Maguire remembers the glory days
November 27, 2011The Cavan man settled in New York and has lived there ever since, but he still has fond memories of playing for the club during their golden era and he kindly recalled some of those days to the Breffni Blue Yearbook.
In 1949, after a number of particularly lean years, Crosserlough Gaels was reorganised under the chairmanship of Pat Reilly, Druninisclin. The first championship cup to come to the parish was won by Crosserlough minors in 1954. This was a brilliant fifteen and included John Byers, Jimmy Smith, Donal Crotty, and Philip Maguire, all of whom were to play a very important role in Crosserlough's rise to the top. The master tactician, Brian Beglin, ably assisted by Kevin Boylan and Peter Byrd, tutored the team.
The 1957 competition had continued into 1958. Crosserlough met Bailieborough in the final and defeated them by a winning margin of 5-8 to 1-2. The same teams met in the championship semi-final, where Bailieborough's attempts to regain face failed. Cavan Gaels defeated Cootehill in the other semi final. The stage was set for a record breaking final! Conditions were ideal.
It didn't start well for Crosserlough. Just two minutes in and Cavan Gaels were two goals up! After fifteen minutes of play, Cavan were nine points ahead. A great fighting spirit and an all-round ability, plus the craft of Noel O'Reilly, Hubert Gaffney, Brian O'Reilly, Gerry Duffy, John Byers, Peter Donohoe, Sean Lynch and Jimmy Smith was not to be denied. Three minutes from the end and all was square. Crosserlough's winning score was a goal from Jimmy Smith, the ace forward. The Crosserlough team was the new champions by a score of 3-7 to 3-4. After all those weary years, the Plunkett Cup reached Kilnaleck. Crosserlough were odds-on favourites to retain the championship in 1959. It took a replay against Cavan Gaels to secure victory in the semi-final and they met Virginia, for what was viewed by many as a mere formality. However, in the dying minutes of the game, Virginia stole the victory. There was some solace in the fact that Crosserlough retained the senior league. 1960 was a fruitless year, but Crosserlough was back on target in 1961. They regained the championship by defeating Ballinagh by 2-8 to 2-3.
In 1963, Benny Boylan's schoolboys won the County Cavan Championship (rural area) for the first time. They repeated the performance in 1964 - ensuring a steady stream of talent for the Senior and Junior titles for the coming years. The Senior Team won the senior league and the minors won the minor championships in both 1963 and 1964. They all retained their trophies in 1964. In 1965, the seniors won another senior league title. 1966 was equally victorious with the formidable Crosserlough team defeating a shocked Ballyconnell by a score of 3-13 to nil.
1967 Was one of the greatest years for football in Crosserlough. Never before had one team won the senior and junior championship on the same year and at the same time contested the minor final. In a repeat of the 1958 final, Crosserlough met Cavan Gaels. The opposition, playing fast, clever, constructive football, dominated the opening period. At half-time, the score was 3-4 to 0-7. Not to be beaten, the Crosserlough men called on their reserves of fitness and experience, and overhauled their rivals by four points (Crosserlough: 18 pts, Cavan Gaels: 3-5). This was a remarkable victory, demonstrating that courage and fitness will always triumph! Crosserlough supporters were still celebrating when the junior side stepped onto to soil of Breffni park to contest the junior final. Even though the team lost a number of players to senior ranks in transit, they proved, by the way they defeated Belturbet in that final, that 'the lough' was bristling with talent! This marked the first occasion for the junior championship cup to come to Crosserlough.
The stage was now set for Crosserlough to embark on a championship-winning streak, which is second to none in the county. Seven senior titles in a row were won between 1966 and 1972 and for good measure the club also won the Junior Championship in 1967. Since these glory years success at senior level has eluded the Kilnaleck club but nevertheless a steady stream of silverware has continued to flow the way of the club.
"We lived for football those days. We would train two or three nights a week and the nights we weren't training, we would probably go for a kick around," admitted Gary.
"They were great times and I played alongside my brothers Brian and Aidan. I did line out for the county minors on one or two occasions, but in fairness there were far better footballers than me around," he added modestly.
Gary retired from football before he decided to go on holidays to New York and he admits that it was a life changing experience. "I just went out for a holiday and I ended up meeting my wife and settling down over here.
"I was retired from the football at that stage, so I didn't get involved with any club out here when I moved out. I was also suffering from a number of injuries, which didn't help."
Gary turned to the less physical sport of golf and despite having a couple of operations on his knees, he still continues to impress on the golf course.
"I'm just back playing recently having had another operation, but I'm feeling good and play on Saturdays and Sundays. I enjoy the golf and hopefully I can play on for a few years yet." Tweet
