Final whistle? P. J. Carroll to manage Drumalee senior team this season

WELL-KNOWN club and inter-county team-manager P. J. Carroll is the new manager of the Drumalee senior side for the coming season. The former Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo inter-county manager is one of the best-known personalities on the GAA scene not alone in his  native county but nationwide, having managed county teams and clubs with various degrees of success down the years.

  The  former  Cavan  Gaels  player  likes nothing more than a challenge, and in taking over a neighbouring club he is hoping he can revitalise them and get them  challenging  for league and championship honours in the coming season. Drumalee will be playing out of Division One of the SFL, while they will be competing in the IFC – a title they won in recent years.

  Speaking on his appointment, Carroll said he was approached about taking over the reins of Drumalee by their new Chairman Tommy Lyons a number of weeks ago. He met the players and thought long and hard before making his decision. He was impressed with the attitude of the players, and indeed by the Drumalee officials who are determined to get the club back competing for honours in the coming season.

  The experienced Carroll's task is that much harder this season because of the fact that one of the Drumalee sides most experienced players, Michael Brennan has returned to play his football this season within his native county of Meath. “However, while he will be missed, there  are  a  number  of  promising young players in the club at present more than capable of 'stepping up to the plate' and giving the proper leadership required,'' he added.

  Carroll's management team will consist of former Cavan county players Brendan Donohoe, Mickey Lee and Tommy Walsh – men who have a vast experience of what it takes to be successful in football at any level.

  In his closing remark Carroll said he was not promising anything other than he will give the job his best shot. It is very much down to the players. “If they 'want success badly' they will give it their best shot – there are no shortcuts to success'', he added.

New Vice-Chairman of Cavan Co. Board

Cavan County Board held its first meeting of the year on Monday night last in Hotel Kilmore, Dublin Road, Cavan.

  Among the items discussed was the rubber-stamping of two new appointments, Kieran Callaghan from Denn who takes over as vice-chairman from Noel Rogers (Knockbride) who resigned at the recent convention and Adrian Dempsey (Drumalee) who is Declan Wood's replacement as Development Officer.

  Both men are former Chairmen of their respective clubs.

  As well as these two appointments, it will also be a first county board meeting for new treasurer Martin Cahill (Denn).

Committees elected at Co. Board meeting

There were a number of committees elected at the first County Board meeting including the Management and Competition Control Com-mittees. Management – Tom Boylan (Ballyhaise), Gerry Soden (Laragh Utd.), Niall Brady (Arva) and Declan Woods (Killeshandra)

  CCC –  Tony McCann (Tem-pleport), Eamon Gaffney (Denn), Brendan Keaney (Killygarry) and Paul Reilly (Belturbet).

Tom Dowd elected President of Cavan Co. Board G.A.A.

Tom Dowd (Crosserlough) was elected President of the Cavan Co. Board, and Mick Higgins (All-Ireland winning captain) and John Foy (Cootehill) were elected Vice-Presidents.

  Crosserlough clubman Dowd has been one of the leading personalities on the Cavan GAA scene down the years. He was Chairman of the Crosserlough club for many years – including their historic seven-in-a-row championship winning era, while he worked on many committees within his native club over the years.

  On the Co. Board scene he has been his club's Co. Board delegate for many years, and also served as Vice-Chairman of the Cavan Co. Board for some years. He served as Minor Board Chairman, Chairman of the Ladies Co. Board, and in a colourful career of involvement with the GAA the popular Tom has been a county senior team selector, minor county team selector, U-16 and U-21 selector.

  The affable Tom has a great love of Gaelic games and down the years he has rarely missed a game competitive or challenge in which his club, Crosserlough or Cavan county teams have been involved. He is regarded as a great GAA man not alone within his own county, but nationwide, and in more recent times he played a leading role in the establishment of ladies football in the Breffni county, and also served in the administration of Ladies Football at national level.

  He is a popular choice as President of Cavan GAA and his many friends in the GAA world both local and national congratulate him on his deserved recognition for the outstanding and unselfish work he has given to the furtherance of Gaelic Games at all levels down the years.

Cavan Gaels senior managerial search over?

There is speculation that the vacant Cavan Gaels managerial position could be filled over the next few days.

  Malachy O'Rourke, Fermanagh, who took over that role but left at the end of the Ulster club campaign last year to take charge of the Erne county team, could be replaced by another Northerner.

  A number of names have been mentioned including Bellaghy native Chris Brown, a retired teacher and a former manager of the Derry minor team.

Seanie Johnston stars for DCU

Seanie Johnston (Cavan Gaels) was one of the stars for DCU when they advanced to the recent quarter-final of the O'Byrne Cup with a win over Louth at Darver by 1-14 to 0-11 and were through to meet Offaly.

  Seanie Johnston was one of the stars of the DCU attack scoring five points, two from frees. Other Cavan county players involved with the DCU side include Mullahoran defender, Dermot Sheridan and Castlerahan U-21 team-captain Ronan Flanagan, while other Cavan county senior players who are not involved because of injury are Michael Lyng (Cavan Gaels) and Ray Cullivan (Ballyhaise),

Killygarry referee takes charge of first county senior game

Well-known local referee Jimmy Galligan from Killygarry took charge of his first inter-county game at senior level on Wednesday night last of last week in Breffni Park in a Dr McKenna Cup game between Armagh and Fermanagh.

  He took up refereeing in 1983 when his first game was a minor match in Virginia between Lurgan and Lavey.

Regional games this week-end

The regional adult football competition organised by Cavan Co. Board which was due to be played during the month of December didn't get off the ground because of a number of competitions to be completed as well as the weather. Only one round has been played to date.

  The competition comprises group teams from various areas of the county who will play a number of games with the top teams in the divisions meeting in the final.

  Round 2 takes place on Sunday next at 12 noon when Erne Gaels meet West Cavan in Kildallan and Annalee Gaels v Sillan Gaels in Ramor Utd. grounds in Virginia.

  Then on the following Friday night 25th January under lights at 8 p.m., West Cavan v Sheelin Gaels in Mullahoran and at Kingscourt, Annalee Gaels v East Cavan.

  The final takes place in Kingspan/Breffni Park, Cavan on Friday 1st February at 8 p.m.

  The main sponsors of the competition are Kerrigan, Sheanon, Newman Quantity Surveyors.

  A member of the staff is Peter Reilly who plays for Knockbride and is a former Cavan captain and Ulster senior championship medal winner in 1997.