With another season having past, Redhills G.F.C. chairman, Martin Brady, feels that the club are on the threshold of making the long awaited breakthrough, writes Tony Dunne. Martin, who has been chairman for the past three years, has helped guide the club to a position that they can now seriously challenge for league and championship honours. The influx of young talent at their disposal is something he feels will give that extra impetus to push forward and retain past glories. A twin brother of former Cavan All - Star, Ollie (Texas) Brady, he continues a long line of involvement by the Brady family, with their father, the late Benny Brady, being involved as far back as 1919. Martin feels that the work of a strong executive committee has been instrumental in guiding the club. Secretary, Sean Faulkner has worked tirelessly over many years for the good of the club as also has Treasurer, Anthony Reilly. Both Sean Faulkner and Anthony Reilly have been involved as players and executive members for many years now. He also praises the work done by P.R.O., Oliver McInerney and feel that the work done by these members has helped to create an environment to put the club back in the top flight. He feels that there are exciting times ahead for the North Cavan club. Martin also states that the work being done at underage level deserves success as all involved give selflessly throughout the years. The work done by the club vice chairman, Peter Sheridan, who is also chairman of the juvenile committee has produced some excellent results and will greatly benefit the club in the future.  "At present we have made good progress from U-12 right up to minor level, reaching the last four in most of the competitions. There are some very exciting and talented young players in the area, and if properly handled, will be a tremendous asset to what is already there. The club over the years have always contributed high quality players to the county team, and at present, it looks like young Michael Brides could be on his way to a successful inter-county career with Cavan. This kind of exposure at national level will hopefully engender a pride and commitment from some of the talented youngsters in the area to try and emulate him. If this happens, then it can only be good for the club".  Despite finishing mid-table this season, long time committee member, Sean McInerney feels that the club is on the threshold of making a major breakthrough. Sean feels confident with this statement, and builds his assessment on the fact that the club has at its disposal a large crop of young talented players. He feels that players of the calibre of Michael Brides, Brendan Leddy, Mark Smith, Alan Fitzpatrick and Brian Reilly are in the process of solidifying themselves in Division 2 and hopefully give them the platform to win the Junior Championship. Many in the club feel that Brendan Leddy, (son of former Cavan midfielder, Ollie Leddy) has tremendous potential. A student at University College Galway, he has been described as a player of "silken" qualities. Tall, strong, with good football instincts, Redhills needs players like him to really make a serious challenge for honours.  Brian Reilly is a case in point with regard to talented youth. As a minor, he was rated as one of the best prospects in the county but chose to further his education in England. He emigrated to Birmingham to study at Newman College and while there was only able to make the occasional trip home. Martin feels that with Brian now back home and working in Cavan his ability will be of tremendous benefit to the club.  This year, Redhills made a serious attempt at trying to capture the junior title and while progress was impressive in the early stages, the club suffered a severe setback at the semi-final stage, when they lost heavily to Drumgoon. Although this defeat was a moral crushing blow, Sean feels that the younger players will be anxious to make amends for this setback and could indeed be serious contenders for the Junior Championship this coming season. He feels that the extra year should see Redhills face the challenge of championship football with a more experienced outlook. The club can now also look forward to the emergence of some of last year's minor side making the breakthrough into the senior team this coming season. At minor level, the club are indeed blessed with talented players of the calibre of Colin Reilly, Alan Brady, Shane Mooney and Ciaran West. With the proper commitment by those involved all these younger players can greatly strengthen, what is already a panel of talented young players. Martin points out that Alan Brady, is a rare talent and has already made the breakthrough to the senior team. A gifted defender, his inclusion in the senior ranks will be an added bonus.  The priorities for this coming season will be to maintain Division 2 status and build a solid base from which to make a serious attempt at the Junior Championship. Club selector from last season, Philip Brady states: "this is indeed a realistic possibility. Last season, we lost a number of games that we felt we should have won and set the task of winning the Division 2 league that bit more difficult. With an impressive run in the early stages of the championship, we felt that we were in with a realistic chance of winning the Junior championship. However, the heavy defeat against Drumgoon came against all expectations and set us back somewhat for the next couple of weeks. It was probably during this period that we surrendered any real challenge for league honours. We regrouped and with Michael Brides, leading the side, managed to finish mid table. The hard knocks of championship football will benefit the young panel and we have the talent to realistically put a serious effort in winning the junior championship". Philip feels that while their is indeed a strong segment of youthful talent, that some of the older players have still much to contribute to the side.  Over the years, players like Mickey Rudden, Leo McEntee, Killian Smith, Paul Reilly and Mark Smith, have all produced displays of true quality that should have yielded better results. These same players have provided a solid backbone for the club's senior side and will be the base of helping to gel the younger players into what is hoped to be a winning formula. Michael Brides  Redhills as a club has a proud tradition and over the years, has produced many of Cavan's most talented county players. The club has produced inter-county players from as far back as the Max McGrath era, right through to Ollie (Texas) Brady, Cavan's first ever All-Star, right up to the present, with Michael Brides, now embarking on what all hope to be a fruitful and exciting inter-county career. While the heroes of the past have been profiled on many occasions the background of the young Redhills star, Michael Brides, makes impressive reading.  For one so young, he has indeed managed to pack quite a lot of achievement into so short a career.  Michael who started his competitive career as an under 12, made steady progress through the underage ranks, playing in all the grades, U-14, U-16 and minor. He won his first medal with the U-14s when they won the Roinn C championship in 1995.  While continuing his secondary education at Dublin based college, Clongowes, Michael played senior rugby for the college and was featured on the T.V. documentary recently aired on RTE about the Leinster Schools senior rugby cup.  He played minor with Cavan in 1998 and 1999. He became a member of the Cavan under-21 side and played throughout the 2000 and 2001 seasons.  Michael lined out as a corner forward on the under-21 side in the Ulster championship and played against Armagh and Fermanagh. His display against Fermanagh in the Ulster semi-final earned the accolade as Cavan's best player on that occasion.  That same year, Michael made his senior debut in the Ulster Championship when selected as a corner back against Down. The game which was played at Casement Park saw the young Redhills player earn his "stripes" as a defender as Cavan accounted for the Mournemen and progressed to an Ulster semi-final against neighbours, Monaghan.  In the Ulster semi-final, the talents of Brides as close marker were utilised, when he was entrusted with the task of marking the Monaghan dangerman, Declan Smith. Many observers, felt that this might be bridge too far for the young Redhills player. After the early exchanges, it looked as if things might run away from Brides, but he showed a maturity beyond his years, not allowing the experienced Smith's early form to take away from his single-minded mission. So focused was he that he not only completely outplayed the Monaghan defender but also produced a top class performance to make him one of Cavan's best players on the day.  Three weeks later, Brides was lining out for his first ever Ulster final. The apprehension of playing in your first Ulster Senior Championship final is daunting enough but Brides was again handed the "thorny bush", when he was assigned to marking what many regarded as the country's best forward, Tyrone's Peter Canavan. Where many more with illustrious reputations failed, the Redhills man, managed to acquit himself with distinction holding the Tyrone to a meagre two points. While Cavan lost the final, many observers feel that this young man has a long and fruitful career at county level. This can only be good news for the Redhills club, where his experience should be of tremendous benefit. Underage Football  If a club is to survive, then work, tireless work must be done at underage level. While most of the focus centres around the senior team, it is important to remember that the work of mentors down the line have helped produce many of the players at this level states Chairman, Martin Brady.  With this in mind, Redhills under the guidance of Peter Sheridan, Chairman of the Juvenile Board, have indeed embarked on what can only be described as an impressive work load, with remarkable achievements at U-12, 13, 14 and 16.  The U-12s set the scene, winning all their games handsomely in Roinn C before losing to Drung in the semi-final in a very close contest.  The U-13s took things a step-further, going all the way to the final only to lose to much bigger and stronger, Swanlinbar team.  The U-14s reached the quarter-final of Roinn C and having produced some excellent displays along the way.  The U-16s lost out Denn in the Division 4 final in what proved to be an exciting encounter. Played at Breffni Park Denn ran out winners by six points on the scoreline of 1-3 to 1-7. Despite some great personal performances from players like, Alan Dunne, Alan Brady, Patrick McMahon, and Shane Mooney, victory was to elude the Redhills lad despite their valiant efforts. Denn with their greater strength were made fight all the way to the finish by a spirited Redhills team. The team on the day was: Redhills: C. Brides; B. Gilsenan; B. Brady; J. Murray, A. Brady (0-1), C. McMahon; R. McCaffrey, S. Mooney (0-1); A. Dunne (0-3), P. McMahon (1-2), N. Brady; C. Kelly, E. Fitzpatrick. Subs: P. Hayes for C. McMahon; N. Walshe for R. McCaffrey. The minors also made good progress making it to the semi-final where they lost to Belturbet. Silverware Pride of place goes to the local school team who brought the only Silverware to the area for 2001 by winning Cummann na mBunscoil for four teacher schools . The team contained most of the U12 and U13 club teams. With players like Oisin Minagh, Mark Kelly, Rory Dunne, Mark Maguire and many others the club are hoping more honours will come their way and give the small band of dedicated workers in the club just reward for their hard work FOOTNOTE:  Many readers may not be aware that, Redhills G.F.C., as it is now called, was the first organised gaelic team in Cavan and Ulster. They lined out under the name of Annagh Sons of Usna. Failure to affiliate saw the recognised honour go to Ballyconnell who had affiliated. Many of the family names of that first team are still synonymous with the present club. Throughout the intervening period, Redhills, not unlike most other clubs, had their days in the sun as well as their low points. It was 1945 before the club, playing under the banner of Annagh won the Junior championship, defeating Munterconnaught in the final by a single point 2-3 to 2-2. Great credit for this victory was attributed to hard-working Chairman, Terry Gilsenan and the outstanding display of Max McGrath on the day.  The club didn't appear in another junior final until 1949 when they were once again pitted against Munterconnaught. This final was played in Breffni Park with Munterconnaught reversing the result of 1945 emerging victorious on a scoreline of 3-2 to 0-4. This game was the last game played in Breffni Park in its old layout.  The intervening years, were sparse as Redhills, like many other clubs throughout the country suffered from the emigration drain of the fifties and sixties. Redhills who throughout this period had worked hard on the youth in the parish reached the junior final in 1966. Virginia Blues, defeated the Redhills men after a replay by a single point. After this defeat, Redhills sought intermediate status. Despite some lean years in this grade at the the end of the sixties, things were to change in the early seventies. The intermediate league title was won in two successive years, 1972 and 1973.  It was 1973 that was to prove to be the club's most successful year to-date. Along with Belturbet, the amalgamation side known as Annagh, won the Senior Championship when they defeated Ramor United by 4-11 to 3-8.  The following Sunday the Redhills men were lining out against Killeshandra in the Intermediate Championship final and stormed to a convincing victory to lift the Intermediate title for the first time. This todate has proved to be the most successful era in the club's history. Tweet

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