Castleblayney Faughs may not have been the bookies' favourites to lift the SFC at the start of the year but an all-too familiar story unfolded nonetheless Castleblayney's place in the annals of GAA history is assured following the Faughs' annexation of a record 37th senior football championship title last September. And while it's a record Latton's finest may not be delirious about acknowledging, Monaghan football is surely blessed to have such a behemoth in its midst. For once the statistics tell all. If ever all and sundry belonging to Monaghan GAA Inc. needed a reminder of their stature, 'Blayney's premier football crew proved their greatness over the course of last Summer in dispensing of the challenges of the best of the rest in the county's blue riband competition After a thoroughly impressive campaign, the Faughs' achievement in scooping their 15th title since 1973 will be regarded, in years to come, as laudible and as worthy as any of their successes over the years. After just a solitary year removed from the top perch, the Faughs showed the sort of hunger and determination at the start of the year that was simply, and ironically, Latton-like. Such an appetite was there for all to see in Faughs' first championship outing in mid-May last when they outclassed a shell-shocked Ballybay side in Clontibret. And yet the cobwebs associated with an untidy, somewhat lethargic early league campaign showed up, big-time, in the would-be champions' first half display against the Pearse Brothers. Faughs just about broke even with their opponents in a tepid first half at the end of which the sides were deadlocked at 0-5 apiece. Indeed, it was only in added-on time in the first half that 'Blayney managed to fire over three unanswered points to get on level terms. But once man of the match, Dermot McArdle, converted a free just one minute after the restart for 'Blayney, the warning signs were left flashing in stark fashion for Ballybay. The Pearse Brothers needed to stop their opponents from building up any momentum but they failed to do so even if a hat-trick of 'Blayney wides provided an inviting, helping hand for the losers. But with the aforementioned McArdle in good nick and Jason Hughes in inspirational form at midfield for the favourites, Ballybay struggled to gain any sort of foothold in the match. As things transpired, their hopes were well and truly sunk in the 21st minute when Damian Hughes rifled the ball to the Ballybay net to leave 'Blayney nine points in front and all but home and dry. In the end, 'Blayney's 1-14 to 0-6 win wasn't in the least bit flattering. The long-time county kingpins were, ominously, up and running. And while still not exactly running on all cylinders, the Faughs did all they needed to do next time out when they handed eventual co-finalists Latton a 1-9 to 0-6 defeat at Scotstown in early July. Cool, composed, clever with their use of the ball and imbued with an almost tangible self-belief, 'Blayney oozed confidence as they comfortably dealt with the best the O'Raghaillaighs could throw at them. Castleblayney led from pillar to post in what was, in truth, a poor dress rehearsal for county final day. The fact that the losers' Kevin Hughes was the only one to score - and that exclusively from frees - spoke volumes for Latton's limitations on the day. With the welcome return to the fray of Paul O'Connor, the Blayney lads had things very much their own way, coasting to a 0-5 to 0-2 interval lead before consolidating their lead thereafter in grand style. And while Latton reduced their opponents' lead to the minimum after their best spell of the match in the third quarter, Ciaran Tavey's 22nd minute goal - after good work by Edwin Murphy, Tom Miller and Dermot McArdle - restored 'Blayney's four point lead and left Latton again playing a massive game of catch-up they never looked like winning. Just for good measure, Castleblayney upped the ante in the final straight with three unanswered points from Ciaran Tavey, Ray McArdle and Adrian Irwin putting the icing on the cake, right and proper. And so to a quarter-final clash with old rivals Scotstown at Clontibret in mid-July. This time around, it was most definitely goals that counted with a goal by Dermot McArdle in the 21st minute and a similar effort by Adrian Irwin in the 28th minute helping to steer the town team to an eventual 2-11 to 0-11 victory. In what turned out to be an exciting and rip-roaring encounter, 'Blayney's greater economy of effort plus their greater experience and guile helped complement the damage wreaked on Scotstown's cause by those two timely goals. Scotstown put in a sterling effort to upset the odds but everytime Nicholas Corrigan and co. managed to add to their points tally, the Faughs did likewise - led by Ciaran Tavey (0-7) - and so stymie any sign of a comeback by the blues. The draw for the semi-finals saw the Dermot Duffy-captained squad paired with Carrickmacross in a game that went ahead at Aughnamullen on August 31st. The game marked the return to championship action of former county star Peter Duffy and his overall display, plus that of record-chasing Declan Loughman, was instrumental in 'Blayney's success in carving out a 0-10 to 0-9 win. It wasn't a classic display by 'Blayney as a whole though. Indeed their first half showing was disappointing with Carrick holding them scoreless for a whopping 26 minutes in that opening moiety when Dermot McArdle belated opened his side's account. Another point by Duffy in the 29th minute and Ray McArdle one minute later served to cut dominant Carrick's lead to five points, 0-8 to 0-3, at the break. The second half saw Castleblayney produce something like their true form but, that said, it wasn't until the final ten minutes of the game that they managed to burn a path to ultimate victory. A point by Carrick's Andrew Callan in the 21st minute proved to be the Emmets' one and only score of the second half. From there on, 'Blayney slowly but surely ate into Carrick's three point lead until matters were all-square five minutes from time. And then came arguably the move of the match with at least seven 'Blayney players combining to set up Peter Duffy for the winning point. The final itself turned out to be a case of 'never mind the quality, sense the history', at least as far as 'Blayney Faughs were concerned. The 2003 blue riband decider saw both the respective defences largely hold sway over the course of the hour. In the end, 'Blayney's fully-deserved 0-10 to 0-6 victory could arguably be attributed to their superior craft, wiles and the experience of some key players. The first quarter set the tone for the remainder of the match with both sides struggling to convert hard-won possession out the field into scores on the boards. Such was the claustrophobic nature of the play in the early stages that it wasn't until nearly the 19th minute before Latton broke the deadlock with a point. Four minutes earlier 'Blayney almost conceded a goal but Hugh McElroy's effort flashed just wide of Derek Sullivan's right-hand post. Less than two minutes later, Latton's goal had a lucky escape when Ryan Tracey almost goaled. Eventually 'Blayney opened their account when Ciaran Tavey pointed an inviting crossfield ball by team-mate Declan Loughman who was gunning for a new record of 12 senior county championship medals. Latton proceeded to give as good as they got though and Blayney found themselves three points adrift after 26 minutes. Refusing to panic, 'Blayney kept their heads and popped over two important points courtesy of Dermot Duffy and then man of the match Dermot McArdle to cut their deficit at the interval to a single point, 0-3 to 0-4. Castleblayney came out for the second half in a more fired-up pose and within six minutes of the restart were on level terms with Ciaran Tavey doing the honours. Tavey later put his side into the lead for the first time after good work by Jason Hughes and Declan Loughman but back came Latton to equalise with 11 minutes played. It was a real game of nip and tuck at this juncture with one team, and then the other, securing a seemingly dominant role only to let their grip slip in double quick time. Flu victim Peter Duffy was then introduced to the fray by the winners-elect but his side got a real shock in the 18th minute when David Lennon got in behind the 'Blayney defence only to point instead of goaling. Minutes later Blayney showed the sort of efficiency which was to help steer them to yet another title win when a seven man move ended with Ciaran Tavey propelling the Faughs into the lead once more with ten minutes left to play. Points thereafter by Edwin Murphy and Dermot McArdle left 'Blayney three points in front and Latton seemingly in trouble. The O'Raghaillaighs refused to lie down though and Derek Sullivan had to be at his very best to tip David Lennon's shot to safety. Another scrambled clearance by 'Blayney moments later added to the tension. However the 'Blayney faithful needn't have worried as a fine free from Ciaran Tavey, one minute into stoppage time, was just the insurance point they yearned for. For the long-time county kingpins, the all-too familiar celebratory routine could once again kick-in . . .and go on and on and on . . . at least until the Ulster club championship campaign rolled into view. The 'Blayney team, subs, and scorers, that featured in the club's 37th Monaghan SFC title win was as follows; Derek Sullivan; Stephen McGeough, Ryan Treacy, Colm Donnelly; Francis Moore, Edwin Murphy (0-1), Dermot Duffy (0-2); Paul O'Connor, Jason Hughes; Ray McArdle, Declan Loughman, Adrian Irwin; Damien Duffy, Dermot McArdle (0-2), Ciaran Tavey (0-5). Subs used; Peter Duffy, Jim McHugh. If the cap Fitz He made his name as a great player for club, county and province before going on to prove his mettle as a team-manager. Gerry Fitzpatrick is also a mine of opinions about the game he loves It's only after you ask Gerry Fitzpatrick what he thinks of 'Blayney's feat in winning the blue riband county title, yet again, that a feeling of sillyness races through every sinue of your body. Such a poser is a bit like asking NRA chief Charlton Heston whether he has any beef with a U.S citizen's right to hold firearms in his own country or quizzing Frank Dunlop on the merit of snuggling up to Dublin county councillors. "As a 'Blayney man, I'm more than happy that the club has won the championship again," Gerry needlessly explains. Of course he is. And he's equally unequivocal when it comes to his assessment of the picture painted by the Faughs' ongoing domination of the senior county championship. "It's not 'Blayney's problem that they're still winning the championship - it's up to the other clubs to stop them. "As far as I can see, the other clubs aren't working hard enough to knock 'Blayney of their pedestal. "'Blayney work very, very hard every year to try and win the championship and that's why they're on top of the pile again for another year. The rest of the teams have a bit of catching up to do," Gerry insists. As someone who is au fait with all the vagaries of Gaelic football, the hugely experienced mentor and former star player says he wasn't in the least bit surprised that the Faughs once again proved to be the best team around in Monaghan in the past year. Gerry was team-manager in Castleblayney when the Duffy Cup was scooped in both 1990 and '91 and some of those players from that era such as Declan Loughman, Peter Duffy, Edwin Murphy, Derek Sullivan, Raymond McArdle, Emmett Brennan, Mark Connor, Dermot Duffy and Aidan Tavey have been part and parcel of successful 'Blayney teams right up through the years to the present time. Gerry cites the quality and experience of those players as evidence of the superior firepower and football nous available to the 'Blayney Class of 2003. "I thought Clontibret came closest in recent years to overtaking 'Blayney as the top club in the county but after they had a couple of years at the top, they seem to have fallen back a bit. "But it doesn't surprise me that the Faughs are back as champions because if you look at the history of the senior championship, apart from 'Blayney, only three other clubs, Scotstown, Ballybay and Clontibret, have won the title since Inniskeen back in the late 'forties. "I'd say Latton and Magheracloone are getting closer to the standard set by 'Blayney at the minute though." With a bagful of senior county championship medals won with his beloved 'Blayney to his name, Gerry certainly knows what it takes to make it to the top of the pile. One wonders though whether 'Blayney's ongoing supremacy means that the rest of the clubs just haven't got what it takes? "I wouldn't point the finger of blame at any club. It's hard to get 20 players at the start of the year to commit themselves to giving their all for their club for practically all 12 months of the year. "Lifestyles have changed, fellas are working all week and don't always see just a match at the weekend as the be all and end all for them. "Maybe they're right in putting football down their list of priorities but, at the same time, if a team wants to be successful, the players have to be very dedicated," adds the 'Blayney legend who hung up his boots in the early 'eighties. In terms of trying to give football in Monaghan a home-made injection, Gerry believes that the county board ought to forget about playing the vast majority of their major club matches on Sunday afternoons. The man who guided the Faughs to a famous 20th senior championship title back in '91 believes that a move to fixing matches for Friday or Saturday evenings should be given grave consideration by the powers-that-be. "If the matches were on a Friday or Saturday evening, the players could have no qualms then in going out for a few drinks on the Saturday night and definitely you'd expect that situation to suit managers as well and I think the quality of football would be helped too. "I know from my time as a team-manager it can break your heart when some of your players aren't fit to give of their best on a Sunday because they have been socialising the night before. "But you have to remember that fellas are amateur players and they spend a lot of time and energy from January to November trying to get things right. It was shortly after quitting as a player with 'Blayney that Gerry took up the mantle of management. Apart from his tremendous record with 'Blayney, Gerry also proved his mettle along the line by steering Magheracloone to junior and intermediate championship titles in successive years prior to taking up the reigns at 'Blayney at the advent of the nineties. Of course his near-fifteen year spell on the senior inter-county front with Monaghan did provide him with a lot of knowledge about the game. Interestingly, he is still not sure why county success in the 'eighties didn't act like a tide and 'rise' the standard of football in his home county. "It's hard to put a finger on it but I thought the success of the county team in '85 and '88 would help to improve club football." Has football at club level in Monaghan improved/disimproved in the interim? "The quality of football in the county isn't that bad, it's okay but I still don't think it's as high as it was from the late 'seventies through to the end of the eighties. "Definitely fitness levels have shot up among ordinary club players but there doesn't seem to be the same degree of skill around or the accuracy in particular around the goal," the erstwhile Doohamlet boss argues. Significantly, Gerry is one methodical, respected GAA man in Monaghan who doesn't think that a reduction in the number of clubs in the county would be a positive step either. Try getting either of the co-parishioners of 'Blayney, Oram or Blackhill to shelve their uniqueness or individualism in any unproven experiment, Gerry suggests, and the clubs will come up with only one answer! In his analysis of the current state of the game in Monaghan, the former Railway Cup star is convinced that local gaels still bear the same passion and enthusiasm for the big ball game as ever, notwithstanding the fact, of course, that the volume of support at matches has noticeably declined in recent years. "When a team isn't doing well, the support for that team will always drop and it's no different when it comes to the numbers following Monaghan. "But there's a great hard core Monaghan support about and that support was swollen in a big way last Summer when Armagh were beaten in the championship." Recognised as one of the most astute thinkers of the game in Monaghan football circles, Gerry has displayed the Midus touch at times as a manager over the years. He is an unashamed admirer of the Mickey Harte and Joe Kernans of this world and he still tries to read and learn as much about the game as a young player or rookie mentor would. "Football is changing all the time. You only have to look at the way Tyrone played and how successful it was for them this year - and all credit to them. "Very few teams with just 15 tidy footballers ever won anything. Players have to be prepared to work hard; a good work ethic makes winning easier. "In that way, I think the northern teams are that bit ahead of the rest of Ireland at the present time. "All the other provinces are having to play catch-up right now in the same way that the rest of the clubs in Monaghan have to work hard as they play catch-up with 'Blayney." Words to the wise indeed. Tweet

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