Mullahoran's 125 Years Dream Team
August 30, 2013
Cavan and Mullahoran's Damien O'Reilly would grace any football field
125 Years Dream Team : In response to last months request a very staunch and knowledgeable supporter of the club has put together 2 teams for consideration as the clubs dream team, please note the two teams below are not the final 15 but are excellent selections. Both are very well thought out and the 30 players used would grace any top 15 that's chosen by our judges. See what you think of these two, can you do better ? Please send on your chosen 15 to the editor :
1. Val Gannon Mullahoran Seamus Galligan Grousehall
2. Brian O'Reilly Grousehall Gerry Sheridan Cloncovid
3. Thomas O'Reilly Carricknabrick Noel Smith Cloncovid
4. Damien O'Reilly Mullahoran John Fitzsimons Cartonfree
5. Brian O'Reilly Carricknabrick Fr.Jim Brady Middletown
6. John Wilson Callanagh Pat Sheridan Cloncovid
7. Tom Boylan Drumhowna Paddy Smith Glascarrick
8. Phil Brady Middletown Connie Halton Dundevan
9. Dan Deneher Loughdavan Christy Sheils Mullahoran
10. Tomity O'Reilly Drumcor Michael Fegan Kilcogy
11. Foncie Comaskey Tullygullion Padraic Harton Cloncovid
12. Jack Boylan Drumhowna Dermot McGuinness Kilcogy
13. Danny Brady jnr Drumcor Jody Brady Legwee
14. Danny Brady snr Drumcor Brian Fitzsimons Cartonfree
15. Jimmy Maguire Kilcogy Benny Cullen Mullahoran
50 Years on - The memory of the young wing back ! : 1963 for me was quite a good year. I played for St. Mel's College in Croke Park where we won our second All Ireland Colleges title in a row. I was 18 years old and young for senior football, but then Mullahoran had a young team that year. We also had some seasoned veterans like John " The Gunner " and Connie Halton. Hughie Smith, the then County Secretary said we were a strong team who could go all the way. I was there when he said it and maybe for the first time I began to think this was the case. I remember well our first round game against Cross was tough, playing against Ray Carolan and his team. It probably was my best game of the Championship, being fully fit from my St. Mel's experiences. Danny " The Gunner " also starred and when it was mentioned after the game how many points he had scored, he said " Ah well they were going that way anyway ," in his typical humble manner. I remember leading up to the final replay of the County Final against Bailieborough we were taken in hand by Johnny Wilson who listened to us and gave his views about the replay. My memory of that game was that we were very much on top and came out easy winners. In the dressing room afterwards with the trophy, a strong memory of mine is Johnny Wilson saying," You played like Mullahoran men". That to me was the icing on the cake ! After 50 years my memories of the day have faded slightly, but I still remember the pride the team had in that victory. All the evenings I spent riding my bike from Kilcogy to beyond Killadoon to practice had paid off. Then we had the victory dance in Killadoon Hall ( beside Tom Lynch's Forge ) and a presentation of the medals.
Mullahoran - a proud club with a proud tradition then, now, and in the future ! Best wishes on the 50th anniversary of a great win. Barry ( Simon ) Reilly - USA.
Senior Championship : Sun August 25th : Back Door : Mullahoran 0-11, Redhills 0-8 : We are still in the competition, a gutsy performance dragged us through to the next stages. There were two changes from the disappointing Ramor game with Darren O'Reilly and Damien McArdle replacing James Reilly and Eddie Dalton. Mullahoran never looked like losing this game, however they were unable to close it out in a comprehensive manner. Redhills must be kicking themselves with the number of wides and errors made whilst in scoring positions. It was a calm day with conditions under foot very good. We again missed an early goal opportunity when Paul Brady went straight through on goal, goals will be needed if there is a chance to repeat last years success. Philip Brady was the ace score getter today with a personal tally of 0-7, 0-2 from play. There was an improvement in the overall performance however the error count especially from foot passes was terrible. In defence Killian Brady again was the star, he is improving with every game and if we had a few more up to his standard all would be much easier. Redhills caused the champions difficulties in obtaining possession around the middle third and the impressive Turloch Mooney and Packie Leddy were always a threat. The back door system with the additional games will be helping our lads especially the younger crew like Daniel O'Reilly who was steady in defence.
Dominic Crudden; Seanie Smith, Killian Brady, Darren O'Reilly; Daniel O'Reilly, Paddy Brady, Dermot Sheridan (0-1); Christy Shiels, Peter Paul Galligan; Paul Brady, Enda O'Reilly (0-2), Tomas Nannery (0-1); Philip Brady (0-7), Raymond Lynch, Damien McArdle Subs: Fergal Brady for Tomas Nannery, Daniel Smith for Damien McArdle, Kevin Fitzsimons for C Shiels.
Senior Championship : Sun August 18th : 1st Rd : Ramor Utd 1-11, Mullahoran 0-11 : This long awaited encounter didn't go as expected with Ramor United upsetting the champions , who will hopefully learn from the many errors made for the next outing against Redhills. Goals win games and Mullahoran's missed goal opportunities in the first half cost them dearly in the end. Mullahoran started without the suspended Michael Brady and also the retired Eddie O'Reilly and Eamon Brady from last years double winning team. In truth, it was a game which Ramor never looked like losing once Jack Brady registered their first three scores, despite Mullahoran pulling level by the 19th minute, as McEnroe's brilliantly taken goal had them well on their way and in the second-half they matched the holders' work rate to ensure the gap stayed at three, despite the best efforts of Enda O'Reilly, who contributed 0-8 over the hour. Despite some fine fielding from Paul Brady in all different areas of the field, Mullahoran were struggling to work it in to the danger area. Half time (1-6 to 0-6).Philip Brady looked to set the tone for the Dreadnoughts in early stages of the resumption with a point after dummying past his marker, but Ramor were equally resolute in their approach as a brilliant score from Jack Brady was backed up by Mulvanny to extend their advantage. In the final quarter it was the Meath border men that came close to all but ending the game as a contest though when Mulvanny was threaded through and had his effort of a goal heroically blocked by Killian Brady on the line. A cruel blow was dealt when Killian received a second yellow card for an incident which occurred off the ball .It left Mullahoran with an uphill battle in the closing minutes, and although Enda swung over two more frees, Mullahoran simply couldn't find the goal they needed in injury-time and Bradley's third point of the evening rounded off the impressive victory for Ramor United who look a good bet to go all the way this year..
Dominic Crudden; Seanie Smith, Killian Brady, James Reilly; Paul Brady (0-1), Paddy Brady, Dermot Sheridan; Christy Shiels, Peter Paul Galligan; Eddie Dalton, Enda O'Reilly (0-8, 7f), Tomas Nannery; Philip Brady (0-2, 1f), Raymond Lynch, Daniel O'Reilly. Subs: Fergal Brady for R Lynch (44), Darren O'Reilly for J Reilly (44), Kevin Fitzsimons for C Shiels (56).
Minor Team Update : Our minor team played Ballyhaise in the second round of the minor championship on Tuesday 13th August in Ballyhaise. This was the minors best performance of the year so far with Mullahoran grabbing an early lead and going on to dominate the game from start to finish winning on a score line of 4-14 to 2-8. This win secures a quarter final place later in the month. Our minors players are training well and will be a match for any of the remaining teams in the coming weeks according to the team management who have brought the lads on so much this year. Well done lads.
The team which started against Ballyhaise was: William O'Reilly, Glen Brady, Colm O'Reilly, Cian O'Reilly, Adrian Rabbitte, Daniel O'Reilly, Chris Dalton, Diarmuid Fitzsimons, Sean McKeogh, Tadhg McGahern, Fionnan O'Reilly, Aaron Fegan, Paddy Brady, Shane Sheils, Niall McGahern. Subs used: Niall Harten, Ryan Kiernan.
We would ask all club supporters to come out and support our minor team, their next game is on Tuesday 3rd at 6.45pm against West Cavan Gaels, the championship quarter final.
Underage Roundup :
Erne Valley Community Games - U10 Mixed Team : Saturday August 17th saw the under 10 mixed team travel to Athlone to compete in the All-Ireland semi-final versus Clane (Co Kildare). This was a wonderful game of football with very little between the two times right until the final whistle. Despite battling hard Erne Valley were beaten by an excellent Clane team, who were crowned All-Ireland Under 10 champions on the second day.
Our team travelled back to Athlone on Sunday to play the Munster champions Monaleen (Limerick) in the 3rd and 4th place decider. Erne Valley dominated this game from start to finish and with some fine footballing skills ran out winners to claim 3rd place in the All-Ireland. Congratulations and well done to their manager Michael Fegan and players Daithi Sheils (captain), Annie Deneher, Danielle O'Reilly, Caolan Fegan and Cormac Galligan.
Under 8's :The under 8 boys continue to train every Saturday morning in the park at 10.30am. The boys recently welcomed Crosserlough under 8's to Mullahoran for a challenge game, a great mornings football was had by all. On Saturday next (August 31st) the boys will travel to Maghera for an under 8 blitz.
Under 10's :The under 10 boys will take part in the Gowna Tournament on Saturday September 7th. Over 20 teams are participating including clubs from Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Dublin.
Under 14's : The under 14 boys first round of championship Friday 30th August in Mullahoran at 6.30pm against Dernacrieve Gaels. The lads took part in the Gowna Blitz where we ended up winning the sheild in the final against Crosserlough recently.
The panel on the day were: Sean Cadden, Liam Wilson, William Comaskey, Cormac O'Reilly, Gavin Brady, Darren Sheils, Leon Reilly, Mark Halton, James Coyle, Ryan O'Reilly, Connor Fitzsimons. Tweet
