On Saturday last, 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.

The Cornafean senior footballers are now busy training for the forthcoming All County Football League. On Saturday last, they hosted Ballymachugh in a challenge game in Pairc Naoimh Fionnain, which the visitors won comfortably. The League itself gets underway on Sunday 18th March and Cornafean have an away game that day against Mountnugent.

Cornafean took part in the first round of Scor 2001 last weekend in Killeshandra Community Centre, and put up good performances in each of the eight competitions. The local Set Dancers took the stage on Friday night and each of the other acts took part on Saturday night. There was a good local attendance on both nights. On Saturday night, the first-round winners were announced and Cornafean qualified for the County final in five categories, Ceili Dancing, Ballad Group, Rectitation, Instrumental Music and Question Time. The County Final is on next Saturday night 3rd March again in Killeshandra Community Centre, and no doubt there will be huge attendance there, for an event which is always special for followers of Irish music, dance, song and general entertainment.

A Whist Drive will be held in McSeain’s on Monday night 5th March, in aid of the Kilmore Cathedral Restoration Fund. All support for this worthy cause will be gratefully appreciated

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News - edited Monday 19th February 2001

Dinner Dance

On last Friday week, there was a great turnout of local supporters in the Pikers Lodge, Lough Gowna for the Cornafean GFC Dinner Dance and Presentation of the 2000 Cavan Junior Championship medals. The attendance of over three hundred people enjoyed a very special and memorable occasion. The speakers on the night included Club Chairman Packie Joe McGlade, County Board Chairman George Cartwright, team captain Art McSeain and Peadar Doyle, who captained the last Cornafean team to win a Senior Championship title, in 1956.

Club Chairman Packie Joe McGlade welcomed all present to the event and paid tribute the great commitment and dedication of the players who brought the title to Cornafean, along with their team manager Phil Cullen and his selectors and back-up team. In his address, George Cartwright reflected on the team’s victorious campaign last year, from the gloom and disappointment of the early months of 2000 when the team was depleted by injury, following their progress right up to their dramatic win in the county final, before the largest ever attendance at any such fixture in Breffni Park. He recounted the various achievements of the players during the year, recalling some of the highlights of their campaign.George also remarked on the parallels between this Championship win and that of the 1956 Senior campaign. On both occasions, Cornafean were ranked as complete outsiders at the start of the year, but overcame several setbacks due to injury to key players during the season, before finally emerging in the final and winning the Championship in dramatic fashion. He said that the achievement of the 2000 team was comparable to any of Cornafean’s successes in the past, and that there was no reason why the present team cannot continue to build on this success in 2001.

Team captain Art McSeain thanked the club committee for their help to the team during the year, as well as the team management of Phil Cullen and his assistants Dominic King, Ciaran O’Reilly and Seamus Doyle and the first aid team of Francie and Martin Duignan.

In a memorable speech, Peadar Doyle looked back on Cornafean’s achievement in the 1956 Championship, again drawing comparisions between the success of that team and the current Cornafean panel. He also spoke of the great tradition of the club and of the football philosophy that has inspired much of this success down through the years.

Finally, each of the members of the panel were introduced individually by the inimitable Tommy Tighe, before stepping up to the podium to receive their medals from County Board Chairman George Cartwright. The function also included presentations to newly married couples Johnny and Mary Masterson, Liam and Martina Young, Rory and Margaret McSeain and Martin and Anne McCormack.

Mr. Patsy Gumley

There was deep sadness and regret in the area recently on the death of Mr. Patsy Gumley, Castlepoles, who died suddenly at his residence on Tuesday 6^th February.

Patsy will be remembered as a very decent, kind and obliging man, who was well known and respected over a wide area. Although he had suffered some ill-health in the past, his unexpected death came as a great shock to everyone who knew him. He worked as a lorry driver for Tom Gormley for many years. In his youth he was noted as a footballer and was a key member of the Cornafean senior team in the late 1960’s and early ‘70’s. He was especially noted for his flair as a forward, who was never afraid of going for a goal.

He maintained a great interest in football down through the years, and he was a keen supporter of the Cornafean and Cavan teams. Members of the Cornafean and Arva GAA clubs formed a guard of honour, at the removal of his remains to the Sacred Heart Church, Arva on Wednesday 7^th February. There were large attendances at both the Removal, and at the Funeral Mass on Thursday, with burial in Coronea cemetery. Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Kathleen, sons Declan and Padraig, mother Katie, brother Mick (London), sisters, Bridie Bell (Athy), Kathleen McKeague (Manchester) Rose Smith (Arva) and Helen O’Reilly (Mullahoran) and other relatives.

Championship Opener

On Sunday last, the local Cormore Gaels amalgamation team took on Drumlane in the opening round of the Cavan under-21 Championship in Gowna. At the end of a closely-fought game, Cormore won out by a single point.

Scor

Cornafean are taking part in the first round of the Cavan 2001 Senior Scor competition on next Saturday night, 24^th February, in Killeshandra Community Centre. Over the past few weeks, the Cornafean acts have been busy preparing for Saturday’s competition, and are wished every success. It is hoped that the traditionally strong Cornafean support will be once again in evidence on the night. . The other teams competing on the same night will be Ramor United, Templeport, Munterconnaught, Mountnugent and Killygarry.

Mrs Eilish O’Connell

There was widespread sadness and grief in the locality on the recent death of Mrs Eilish O’Connell (nee Flood), Kilmore, who died suddenly on Monday 5^th February. Eilish worked as a sales assistant in Veale’s Pharmacy in Cavan for the past twelve years and she was regarded as a very friendly, kind and obliging person by everyone who knew her. The esteem in which she was held in the community was evidenced by the large attendances at the removal of her remains to St. Patrick’s Church, Drumcor on Wednesday 7^th February and at her Funeral on Thursday, following which her remains were brought to Glasnevin Crematorium, Dublin.

Deepest sympathy is extended to her husband Patrick Gaynor, son Damien daughter Clare, mother, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and other relatives.

Bereavement

Sympathy is extended to Phil Cullen, the Cornafean GFC senior team manager, and his family on the death of his sister Mrs. Margaret Stafford, who died in Co. Wexford recently.

Monthly Meeting

The February monthly meeting of Cornafean GFC will be held in the clubrooms on next Thursday night, 22^nd February at 9.30pm All members are asked to attend.

Golf Society

A Golf Society is currently being formed in Cornafean and the Society held its first meeting on Wednesday night last in McSeain’s. A further meeting will take place in McSeain’s at 9.30pm on next Thursday night, 8^th February, at which the officers will be elected for the coming year. Everyone is welcome. A Spring League is currently being held on Saturdays and Sundays for eight weeks and all are welcome to take part. An entry sheet is being kept in McSeains and entrants are requested to record their scores on a weekly basis. Prizes will be presented to the winners at the end of the eight week period.

All Ireland Champions

Two girls from Cornafean, Michelle Kilkenny and Laura Magarahan, were on the Moyne Community School team which won the All Ireland Colleges "A" Ladies Football Final, which was played in Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday last. The Moyne girls put on a great display in the final to defeat Bohar Bui Comprehensive School, Mallow, Co. Cork, on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-5. Incidentally, Bohar Bui were making their fourth appearance in the final of this competition in as many years.

A number of local supporters were among the large crowd which travelled to the Co. Tipperary venue to cheer on the local girls in the final and there were great celebrations among all the Moyne contingent after the final whistle. The celebrations continued on the team’s return to Arva on Saturday night, where a large crowd turned out to greet the newly-crowned champions.

We congratulate Michelle and Laura, and the three Arva girls on the team, Edel Harrington, Lisa Mulligan and team captain Emer McGlade, on their wonderful achievement.

Camogie AGM

The Cornafean Camogie Club are holding their Annual General Meeting on next Saturday week, 17th February, in the clubrooms, starting at 4.00pm. All players and members are requested to attend and new members are welcome.

Dinner Dance

On Friday night next, 9th February, Cornafean GFC are holding a Dinner Dance and Presentation, in the Pikers Lodge Gowna. The Cornafean team which won the 2000 Cavan Junior Championship will receive their medals from County Board Chairman George Cartwright. The function will also include presentations to newly married couples Johnny and Mary Masterson, Liam and Martina Young, Rory and Margaret McSeain and Martin and Anne McCormack.

There has been great local interest in this event since tickets went on sale a number of weeks ago and it promises to be a very enjoyable and memorable occasion. Anyone who has ordered tickets for the function and who has not yet collected them, are asked to collect same as soon as possible, in order to avoid disappointment.