Faughnavale 1975 Junior Championship reunion🇳🇬
The Club is hosting a reunion for the 50 year anniversary of the Junior Championship victory of 1975. The club officials, management, and panel, and family of those sadly passed of that year will be in the clubhouse after the Ballinascreen match on Sat 5 July. Everyone is welcome to come in after the game.
See match report of the final
St. Mary's Faughanvale GAA 2-6
Foreglen 1-3
Faughanvale caused quite an upset
beating hot favourites Foreglen in an exciting Junior Final at wind-swept Dungiven.
It was simply a case of the "Vale's greater size, strength and fitnes wearing down the much lighter Foreglen side and, in the end, the
Vale's ran out easy winners. But for some bad shooting by their forwards the margin could have been greater.
Foreglen 1-3
Faughanvale caused quite an upset
beating hot favourites Foreglen in an exciting Junior Final at wind-swept Dungiven.
It was simply a case of the "Vale's greater size, strength and fitnes wearing down the much lighter Foreglen side and, in the end, the
Vale's ran out easy winners. But for some bad shooting by their forwards the margin could have been greater.
Foreglen fielded without a couple of their key men and had to make a couple of late positional switches. Nevertheless playing against the strong wind the first-half, the served up some great football and when
they finished the half on level terms it looked odds-on on a Foreglen
victory. However, with the wind behind them, Foreglen forsook their close-passing game and began to loft high balls into the "Vale square.
This was all the 'Vale needed. Their big defence was supreme in the air and they began to play the ball out of defence, gradually wearing
down the Foreglen side with a good display of hard-running foot ball.
indeen the 'Vale, trained by county senior star Mickey Moran, looked a very impressive side in that second period. Big, strong and fit they-
were masters in the air and their accurate passing against the breeze
marked them as a side of great ability.
they finished the half on level terms it looked odds-on on a Foreglen
victory. However, with the wind behind them, Foreglen forsook their close-passing game and began to loft high balls into the "Vale square.
This was all the 'Vale needed. Their big defence was supreme in the air and they began to play the ball out of defence, gradually wearing
down the Foreglen side with a good display of hard-running foot ball.
indeen the 'Vale, trained by county senior star Mickey Moran, looked a very impressive side in that second period. Big, strong and fit they-
were masters in the air and their accurate passing against the breeze
marked them as a side of great ability.
SWITCH
In the first half Foreglen were Well on top at midfield but a Vale switch which brought Cormac Cassidy to this sector proved
good move fast, skilful Cassidy teamed off well with the tall Jimmy Kilburn 4 in the second period, they were complete masters
around the niddle of the field.
This was Faughanvale's first major trophy since the 40's and since then they have come through many a lean period, this win must mark brighter days ahead for the St. Mary's Club, one of the oldest in the county.
good move fast, skilful Cassidy teamed off well with the tall Jimmy Kilburn 4 in the second period, they were complete masters
around the niddle of the field.
This was Faughanvale's first major trophy since the 40's and since then they have come through many a lean period, this win must mark brighter days ahead for the St. Mary's Club, one of the oldest in the county.
Foreglen had not one of their better days. With seven victories over Faughanvale to their credit this season in the League and various
tournaments, they, perhaps, unestimated the opposition particulary after their good first-half display but, playing against the breeze
sapped their energy and when they failed to add to their score in the early stages of the latter half the writing was on the wall Gradually
the powerful Vale side forced them to defend, not being a defensively inclined side the ' Glen were forced to give away frees that proved
costly in the end
tournaments, they, perhaps, unestimated the opposition particulary after their good first-half display but, playing against the breeze
sapped their energy and when they failed to add to their score in the early stages of the latter half the writing was on the wall Gradually
the powerful Vale side forced them to defend, not being a defensively inclined side the ' Glen were forced to give away frees that proved
costly in the end
OFF THE MARK
The Vale, with the near gale force wind behind them, launched an early series of frutitless attacks before bearded Tom McLaugh
finished off a good move with a point in the fourth minute. Foreglen, with Laurence O'Kane at his brilliant best in the middle of the field
began to get moving. They forced two 50's both of which were cleared and Martin Doherty went close with a dipping shot.
finished off a good move with a point in the fourth minute. Foreglen, with Laurence O'Kane at his brilliant best in the middle of the field
began to get moving. They forced two 50's both of which were cleared and Martin Doherty went close with a dipping shot.
The 'Vale added another point in the seventh minute when Cormac Cassidy punched over a kilburn free. A minute later another Kilburn
free was over ruled because a Vale forward was inside the small square.
free was over ruled because a Vale forward was inside the small square.
Foreglen now moving well, opened their scoring in the 10th minute
with Patsy Duffy point. With Colin McNicholl and the brilliant Laurence O'Kane showing their class, Foreglen continued to press
hard and were rewarded when Jude McLaughlin latched on to a
careless Faughanvale clearance to stick the ball in the net. With Foreglen much faster to the ball, the 'Vale were in all kinds oftrouble
when Patsy Duffy, from a narrow angle, shot his side into a three point lead.
with Patsy Duffy point. With Colin McNicholl and the brilliant Laurence O'Kane showing their class, Foreglen continued to press
hard and were rewarded when Jude McLaughlin latched on to a
careless Faughanvale clearance to stick the ball in the net. With Foreglen much faster to the ball, the 'Vale were in all kinds oftrouble
when Patsy Duffy, from a narrow angle, shot his side into a three point lead.
LONG SOLO RUN
With Cassidy now pulled back to mid-field, the Vale setled back into their rhythm again and big Donal McEhinney split the Foreglen
defence with a long solo run and crossed for Seamus O'Hara to punch home the equalising goal six minutes before the interval.
Faughanvale now took complete control. They bombarded the Foreglen goals but the nearest thev came to scoring was when a Tom Melaugh drive was well saved by the Foreglen keeper Seamus McCaul. So at half-time the score stood at 1- 2 each.
defence with a long solo run and crossed for Seamus O'Hara to punch home the equalising goal six minutes before the interval.
Faughanvale now took complete control. They bombarded the Foreglen goals but the nearest thev came to scoring was when a Tom Melaugh drive was well saved by the Foreglen keeper Seamus McCaul. So at half-time the score stood at 1- 2 each.
Now with the wind behind them, a Foreglen win looked very much on but several early attacks were cleared by a Faughanvale defence
spear-headed by John McElhinnev at centre half who cleared his lines repeatedly, making some spectacular catches in the process.
Faughanvale, by now looking the fitter side, began to assert their authority, but in the 10th minute, a McKinney point was ruled out for
a 'square' offence. 'Vale took the lead with a Seamus O'Hara point from a free in the 12th minute. OHara missed a close free but the best
was yet to come. A wonderful solo run by Donal McEIhinney right in front for Liam McKinney who fisted home the best goat of the game proved the real turning point. Foreglen, with a Jude McLaughlin point
from a free in the 15th minute, reduced the gap to a goal but the 'Vale's reply was immediate and decisive. A four-man move spreadeagled the over-worked Foreglen defence and speedy Tom McLaugh hit a well taken point.
spear-headed by John McElhinnev at centre half who cleared his lines repeatedly, making some spectacular catches in the process.
Faughanvale, by now looking the fitter side, began to assert their authority, but in the 10th minute, a McKinney point was ruled out for
a 'square' offence. 'Vale took the lead with a Seamus O'Hara point from a free in the 12th minute. OHara missed a close free but the best
was yet to come. A wonderful solo run by Donal McEIhinney right in front for Liam McKinney who fisted home the best goat of the game proved the real turning point. Foreglen, with a Jude McLaughlin point
from a free in the 15th minute, reduced the gap to a goal but the 'Vale's reply was immediate and decisive. A four-man move spreadeagled the over-worked Foreglen defence and speedy Tom McLaugh hit a well taken point.
ONE WAY TRAFFIC
In the last ten minutes it was one way traffic as tired Foreglen, try as They might, could do little to stop rampant Faughanvale Seamus
O'Hara pointed at 14 yard free and following a string of wides Donal McElhinney capped a fine performance with a spectacular point as
Time was running out.
For Faughanvale physically one of the biggest teams in the county,John McElhinney at centre half was the star of avery sound defence.
Also impressive in this department were keeper Moore tireless half back Noel O'Neill and sub Thomas Mailey.
O'Hara pointed at 14 yard free and following a string of wides Donal McElhinney capped a fine performance with a spectacular point as
Time was running out.
For Faughanvale physically one of the biggest teams in the county,John McElhinney at centre half was the star of avery sound defence.
Also impressive in this department were keeper Moore tireless half back Noel O'Neill and sub Thomas Mailey.
At midfeld former Derry City and Athlone soccer star Jimmy Kilburn, dispite his unorthodox style, did some good work ably
assisted by the clever Cormac Cassidy. In the attack which moved well but was rather suspect in shooting, Tom Melaugh was the star
closely followed by Donal McElhinney, Liam McKinney at full forward used his height to make life awkward for the small Foreglen
full-back line.
assisted by the clever Cormac Cassidy. In the attack which moved well but was rather suspect in shooting, Tom Melaugh was the star
closely followed by Donal McElhinney, Liam McKinney at full forward used his height to make life awkward for the small Foreglen
full-back line.
For the losers McCaul, in goals did welt while young Patsy Burkewas the pick of the fullback line. Colm McNicholl in the first half and
hard working Donal Brolly were useful halfbacks. At midfield
Laurence OKane ran himself int o the ground and gave a splendid first half Kieran Dulfy played well in flashes. Patsy Duffy, Martin
Doherty and Jude McLaughlin were best in attack.
hard working Donal Brolly were useful halfbacks. At midfield
Laurence OKane ran himself int o the ground and gave a splendid first half Kieran Dulfy played well in flashes. Patsy Duffy, Martin
Doherty and Jude McLaughlin were best in attack.
The Cup was presented to the Faughanvale captain Sean ONeill by Mr. Tommy Mellon, Derrys representative at Central Council. He
congratulated both teams on both the quality of their play and the
quality of their sportsmanship.
congratulated both teams on both the quality of their play and the
quality of their sportsmanship.
The Celebrations were in the magnificent Cumber House, Claudy G.A.A. headquarters and are still spoke of to his day.
#ValeAbu #ValeBelong
