The occasion also saw the launch of the 125 Archive, Torthai 125 Bliain, by Ard Stiurthoir Paraic Duffy. The archive was a project that the 125 Committee undertook at the start of the year, to compile a detailed statistical record of the GAA in Monaghan at club and county level from 1884 to 2009. The archive is essentially in 3 parts. There is a section detailing the results of all inter county competition that Monaghan took part in with details of teams that have played in Ulster and All Ireland finals. There is a section on the club championships in Monaghan including the results and details of all county finals in the senior championship since 1888 as well as results in the finals of the junior and intermediate championships and the winners of the senior hurling championship. There is a section devoted to the clubs where every club submitted its own record from detailing the founding fathers right through their playing record to what they did on la na gClub. The archive also contains details of the talks given on the occasion of the History/ Heritage night as well as a full listing of all officers who have served at county committee level over the years and a full listing of all the winners on the Annual Awards scheme. In performing the launch Paraic Duffy spoke of the great loyalty that Monaghan had shown to the GAA over the past 125 years and what had been achieved both inside and outside the county. He congratulated the clubs on the marvellous facilities that they had developed which he said were second to none and would compare with the best anywhere in the country. He had special words too for the members of the 1979 team and their famous victory that brought Monaghan in from the championship wilderness after 41 years. He had particular words of praise for Sean McCague who had masterminded the breakthrough and who had gone on to mastermind two further championships in that 10-year period, 1985 and 1988, something he said "that sets him apart as one of the great managers within the GAA". In launching the 125 Archive, Torthai 125 Bliain, Paraic Duffy described it as "a great historical record that will stand the test of time and will be there for consultation for future generations". In conclusion he congratulated the 125 Committee on organising such a function and had a special of word of praise for the chairman of the 125 Committee, JP Graham stating that "there is no better person at organising such events". The book was officially launched with editor JP Graham presenting the first copy to Paraic Duffy. The book will be on sale in bookshops and the main newsagents throughout the county and retailing at just 15 is an ideal Christmas present particularly for people living abroad. A NEW GENERATION OF HEROES was how the 1979 team and their achievement were described at last Friday night's 125 Banquet. Monaghan County Board had carried out a root and branch review of all aspects of county team affairs in 1978 with the result being that Sean McCague was appointed as team manager. The introduction of the new system though did not seem to be having any marked effect in the National League and it wasn't until the 1979 Dr. McKenna Cup competition, which Monaghan won with victories over Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh that signs began to emerge that Monaghan's football fortunes were on the turn. The championship though was the big target, and Monaghan were in buoyant mood following their McKenna Cup victory. Monaghan's first round opponents were reigning champions Down but they pulled off a shock defeat and a first championship victory by the county over the Mourne men in 30 years. Monaghan did ship some criticism in the national press for robust tactics, the game being described as "a tough, rugged encounter where the tackling more than once bordered on the reckless" while another notable hack described it as "a relentless, almost ruthless display of aggressive, powerhouse football that torpedoed the champions". All roads now led to Breffni Park for the semi-final and they justified their new-found status with a thoroughly deserved victory over Armagh by 2-10 to 2-8, the final score probably not reflecting Monaghan's overall superiority to book their place in the final against Donegal. The final on Sunday, July 22nd in Clones against Donegal was one of those moments in time, a milestone in the history of the GAA in Monaghan when a veritable tour de force by the team saw them record a deserved victory that ended the county's 41 years Ulster senior football championship famine. Referee Hugh Duggan had to start the game twice, he threw in the ball prior to the playing of the national anthem and then had to call the teams back but despite that Monaghan got down to business and at the end of a good first half they led by 1-9 to 0-4, Kieran Finlay with the goal in the eighth minute. Kieran Finlay in fact that day went on to establish a scoring record for an Ulster championship final when he finished with a personal tally of 1-9, a record that stood for twenty years. He also picked up the man of the match award and later that month Dessie Mulligan was presented with the B & I Personality of the Month Award for his performances. Monaghan consolidated in the second-half and while Donegal did enjoy periods of dominance they never looked like turning it around. Celebrations were kept to a minimum despite the barrier that had been surmounted as the team got down to preparations for their semi-final meeting with Kerry and football fever was gripping the county. On the day though it was shades of 1930 all over again as Kerry simply romped to victory. Monaghan were never at the races in a game that was their first appearance in the All Ireland semi final in 41 years and their first semi-final at Croke Park for 49 years. Early goals killed off Monaghan hopes but things still looked reasonable at half-time when Kerry led by 2-5 to 0-4. However, in the second half they totally outplayed Monaghan and in the end they ran out easy winners by 5-14 to 0-7. After such a long absence from Croke Park, Monaghan had two further dates at headquarters that year. They were back on Sunday November 4th for the semi-final of the Ceannarus Tournament when they defeated Dublin by 0-10 to 1-5 to set up a date with Roscommon in the final. That game was played on Sunday, November 18th with Monaghan winning by 1-12 to 1-7 but the occasion was detracted from the somewhat when everyone realised that no trophy was going to be presented. A DVD of the Ulster final was shown during the meal and elicited huge interest from among the panel of players some of whom were seeing themselves on screen for the first time. PRESENTATIONS. Speaking prior to presenting each member of the panel and the entire backroom team with a special memento to mark the 30th anniversary of Monaghan's 1979 victory president of the Ulster Council Tom Daly, himself a Donegal man, recalled his own personal disappointment on the occasion of the 1979 Ulster final. He went on though to offer warm congratulations to the players and to team manager Sean McCague on their major breakthrough at that time. He also complimented Monaghan on their service to the association particularly in Ulster and the people who had served as officers of the Ulster Council and had represented Monaghan as members of Comhairle Uladh. He congratulated the 125 Committee on the initiative that they had shown during the year and spoke of the great response there had been to the 125 Celebrations right across the province. In referring to the 125 Archive, Torthai 125 Bliain, he congratulated editor JP Graham on producing such a valuable work of reference on the GAA in the county and he also spoke of the great amount of research and book production that the 125 celebrations had precipitated. The presentations to the team that lined out against Donegal in the 1979 Ulster final started with team captain Brendan Brady and then went through the lineout: Paddy Linden, Eugene "Nudie" Hughes, Sean Hughes, Fergus Caulfield, Paddy Kerr, Sean McCarville, Eamon Tavey, Gerry McCarville, Hugo Clerkin, Gene Finnegan, Dessie Mulligan, Kevin Treanor, Kieran "Jap" Finlay and Tom Moyna. Subs: Anthony McArdle for a G Finnegan, PJ Finlay for K Treanor. Others on the panel were Pat McCabe, Martin McKenna, Seamus McCarville, Brian Rice, Bernard Connolly, Eamonn McEnaney, Brian Daly, Brendan Lillis, Donal Moyna, Gerry Brannigan, Tom McDermott, Damien McBride. Team manager Sean McCague and selector Paddy McKearney were also the recipients of presentations. The late Gerry Farrell was the physio but unfortunately his wife Roseleen was unable to attend. The late Tommy "Cla" McSkeane was the bag man, (it's kit manager now) and he was represented by his wife Anne who also did the laundry for the team back then. Peter Sherry who was county chairman in 1979 and Maura McAtavie, wife of the late Francie McAtavie who was secretary in 1979 were also present. All in all it was a great occasion with so many people meeting up for the first time in years and re-living those heady days when Monaghan came in from the cold. To conclude proceedings County Secretary Ailish McEntee proposed a number of votes of thanks to those who had worked so hard to organise the night and those who had attended with special thanks to Paraic Duffy and Tom Daly. Tweet

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