Farewell to a true Friend,

Cornafean lost one of its best known and respected citizens with the death of Tom McSeain on the 21st of October. Tom has suffered a mild stroke some years ago, but had made a full recovery so the suddenness of his death came as a huge shock to the area. Aged 85 years he was one of a family of 10 who were embedded in the GAA. His grandfather JP founded the Cornafean Club in the early 1900's and his father Pol held many senior positions at club and county level.

Tom inherited the family business from his parents and showed his entrepreneurial skills by adding a pub and a golf course to his enterprise. Converting the family farm into a Par 3 golf course was a first in this region. It is now one of the more popular golf venues in the County. The McSeains also owned and managed the Cornafean dance hall which for decades was one of the most popular dance venues in the region. Tom loved Irish music and dancing and liked nothing better than a good 'Siege of Ennis'.

Tom will be best remembered for his contribution to the GAA, he was club secretary and one of the driving forces behind the development of Parc Naoimh Fionnain in the 1960's. He was a member of the Cornafean team that won the Senior championship in 1956. His ability to score goals had him nicknamed "Tom Langan". Tom had a love of both Football and Hurling and for many years he never missed an All-Ireland final in Croke Park. When Cavan Co.Board made an effort to promote hurling in the county in the sixties Tom was instrumental in setting up a Juvenile team in Cornafeam. That team won several under 14 and under 16 titles, sadly the effort faded from lack of support. Tom was President of Cornafean GAA club at the time of his death.

Tom never married but he was like a father figure to the youth of the area. He led the way by good example and good advice. He had a pleasant manner and always had a smile on his face. He was a devout christian and a very generous person. He contributed generously to the church and to many charities especially the missions.

Cornafean footballers past and present formed a guard of honour at his removal to the church of the Immaculate Conception Coronea on Sunday 23rd Oct. His concelebrated funeral mass on Monday 24th was one of the largest seen in the area and showed the esteem in which Tom and his family are held. Sincere sympathy is extended to his brother Peadar, his nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family. "May the sod rest lightly on his grave"

The Gallant 5k/10k Challenge.A big thank you to the great numbers of people who supported the Gallant Challenge in Cornafean on Saturday evening last.On a beautiful evening the roads around Cornafean and Bruce were busy with runners ,walkers and cyclists all taking part in either the 5km or 10km distances in aid of the very worthy cause Cavan Hospice.Barry McKiernan from Abbeylara was first Gent home in the 10km race and was presented with the Oliver Brennan memorial Cup and first lady home in the 10k was Amy Wharton who was presented with the Mary Comiskey memorial Cup. Congratulations to them both. As usual Ciaran Weir and his committee pulled out all the stops to make the event an outstanding success and Ciaran would like to thank everyone who took part and acknowledge the assistance of the stewards and Civil Defence on the day and also Gary Smith Catering Ballyconnell who kindly sponsored the beautiful food and refreshments for all participants.  Thank you also to Art McSeain for the use of his premises.

Cornafean Whist:

The next Cornafean whist drive takes place in McSeain's on Monday week the next the 14th of November at 9pm sharp, New card players are always welcome with supper served.

Club Lotto Results..Wk End..23/10/2016...Winning Nos. 9,15,17,26. No Jackpot Winner ..40 euros winners Eileen Shanaghy Wateraughey...George and Una Leinster Cavan...Hugh Sanderson Farranseer...Micheal Murphy Killeshandra...Vincent Maguire Cordownan... Jackpot on Bank Holiday Monday night...5,100 Euros....Than you all for your support.

Football Update...Hard luck to the Reds who lost out to St Patrick,s The Rock club from Tyrone on Sunday in the Ulster championship quarter final.Thanks to the entire panel of players and the management team of Lawrence,Sean and Neal for their fantastic efforts all year in achieving promotion and winning the Junior Championship and no doubt the club will be looking forward to competeing at Intermediate level in 2017.

CORLIS NATIONAL SCHOOL PAST PUPIL LANDS LAKELAND RELATIONS KEY ROLE.

Eamon Duignan, Cornafean is the newly appointed Member Relations Manager at Lakeland Dairies. Educated at Breffni College, Cavan and Corlis NS where he had a 100% attendance record. An Agricultural Science graduate of University College Dublin where he received first class honours specialising in animal science. Eamon's appointment to this key role was announced last week.

Eamon is son of Sean & Mary Duignan Shancor. We wish Eamon well in his new appointment.

CORNAFEAN CLUB NOTES

Club Meeting...Club meeting this Wednesday night 2nd November in Sportshall at 8.30pm.

U 13 Semi Final...Well done to the u13 lads who have been going well in their Championship outings so far and have reached the Semi Final stages to be played on this week end.Opponents and venue yet to be decided but we wish them well.Watch out for Club text...

U16 Ladies...Hard Luck to the U16 Ladies who exited the Div 3 Championship on Tuesday evening last after a narrow defeat to Lavey played in Cornafean.Thanks to all the girls for their efforts over the course of the year.

Reds lose in Ulster...It wasn't to be for the Reds in Breffni Park on Sunday last as they were comprehensively defeated by a strong St Patrick,s The Rock team from Tyrone in the Quarter finals of the Ulster Junior Championship. They team and Mangement can certainly hold their heads high though as their twin objectives of Promotion and a first championship title in 16 years were achieved and if Sunday,s experience was a some what chastening one for the team no doubt it will make them stronger for the 2017 campaign.On the day the Rock who are a very experienced Club in Ulster Campaigns definitely brought Junior football to another level and there power in the tackle, pace all over the Park and a ruthless ability to punish mistakes all combined to make them deserved winners but the Lads in Reds competed gallantly to the end and the 17 pt defeat on the scoreboard certainly did not do them justice. On a day when Cornafean needed the rub of the Green and everything to work for them unfortunately the opposite happened and the Rock certainly took advantage of that.

Amhran na Bfhiann....Well done to Tomas Hughes who sang our National Anthem prior to the Senior Co Final Replay between Ramor utd and Castlerahan and to Deirbhile Mc Caffrey who performed it prior to the Reds versus the Rock clash in the Ulster Champ clash in Breffni park on Sunday last......

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