutes to help Magheracloone to a 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead. On the restart, points from Finnegan and Damien Freeman stretched the winners' lead and the game was all over when Tom Freeman fired over points in the 16th and 20th minutes. Scotstown, who were managed by former GAA president Sean McCague, rallied in the closing stages but never looked capable of making up the deficit against a determined Magheracloone team who emerged as convincing 1-10 to 0-5 winners. Apart from sponsoring Castleblayney GAA, McConnon has also sponsored the 'Blayney camogie club as well as the local Cancer Society, Tidy Towns Committee and the Dyslexia Association. "We try to be as supportive as we can to the local clubs and organisations. They give us a lot of support throughout the year and it's nice to be able to repay them in some way," Jim explains. McConnon arrived in Castleblayney in 1989 to begin work as a trainee manager in Super Valu. He purchased the shop in 1996, but was forced to rebuild it two years later after it was destroyed by fire. When the premises re-opened, it included a new Arro hardware store. Then, in 2000, the Wine Cellar opened its doors for the first time. Jim expanded his business interests in 2000 by purchasing two new premises, Mac's Bar and Biddy's Coffee Shop, which front McConnon's Super Valu. These premises are currently being leased out. In more recent times, Jim has taken out a lease on the Maxol Filling Station on the Monaghan Road, Castleblayney. The filling station is owned by Monaghan county board chairman Gary Carville. Between his various business interests, McConnon has a staff of about 90, making him one of the biggest employers in the Castleblayney area. Tweet

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