Glenfarne.com

An interesting study during the Charity Match in Glenfarne which raised badly needed funds for Park Development. Supporters like these have been generous with financial assistance.

1980 saw a restructuring of the G.A.A. in Glenfarne. The club formed two sets of officers; one to look after the club activities and the other to concentrate on our Park Development Programme. Seamus McDermott, Pat McLoughlin and myself were entrusted with the playing activities of our teams, namely Junior ‘A’; Junior ‘C’; U-21; Minor; U-14; U-12; and Larry McHugh, Gerry Finneran and Jim Clancy, were shouldered with the burden of looking after the Park Development.

On the playing fields during 1980, we did not get among the trophy winners, but all our teams were very active all year. It was regrettable that there was no team in Kiltyclogher and a few of their players joined our club, namely, P.J. Meehan, Paddy McGowan, Kieran McGriskin, Denis Dolan, Tommy Cullen. During the Junior League a few of our players were not available and we could not field the same team every Sunday, but nevertheless the team gave some promising displays and were looking ‘orward to the championship with hope. “We were drawn against Aughavas in the first round and they were very much fancied to win the 1980 Championship.

They had been unbeaten in the League. We had a great victory and at last got the breakthrough the team needed and we looked forward to the next round, against our old rivals Drumkeerin. But our luck did not hold out, we lost Pauric McHugh, Tommy McGourty and Patrick. McManus through injury during the game and with them went our chance of victory and so to the losers group against Melvin Gaels and as we were still without our injured players, we made our exit from the Championship. Our Junior ‘C’ team gave some promising displays and it was a useful competition for younger players to gain experience. On the nine-a-side Miinor League we had one victory and two defeats to our credit. As we had always twelve or thirteen players for every game it gives hope for the future.

In the underage football competitions we weren’t too successful. It is a pity not enough interest is taken locally in under-age football, for these are the players of the future. Without them the club cannot survive! The under-12’s this year were very young, mostly nine or ten years old. I think there is a great future for them. The under-14’s had a strong representation from the Kiltyclogher area. They were a good side, but I think the club failed to recognise the talent in time, so as to give them the proper training and match practice, but hopefully in 1981 these lads will get a fair chance to prove themselves.

The under-21 team got to the second round of the Championship by virtue of a convincing win over Allen Gaels, but in the next round we failed to Gortlet¬teragh, so during 1980 all our teams were very active during the year and were good ambassadors for the area and the Association. The club also played its part in the organising of and participation in Scor na nag and Senior Scor.

My review of our club activities would not be complete without a mentioning that we lost one of our great football heroes of the ’30’s – 50’s era – Frank Clancy R.I.P. Francy, as he was known locally, attended every game from under-12 upwards and always had a word of advice for the young lads. He told them how he played the game in his day. He would have loved to see the improvements taking place in the park just now. All G.AA fans who come to the park when it reopens will miss him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.