Age: 15

Position: Centre-half-back

Club Honours: U14 league div.2 & U16 league div.3

Facebook Status: Single

Best GAA Memory: Winning first medal for u14 (and by the way we still haven’t got the medals yet)

Favorite Quote: Form is temporary, Class is permanent

Last Decent Film you seen: The Inbetweeners

Best game ever played in: Div.2 u14 league final

You just won the club lotto of £4,200, what would you do: Have a glass of coke.

Who is your sporting idol: Nemanja Vidic (Like myself he takes no prisoners!)

What First Fermanaghs player do you think should run for President of Ireland: Darren Chapman

When I was younger I wanted to be: Professional footballer

In 10 years First Fermanaghs will be: 135 years old

Laziest trainer on team: Matthew  Mc Geough

Favourite meal before a match: Pasta

As team captain what are your words of advice to your team on Friday: Play hard and as a team go out and win it!

Age: 16

Position: At the moment Full back

Facebook Status: In bad shape for music exam tomorrow

Best GAA Memory: Colm Curran bicycle kick fail

Favourite Quote: Who are we? We are champions

1st 3 songs on your IPOD: A team, Accidentally in love, All the small thing

Last Decent Film you seen: 21 Jump Street

You are on a desert Island and can bring 3 people who would you bring: Megan Fox, Cheryl Cole and Charlie Sheen

Best game ever played in: Probably last year, u16’s league semi-final

You just won the club lotto of £4,200, what would you do: Buy a car

Who is your sporting idol: Barry Owens because he always keeps going no matter what injury he has had.

What First Fermanaghs player do you think should run for President of Ireland: Gary Mullaney (Torres)

When I was younger I wanted to be: Steven Gerrard

In 10 years First Fermanaghs will be: Hopefully playing on a better pitch

Laziest trainer on team: Lee Martin

Favourite meal before a match: Chicken ball special

Most accurate player on team: Matthew McGeough

Niall Mohanwas first to get his name on the score board after 7 minutes, after a number of wides from the home team.  In the early stages Newtown were making all the running however they couldn’t add the scores to prove their dominance. Belcoo seized the initiative and some good play saw them move into a 3 point lead with 22 minutes on the clock. Shane Leonardwent on to add Newtown’s second point of the half before Belcoo rounded off the scoring to leave a 3 point gap at the interval with Newtown unable to take advantage of a strong wind behind them for the first 30minutes.

HT NTB 0-02Belcoo 0-05

The half time team talk seemed to do the trick for Newtown early in the second half. Kevin Connolly added two points either side of a well taken goal from substitute Paul Donegan, finding the net with his first slice of action since his introduction. This saw the home team move into a two point lead which they maintained for almost another 15 minutes as both sides failed to find the target. A good point from Belcoo reduced this to one with Kevin Connolly quickly responding with a point.

Belcoo then delivered a fatal blow for Newtown less than 7minutes remaining, a long ball into the Belcoo full forward line was dispatched to the back of the net to move Belcoo into a one point lead, they added to this minutes later with another well struck point.  Newtown were unable to claw their way back into the game and Belcoo ran out 2 point winners in a close fought encounter.

FT  NTB 1-05 Belcoo 1-07

It’s the week of the final; you must be excited as the manager to be leading your team to the league final?

I am very excited so I am. There a great bunch of lads and they really deserve to be in this final. Myself, Natie, Chappy and Johnny found the lads a great group to work with and have all give us 100%. They deserve this so much

Looking ahead to Friday’s game firstly, what is the situation with injuries?

As far as injuries go we’ve been lucky this year. Connor our giant of a goal keeper injured himself a few weeks ago but he’s made a full recovery, oddly enough it was the week we were doing  400 metre runs. Our other worry is wee Fla who went over on the ankle about 10 days ago, hes been to see our physio James Melarkey and we hope he gets the green light as he a very important part of the team.

Minor football is seen as the breeding ground for the Senior team, has there been any signs that some of these players will make the transition to Senior football?  

The last minor team I won the league with a few years ago contained Shane Leonard, Ryan Carson, James Lewis, Aaron McDermott, Shay McKiernan, Paul Johnston, Karol Mulligan, Dan O’Keefe, James Melarkey, Paul Hueston, Shane McGorman among others…This team has been the back bone to the NTB Senior and Junior team for the past 10 years or more. That group were all very close knit. I see alot of similarities with this team…if they stick together they will definitely be senior footballers in years to come. The other thing about this team is every player is still under 17 so we know they’re going to get better and better. We already have one minor that made the cut in Shorty…hope the other lads won’t be far behind.

Of those young players, Sean Mullaney has already made the step up, do you predict a big future for him?

Yes as I said Sean has already made the step up to Senior level. At the moment he probably finds it difficult as it’s such a step up from Minors. But the way he plays for us is immense, a real power house on the field, with great vision and ability and a great shot accuracy. He is already involved also at the county minor level I don’t see why Sean can’t play for NTB Seniors and County seniors for the next 15 years or more.

Yous have had an excellent league campaign, What do you put your outstanding form down to?

Well it’s been a combination of things. The lads hard work first and foremost as i said a great group to work with and are very close knit. This meant that as a group they were always there for one another when the going got tough. But the other lads that have helped out this year have been great. Natie and Darren have so much knowledge of the game and know how to get the best out of the lads on the training field…any senior team would to glad to have them as managers or coaches, Johnny as well keeps everything ticking over and has brought a different element to the group from what he picked up at the county set up. As I said this is a u-17 team playing in a u-18 completion the lads have to be proud of themselves.

Is a ‘winning culture’ an important commodity to possess and what will it do for these Minor players for their careers?

It definitely is this year, as its our 125th year. From word go the lads were aware how important this year is to the club and they wanted to get involved in the 125 celebrations. How better to get involved than to have a trophy on the table at the end of the year. As I said, the last time Minors I won the league went on to win senior league upon senior league and even a championship. A club like our need to be winning and winning always begins at underage level. There is a great chance we will also make the championship final so it’s not too bad for a team that are underage for another year. I know this team if they stay together and continue to work with each and ourselves on the touchline they will certainly be First Fermanagh seniors in no time.

You haven’t played Coa yet this season. How do you assess your opponents on Friday?

Coa were due to play us in the league but ended up they didn’t travel so we haven’t played them yet. We have had some notes done on them and we know there big physical and not afraid to take a goal…so they are a threat. But our lads are big physical and certainly know where the goal mouth is also, we have shown this year time and time again that this group of lads have a certain swagger about them and a certain ability to get scores when we need them. From myself Natie, Darren and Johnny I want to say that it is a privilege to manage such a good group of footballers and I know they will win the trophy and kick start the 125 celebrations!!

Name: Colum Monahan

Age: 31

Position: Changes from game to game

Occupation: Painter & Decorator

Facebook Status: Facebook???

Best GAA Memory: Winning the 1999 MacRory Cup

Favourite Quote: There are only two teams in Liverpool…Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves.

1st 3 songs on your IPOD: Don’t have one

Last Decent Film you seen: Hangover 2

Come dine with me or Master chef: Come dine with me

Cheryl or Nadine: Nadine

List 3 ideal dinner guests: Peter Kay, David Beckham and Aidan McDonald ( for an exhibition of duck sounds and movements)

Favourite meal before a match: Fry

Best game ever played in: Ulster Minor Championship 1997 v Cavan

Best player on First Fermanaghs ladies team: Has to be my darling Wife.

You just won the club lotto of £3,800, what would you do: Go on a holiday

Who is your sporting idol: Carl Lewis

What First Fermanaghs player do you think should run for President of Ireland: Begsy

When I was younger I wanted to be: Professional Footballer

In 10 years First Fermanaghs will be: Still playing on worst pitch in the county.

Laziest trainer on team: Has to be Niall Mohan

The word on every gaelic supporters lips in Newtownbutler this year is ‘125’

125 years ago Newtownbutler First Fermanaghs GAA club was first founded.

A dedicated committee has been organised to plan events to celebrate this monumental occasion.

The first of these events invited the children of the community to help design a new club jersey for our 125^th anniversary, competition entitled:

 Your Design, Your Jersey, Your Club

 All pupils attending St. Marys Primary School, Newtownbutler were given the opportunity to submit their ideas and designs to the committee.  This idea was welcomed by the children with great excitement.

 The 125 year committee then set about the hard task of picking one winner per class.

 After lots of debating, over some very impressive designs, final winners were decided upon:

• P1 Erin Louise McManus
• P2 Lochlann King
• P3 Kealan Fitzpatrick
• P4 Jamie McCaffery
• P5 Katie Woods
• P6 Sarah Martin
• P7 Daragh O’Reilly

 Congratulations to the winners and to all who participated thank you for all your wonderful help.

 Children with the winning designs were presented with their very own new club jersey, all other children received a special commemorative 125 wrist band.

 Ideas from all of the entries submitted helped design Newtownbutler First Fermanaghs 2012 club jersey which made it debut on Sunday 22^nd April 2012 in an exciting first season game against Devenish.

Newtown’s first score of the game was a goal courtesy of Colum Monahan. A long ball from James Maguire was plucked from the air by full forward John Maguire who fed an onrushing Colum Monahan through on goals and he dispatched to the net. Tempo then registered their first score with a point. Newtown had a chance to double their goal tally with a penalty, however Conor Beggan was unable to direct it in, his shot to the bottom left corner narrowly missing its intended target.

A Colum Monahan free and a point from Kevin Connolly eased Newtown into an early lead of four points. This was then up to seven points as John Maguire lost his marker and fired spectacularly to the back of the net. Brendy McBrien added two points either side of two Tempo points. Conor Beggan then steered over a good point after some good play in the forward line. The first half ended with Tempo adding two more points with a reply from Brendy McBrien to leave seven points between the teams.

HT Tempo 0-05 NTB 2-06

The second half started with goal-keeper Gary Mullaney making a good save during a scramble in the goalmouth. Tempo added a point during a period of increased pressure as they looked to get back into the game. Kevin Connolly stemmed the tide with a good point to maintain Newtown’s seven point lead. Tempo reduced this to six with 10 minutes gone in the second half. Kevin Connolly then made a good block as Tempo went in search of a goal; a goal bound shot excellently blocked by Connolly. Tempo were unable to reduce the deficit as Newtown were able to maintain the lead they built up in the opening few minutes, Brendy McBrien increased his tally for the day with another point just before Tempo scored their last point of the day with 10 minutes left on the clock. Jarlath Jackman finished off Newtown’s scoring with a pointed free to leave two goals between the teams at the final whistle.

FT   Tempo 0-09  NTB 2-09

The Reserve team continued their good start to the season on Friday evening in Tempo coming home after sharing the points. Tempo started the game well racing into an early 5 point lead. Two first half goals from  full forward Paul Donegan kept Newtown in the game going in at the break a point down on a score line of 0-10 to 0-09. In the second half Tempo again moved into a small lead as both teams exchanged points. Paul Donegan once again was the man to bring Newtown back into the game with a 3^rd goal of the game mid-way through the half. Either team could have gone on to secure all 2 points with both teams missing some scoreable chances. The game finished all square as Newtown moved to second place in Erne Cup 1.

P1, P2 and P3 – 10.30 to 11.15am.

P4, P5, P6 & P7 – 11.30am to 12.30pm.

Anyone who would like to help out please contact Shay 07786334130 or Aaron 07788280350.

Newtown got off to a good start with John Maguire, Ryan Carson and Shane Leonard knocking over early points, Roslea kept in touch with points from Sean Quigley and Liam Lynch. Roslea were slowly edging their way into the game and a goal from Shane Lynch took them into the lead on a score line of 1-02 to 0-04. Newtown were able to register another 2 points before the half, excellent efforts from Ryan Carson.

HT Newtownbutler 0-06 Roslea 1-05

Roslea extended their lead to 5 points early into the second half. Newtown kept in touch and narrowed the gap to just one point and had an excellent chance to take the lead when Clive Fitzpatrick was fouled in the penalty area. Brendy McBrien had his spot kick saved, he was then fouled again as he went for a rebound and another penalty was awarded. Ryan Carson took this one and was unable to make it count, firing wide. Colum Monahan received his marching orders with ten minutes to go, receiving his second yellow card of the game. Roslea moved on adding points from Liam Lynch and Sean Quigley to run out 5 point winners.

FT Newtownbutler 0-10 Roslea 1-12

Next up is an away game on Sunday against Tempo.