THE JOURNEY TO GLORY

Fr Collins and John McLaughlin Cups

The Slaughtneil Treble 

When the founder members of Slaughtneil GAC met for the first time in 1953, little did they know the animal they were about to create.  From humble beginnings all those years ago, Slaughtneil has now established itself at the GAA’s top table.  

Over sixty years later, the club is thriving and everyone involved is living the dream.  At the start of each season every GAA team across the nation aspires to win a championship; in Slaughtneil the same focus applies.  The difference this year was that all three senior teams achieved those goals.  It wasn’t always like this. 



In mid-September in Owenbeg, Christopher McKaigue was the recipient of the Fr. Collins Cup, clinching three-in-a-row.  McKaigue and his colleagues are enjoying every second of it.  Current hurling manager Mickey McShane describes the current crop as a “once in a lifetime group”, but before that, Slaughtneil endured many barren years with very little success.   

That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the many men who played during that era, many returning to coach the players that now backbone the current team.  This tradition carries on with current and former players currently involved in coaching the next generation, passing on the message they got from their coaches.  There are countless others like them. 

Sunday week ago in Banagher, camogie captain Louise Dougan held aloft another cup.  Slaughtneil were county champions for a second time.  The name on the cup was also significant, that of Martin Mulholland - a terrific servant of the club.  I’m sure he was a proud man looking down on this beloved club basking in glory.   

It wasn’t always like this for the camogs either, twelve months earlier they walked up the steps to the stage in Slaughtneil Hall empty handed.  They ran into an Eoghan Rua team at the peak of their powers and looked on as the men went on a provincial crusade.  They knew they would be back, there was unfinished business. 

On a personal level, captain Louise Dougan had to endure time away from the game with a knee injury.  The rehab was all worthwhile as her team proudly walked through the crowd and up the steps to the stage in Slaughtneil Hall.  Persistence always pays off. 

As the Slaughtneil fans departed Banagher and headed for Celtic Park, the chat in all the cars would have been about the treble and word would have filtered through to the footballers that it was now up to them to complete the historic feat.   

The football final started off very low key, but Mickey Moran and Sean McGoldrick are probably two of the most composed managers around so it’s no surprise their charges display these traits as well.  Sé McGuigan’s goal sparked the game into life, putting Slaughtneil in control and they were supposed to push on.  The opposite happened and Coleraine then took the game to the champions.   

During the barren years on the hurling pitch, the Emmets were living in the shadows of Lavey and Kevin Lynch’s, often ending up on the wrong side of some heavy defeats.  In the ‘big ball’ game, the ten year wait from 2004 to 2014 was a litany of one point defeats and hard luck stories.  Slaughtneil made a habit of losing tight games. 

With the clock ticking towards full time, Coleraine were putting the squeeze on but Slaughtneil held firm and got across the line.  It was now official, the treble was complete.   The footballers now possess confidence, composure and they play right to the whistle.  They don’t push the panic button and have now got the knack of winning tight games. 

So following on from Chrissy McKaigue and Louise Dougan, it was the turn of Francis McEldowney to ‘get up them stairs’ and receive the cup; John McLaughlin was staying put for another season.  

At the homecoming and with all three county senior trophies on the stage in Slaughtneil Hall, chairman Sean McGuigan addressed the crowd.  He mentioned the men of 1953 and questioned if they ever dreamt of days like this.  The people who ran the club in the interim years never would have envisaged success like it either. John Joe Kearney referred to those who have pulled on the maroon and white over the years and never experienced success.  

From 1953 until 2015, what has changed? There doesn’t seem to be any specific secret, but a combination of different aspects. 

During the week we caught up with a few of the Slaughtneil people to get their comments on the success.  One source commented about now having a "lifetime of looking back and smiling" and quite simply the word “equality - all codes, boys and girls”.

Current hurling selector Dermot Doherty commented on what it means to the club.  “It means everything to the people who worked unselfishly for 20 years with only sporadic success until recently when it has all come together.”

Former player, secretary and current development officer Jimmy McMullan also gave his take on the recent successes.

“It’s an outstanding historic achievement accompanied by a great buzz and euphoria which has re-energised our club and people following on from the dizzy heights achieved last year”, McMullan outlined.

Many people have asked how did the recent success come to fruition.  McMullan proudly added, “This didn't happen overnight. It is testament to many years of dedication, hard work and commitment from everyone at the club; committee, players, coaches, backroom teams, supporters and all others that were involved in any way, big or small. One club, three codes”.

When you drive into Emmet Park, the impressive facilities are there to be seen, a hugely important ingredient into team preparation and something that so many people have invested time and energy into.  

Every night of the week the grounds are full of youngsters at all ages in all codes.  The mentors and coaches of these children are another huge factor, nurturing their skills.  Camogie manager Dominic McKinley paid tribute to this group of people for the club’s current success.  

The amount of events that go on in the Slaughtneil community, many away from the field of play.  Events like fundraising draws, big breakfasts, Scor, traditional music and more recently the cycling fever that hit Emmet Park this year. 

The Barcelona soccer team have a motto “Més que un club - More than a club”.  Barcelona has more pubs, chapels and post offices than Slaughtneil.  They also have a more illustrious roll of honour, but the parallels are much the same. 

Between 1953 and 2015, Slaughtneil went from being just an idea in the making to being one of the most well-known GAA clubs in the country.  In the interim years so many people have put their shoulder to the wheel and the same people will be very proud today as Slaughtneil are now “more than a club”. 

These unsung heroes have been paid back in bucketloads over the past few years.  Watching Louise Dougan carry the Martin Mulholland Cup into Slaughtneil Hall, seeing ‘Sammy’ Bradley kick a monster score to win an Ulster title or witnessing the hurlers complete their three in a row.  This is what it is all about, the things you dream about when you start playing at U8 and U10.

When the 2016 season begins the fields will again be full of youngsters aiming to one day walk up Slaughtneil Hall with a county title. Not all will get there but it won’t be for the want of trying.