When the sport of Athletics in Cornafean is mentioned, most people think only of Catherina McKiernan, our world-class international athlete.  However, for the past four decades, there has been a strong tradition of athletics in the locality, with many successes recorded during these times.

Cornafean Athletic Club was first formed in 1965 by Fr. Peter Paul O'Reilly, who had been recently appointed curate in Coronea. There was an enthusiastic response to the formation of the club and good turnouts for road and cross-country training. The club's first race was a cross-country race held in Mulligan's bottoms, Farinseer and  a week later a group from Ballinamore Athletic Club travelled to Cornafean for a road race with the home club. This race started at Fr. Corr's, Crossdoney and finished at the clubrooms in Cornafean. 

The Cornafean club's first big breakthrough came in late 1965 when they won the County Novice Title at the finals held in St. Patrick's College, Cavan. The late Sean Maguire won the individual title in this race with brothers Gerry and Miichael O'Brien taking second and third places respectively and Martin Maguire finishing eighth. This first success, before which the club had only been in existence for a month or so, was a great boost to athletics in the area.

The team progressed to the Ulster Novice finals at Corrigan in Belfast, where they finished in third place. The next big event was the Cavan Junior finals, and again Cornafean were among the honours. Sean Masterson (Bruse) beat Sean Maguire to take the individual award. Next up was the Ulster Junior final in Armagh, where the team gained some valuable experience over a tough, hilly course. The club competed in a Senior race in Ballymascanlon, Co. Louth where again they learned a lot against a field which included some of the best athletes in the country.

Cornafean achieved a further boost at the 1966 Cavan Senior finals which were held over a 7.5 mile course in Laragh. The team beat off strong competition from Laragh and Cootehill to win the county Senior title. This was a great Cornafean team effort, especially considering that no Cornafean runner was in the first three to finish. Sean mastersonwas presented with the Ulster Arms trophy by Jim  Mitchell, Chairman of the County Board. The members of the winning team were Michael O'Brien, Sean Masterson, Sean Maguire, Gerry O'Brien, Bernard Martin, John Pat Comiskey, Francie Duignan, Peter Paul O'Reilly and Martin Maguire.

In late 1966, another club, the Drumcarey All Blacks, emerged in the area, and they took part in several competitions. The Cornafean and Drumcarey clubs merged under the Cornafean banner in 1967. John Pat Comiskey produced a great performance in the 1967 Novice final in Cootehill, to take the gold medal. John Pat had trained hard for months before this race and he led the field from start to finish. Tommy Martin was another to run well for Cornafean and he finished in third place. The club also won the team award in that competition. Cornafean were again in the honours in the 1968 Cavan Junior finals when Tommy Martin led the club to victory in the team competition. 

The club continued to compete until around 1970, with athletes such as Gerry and Michael O'Brien, Sean Masterson, Sean Maguire, Francie Duignan, Fr. Peter Paul O'Reilly, John Pat Comiskey, Bernard Martin, Tommy Martin, Kevin McCabe, Andy Martin, Michael Duignan, Fionan and Mel O'Hanlon, Martin Maguire, and Sean Brady. In the ladies events, among those taking part were Meta Leddy, Sheila Cullen and Maura and Rita Brady. Although the club fell into inactivity around 1970, it was the first beginnings of a great tradition of athletics in the area,  a tradition which still continues to grow..