THE G.A.A. IN CORDUFF

1890 – Around 1890, a team called O’ Sullivans Mountaineers or Corduff Mountaineers was formed. It included Terry Keelan, Peter Hanratty, John Marron, Johnny Mee and Francis Connor from Granarogue.

1914-1918: Because there was no emigration to England or America during the war, there were plenty of young men in the area. Games were played on whatever field was available. Many of the local men played with Carrickmacross rather than with Corduff.

1923 – In April 1923, a Senior team from Corduff was affiliated at a County Board meeting in Ballybay. Some of the founding members were Pat Joe and John Finnegan Mick Daly, Tommy and Francie Ward and Packie Mc Keown. Their first senior football league match was played at Umerafree on April 29^th 1923 against Killanny.

1925 – During a game between O’Sullivan’s Mountaineers and Carrick Sextons the guards had to be called to clear the field. One man from each side got his marching orders in the second half . However, the Corduff player refused to leave the field and the game had to be abandoned.

1926 – Due to emigration, the Corduff team was forced to drop to junior grade in 1926 but made history the same year by winning the Junior Championship. The final was actually played in 1927, on March 6^th. And they defeated Inniskeen 1-4 to 0-3.

Also in 1926, Corduff held a very successful seven a side tournament and for several years it was the highlight of football in south Monaghan.

1937- Corduff drew with Tullycorbett in the final of the Dr. Ward cup but lost the replay by one point.

1947- Another great team emerged in 1947 under the management of Seamus Garvey. This team was narrowly beaten in both Championship and league. Two members of this team, Sean Marron and Fr. Tom Marron were county players.

1958 – After the 1947 team, the club didn't affiliate again until 1958. Meanwhile some players went to Carrick and others to Raferagh.

1967 – In the early 60’s the club again went out of existence due to emigration. In 1967, they affiliated again, spearheaded by Michele Connolly who had returned from the U.S.A.

1970- Success came Corduff’s way when they defeated Sean Mc Dermott’s in the final of the Aghabog tournament in 1974. There were many very talented players at this time. Tommy Callan played for Monaghan at minor, under 21 and senior level, while his brother, Lorcan, played at minor and under 21. Sean Farrelly also played at minor level.

1980 – Corduff won the Olympia Cup, defeating Killanny who had won the junior double.

1987 – Dr. Ward cup winners, beating Monaghan Harps 1-6 to 1-4. Corduff’s hour of glory had come. This was their first major title since the Championship win back in 1926. Team on the day… Tom Connolly, Phil Connolly, John Joe Cunningham, Pat Keenan, Seamus Finnegan, Michael Mc Eneaney, Peter Owen Fealy, Frank Mc Eneaney, Felix Brennan, Seamus Mc Eneaney, Peter Cromwell, Robbie Rice, Peter Connolly, Pat Mc Eneaney, Tom Mc Eneaney. Sub Sean Connolly.

1970 – In the early 70’s, spearheaded by Brian Mc Dermott, N.T. the first efforts were made to organise juvenile football in the area. Considerable talent emerged and many of these players went on to grace the senior teams in later years.

1975 – An u-15 team reached the final of the Clancy Cup and lost by a narrow margin to Castleblayney.

1976 – As u-16’s, the same team were beaten by Cremartin the league after a replay. Players who wore the jersey with distinction in those early years included: Paddy Bates, Phil Connolly, Jimmy Cunningham, Kevin Moynagh, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Padraig Carroll, Paddy Lonergan, David Marron, Thomas Marron, Brian Jones, Tom Mc Eneaney, Patrick Mc Eneaney, Sean Clarke, P.J. O Hanlon, P. J. Finnegan, Denis Marron, Declan Callan and Pat Jones.

1979 – Sreenty primary school, with only a couple of dozen children on the roll, made history by reaching the final of the Philomena Begley trophy. Two days before the semi-final against Blackstaff, Seamus mc Eneaney ( Banty) went down with German Measles, but true to form, he was the first man togged out on the day. They drew with Blackstaff but won the replay, going on to meet Scotstown in the final. Sreenty team: the Mc Eneaney brothers, Frank and Seamus, the Mc Caul brothers, Henry and Ronnie, the Mc Dermott brothers, Kieran and Colm, and last but not least, Joseph Mc Cabe. Subs: Colm Byrne, Joan Connolly and Margaret Mc Ardle.

1982 – Corduff won the Mc Grane cup in 1982 and Corcreagh won the Philomena Begley Trophy in the same year. Corcreagh team: Macartan Finnegan, Colm Finnegan, Michael Joe Carroll, Patrick Mc Eneaney (who was awarded player of the match in the final), Seamus Lennon, Thomas Murphy, Sean Lennon (Capt.), Padraig Mc Eneaney and Patrick Martin.

1990’s – Juvenile football reached its greatest height in Corduff in the ‘90’s. Under 14 teams won the Farney Cup in three successive years, ’94, ’95 and ’96. No small feat for a small club which had to call on a number of girls to make up numbers- Jackie and Jennie Brennan, Leona Roe, Aine Marron and Louise Mc Keown went on to win All – Ireland medals with the Monaghan Ladies u-14 team while Gareth King, captain of the ’94 Farney Cup team won his place with the Co. Minors team in1998. Many of the other players now hold key positions in the Corduff Intermediate team.

1992 – Reached the final of the Junior Championship where they met local rivals, Carrickmacross. However, success was not to be Corduff's on the day.

1993 – Undoubtedly, the greatest year in the club’s history. This was the year they captured the Junior double, the Mc Caldin Shield and the Dr. Ward Cup.. They defeated Killevan by 1-14 to 1-6 on Sept. 26^th at Rockcorry and on Oct. 17^th had a resounding victory over Rockcorry at Oram. Final score 2-10 to 0-10.

1994 > Having been promoted to Intermediate rank, the Gaels are still finding their feet at this level. However, with the current balance of youth and experience, the future is promising.

FACILITIES:

Having played down through the year’s on any available field, it was long recognised that the club needed a permanent base. Notable venues in the past included Mc Cahey’s meadow, the Pope’s field and Nelson Park

In 1979 a farm of land was purchased for a new school and sports ground and in 1980 it was decided to negotiate purchase of part of this land for a playing field.

In June 1982, work began on the new Community Centre which would also accommodate clubrooms, changing facilities and a handball alley.

A stand was erected in 1989 and in 1996 another, larger stand was opened thus bringing the home grounds of the Corduff Gaels up to the standard of any club in the country and indeed, surpassing many.

PLAYERS:

One of the greatest assets any club can have is one or two footballing families in the area from which they can draw five or six players to form the backbone of a team. Corduff has always been lucky in this respect and has a long tradition of brothers playing alongside each other.

The 1947 team had three sets of brothers – Peter, Eoin and Seamus Garvey, Pat Joe, and Sean Marron and Phil and Pat Marron (Cornasassanagh). In the early 70’s there were three Callans, P.J., Lorcan and Tommy, later to be joined by younger brother Declan. Other brotherly combinations include Peadar, Paddy, Sean and Thomas Marron, John Joe and Thomas Cunningham, Felix and Peter Brennan, Kieran, Patrick and Sean Connolly and many more. But Probably the best known of all are the Mc Eneaney brothers.

Tom. Pat, Michael, Frank and Seamus are sons of Maureen and the late J.J. Mc Eneaney and were brought  up in a strong G.A.A. tradition. The five Mc Eneaney brothers formed one-third of the Corduff team in 1993 and were instrumental in winning the coveted Junior Double in that year. Each of the brothers has made a major contribution to club football and each in turn has donned the county colours.

Pat is very well known, up and down the country, as one of the G.A.A’s best referees. Having played for the County at Minor and u-21 level, he began his refereeing career in 1987. He has been ‘man in the middle’ on countless occasions, including three Ulster Championships to date, three Mc Rory Cup finals and two All-Ireland club finals between Mayo and Meath and the subsequent replay. Not one to let fame go to his head, two weeks later he refereed an u-10 challenge match between his native Corduff and his adopted hometown, Carrickmacross, when the appointed referee failed to turn up.

Frank also served the County at Minor and u-21 level and played for ten years with the Monaghan Senior team. An extremely talented and consistent player, Frank also captained the county team in 1994, 95 and 96.

Tom Mc Eneaney played some juvenile football with Carrick but has also been a mainstay of the Corduff Gaels for several years. Tom won an Ulster u-21 medal in 1982 and Mc Kenna Cup medal in 1983.

Michael and Seamus have played at county level while continuing to give sterling service to their club. Seamus player/ manager in 1998, Tom is a selector, Michael, Pat and Frank continue their playing career with the Gaels. Corduff has indeed been blessed to have this unique quintet which has made such a huge contribution to the G.A.A. in its midst.

REFEREES:

The following club members have served as referees:

Patsy Connolly, Sean Monaghan, Tom Ward, Patrick Mc Eneaney, John Scully, Pat Mc Nally, Padraig Duffy

The late Gene Marron was widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the present Corduff Gales clubs and was a guiding light for them for many years, often proving the inspiration for work that is now paying rich dividends for the present generation of Corduff players and the wider Corduff community and Gary Carville, chairman Monaghan County Board, said that ‘it was a fitting tribute that their new juvenile pitch should be dedicated to his memory’ when he performed the official opening ceremony of the Gene Marron Memorial Park on Saturday last.

In what was a special day for the Corduff club and the Marron family, Mr. Carville told the big attendance that for him, Gene Marron epitomised the G.A.A. as his work for the club over some 35 years had always being directed and inspired by the ideal of the promotion of Gaelic games and the betterment of his community.

That sentiment was also expressed by the club chairman, John Joe Cunningham in his opening address when he paid tribute to Gene Marron, his wife Mary and the entire Marron family, saying that it was more than coincidence that the official of their new facility which was dedicated to his memory was taking place on the day when Gene would have being 71 years old.

For at least half of those seventy odd years Gene Marron saw the Corduff club go through lean and difficult times but he was always there encouraging everyone. He helped them develop into a strong and vibrant unit of the association that provides top class facilities for the locality and this juvenile pitch adds to that record of service.

The late Gene saw them make the transition from a struggling junior club to a senior club and their victory in the Monaghan intermediate football championship in 1988 was a landmark in his life.

He served the club in a wide range of capacities; he was secretary/treasurer for at least 20 years and was treasurer right up to the time of his death. He also represented the club at county committee meetings over the years and served on a number of committees at county level, taking a very active interest in promoting Scor both at club and county level. Back in 1987 he received a special presentation to mark his outstanding service to the club and when future generations look at the activities of the GAA in Corduff the name of Gene Marron will figure prominently.

Monsignor Connolly who paid tribute to the late Gene blessed the new facility and he expressed his admiration for everything that had been achieved by the club in the last 20 plus years.

In performing the blessing he prayed that the new facilities would instill qualities of co-operation and encouragement and that the games played there would encourage participation and achievement as opposed to any negative influence that could impede the ongoing work of Cumann Luthchleas Gael in the parish.

To mark the occasion a plaque dedicating the new facility to the memory of the late Gene Marron unveiled by the chairman of Monaghan County Board, Gary Carville.

Following the official blessing and dedication ceremony there was a challenge match between Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers and a Monaghan Under 21 selection under manager Seamus Mc Enaney, himself a native of Corduff club and a great admirer of the late Gene Marron.

Following that there was a juvenile match between Corduff and Killaney as the first official fixture on the new juvenile pitch.