Bright football future
CMUL kicks off
The Cavan Monaghan Underage League (CMUL) began its new season this weekend. Secretary and PRO Ellen Tinnelly has been busy keeping track of registration numbers. She is excited about the development since the year 2000.
“The CMUL league was established by the late Sean McCaffrey, then regional development officer, along with John O’Connell from Ballyjamesduff and Dominic Sheenan from Kingscourt,” Tinnelly explained. “Back then we had four to six clubs involved. Twenty-five years later, we’re proud to say there are now 16 clubs competing, with 133 teams entered for the 2025/26 season. That’s about 2,660 players, including approximately 640 girls. The growth has been phenomenal.”
When the league first kicked off, the aim was simple: provide football for children in the region. Among the earliest squads was a CMUL side that competed in the Kennedy Cup, with current Ireland U19 men’s manager Tom Mohan part of that very first team. Since then, the league has become a launchpad for players who have gone on to professional and international football.
Names like Jake Doyle Hayes (Exeter City), Finn Sherlock (Hoffenheim), Senan Mullen (Torino), and Josh Harpur (Bohemians and Ireland U17) all cut their teeth in the CMUL. The girls’ game too has produced standouts, most notably Leanne Kiernan, now starring with Liverpool Women.
While these examples show young players that anything is possible, football’s role reaches far beyond producing talent Tinnelly emphasizes: “Football is so important for kids for fitness and physical activity but it also teaches important life skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership.”
While the CMUL maintains league tables, results are reported with a maximum goal difference of four goals. This deliberate choice, Tinnelly noted, “keeps all kids involved and ensures nobody is discouraged. It’s about promoting the game and keeping participation at the heart of what we do.”
The league’s mission statement underlines this philosophy: “to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for all players in Cavan and Monaghan, encouraging participation, skill development, and a lifelong love of football.”
One of the league’s most remarkable success stories in recent years has been the rapid rise of the girls’ game; 664 participate in this year’s underage league. Cavan’s Development officer Thomas Heffernan recalls how things really took off in 2019.
“I organised small blitzes across Cavan, inviting girls from every club to just come down and play,” Heffernan said.
“At first, clubs turned up with only four or five players. But it gave them an opportunity—to play with friends, make new ones, and enjoy football in a welcoming environment. Clubs went back, built on those numbers, and soon we had enough for proper teams. The CMUL immediately backed the idea, and before long we had girls’ leagues at U12, U14, and U16.”
Heffernan credits the commitment of volunteers and coaches across the region: “They’ve been brilliant. Without their effort, we wouldn’t have seen such growth. The girls’ game is only getting stronger.”
For Kieran Kenny, secretary of Bailieborough Celtic, the growth of football is visible every week at his club, which now fields 11 underage teams, as well as a newly established U18 side. “Bridging that gap from U16 to adult football is really important,” Kenny said. “It gives players a chance to adjust to the physicality and pace before moving up fully. We’ve also seen huge improvements in girls’ football, with more teams and better structures.”
Kenny is equally passionate about fairness and development. “The most important thing is that everyone gets game time. We encourage rotation so that no child feels left out. It’s about giving all players a chance to grow.”
Bailieborough Celtic, has benefited from improvements in facilities from the Capital Sports Grant for floodlights at the all-weather pitches and new coaching approaches such as the FAI’s “Me and My Ball” programme for an age- and skill-specific approach. Meanwhile, the CMUL Academy continues to provide elite players with extra opportunities, preparing boys for the Kennedy Cup and girls for the Gaynor Cup.
As the new season kicks off, there is a strong sense that CMUL’s story is still being written. For Tinnelly, the focus remains clear: “Football is for everyone—boys and girls, players and parents alike. It brings people together, teaches life lessons, and creates memories. That’s what CMUL is all about.”