Cootehill Celtic GAA

History of Cootehill Celtic GAA Club

Famous Wins - Intermediate League Final Replay 1971

20^th Febraury 1972

Cootehill Complete Double

Cootehill Celtic    1 – 11                   Killeshandra         0 – 9

Cootehill completed the “grand-slam” in the Cavan Intermediate grade when they added the 1971 League title to their Championship trophy by defeating Killeshandra in the replay final at Breffni Park on Sunday before a small attendance.  The winner’s victory of 1 – 11 to 0 – 9 was a fair reflection of the trend of play but the spectators were treated to a scrappy encounter which never lived up to expectations.

Whatever reason was given for Cootehill’s poor form in the drawn game when they were fortunate to get a second chance, there was little difficulty in analysing who was the better side on this occasion.  Cootehill, after a shaky start proceeded to sweep the opposition off their feet with some fine attacking football and in the end were the undisputed masters of the situation.  Killeshandra despite their confident start failed to make the most of their opportunities and as the game progressed their performance became sluggish and their spirit sagged.

The teams were level three times in the first half and only one point separated them at halftime but from the restart it was Cootehill all the way.  On this occasion it wasn’t the introduction of Charlie Gallagher at the start of the second half – unlike the drawn game – which encouraged the winner’s success as he was well subdued by the Killeshandra defence.  It was the spark of youth which helped to light the fire for a Cootehill revival and players like Sean O’Donnell, Paul Lennon, Jim Smith and Jim Bradley were not found wanting in this regard.

It was the boot of Jim Bradley which opened up the game for the winners at a vital period of the game.  He shot a goal from a 14 yards free in the 28th minute which helped put his team into a one point lead at the interval.  Others in the Cootehill side to impress were Dermot Fitzpatrick, Hugh Sherlock, Dermot Coyle and Sean O’Donnell in the defence.  Paul Lennon and Jim Smith had a fairly stiff passage at midfield but were completely dominant in the second half.  In the winner’s attack, Jim Cosgrove Brendan McCabe and Brian Sherlock were the danger men.               

Killeshandra were a disappointment.  After threatening to create many problems for their opponents they faded from the picture with a surprising lack of spirit.  There were few stars in the line out and the attack in particular depended too much on newly-promoted county players Mark Goldrick who was inclined to ‘go it alone’ and Hugh Reynolds who had a quiet game.  The only other forward who threatened with Tommy Galligan and to a lesser extent Pat Brady.  At midfield John Brady and Brian O’Dowd were prominent in the first half but he faded when the pressure was on.

In the remainder of the team, the defence tried gallantly to stave off the inevitable defeat but met with little success, Brendan Toal, Billy Murphy and Michael Reilly were sound. 

The Highlights

The game which commenced 15 minutes after the appointed time began with Killeshandra forcing the pace but a shot from Hugh Reynolds was safely cleared by the Cootehill defence.  Almost immediately Cootehill countered and a shot from Jim Bradley ended wide.  Cootehill opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Bradley pointed a free but the sides were level one minute later when Pat Brady took a pass from Reynolds and raised a white flag. 

Killeshandra took the lead straight away from the kick out when Hugh Reynolds shot a point.  Killeshandra put on the pressure but the Cootehill defence were equal to the task and when Brian Sherlock broke away on a fine solo he shot a great point in the 10th minute to draw level. 

Killeshandra regained the lead a minute later when Tommy Galligan was right through for a certain goal but he only managed a point; Cootehill came on level for the third time in the 12th minute when corner forward Jim Cosgrove shot a point and was injured in the process but quickly recovered.  The lead swung back in Killeshandra’s favour again in the 19th minute when Mark Goldrick pointed a free and midfielder Brian O’Dowd increased the lead with a similar score two minutes later.  Cootehill were undeterred, however and Jim Bradley shot a point one minute later. 

With five minutes remaining of the first half, Cootehill jumped into the lead when a shot bounced off an upright but in the ensuing struggle a 14 yards free was the outcome and to the surprise of the defence, Jim Bradley’s kick went all the way to the net. 
The same player added a point two minutes later.  Killeshandra finished the half strongly with points from Pat Brady and Mark Goldrick in the 29th and 31st minutes to leave the interval score: Cootehill Celtic 1 – 5; Killeshandra 0 – 7.

Second – Half

Charlie Gallagher was introduced into the Cootehill attack at right corner forward at the start of the second half and he was on the mark with a point within four minutes.  Four minutes later Brendan McCabe shot a similar score.  The Killeshandra rearguard were getting a rare roasting at this stage and goalkeeper Rory Toal, got caught up in a ‘jittery’ rearguard when he let the ball slip from his hands after a shot from Brian Sherlock, but the ball was booted to safety over the sideline.  Jim Bradley was wide from a free and at this stage it was one way traffic.

Bradley pointed for Cootehill in the 47th minute to stretch the lead to four points.  Killeshandra came back momentarily and forced a fruitless ’50’ and then shot wide before C. Toal had a point in the 49th minute.  Cootehill came back strongly with two points coming, and Mark Goldrick shot Killeshandra’s last point in the 54th minute.  Jim Bradley closed the scoring with a point in the 58th minute. 

Cootehill Celtic: Stephen McDonagh; Hugh Sherlock (Capt.), Dermot Fitzpatrick, Dermot Coyle; Eamon McCabe, Sean O’Donnell, Tony McCabe; Paul Lennon, Jim Smith; Jim Bradley, Kevin Argue, Brian Sherlock; Brendan McCabe, Loughin Farrell, Jim Cosgrove.
Subs: Charlie Gallagher, Paddy Cochrane, John McBreen, Sean Smith, Malachi Lennon, Noel Brady, Micheál Lynch, Michael Duffy, Gene O’Donnell.

Killeshandra: R. Toal; Billy Murphy, B. Toal, E. Fitzpatrick; J. Sweeney, M. Reilly, P. Reynolds; J. Brady, B. O’Dowd; P. Brady, H. Reynolds, M. Goldrick; J. Keenan, T. Galligan, C. Toal.

Referee: Aldo Donoghue (Oldcastle)

Report taken with kind permission from The Anglo Celt