Sheemore Gaels & Fenagh celebrate 50th anniversary of 1974 Leitrim Championship successes

A special celebration to mark two historic championship successes all of 50 years ago will be held next Saturday, October 5, when the Sheemore Gaels Senior Championship winning side and the Fenagh Junior Championship winning team meet to relive the glory days of 1974.

In 1974, Sheemore Gaels made Leitrim GAA history by becoming the first and only amalgamation to win a senior football championship. A rule was introduced in 1973 allowing two intermediate clubs to amalgamate and participate in the senior championship. However, following the Gaels success in 1974 the rule was abolished and no amalgamations have been allowed in senior championship since then.

At the time, St. Mary’s and Fenagh were intermediate teams so both clubs amalgamated to become Sheemore Gaels. The Fenagh club at that time comprised the parishes of Fenagh and Kiltubrid while Eslin were part of the Mohill club. Due to an increase in player numbers, Fenagh and Kiltubrid parted amicably and went their separate ways in the late 1970s.

The Gaels took part in the 1973 championship without success but in 1974, despite losing the first round proper to St. Joseph’s (Aughavas & Drumreilly), they progressed to the final through the losers group. They defeated Glencar Manorhamilton and Gortletteragh to reach the semi final where they defeated holders Sean O’Heslins 1-6 to 0-8.

The final against Mohill was played on August 25, 1974 in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada in front of a then record crowd of 2,500 who paid gate receipts of £825. 

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The final was unique in other ways as both teams had three sets of brothers on their starting teams. The  Gaels had Michael & Seamus Tighe, Paddy & Eddie Guckian and Sean & Pauric Leydon while Mohill had John & Brian Gordon, Des, Gerry & Frank Keegan and Joe and Tom Reynolds. Four county minors played - Michael Martin, Richard Ellis and Sean Leydon for the Gaels and Joe Reynolds from Mohill. It was also historic in that Michael Martin at the age of 18 was the youngest captain of a winning Leitrim senior championship team. 

While Sheemore Gaels won by five points, it was by no means a comfortable win. Mohill led by 0-5 to 0-3 at halftime, but a second half goal by Seamus Tighe swung the game in Gaels favour and they won on a 1-10 to 0-8  scoreline. The Gaels scorers were M. Martin 0-5, P. Mulhern 0-3, S Tighe 1-0, M. Tighe and P. Leydon 0-1 each. 

The Sheemore Gaels team trainer was Father Tommy Greenan and his selectors were Joe Flynn, Pat Egan and Hugh Maguire.

To commemorate this historic success, the clubs of Fenagh, Kiltubrid and St. Mary’s are combining to host a special celebration event on the night of Saturday  October 5. The event will consist of mass in St. Joseph’s church Rantogue at 7:30pm concelebrated by Liam Kelly and Pat Lennon, both members of the Gaels team, and mass will be followed by presentations and refreshments in Gertie’s Bar, Keshcarrigan with John Lynch presenting.

1974 also saw Fenagh winning the Intermediate football championship and were promoted to the senior ranks so they competed in the senior championship in their own right thereafter. This achievement will also be celebrated in tandem with the Sheemore Gaels success so a bumper crowd is expected.

It promises to be a good night of reflection, storytelling and nostalgia and all are welcome to come and salute the heroes of 1974.