1997 will be remembered for many reasons. It saw the Monaghan ladies take their second All Ireland title. It witnessed Clontibret defeat C'Blayney in the final of the senior football championship. It saw Drumhowan defeat Aughnamullen in the final of the intermediate championship and Cremartin overcome Oram in the junior final by a single point. In hurling Clontibret were top dogs when regaining the senior hurling championship after a lapse of some five years. They were all very important in their own right but there is an even bigger reason to recall the events of 1997 as it was the year when a first ever All Ireland hurling title came to Monaghan. It was an achievement beyond the bounds of expectation and beyond Monaghan's wildest dreams and it brought the ancient game to unprecedented heights in the county. The appointment of Joe Hayes as county team manager was the catalyst for this achievement as it was his experience and ability as a player as well as his ability to motivate those around him that saw the Monaghan players playing at a level that they had hitherto been unable to reach. " We had never seen anything like this before, everything was so different," team captain Ciaran "Sid" Connolly recalled later. "Training was enjoyable and we learned new things all the time that saw all the players improving steadily." Ten years later it still creates a buzz when talk of the 1997 championship is brought up. There were tentative plans to hold a 10th anniversary dinner but nothing came off it so this trip down memory lane should jog nice thoughts of that great summer when Monaghan hurlers walked with a bit of a swagger. In the National Hurling League Division 4 Monaghan cruised through their eight games with just one defeat, away to Tyrone but that was the only single blip on an otherwise almost perfect playing record for the year. Monaghan's league run put them through to a play-off against Wicklow but the Leinster side proved too strong for an under-strength Monaghan in Drogheda. In the Ulster championship Monaghan started with a 3-13 to 1-5 victory over Cavan, a four points victory over Tyrone in Clones, 1-12 to 1-8, and then a fantastic display against Fermanagh in the final in Clones when they had three points to spare at the finish. This achievement was all the more noteworthy in that it was achieved in adversity as the sending off of Joe Hayes in the early stages of the game saw Monaghan playing almost the entire final with fourteen men. That sending off indeed was to have far reaching effects on the game in the county but Monaghan still progressed to the All Ireland Junior final against Meath although they had something of a faltering performance against London in Ballinasloe in the semi final. "We were ring rusty for that game," Owen Connell recalled, "as we had not played in quite some time and with Joe out training dropped off a bit which affected us as well but we got it together late on a did enough to win." Monaghan were now breaking new ground, no tradition to fall back on, no experience of such an occasion except for team manager Joe Hayes who had seen All Ireland senior action and victory with his native Tipperary. Joe was now back on the team for the final with his suspension expiring the previous night and he lined out at full forward thereby further augmenting that sector with his considerable presence and experience. The team had prepared well but in the early stages of the game they were nervous and missed a number of chances but they got the perfect tonic seven minutes into the match when Ciaran Connolly connected perfectly with an overhead strike to slam in a goal following a '65 by Pat Walsh. "That helped to settle the nerves and we proceeded to play some very good hurling," Joe Hayes was quoted as saying in the local paper The Northern Standard the following week. A second goal by Connolly set them up for a 2-7 to 0-6 half-time lead but in the second half Meath improved considerably and put Monaghan under increasing pressure. "The defence played very well at that stage and Owen Connell took off a couple of great saves to help out." The Meath pressure was still building but a goal by substitute Paul Cunningham lifted the Monaghan spirits and relieved the pressure. Meath weren't finished however and responded with a strong period of play but Monaghan wrapped up an historic result with three points from the Tipperary maestro himself to finish with nine points to spare on a final score of 3-11 to 0-11 to make for a truly historic achievement and it is worth recording the Monaghan teams that did duty in both the Ulster final and the All Ireland semi final. Monaghan v Fermanagh: J. J. Sullivan, Noel McGuigan, Jim Hayes, David Connolly, Tom Gillanders, Dave Hanrahan, Jim O'Rourke, Pat Walsh 1-8, Barry McShane, Robbie Healy 1-0, Ciaran Connolly 1-1, David Lennon 0-1, Paddy Kelly, Joe Hayes, Barry Reilly 0-2. Subs Owen Connell for J. J. Sullivan, John Harding for Paddy Kelly, Paul Ward for D. Lennon. The Monaghan team v. Meath in Parnell Park; Owen Connell, David Connolly, Jim Hayes, Tom Gillanders, Paul Ward, Dave Hanrahan, John Harding, Pat Walsh 0-3, Barry McShane, Robbie Healy 0-1, Ciaran Connolly 2-1, David Lennon 0-1, Mick 0'Dowd 0-2, Joe Hayes 0-3, Hugh Cullen. Subs; Paul Cunningham 1-0 for H. Cullen, Jim O'Rourke for J. Harding and Dessie Reilly for T. Gillanders. Monaghan reached the All Ireland junior final the following year but Meath gained revenge and denied Monaghan two in a row. By then Finian Baker had replaced Joe Hayes as manager. The feats of 1997 and 1998 were never equaled with the fortunes of the game at county level going through a series of ups and downs but the memory of 1997 still brings a smile. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Owen Connell: Ended up as keeper at the end of a career that spanned over twenty years. Only gave up playing a couple of season ago. Was county team manager for a spell and is currently chairman of Monaghan Harps hurling club. David Connolly: Still playing with C'Blayney and the county team. He won an Ulster junior club championship medal a couple of seasons back. Jim Hayes: Another veteran who is still turning out of his club Carrickmacross. Won a reserve hurling championship medal this year. Was also a selector in 1997. Tom Gillanders: Moved to Dublin a couple of years after Monaghan's success and is no longer involved. Also represented his club in Scor as a solo singer. Paul Ward: Formerly with O'Donovan Rossa in Antrim, Paul won an All Ireland club championship with them before moving to Monaghan. Played up until recently and was involved in team management with both Clontibret and the county. Dave Hanrahan: A member of An Garda Siochana Dave was transferred back to his native Laois. John Harding: Know affectionately as the hard man from Lorrha in Co. Tipperary John later moved back down south and was an immense loss both to the county and his club Carrickmacross. Pat Walsh: A native of Waterford, Pat was playing with club and county up until recently when injury forced him to retire. Picked up a Nicky Rackard Champion 15 award a couple of years back. Barry McShane: A Clontibret man he emigrated shortly after Monaghan's success. Robbie Healy: A native of Dublin Robbie is still playing with both Monaghan Harps and the county team. Ciaran Connolly: Wasn't playing for a couple of seasons but is now back with C'Blayney and turning out regularly. Won an Ulster junior club championship medal a couple of seasons back. David Lennon: A member of the Latton football club and C'Blayney hurling club David is no longer involved. Mick O'Dowd: Still turns out occasionally for the Clontibret "B" team. Is currently manager of the Clontibret football team and coaches some of the club's young hurlers. Joe Hayes: Something of a bitter sweet ending to it all for Joe. Did a short spell as trainer with Tyrone and up until recently was stationed in Monaghan. Hugh Cullen: A native of Wicklow Hugh has reverted to goalkeeping with C'Blayney HC. Also did a spell between the sticks for the county last year. Won a Monaghan senior championship medal this year and is the holder of an Ulster junior championship medal as well. Paul Cunningham: Was involved with his club up until recently. Jim O'Rourke: No longer playing Jim is now one of the county's best known referees and handles both codes. Recently refereed the final of the Ulster senior club championship. Dessie Reilly: A work transfer saw Dessie move shortly after the 1997 success. JJ Sullivan: Still involved as a mentor with his club Clontibret. Noel McGuigan: Probably the most senior member of the '97 squad who is still turning out. Very committed to coaching and promoting hurling at juvenile level. Paddy Kelly: Was a regular on the county team up until recently. Still playing with C'Blayney and is the holder of an Ulster Junior club championship medal. Barry Reilly: Departed the county scene some time back. Still playing with C'Blayney and this year was on the Ulster Railway Cup panel. The holder of an Ulster club medal as well. Jarlath Denny: Continued to play for a number of years and then turned to team management with his club C'Blayney. Eugene Murnane: Moved to Dublin shortly afterward the 1997 success. Kris McEntee: Was on the team again in 1998 and played with Clontibret for a few seasons. Sean McKiernan: Reserve goal keeper and played with C'Blayney for a few years after that until injury forced him out. Monaghan's other selectors Noel Mullaney and Sean Hahessy are still involved, Mullaney as a referee and Hurling Officer with Monaghan County Board while Sean Hahessy is involved in team management iwht his club Clontibret. Tweet

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