Aughawillan celebrating following the 2014 Connacht Championship Quarter Final success over Tubbercurry.
By Cian O'Connell
In the early 90s when John O’Mahony was guiding Leitrim to glory Aughawillan were the most respected and feared outfit in the western county.
Three Championships in a row between 1992 and 1994 ensured Aughawillan had their flag perched on the summit of Leitrim club football.
In the intervening two decades, though, all that Aughawillan had was the hope that a bright future awaited.
The glory days have finally returned - two Leitrim titles have been registered in the past three years with Chairman Paul Rohan stressing the family ties to the last successful era in Aughawillan’s history.
“Nearly all of them are sons or nephews or linked,” Bohan told GAA.ie. “They are from a similar pedigree, I like to use that word talking about players - Quinns, Flanagans, Gilheanys, Priors.”
Aughawillan’s current crop of players were always viewed as promising growing up, but Rohan reckons they’ve delivered sooner than expected. “When we won in 2014 nobody saw it coming, we didn't think it would come that soon because most of them were only 16, 17, 18,” Bohan says.
“We were optimistic for the future, but success came sooner than expected. We brought in an outside manager for the first time, that was Sean Pierson. He came from Gowna which would be a similar club to our own, similar type tradition and everything so it worked well. He had Gary Donohue working with him, who had been with Cavan underage teams, he was used to working with young people.
“That went well, we won the first year in 2014 and we thought it would take longer, but it was the first time we got in an outside manager. Like every club we had differences inside the club, but once an outside man came in everyone sort of rowed in behind it and thankfully it has gone really well.
Pierce Dolan, Sean Flanagan, Mark Plunkett and Noel Plunkett following the 2014 Connacht Championship Quarter Final win over Tubbercurry.
“Last year we were a bit unfortunate we got a man sent off early in a game when we were coasting in the Semi-Final so there was a real determination this year to get back on top.”
Current manager Tommy McCormack, renowned for his sterling efforts with Longford’s Emmet Og Killoe, has proven to be a significant acquisition.
“He is very easy to work with, but yet has a sense of authority,” Bohan remarks. “Nobody questions his decisions, he is a very clever guy.
“He is in no way pushy or showy or anything like that, but you just know he understands the game and he wants them to play in a certain way. He has a plan, he is very good in getting them in peak condition on any given day.
"We were doubly lucky in that his son, Joe, is working with him aswell, he is really good for the physical training and that type of thing.”
Roscommon’s St Brigid’s, All Ireland champions in 2013, are next on the agenda for Aughawillan. “It is a big game for us on Sunday," Bohan acknowledges. "We have a good crop of players that came through at the same time. They've a good pedigree and all of them are willing to do whatever they are asked of to win.
“It hasn't been that difficult really. The players are motivated and we are lucky with the management we have too.
“It is bonus territory for us, but we can have a real cut at one of the top teams to see where we are at. We are hopeful.”
