Aghabog’s long wait is over

By Maitiú Monaghan

It has been 23 long years since Aghabog last took part in a Championship Final. That was the Intermediate Championship Final in 2003, when the ‘Bog beat Doohamlet in the decider. Back then it was their first Championship win since 1934.

Its also been 36 years since they last played in a Junior Final- they played Sean McDermotts in 1990. That wait will come to an end this weekend, when Marty Fox’s side take on Drumhowan in the JFC Final.

Looking through the archives this week, The Celt found that 12 of Aghabog’s side from the 1990 team have sons who will take part in this week’s final. Meanwhile, seven of the side from 2003 have family or are themselves involved- Patrick O'Brien is a selector.

A family run affair? Sure, but this is a whole new Aghabog team.

Overcoming local rivals Currin in the Championship semi-final was a statement win for Marty Fox’s side.

The Scotshouse club have been Aghabog’s ‘bogey’ team in recent years, but the rivalry between the sides has been pronounced for decades.

Interestingly, the clubs are amalgamated in women’s football. Emmett Óg is made up of players from Aghabog, Currin, and Eire Óg (Smitborough). They were the County Champions last season and lost out in the semi-final this year.

That win over Currin guaranteed promotion for Aghabog for the first time since 2008. They survived in Intermediate in 2009, and even got to a semi-final, before they were relegated back to Junior in 2010.

That’s where they’ve been ever since, with baron years and a few false dawns along the way.

In recent years, young talent has emerged in the squad.

Senan Carolan and Cian Greenan have represented Monaghan throughout their underage career, while the spine of the team remains the same, with family connections, brothers, and cousins throughout. The O’Hanlon brothers are well established in the side- Fergal, Tyler, Jack, and Cormac. Ryan Gleeson and Fergal Kierans have soldiered with Aghabog for years, along with goalkeeper Michael Smith.

Speaking to The Celt in the build-up to the final, Aghabog captain Oisin Gleeson was full of pride with what his team had achieved.

However, it was sometimes difficult to tell what was more important for Gleeson: getting promoted, or beating Currin.

“We led from the start, and went at them every time we could,” Gleeson said with a smile. “Thankfully we got over the line.

“We know Currin inside and out, they know us. I played all my under-age football with Currin. Myself and Kevin Murphy (Currin forward) are the same age, we won a lot of trophies together.

“There’d be serious respect for the McCaffrey’s and Stephen Smith, all of them. We knew it was a big challenge. They knocked us out last year, so it was good to get one over on them.”

Last season, the club had 40 registered players, which prompted them to put in a third team this season. Furthermore, the club has standalone teams competing at u14, u16, and minor level.

The third team guaranteed that more players in the parish would get to play football, although they did have to cajole some older heads out of retirement for the third team at the later end of the year- what a problem to have.

“The numbers have been building. People around the county haven’t taken notice of that. Over the last four or five years our commitment has been unwavering,” Gleeson said.

“Yes, we didn’t get the results- but boys had put the foundations in place to get to this stage.

“We’ve a brilliant team spirit, and that’s half the battle. The whole team get on well with each other. Things are easier when you have that buzz in the dressing room.”

When asked by the Celt if promotion or Championship glory was the goal at the start of the season, manager Marty Fox said it was a “combination” of the two.

“We knew if we got to a final we’d get promoted," Fox explained. "The final is just another game for us, we’re excited. Drumhowan are a savage team, haven’t been beaten all year, a lot of fires to put out- but that's what we’re looking forward to.

“The three teams this year- every man got to play football, every man was able to enjoy it.

“Good foundations have been in place, all we did this year was put a different structure in place, a couple of new ideas, but the boys have led it themselves.”

Gleeson admitted that his side have no fear about playing Drumhowan in the final.

“No nerves at all” he admitted. “We know how Drumhowan are going to be. We’re excited, we get to show children in the parish that their team can be in a Championship final. That’s something to look forward to.

“We’ve had enough days standing on the fence watching the Junior Championship Final, it is about time we got to play in one.”

As the club captain and manager chatted away with the media, club chairman Patrick McCabe was sat back, taking it all in from a distance.

Before he left, the Celt asked him about the decision to put in a third team this season.

“It was a brave one,” McCabe laughed. “At the start of the year you weigh it up to see if you can field a team all the time. You’re also looking at your treasurer.

“We knew we had players who were committed, boys that wanted to play football, from our minors, and older boys. It has been pretty special.”