2009 review: 125 years of GAA

For those unfamiliar with Clonmore, we are a small rural club from the banks of the Blackwater river.

There are around 100 families in the immediate area. The present club's finest hour was wining the Junior Championship for the first time in 2005, going on to reach the Ulster Final, the only Armagh club to have done so. Many of that team are still playing for Clonmore; those who have come into the team since then have fitted in seamlessly. Several of our youngest members are playing senior football for the first time this year, yet they have secured their starting positions. As with any small club players out through injuries etc., can not easily be replaced. Clonmore are proudly represented at senior county by Brendan Donaghy at full back. Brendan is a real inspiration to those who play around him, from his experience of the county set up he brings a wealth of knowledge which he unselfishly feeds back into the team. A grounded individual he gives heart and soul for the club cause.  While on occasions it is a big loss to be without him it is great to see him in the county Jersey. Clonmore are holding our own in division three this year and everyone is enjoying the football, spectators included. The intermediate championship is regarded by some as the toughest to win and while we are in no doubt as to the size of the task ahead in facing a club with the pedigree of Silverbridge. However, on any given day Clonmore, at full strength, can overcome any obstacle and the men you see here in the green and gold for Robert Emmet intend to give their all for the win.

At underage we are part of the Naomh Eoin setup. This year Clonmore had three players on the U16 team who won the North Armagh championship.

Naomh Labhaoise Cluain Mhór represents the ladies section of the club. Affiliated for the first time in the 2008 season, the club now fields at all county level at U16 & U18. Coaching takes place twice weekly and it is anticipated next year, that an under 12 team will be formed. Regularly there are around 60 ladies receiving coaching from trained mentors. At the time of going to press, Naomh Labhaoise has reached the Quarter final of the All county Minor Championship under the guidance of coaches James Mc Bennett and Mary O’Hagan. The Club are also very pleased to have county representation already from the club. For the 2009 year Brid O'Hagan represented the County Minors and Eve Lavery and Rebecca McGeary donned the county jersey at U14 level. Like the senior team, players cross the club divide for the sake of playing Football competitively and Naomh Labhaoise appreciates the input from the ladies and parents from neighbouring Clubs such as Collegeland, Maghery, Annaghmore and Killyman. The Club is now fully affiliated under the banner of Clonmore GAC and with excellent coaching, playing services in place already. With High spec changing/meeting facilities in the pipe line Naomh Labhaoise offers an attractive outlet for all ladies to play good enjoyable sport in a pleasant environment.

Away from the actual football and we have had possibly our biggest year for  fundraising events  to pay for the new changing room facility which is well underway and hoped to be completed by the end of this year. Back in January a play "A Wake in The West" ran in the hall for 5 nights, selling out on each night. The feedback from the audience was excellent commending the professional way that the play was run and the standard of the acting. All of the actors were from Clonmore with senior footballers Stephen Donaghy, James Grimley and Brendan Donaghy taking to the stage. Following on from this it was decided to run a "Wedding in the West", and following a lot of hard work by the event committee, on Saturday 13th June 400 guests were present to take part in the Wedding in the West set in a magnificent Marquee on Clonmore Pitch.  

These fabulous fundraisers topped previous events such as our Coast to Coast cycle and 1to2000 draws and we hope there are many more community events which grab people's imagination and make giving that little bit easier. The first phase of our development is well on the way to completion. Now we will have a state of the art changing facility to compliment our excellent pitch.

We have an active community website at clonmore.com and to make life a little easier behind the scenes, online texting. Our committees use mailing lists to keep in contact and we are now twittering @clonmore.