2005 saw Cavan GAA report a record turnover of over 1,000,000 euros but long-serving Cavan GAA County Board Treasurer Tom Boylan is hoping that the past year's statisics are the portents of even greater days ahead on a range of fronts for the Breffni blues. At the most recent county convention, Tom Boylan informed delegates that for the first time in the history of Cavan GAA the turnover registered by the county board was over 1.2m euros with income was up from 978,000 euros to 1,179,679 euros. The Treasurer explained to the assembled delegates that fund-raising increased from Eu37,000 to Eu81,000; gate receipts increased from Eu257,049 to Eu277,383; Commercial income went up from Eu249,287 to Eu266,537 and transfer income went up from Eu158,502 to Eu186,929. On fund-raising, the former "limited" Ballyhaise player lauded the supporters clubs in Dublin and Cavan which contributed Eu55,000 and Eu25,000 respectively. Of all the thousands mentioned, understandably delegates identified most with gate receipts as is their wont. "I'd say the new championship format generated more interest around the clubs, especially the further they progressed in the competition. "It should be noted too that commercial income was a very healthy contributor to the overall income and that's a credit to our sponsors and I'd like to thank them for their continued support and generosity to the county board over the past year." Of course, the one constant over the past 25 years and more would appear to be the enthusiasm and loyalty shown by the Breffni blues fans. That is something the popular Cavan town-based businessman fully appreciates but is loathe to take for granted. "For instance, I was personally pleasantly surprised by how many people turned up for the McKenna Cup game against Fermanagh and the great turnout for other fundraisers during the year but it just shows you the support and goodwill there's out there for Cavan football," Tom reflected. Having just completed 25 years in the hot-seat, the Ballyhaise native has overseen the rise and rise of turnover in Breffni-land over the past quarter of a century. From a very modest £40,000 back in 1980 to the 1.2million euros recorded for 2005, it's been growth and development on the administration side the whole way under Boylan's watch. It's almost as if it was yesterday though that Tom succeeded Eddie Brady (Ballinagh) as county board treasurer, working alongside, among others, County Board Chairman Phil Brady and then Secretary Micheal Greenan. Tom's ascent to the county board executive followed a nine year stint as chairman of the Ballyhaise club. During his tenure as club chairman, Ballyhaise made their way to two senior championship finals with the likes of Steve Duggan, Enda McGowan, Louis Lyons and Hughie Newman on board. In 1976, Ballyhaise lost out to St. Mary's and Tom reckons that was one that really got away. "We could and should have won that final," he claims. "Steve Duggan had a great game but was unlucky to hit the woodwork a number of times while Enda McGowan held their dangerman, John O'Dwyer, scoreless." Is he a fan of such amalgamations? "They're not a bad thing and if they can improve the standard of football seen at club level, why not?" It was a case of woe upon woe for Ballyhaise in 1978 when Cavan Gaels triumphed. "We just didn't perform that day but losing Hughie Newman with a knee injury early on was a big blow for us but, in fairness, the Gaels had a great team in those days." Should the county town side have went on and broke Cavan's duck in the Ulster club championship? "Maybe, but there were other great teams around Ulster then too - like St. John's of Antrim." Tom is a mine of information of club times in Cavan in times past but he fingers Ballyhaise's intermediate championship final victory in the late 'sixties over a Fr. Benny Maguire/John Lynch-powered Crosserlough side as a landmark occasion for the village-based side. Born and reared in a mad passionate GAA family in the Castletara end of Ballyhaise, brother of Charlie, Brian, the late Sean, Seamus, Matt and sisters Geromine and Mary, the young Tom couldn't get enough of Gaelic football. Some things never change it seems! He confesses as having a "tremendous love for football for as long as I remember." Tom talks about being a footballer of "limited" talent but he sure found his niche in the administration stakes. Encouraged by club colleague Packie Newman and Cavan Gaels' Tommy Gilroy to become involved at county board level, Tom duly went straight into high office after beating off the challenge of Drumalee clubman Frank Connolly for the treasurer's position. In the 25 years that he's been in the hot seat since, he has never once been opposed - surely a testimony to his personal popularity and, most of all, to his efficiency and competency in the vaunted position. Tom has another view on his longetivity at county board level. "I'd say it's because no one else has wanted to do the job." He has, of course, seen a whole raft of changes within the GAA over the last 25 years both with regard to rule changes and changes in the way administration affairs are carried out. He picks the high points out at random and puts down the lowlights as learning experiences. Of the former, he unhesitatingly selects Cavan's 1997 Ulster SFC-winning expedition as the pick of the bunch. It has become a matter of record that Tom in conjunction with then county board chairman Brendan Keaney were the pivotal figures in inveigling Martin McHugh to join Cavan's quest for the holy grail. He is obviously and understandably proud of his role in that respect. Tom says that he felt Cavan were on the cusp of achieving significant honours prior to McHugh's arrival and then from 1996 onwards things seemed to get just better and better. In assessing the glory of '97, Tom firmly believes that had the likes of Stephen King and Damien Reilly been part of the squad in the year or two after the 1997 provincial championship success, an All-Ireland SFC title might have been scooped. And all the time, through the highs and lows and in-betweens, Cavan's GAA support has remained steadfast. Gates this Spring in the McKenna Cup and early rounds of the National League were up on 2005 said as much while and, helpfully, adding to the coffers of an ambitious and go-ahead county board. "It was a great start to the year on all fronts for Cavan," Tom enthuses. "There's a great buzz around the county at the present time and the fans are quite positive about the new management regime and the players that they've got together. "You could sense the goodwill from the supporters at the games in the New Year." Impressed by the new management crew of Martin McElkennon, his assistant Damien Cassidy and selectors Ronan Carolan and Mickey Reilly, Tom is very upbeat about Cavan's football fortunes for the coming year. "There seems to be a new, exciting level of interest in the current Cavan set-up and that's not being disrespectful to the Eamon Coleman era or I don't intend in any way to undermine his management set-up's achievements. " So how far can Cavan go this year? "As ever, Cavan supporters will be hoping to go that one step further this year," Tom surmises. There's no doubt but that the man holding the purse strings in Cavan hopes that the success-starved Cavan fans will have a lot to celebrate in 2006 with the requisite silverware in tow. "Things didn't go quite to plan last year but you'd have to say that the team's true form lay somewhere between their display in the drawn match against Tyrone in the Ulster championship and their bad defeat in the replay." And the outlook in the short term? "I'd be optimistic because there's a good young squad in place at the moment with a lot of talented players. "If we could win the Ulster championship and maybe end our search for an Ulster club title, it would be a great year." You bet, Tom. Tweet

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