2000

No change in the main officers. Sean Duffy took over as Captain for a record 4th time. Kevin Corrigan was appointed Manager assisted by Shane McGolderick. This was to be Kevin’s last year as Manager. He had held the post for 20 years, occasionally joint, sometimes assisted but almost always as player manager. 2000 was a milestone. On September 13 Prunty Contracts sowed the grass-seed on a sand carpet-hurling field at Cavanacarragh. We had a very successful fundraising draw in the spring to help pay for the development. We were criticised for not taking part in Ulster Feile but with no home pitch and ticket selling in progress I think it was unfair.

We qualified for and won 7 under age finals – U12 league, U14 double, U16 double, Minor double. Dermot Curran received a second Ulster College’s All-Star award. Mullanaskea PS won the Fermanagh County primary schools competition and Deirdre Curran and Laura Carney represented Fermanagh in the INTO mini-sevens at Croke Park.

Our seniors fared badly in Division 1 of the Armagh League and were relegated back down again. Lisnaskea were unable to field a team for the championship final and it was awarded to Lisbellaw. We were disappointed but enough has been said about that already. In the Ulster Club we had a cracking win over Middleton at Brewster Park with a score of 2-7 to 1-6. We were gutted to lose the shield final to Dungannon at Clones with a score of 2-11 to 2-10 . The Lisbellaw panel were:- Paul McCarney, John McCusker, Seamus McCusker, Benny Smith, Niall Murphy, Rory O’Donnell, Kevin Og McGarry, Adrian McPhillips, Fergus Bannon, Dermot Curran, Sean Duffy, Andrew Breslin, Brian Johnston, Derek Johnston, Anthony Watters, Niall Cunningham, Bernard Flanagan, Shane O’Donnell, Shane McGolderick, Gerry Murphy, John Paul Breslin and Barry Johnston.

2001

In 2001 Benny McManus is still Chairman and Phil Rice continues as Club Secretary and PRO. 2001 sees changes to the Treasurer’s post with Kevin Corrigan and Ollie McShea now joint Treasurers. Team managers appointed were Sean Duffy, Brian Johnston and Shane McGolderick. Our minors under Brian Johnston won the double. The U16 team also won the double under Shane McGolderick and Adrian McPhillips. The U14’s under Kevin Corrigan won the league. The U12’s were defeated by a skilful Belcoo side. Nuala Curran and Ollie McShea were each awarded sport personality of the month by the Fermanagh Herald.

Declan Smith, a much loved and respected supporter of the Club and our sponsor, passed away. Our esteemed County Secretary and friend of the Club, Paddy Donnelly passed away.

Preparations were being made for building changing rooms at Cavanacarragh. Our seniors under captain John McCusker won promotion in Armagh league to Division 1. Lisnaskea Club enter the Armagh league and had a successful first year.

In the championship the Herald headline said it all:- “Lisbellaw win thriller – 11th senior title in a row for outstanding champion hurlers”. The score at Brewster Park was 1-13 to 0-8. We were well beaten by Burt at St Molaise Park, Irvinestown in the Ulster Shield. The score was 1-1 to 3-16.

Peter McEvoy (Sen) was appointed Youth Officer and Clubmark Co-ordinator. Both Peter and Jacinta Teague were appointed Child Protection Officers, County Manager Gerry Timmons made the presentations for a successful under-age presentation. Bernie Smith continued with the Club sponsorship. We were always proud to wear “Eugene’s” jerseys. The Club panel for the 11th in a row was: Seamus McCusker, Brian Johnston, Sean Duffy, John McCusker, Andrew Breslin, John Paul Breslin, Paul Cogan, Niall Murphy, Dermot Curran, Fergus Bannon, Kevin McGarry, Adrian McPhillips, Barry Johnston, Paul McCarney, Rory O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell, Peter Kelly, Shane McGolderick, Donal McShea, Benny Smith, Bernard Flanagan, Peter Timoney, Aidan Reihill, Michael McCaffrey and Stephen Kelly.

2002

All the hardships, ticket selling and talking about fields faded into distant memories when Eamon Scullion pointed the goalposts to the sky on our new ‘Prunty’ pitch at Cavanacarragh in the Spring of 2002. Our first match was significantly an under-age match against old rivals Lisnaskea and refereed by Peter Bogue – one of our new Club referees.

We didn’t get carried away, however but knuckled down to organising a draw to raise funds for to build changing rooms. In the meantime we bought a container to provide temporary changing facilities and we also used the Band Hall.

Clubmark

Junior Clubmark is a scheme which aims to raise the profile of Junior Sports Clubs, and is administered by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. It sets a standard by specifying criteria including:

· Appropriate time for junior club sessions – which covers the regularity and frequency of coaching activity during the sports season and the child/coach ratio;

· Coaches profile – which looks at the number of coaches, their qualifications, additional training undertaken and role of helpers within the club;

· Appropriate safety and administration procedures in place – which covers first aid, child protection and insurance issues;

· Administration – which considers various club procedures and rules, as well as the club’s relationship with other bodies;

· The care and development of the child – which considers the development of the child, both socially and within a sporting context, and the facilities which the club has to offer;

· The potential for young people to progress as performers administrators and coaches.

· Recognition of all young people for their contribution to the Club.

At the 2000 AGM it was decided to work towards application for inclusion in this programme. Throughout 2001 various courses were undertaken and an application procedure put in place for the purposes of recruiting sports leaders and adherence to the various Child Protection Policies ensuring that the Club is committed to providing safe, quality sporting opportunities for our young people. In January 2002 an application was made and following an assessment Lisbellaw Hurling Club were pleased to become the first GAA Club in Fermanagh to be successful in attaining this prestigious accreditation.

Kevin McGarry won an Ulster Colleges All-Star Award. Tattygar won the Fermanagh Primary Schools hurling competition for the 1st time. Sean Corrigan played at half time in the all-Ireland semi final in the INTO mini seven and scored a point for his team. John Duffy played at half-time on the final day – again at Croke Park.

Our U12’s beat Belcoo at Kinawley and our U16’s won the league. Rory O’Donnell did the honour of giving our medals at presentation night. Peter Bogue, Shane McGolderick and Donal McShea did the Referee’s course. Our Draw was reasonably successful but not as good as 2000. A successful coaching foundation course was held in November. U16 indoor held in St Michael’s school.

Rory O’Donnell was Captain for the year. Finian Baker was Manager. Lisbellaw continued the yo-yo in the Armagh League. This time relegated to Division 2. The Herald headline of the championship final was:- “Lisbellaw pushed all the way”. In a thriller at Brewster Park we beat Lisnaskea 0-12 to 0-10. In the Ulster Club Carrickmore beat us in Irvinestown by a score of 2-13 to 0-12. The senior panel for 2002 were:- Stephen Hanna, Seamus McCusker, Donal McShea, Benny Smith, Paul Cogan, Rory O’Donnell, Fergus Bannon, Ollie McShea, Gerry Murphy, Andrew Breslin, Bernard Flanagan, Dermot Curran, Sean Duffy, Brian Johnston, Paul McCarney, Shane O’Donnell, Declan McGarry, Brendan McGarry, Kevin McGarry, Peter McEvoy, Peter Kelly, Peter Timoney, John Paul Breslin, Michael McCaffrey, Barry Johnston.

2003

Benny McManus is still Chairman, Phil Rice is Secretary and PRO, Eamon Martin is the new joint Treasurer along with Kevin Corrigan. Sean Duffy and Brian Johnston are Managers for the year and Gerry Murphy was the Captain. Eamon Scullion erected the ball stop nets and Noel McQuaid from Dromore started building the changing rooms. Kevin McGarry got a second Ulster College All-Star award.

Dermot Curran and Kevin McGarry both with double Ulster College jerseys hit the big time with U21 International status. Both played for Ireland at Fortwilliam in Scotland in the compromise hurling shinty international. Our two Club heroes presented the medals at the underage presentation.

U16 indoor started in St Mary’s community hall in Tempo. Our U12’s won the Fermanagh indoor at the Bawnacre for the Gerry Hannigan Trophy. Our U12’s won the league beating Lisnaskea at Brookeborough.

Our U14 team captained by Ryan Bogue won U14 league and Feile and travelled to Kells Club – Gael Colmcille for the weekend. We beat Kells within an hour of arriving. Next day we were beaten by Moylough and then defeated St Laurence’s. Ryan was presented with a Gaeil Colmcille Club jacket in a proud moment for him. Bernie McGarry’s banner was back on parade.

A good time was had by all and in particular the Captain. As the Kells team were enjoying the end of Feile disco, a number of the Lisbellaw team had ventured outside to eye up the local talent. Peter Bogue had went outside to herd the boys back in but Ryan was not to be distracted and responded with “Let the Meath Men Dance”!!!!

Rory won Fermanagh Puc Fada, our seniors stayed mid-table in Division 2 so stayed down. In the Fermanagh Senior hurling championship the Herald carried out the heading “Holders win epic encounter”, and the subtitle “13th consecutive title for Lisbellaw”. In the Ulster Club we drew with Burt at Emmett Park Lisnaskea 2-10 apiece, but were beaten by 4 points in the replay at Ballybofey. The panel for 2003 were:- Paul McCarney, Brian Johnston, Seamus McCusker, Fergus Bannon, Niall Murphy, Rory O’Donnell, Paul Cogan, Mark McGinley, Kevin McGarry, Adrian McPhillips, Dermot Curran, Jerry Murphy, Peter Timoney, Donal McShea, Brendan McGarry, Sean Duffy, Peter McEvoy, Barry Johnston, Conn McGabhann, Declan McGarry, Ollie McShea, David Slevin, Mark Slevin, Peter Kelly, Andrew Breslin, John Paul Breslin, Michael McCaffrey, Connor Brannigan, Ciaran McTeague.

2004

Brendan McGarry took over a PRO – otherwise the Committee stayed the same. Sean Duffy and Seamus McCusker took over as manager, Shane McGolderick as trainer and Dermot Curran was appointed Captain. The changing rooms were completed. Maguiresbridge had the use of our field while they developed a Prunty pitch. Nice to be able to repay a little after we spend 25 years on theirs (1976-2001). The carpark, dugouts and gates are nearly finished and will be ready for opening on 29 May. Gerard McGrade is doing the dugouts along with voluntary labour and Sean Hannigan is erecting the gates.

Kevin Corrigan our Treasurer launched the “Prize Bond Draw” (the brainchild of Johnny McManus) and the first year was very successful. Claire McEvoy, accompanied by her brother Peter on the guitar, represented the Club at Senior Scór (solo singing) and won the Fermanagh heats and came 2nd overall in the Ulster finals held in Galbally Community Hall.

Kevin McGarry was selected for the combined Ulster Universities for the Fitzgibbon Cup. He also got a second U21 International ‘cap’ in shinty. Fergus Bannon got a ‘first’ Fermanagh Senior International selection for Ireland v Scotland at shinty/hurling compromise series. Fergus did the honours at the underage presentation later in Cavanacarragh.

Our minors played in the Ulster League and our U16’s reached the final of the Monaghan League (managed by Kevin Corrigan, Peter McEvoy, Seamus McCusker). Our U12’s went to Monaghan and indoor to Ecclesville Centre, Fintona. U12’s also won the Gerry Hannigan Cup for indoor at the Bawnacre.

Our U14’s captained by Kevin Brannigan, beat Lisnaskea in a cracker 5-4 to 5-2, at Derrylin. We went to Raharney Hurling Club in Westmeath. We also played Ringtown and Ballyhaunis. As usual we were hosted as friends and enjoyed a wonderful weekend of hurling and craic. On Saturday we took Bernie’s banner to the parade in Navan. John McElroy and Niall Carson from Tattygar primary school represented Fermanagh in McDonald’s lift and strike competition at Corke Park. The event took place during half-time in Kilkenny v Wexford Leinster championship semi-final.

Rory O’Donnell, John McCusker, Brian Johnston all out injured, Donal McShea and Sean Duffy retired and 11 of the starting 15 under 25, we were surely rebuilding. However with their new jerseys, sponsored by Paddy McGinley of Devenish Foods, this young team came of age to win an amazing 14 in a row titles by 15 points to 10 over Lisnaskea at Brewster Park. The Herald headline said it all with the headline: “Lisbellaw continue their amazing run” and the subtitle- “Lisbellaw show they are still kingpins of Fermanagh Hurling”. In the Ulster Club however we were defeated by Burt at Ballybofey by 2-9 to 2-5. The panel for 2004 were:- Peter McEvoy, Fergus Bannon, Barry Johnston, Peter Kelly, Mark McGinley, Mark Slevin, Declan McGarry, Kevin McGarry, Andrew Breslin, Dermot Curran, Adrian McPhillips, Brendan McGarry, Ollie McShea, Bernard Flanagan, Peter Timoney, Conn McGabhann, Ciaran Dunne, Cathal McGarry, Michael McCaffrey, Ciaran McTeague, John Paul Breslin, David Slevin, Stephen Kelly Seamus McCusker, Rory O’Donnell, Aidan Reihill, Paul McCarney, Gerry Murphy, Niall Murphy, Brian Johnston, John McCusker.

In 2004 our Trustee and good friend of Lisbellaw, John Vesey passed away. He was always encouraging us and looking after the Club’s interests. He always made time for the Club even when busy himself.