Cornafean GAA - Highlights in the club's history

1908

Cornafean Naoimh Fionnain is founded by J.P. Johnson and his son Pol McSeain.

1909

The club win first Cavan Senior Football Championship Title, by defeating Crosserlough in the final, and retain the title the following year.

1915

Cornafean win four senior county football championships in a row, adding further titles in 1918 and 1920.

1929

Cornafean win the county league and Championship "double" in successive years.

1930

Cornafean dethrone reigning champions Cavan Slashers in a first round replay and go on to win the Championship, beating Bailieboro in the final.

1933

Five club players Willie Young, Mick Dinneny, Packie Phair, Tom O’Reilly and Packie Devlin, play on the Cavan team which beat Galway in the 1933 All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, to win the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time.

        Cornafean - 1932 County Champions

Back: F.McKiernan, J.Martin, P.J.O'Reilly, W.Young, P.Phair, T.Brady
Middle: T.McCormack, P.Dinneny, J.Crotty, P.McCabe, B.Fay, M.Dinneny, T.O'Reilly, P.McSeain
Front: F.Fitzpatrick, J.Masterson, J.Murphy, P.Masterson, J.Curran, B.Millar, E.O'Reilly

1935

The same five players star again when Cavan win their second All Ireland Senior Championship title, defeating Kildare in the final

1940

Cornafean win their 18th Cavan Senior Football Championship Title, and their 8th in the previous 9 years, by defeating Killinkere in the final.

1947

Club member John Joe O’Reilly captains Cavan to victory over Kerry in the All Ireland Senior Football Final, played in the Polo Grounds, New York

1948

John Joe O’Reilly again accepts the Sam Maguire Cup as Cavan captain when the Breffnimen beat Mayo in the All Ireland Senior Football Final, in Croke Park

1952

John Joe O’Reilly dies tragically after a short illness.

1956

Cornafean win its 20th and last Cavan Senior Football Championship Title, by defeating Bailieboro in the final

1964

The club’s grounds Pairc Naoimh Fionnain, are officially opened on 7th June by Mr. Harry Carey, President of the Ulster Council. This is followed by a senior football challenge between Mullahoran and Drumlish and an intercounty game between All Ireland Champions Galway and Cavan.

1975

Cornafean are demoted to Junior Championship Status for the first time

Early 1960's - Peadar Doyle  showing the plans of Cornafean Park to County Board Officers

1983

The club celebrates the 75th anniversary of its foundation in 1908.

1984

Cornafean win an All Ireland title in the Trath na gCeist competition at the national finals of Scor na nOg, held in Cork City Hall.

1986

Cornafean win the Division 3A Football League title, its first title in adult football competition for 30 years.

1988

A new stand is erected at the club’s grounds Pairc Naoimh Fionnain.

1989

Cornafean win the Cavan Division 3 League title and are promoted to Intermediate Championship status.

1990

The official club history, "Up the Reds", written by George Cartwright, is officially launched by Rev. Dan Gallogly, President of the Ulster Council.

1984 - GAA President Paddy Buggy presents AIB Cavan "Club of the Century" award to Willie & Teresa McGibney and PJ & Sadie McGlade on behalf of Cornafean GFC 

1990

Cornafean win their second All Ireland title Scor na nOg, this time in the Nuachleas (Novelty Act) competition. The finals are held in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.

1993

The club wins its first All Ireland title (in Trath na gCeist) in Scor Sinsir. The finals are held in the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork

1994

Cornafean contest the Cavan Intermediate Championship Final (their first Championship final since 1956) but are defeated by Laragh on a scoreline of 0-15 to 2-6.

Flying the Cornafean flag at the Cavan v Kerry game in Randall's Island, New York, October '97 (l to r) Caroline O'Reilly (Crosserlough), Michael McGibney, Oliver Gormley, Dermot McSeain, Padraig Gormley, Killian Tully

1997

The club again wins an All Ireland title in Scor Sinsir, in the Trath na gCeist competition.    The finals are held in the Sean McDermotts G.A.A. Complex, Threemilehouse, Co. Monaghan.

1998

Following a nine-year spell in Intermediate ranks, Cornafean are again demoted to Junior Championship status

1999

The late John Joe O’Reilly is selected at centre-half back in the An Post/GAA Football Team of the Millennium. The club erects a special plaque to commemorate this honour, and this is unveiled by club member and international athlete Catherina McKiernan. Many surviving colleagues of John Joe, from Cavan’s All Ireland winning teams, attend the unveiling ceremony, as do four members of the Team of the Millennium, Sean Purcell (Galway), Mick O’Connell (Kerry), Martin O’Connell (Meath) and Sean O’Neill (Down).

George Cartwright presents the 2000 JFC

 trophy to Art McSeain

1999

Club member and official George Cartwright is elected as Chairman of the Cavan County Board of the G.A.A. George becomes the third Cornafean man to hold this position, and the first since Pol McSeain in 1926-27.

2000

Cornafean win the Cavan Junior Football Championship by beating Drumgoon by 1-12 to 0-14 in the final. This is the club’s first championship title since the 1956 Senior win. A month later, the club's under-14's win the Roinn D County Championship