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Short History of Aughavas GAA Club

There is evidence to show from local papers at the time that football was being played in the Parish before 1889. Aughavas took the name of, The Home Rulers. Twenty six clubs affiliated for the 1890 championship, one of them being, the Aughavas Home Rulers. They played Carrigallen (John) Mandevilles and won 1-3 to 0-0 in the first round on March 16th but did not travel to play Ballinamore William O'Brien's the next day, and so, they made their exit from the first G.A.A. county championship.

At the Leitrim Co. Convention of 1891, held in Keshcarrigan, Francis Murphy (Cloonsarn) was re-elected Chairman and James McGovern (Bundara) attended the meeting as a club delegate.

Aughavas won their first County title in 1915 when they defeated Mohill 1-2 to 0-2. The game was played in Dromod on the 20th of June. The team was :Tom Mollahan,Capt,(Cornamuckla), John , Peter & James Curran (Corriga), Jimmy McCusker (Carrigallen), Bernie Redehan (Corglas), Patrick & Peter Keegan (Leganomer), Tom McHugh (Gurteen), Matt McCabe (Druminbane), Tom McIntyre (Cornmauckla), Peter Heslin (Druminbane), John Joe Murphy (Corriga), Michael Farrell (Tully) and a teacher James Savage.

At this time teams were composed of players from the upper end of the parish (Corriga-Rossan), but in 1919 the lower end entered a team in the championship, but they avoided playing each other. The upper end were beaten in the final by Fenagh, played in Ballinamore on the 11th April 1920.   The score was 1-2 to 0-1.

The war years were difficult for clubs : War of Independence (1918-1921), and then the Civil War of 1922-23: The brightest spot of the decade was Leitrims win over Galway in the 1927 Connacht Final with P. C. Blessing (Acres) playing at centerfield. Charlie McCartin (Tullaghan) was a sub.

The 1930s saw a lot of movement of players between clubs. Aughavas won the 1930 Junior Championship defeating Carrigallen in the final on March 15th 1931. In 1934 Cloone won the Senior Championship. On the team were the Lyons brothers from Sonnabeg, Tom, John P. and Pat Frank as well as Jim O'Rourke from Aughavas Townland. In 1938 Leitrim won the Junior All Ireland "Home" final with Mick Kilkenny, Killafea as Captain and Michael "Red" Moran at centerfield.

Aughavas won the Senior Championship of 1940, beating Bornacoola 3-4 to 1-3 played on February 16th 1941.( There had been an objection to the first game ). In the All Ireland Junior Semi-Final on August 23rd 1941, Michael Moran, who was captain of Leitrim on the day, sustained a bad fracture to his leg. This resulted in him being out of the game for two years. In 1944 Michael and John Curran played and won a Senior Championship with Cloone.

Aughavas won the Minor in 1945 and were beaten by Cloone in the Senior Final of 1948. John Francis Heslin of Druminbane, played on the Leitrim Minor team of 1945, who were beaten by Dublin in the All Ireland Final.

Aughavas Won the Senior Championship of 1949, beating Carrick in the final, (replayed following an objection ). The panel was : John Joe, Tom and Francie Carroll, James Henry Gill, Michael F.and Willie Lyons, John Fras. and Leo Heslin, Sonny Canning, Aloysius Blessing, Joe and Martin Kiernan, Charlie Lee, Willie McKiernan (Capt), Jim Prior, Paddy J and (Rev) Andy McGovern, Pat Frank Lyons, Michael Moran, Christy and Sonny McBrien, Pee( Red) McIntyre, Vincent O'Rourke, Patsy McGuire and Joe Cooney.

In 1952 Aughavas defeated Fenagh in the Senior final by 1-8 to 0-1. The Following year they were beaten by Bornacoola in the final, 1-6 to 1-5. However, 1954 was their year. They won  the Championship, League, the Tostal and Ellis Cup. They defeated Sean Traycs ( North Leitrim ) in the Senior Final 0-6 to 0-4.The panel of '54 included : Patsy McGuire, Sean Cooney, Willie McKiernan, Tommy Prior, Charlie Lee (Capt), Gabriel Cooney, Val Fitzpatrick, Willie Lyons, Francie Carroll, Aloysius Blessing, Tommy Mollahan, Jim McBrien, Leo Heslin, Sonny Canning, John Joe Carroll, Paddy J McGovern, John Mollahan, Noel Blessing, John McKiernan, Vincent O'Rourke, Pakie Joe O'Rourke and Tom Carroll. In 1955 Aughavas were awarded the Championship. In 1956 Aughavas were beaten in the first round by Ballinamore.

In 1957 the Minor Championship and League was won. This team included : Frank Reynolds, Sean O'Rourke, Sean McCabe, Albert Cooney, Tom McLoughlin, Jack Dolan, Michael Fitzpatrick, Terry Barden, Sean Creegan, Jim Baxter, Terry Blessing, Peter McGuire, George Flynn, Mel Harahan, Aloysius McHugh, Terry Shortt, Frank Foy and Arnold Fitzpatrick.

In 1957, Noel Blessing played on the Connaught team that won the Railway Cup.

In 1963 Aughavas beat Carrick in the Senior Final on a score line of 1-7 to 0-6.   The Under 16 title was won in 1965 (played in Aug.'66). Bennie McNamee was Captain of the team. He was killed tragically in Dublin in December of that year. R.I.P.

1966 saw another title come to the Parish. Annaduff were beaten in the Final on a score line of 1-14 to 1-7. That was the last Senior Title until 2000. Aughavas were beaten in the Finals of 1969 and 1970 by Ballinamore (1-11 to 2-5) and Gortlettera (1-11 to 1-7) resp.

The '70s saw a decline in the fortunes of the Club. The Intermediate League was won in1973 in which Glencar-Manorhamilton were defeated in Leganomer. In 1976 the Club was relegated to Junior status.

The big decision of the decade was the decision to purchase a new and permanent ground for the club. Under Club Chairman Mick McCabe, Secretary Eamonn Brady and Martin Moran the work began. A field was purchased from Dermot Brady and a committee was set up with Terry Shortt as Chairman, John Mollaghan as Secretary, and Martin Moran as treasurer. A working committee consisting of: Sean Kiernan, Paddy Joe McKiernan, Michael O'Rourke, Frank and Tom McLoughlin, Charlie Lee, Willie Lyons, Tom Carroll, John Joe Williams, Micheál Charles, Sean Doyle and John Moran (Aughavas) got to work. The Park was Officially Opened by Rev. Andy McGovern on the 15th of October 1978.

The 1980's saw the Club start in Junior football. In 1981 the Junior League (Div. 3 C) was won. In 1984 Aughavas defeated Eslin in the Junior A Final on a score line of 1-10 to 1-3. This brought the Club back to Senior Football. The team was trained by Sean McLoughlin (Lavareen).The panel was: Ciaran, Adrian, Páid and Sean Nicholl, Joe Casey, Anthony Reynolds, Gerry Keegan, Gerry Gallogly, Sean McKiernan, Anthony Curran, Micheal Fitzpatrick, Pat McIntyre, Anthony and Brendan McKiernan, Colm Moran, Tommy Galligan, Gerry Keaney, Declan Dolan, John Joe and Terry Williams, Liam Gallogly and  Pat McCabe. In 1985 Aughavas won the Senior League, Div. 2, defeating Cloone in the Final 1-7 to 2-3, with Gerry Keegan as trainer.

The team struggled in the Senior ranks but held on to its Senior status. Aughavas, under the leadership of Sean McCartin and Noel Blessing started the '90s in fine form winning the Intermediate Championship on three occasions: 1990 they beat Aughnasheelin 2-9 to 1-10: 1993 the beat Glencar-Manorhamilton 1-12 to1-9 : 1994 they beat St. Mary's  2-4 to 0-8.  The Div.5 League was won in 1999. 

In 1996  the Senior League Div1 was won defeating Glencar/Manor in Ballinaglera on a score line of   to    on the 17th November. In 1997 Aughavas reached the Senior Championship Final but were defeated on the day by Allen Gaels on a score line of 2-14 to 1-11. From this experience the seeds were sown that eventually led to the glorious year of 2000, when, Aughavas under the leadership of trainer, P.J. Carroll and selectors Charlie McCabe and Sean McCartin, won the Senior Championship and League Title. 

Over the years allot of effort was put into Juvenile Football. There was Minor titles won in 1945 and 1957, an U16 title in 1965 and  an U14 in 1963 but the decade of the '80s will be most remembered for the rise in Juvenile football. People who helped out over the years would include Rev. Peter O'Flynn, Rev. Eugene Cox, Frank and Tom McLoughlin, Mick McCabe, Joe Doonan, Michael Whelan, Michael O'Rourke, John Conefrey, Gerry Gallogly, Michael Casey, Pat and Micheál Charles and up to the present day we have the McBrien brothers and John Farrelly (To name but a few).