Losing their team-captain after two minutes of last October's IFC final seemed to signal disaster for Tyholland. But the perennial bridesmaids rebounded to create their own bit of history. Weeks on and Gregory Ronaghan is still in touching distance of the IFC trophy. The Holy Grail which eluded Tyholland for so long sits on his sideboard, finally in the care of the club's team-captain. Recuperating from injury is a hazard of a sportsman's life but Ronaghan would rather be sitting still with his eyes on the glittering prize on his sideboard than be blinded by regret. Since Tyholland's victory over Truagh, the moment of Ronaghan's injury has been touted as being the catalyst for the north Monaghan side's belated annexation of the IFC title. In a weird turn of events, his enforced withdrawal in last October's county final duel with near-neighbours Truagh has been cited as instrumental in inspiring the white and reds to glory. Just two minutes into the game, seasoned campaigner Ronaghan was taken off with what turned out to be a broken collarbone. St. Patrick appeared to have disowned his men. "It was a bit of a nightmare but it wasn't anybody's fault. I went shoulder to shoulder for the ball. it was just a freak accident," says the still-recovering Ronaghan. "All's well that ends well. I have seen the match on DVD and it makes for great viewing especially the celebrations that erupted once the final whistle went." There's little doubt though that Ronaghan's removal from the pitch (and surroundings as he was rushed to Drogheda hospital) did unsettle the would-be winners for a period. It was in those early stages that the omens looked worst of all for the match favourites with Truagh flying out of the blocks and all vim and vigour. The term, deja vu, sprung to mind in the final as the opening exchanges fairly mirrored the earlier meeting of the two teams in the championship. Then the Gaels hit Tyholland with practically everything in their armoury in the first quarter only for the would-be championship victors to keep their nerve on the ropes. The win (2-13 to 0-10) over Truagh in Scotstown on September 2nd followed all of 10 weeks after Tyholland's decisive first round 2-16 to 2-7 triumph in their championship bow against Rockcorry in Rooskey. "In the Rockcorry game it took us the guts of an hour to play the way we're capable of but we were slow all year to get out of the starting blocks," Gregory recalls. "We were poor in the first 20 minutes against Truagh, very slow to get into our stride - maybe because of the length of time we didn't have a match after the Rock game. "We had to play catch-up but the lads didn't panic and in the last ten minutes of the first half we got our act together." Team-manager Declan Loughman was frustrated by the absence of championship matches in June, July and August but philosophical at the same time. It was always our intention to go the direct route and that was why it was so important for us to beat Rockcorry but it was hard to keep the lads on the boil after that because of the long break so it's been slow progress over the guts of the three months we had no championship action," said the 'blayney native in the run-up to the final. "Challenge games aren't much use in bridging the time between the matches because you're playing them just for the sake of having a game; there's no target time to aim for." Netherless Loughman was more than content that progress was being made in Tyholland's overall master plan. Indeed victory over Truagh propelled Tyholland into the last four of the competition and a meeting with a county town side buoyed up by wins over Aghabog and Drumhowan. Against Monaghan Harps, Tyholland were really a class apart and won (2-12 to 2-6) pulling up at the Clontibret venue. All told, the Tyholland went through the championship undefeated, winning their three games en route to the county final and amassing a tally of 6-41 in the process. According to team-captain Ronaghan, Tyholland's best displays of the championship season were found in the earlier, qualifying rounds. "We played better in the run-up to the county final. I thought we played some great stuff in the second half of the match against Truagh in Scotstown. "It was probably the best match overall of the championship but it was only after half-time that we managed to impose ourselves on them and get clear of them. "Looking back, our best football really came in patches during the year; the first half performance against the Harps was also up there with the best we played during the year." "I think we laid down the foundations for the win over the Harps early on. I think we were a bit more superior on the day than what the scoreboard showed at the end of the match." With Truagh rebounding from their setback on September 2nd to secure victories over Corduff (2-15 to 2-3) and thereafter against Cremartin (1-16 to 1-10), a re-match beckoned. Both Truagh and Tyholland are renowned for their passing, running game and so a thrilling finale to the intermediate championship season was expected and the script held good. Tyholland went into the county decider without any injuries to concern Loughman and trainer Colm Donnelly plus selectors Paul Treanor and Paddy Hughes. That said, team-manager Loughman did express his regret that county minor Brian McArdle would hardly be fit enough to star because of an achilles tendon problem. Anyway, an entertaining, high-quality IFC in 2007 was to reach a climax on October 7th in Clontibret with Tyholland chiselling out a dramatic and gritty 2-9 to 1-9 victory. Emboldened by the bitter experience of defeats in previous finals, Tyholland gave it their all but for a period, it looked as if heartbreak was going to be their lot once more. However thanks, in part, to an early second half goal by Cyril Ronaghan, Tyholland went onto to carve out a deserved and historic win despite Truagh's best, courageous efforts. Ronaghan's major climaxed a gritty spell for his team during which they battled back from an unsure opening half during which time Truagh looked like champions in-waiting. Reflecting on the victory in the final, the injured Ronaghan says the DVD of the match was very illuminating and he relished watching Tyholland's crucial early goal. The sides were level on one point apiece when James McQuaid gave the would-be winners a major leg-up by finding the net in the 18th minute, 16 minutes after Ronaghan's exit. "I think we were more clinical in the match, took our chances much better than Truagh and James' goal was an example of that but he's been doing that for us all year. "We showed a lot of character and will-to-win by coming back at them when they hit back with their goal later in the first half to go into the lead," says the long-serving Ronaghan. Truagh finished the first half with an edge to their game and they soon stretched their lead to three points in the run-up to the interval. Like true champions though Tyholland rallied in the dying minutes of the first half with a Raymond Ronaghan free (25th) followed by a Shane Treanor brace which helped the eventual winners break even, 1-4 to 1-4, at half-time. A free from Raymond Ronaghan within a minute of the commencement of the second half got Tyholland up and running but three minutes later the team got a major boost. Some fine combination work by Shane Treanor and James McQuaid saw Cyril Ronaghan being put through and he cleverly slid the ball past the Truagh 'keeper for a timely goal. "Soon after our second goal, Ciaran Boyce brought off a brillant save which showed just why he was a county minor. "The conditions weren't great and it was more of a dogged game than a classic but we got the rub of the green at times, especially when we went five points up and maybe sat on it. "We came under a lot of pressure towards the end but we didn't panic and luckily Paul Askin came on to score a great point and then Gary McQuaid hit the insurance point," Ronaghan remenbers. Truagh laid siege in the dying minutes and a couple of near-misses for Tyholland ensued before the long whistle signalled a mass break-out from the dug-out as the subs and management team vented their joy. And for Gregory? "I kept in touch with my mobile phone when I went to the hospital and it was no less sweet for me when the final whistle blew. Beating Truagh sent us back up to senior and getting there by the championship door and making history was a great way to do it." The following are the players that made history for Tyholland in the 2007 Monaghan IFC final; Ciaran Boyce; Daniel Connolly, Kevin McQuaid, Brendan McQuillan; Ronan McNally, Gregory Ronaghan, Owen Roe Kavanagh; Cyril Ronaghan (1-1), Gary McQuaid (0-1); Peadar Farrelly, Paul Coyle, Karl O'Connell; Shane Treanor (0-3), Raymond Ronaghan (0-2), James McQuaid (1-0). Subs used; Brian McArdle, Paul Askin (0-1). Tweet

Most Read Stories