According to Gabriel Brock’s book the first mention of hurling was “at Mullanaskea sports in 1968 when Adrian Corrigan suggested to Fr Peter McGuiness that there might be enough talent in the Lisbellaw area to form a hurling team. Fr McGuiness contacted veteran Coa and Fermanagh hurler, Jimmy McPhillips. He and his son John soon assembled a group of boys and hurling practice began in October 1968.” According to Mr Brock “Jimmy McPhillips was the father of Fermanagh hurling with justification for he was the corner-stone on which Fermanagh’s healthy position in hurling was built.”
However to his beloved Lisbellaw Club Team he was much more. His love of hurling, his patience in teaching the skills, his dedication, his boundless energy and enthusiasm inspired generations of Lisbellaw hurlers to learn the skills of this wonderful game. He also inspired the club with a determination to be the best and to win our games. Our then Chairman, Kevin Corrigan, in his address to the AGM in Dec 1984 “recalled the death of our founder Jimmy McPhillips at the beginning of the year. He said this year (1984) was one of the saddest years in the history of the club. He said Jimmy was the man who started hurling in this area and had it not been for Jimmy we would not be here tonight. He said Jimmy’s death left a big gap in our club and it was up to us all to carry on.”
The first full year – 1969: training got underway in the field behind Tattygar School owned by Enniskillen parish with coaching by Jimmy during 1968. He also took training with a separate group at Mullanaskea School, which had been organised by Fr McGuiness.
The first record of a team in Lisbellaw was in the ‘Herald’ of April 12th 1969, page 11. It went under the heading ‘Hurling in Fermanagh’ and must be recorded as the first match by the club. It went as follows, “Despite attempts at revival of hurling in Fermanagh by the hurling Board, only one team has yet made it’s appearance namely, Tattygar (Lisbellaw). Last week they defeated a St Joseph’s selected in an enjoyable challenge game in Enniskillen and they are ready to meet all challenges. On behalf of the club, their trainer, Mr Jim McPhillips, is issuing a challenge to any under-17 hurling team in the county to play at home or away. Tattygar team against St Joseph’s was; Michael McElroy, Adrian Corrigan, Terence Bannon, Sean McElroy (Captain), Benny McManus, Cathal Reihill, Gerry Breslin, Noel Corrigan, Vincent Corrigan, Pat McElroy, Phillip Carson, Brendan Corrigan, Tom Reihill, P.J McGowan, Joe Mc Manus, Subs; Gerry Bannon and Kevin Corrigan.
The above challenge resulted in the first “Away” match that our club was involved in. It was against Sacred Heart College, Clones on Saturday 19th April 1969. In a short report in the next week’s ‘Herald’ Gerry Breslin was named as the ‘star’ of the team which won 5 goals 1 point to 3 goals 2 points, Adrian Corrigan ‘reigned supreme in the backs’. The report continues- “other stars included two young under 11’s who came on as substitutes namely Gerry Bannon and Kevin Corrigan.”
There was an ‘all-star concert’ for Club funds on Friday 16th May 1969 in Cavanacarragh Hall. Next outing to hit the press was at Mullanaskea sports in late June when Lisbellaw beat a Mullanaskea team. In late August the ‘Herald’ carried the headline “Hurling Team From Lisbellaw” over the first published photograph of the team taken at Belcoo sports on 15th August. The first Club ‘colours’ were yellow jerseys with black bands.
What had started in October 1968 when ‘Jimmy McPhillips and his son John went round and collected eight lads for the first practice about last October the club now has 22 players. That was the beginning of the twelve-month journey of Lisbellaw to the Fermanagh Minor hurling championship. It is Lisbellaw’s first hurling team ever, and to win the the county championship in the first year is a wonderful achievement, especially with such talented teams competing as Roslea, Knocks, Irvinstown, Belcoo and Enniskillen’.
In the ‘Herald’ of 27th September 1969 there are photographs of the two finalists-Lisbellaw and Enniskillen. Another photograph shows ‘the jubilant Lisbellaw team receive their trophy from Rev Father Peter McGuiness’. It should be noted that the first Captain to receive a cup was Sean McElroy. Also included in all of the pictures is their ‘trainer’ Mr James McPhillips. It should also be noted that there was a presentation night held in Cavanacaragh Hall to present the medals with memorable photographs appearing in the Herald.
On 13th Dec 1969 the ‘Herald’ carried a match report under the heading ‘Lisbellaw’s Hurlers Win’. It went- ‘Lisbellaw had eight carloads of players and supporters all the way to Ballybofey on Sunday where they met the Donegal Minor Champions, Ballybofey Crossroads. It was a hectic game throughout and at half-time Lisbellaw led by 4 goals 2 points to the oppositions 1 goal 3 points however, the Donegal side threw everything into attack in the second half and their gamble nearly paid off as they cut Lisbellaws lead to two points. However late goals by the Corrigan brothers assured Lisbellaw of victory by 6 goals 2 points to 4 goals 3 points. The Donegal officials were loud In their praise of the Fermanagh team and a return game has been arranged for Lisbellaw in March. Mick Mc Elroy, in goals for Lisbellaw, had an outstanding game and got excellent cover from full backs Thomas Reihill, Benny Mc Manus and Terence Bannon. At midfield Adrian Corrigan and Gerry Breslin gave a fine display of skilful hurling. Scorers for Lisbellaw were Cathal Reihill (1 goal) Noel and Vincent Corrigan (2 goals each) Benny Corrigan (1 goal) Adrian Corrigan (2 points)’.
Although we think there may have been previous meetings the first records show ‘the first general meeting of St Patrick’s hurling Lisbellaw on 11-1-1970 in Tattygar school’. Jimmy would have named the Club St Patrick’s” after our patron saint. It was noted that the Club had £30-2-0 in their credit and it was proposed to open a bank account. The meeting was attended by Mr Malachy Mahon, County Secretary, and he wished the Club well in promoting hurling in the area and county. The following officers were elected for the year 1970; 1st Chairman-Gerald Breslin, Vice Chairman- Noel Corrigan. 1st Secretary- Adrian Corrigan. Treasurer- 1st Jimmy Mc Phillips. Publicity officer-Brendan Corrigan. Assistant publicity officer-Michael Mc Elroy. President-Fr McGuiness. 1st team Captain- Sean McElroy vice captain-Adrian Corrigan. President & patron-Fr McGuiness.
It cannot be stressed enough the importance of the guidance of Jimmy McPhillips and Fr McGuiness in the first years within the club. Their dedication, organisation, skills training, and commitment carried the club for the first few years. Their enthusiasm migrated to other helpers and drivers especially Jimmy’s sons John, Vincent, P.J & Tom and also Francis and Angela Corrigan.
The Corrigan home at Tattygar School House was the focal point for all away matches and trips. Theirs was one of the few phones in the area and the Lisbellaw 679 no is embedded in every Lisbellaw players mind not just in the late sixties and early seventies but right up to the present day. However credit should be given to a very young committee. Gerry Breslin was only sixteen years old when he was elected chairman of a GAA club on 11-1-1970. In a newspaper article in the Evening Herald (we think) at the time under the Headline: “Gerry (16) in charge at Lisbellaw”. The paper reckons: “Sixteen-year-old Gerry Breslin must be one of the youngest Chairmen in Ireland”. Adrian Corrigan was only 16 when he became Club Secretary. Benny Corrigan became Club PRO at the age of14.
After winning both league & championship in 1969 the club started to get more involved at county level. In Jan 1970 the Herald photographer visited club training at Tattygar to witness our “Trainer” Jimmy McPhillips coaching about a dozen minors in the skills of hurling. Also in the pictures is Fr McGuiness- described in the caption as ‘The man largely responsible for the introduction of hurling in co. Fermanagh’ At this stage Fr McGuiness was Chairman of the Hurling Committee and Jimmy McPhillips was Vice Chairman and in 1971 Paddy McCaffery was Secretary with Adrian Corrigan as Assistant Secretary. Paddy’s influence brought a new dimension to the joint club-county relationship. He played for both Club and County and his death in early 1978 is here described in the words of our then secretary Benny Corrigan-‘The death of Paddy McCaffery in the spring saw the loss of a club member, hurling supporter, official and friend to all involved in the game. He was one of a list to join the hurling revival and I think all of us owe him a great debt in what he achieved for us. His love for the game gave us opportunities which we would never have had otherwise. I refer to such occasions as the visits of Thurles Sarsfields and Holy cross to Fermanagh and other visits to Tipperary on numerous occasions. They were all memorable and very happy occasions and I think much of our desire to play the game today is due to Paddy and his work’.
