|
|
 |
The early days The 1980's The 1990's The New Millennium
 |
|
Blaithin O'Reilly receives the 1999 League Trophy |
 |
|
Blaithin O'Reilly receives the 1999 Championship Trophy |
Camogie is the most popular team sport for women and girls in Cornafean. Cornafean Camogie club currently compete at Intermediate level in the Cavan camogie Championship and Leagues. Its most recent successes were in February 2001 when the Under-10's won the County Indoor Camogie League, and in 1999 when the club scooped both the Intermediate League and Championship titles.
Camogie in Cornafean - The early days
The sport was first played in the area since the 1930's, when teams were organised in both Cornafean itself and in Kilmore, but most local successes in organised competition have been recorded since the Cornafean club was re-established in the late 1960's.
The 1970's
In 1972, the local club achieved its first major success in winning the Cavan Junior Championship, when they defeated Kingscourt in the final. Among Cornafean's key players were Kathleen Barry, Eileen Halton, Pauline Maguire, Maura and Rita Brady, and Mary Martin, who, at 12 years old, was making a notable debut in adult competition. The team was trained by Jim Hannon and Tommy Brady.
Three years later, Cornafean won their first Intermediate League title, when they defeated Craobh Rua in the 1975 final. Goals from Geraldine Donohoe, Monica McCabe and Philomena were the key to this victory, with the final scoreline reading Cornafean 3-4 Craobh Rua 2-3.
Although the Cornafean club was inactive from the late seventies until the mid-'80's, there was still strong interest in the sport in the area and local players played with the neighbouring clubs in Gowna and Killeshandra. In 1984, Geraldine Martin (Bruse) starred on the Cavan team which reached the All Ireland Junior Final. Geraldine made a great impression for the Breffni side in the final in Croke Park, scoring two first-half goals, but unfortunately opponents Cork took the title.
In 1985, it was decided to reform the local club, and a number of local people, including Helen Finnerty (Corr), Mary Young (Drumgoon), Teresa McGibney (Corlis), Dympna O'Reilly (Cloncose), Mae Sheridan (Coronea), Eileen McKiernan (Drumkeeran) and, above all, the late Tommy Brady (Cloncose), played huge roles in the club's development since then.
The local players responded well to the new enthusiasm within
the club and success did not take too long to materialise. The Cornafean
Primary Schools teams captured county titles in 1986, 1987 and 1988, with
players such as Patricia Martin, Caroline Young, Brenda O'Reilly, Sinead
O'Rourke and Annette Burns to the fore.
The older girls won both League and
Championship at Novice level in 1986. Star of the side was Catherina McKiernan,
later to achieve wonderful successes as an international athlete. A year later,
their progress continued when they won the Junior Championship, by defeating
Killeshandra in the final, and in 1988, Cornafean were yet again in the honours
when they defeated Knockbride in the Intermediate final, completing a remarkable
progression to senior ranks within three years of the club being re-formed.
Early in 1989, Caroline Young was presented with the 1988 Cavan Camogie Sports Award at a function in the Carraig Springs, in recognition of her many fine displays at club, college and county level.
In September 1988, Camogie in the area enjoyed a great boost
when the Cornafean/Killeshandra parish team won the under-14 community Games All
Ireland title. Nine Cornafean girls featured on the starting line-up for the
final, where they defeated Knockcroghery of Roscommon. Many of these players
were in the honours again a year later when Cornafean won the Cavan under-14
Championship.
In the 1990's the Cornafean Camogie Club continued to enjoy further success. 1996 was a one of the best years ever for the Club when they won the Intermediate Championship and League double and also the Novice "B" League. Their victory in the Intermediate Championship final was at the expense of neighbours Lacken, on a scoreline of 3-6 to 1-3. After a tight first half, Cornafean were only a point ahead at half-time, 0-4 to 0-3, but three goals in the second half, two from Geraldine Martin and onefrom her sister Patricia Martin sealed Cornafean's victory. Team: Gemma McDermott, Caroline maguire, Adele Magarahan, Lisa Magarahan, Joan Morris, Grainne O'Reilly, Colette Crotty, Grainne Morris, Patricia Martin, Imelda Morris, Geraldine Duignan, Geraldine Martin.
Cornafean's opponents in the 1996 League final were Castletara and great performances from Geraldine and Patricia Martin, Gemma McDermott and sub Roisin Reilly helped Cornafean to a convincing 1-6 to 1-0 win. The Novice "B" team rounded off a great year for the club by beating Drumalee in the League final.
 |
|
The 1999 team which won the "Double" |
In 1999 the team reached the intermediate championship and league final. In the championship Cornafean played Ballinagh in Breffni Park where Cornafean won with a score of 4 - 2 to Ballinagh's 3 - 1. In the League Final Cornafean again met Ballinagh in Crosskeys and beat them by 0-6 to 0-4.
Indoor Camogie 2001
In February 2001, the Cornafean Under 10-team enjoyed a great win in the final of the Co. Cavan Indoor Camogie league in Bailieboro Community School.
The local team was comprised of goalie Ciara Bannon, defenders Dervala Reilly and Sandra Woods, forwards Karen Harrington and Karen Masterson and sub Aisling Corrigan.
The team beat Bruskey 2-0 in a playoff and beat them again 3-1 in the final. The Cornafean goalscorers in the final were Karen Masterson who scored two goals and Karen Harrington who scored one.
The local Under-12 team also did very well in their competition, beating Casteltara in a playoff but they were then beaten by Bruskey, who later lost the final to Cootehill. The members of the Under-12 team were Michelle and Aisling Corrigan, Una O’Reilly, Caroline Crotty and Terry Masterson . This innovative Indoor Camogie competition was run in local halls throughout the county over the winter months and culminated with blitzes on the last three Saturdays in Bailieboro Community School. After the finals, County Councillor Madeline Argue presented the trophies to the winners and all other participants were presented with medals. A total of 17 teams took part in the competition.
The Cornafean teams were coached by Aoife O’Reilly, Cloncose, who did a great job in teaching the skills of the game to all the local girls. She was ably assisted by team mentors Dympna O’Reilly and Bernie Harrington. Well done to everyone concerned and especially to the young players, who no doubt will be winning many camogie medals with Cornafean in the years to come.
