When Gort na Mona were Minor Champions

Gort na Mona 2-5 Cargin 1-7

In 2004 Gort na Mona won their only Minor Football Championship and today we take a look back at that historic success for the club from off the Mona Bypass. The Gorts were to go on and become a very successful club in Antrim and in 2019 they retained their division 1 football league status.

They also won the Antrim Junior Hurling championship and got to the Ulster semi-final of the same competition before losing to the Down champions

Gort na Mona are a strong club and Enright Park is one of the nicest venues to attend a game and as we get ready to hopefully, experience some belated action in 2020 Gort na Mona look in rude health and ready for action.

Today we look back at that historic day in 2004 when Gort na Mona staged a strong comeback to defeat a strong Cargin side in an excellent MFC final at Casement Park. Gort na Mona were in good shape going into that final despite losing in the final of the AC Minor league to neighbours, St. Johns.

They would have started that MFC final as underdogs against a Cargin team who contained a number of players who went on to play senior football for the Toome club and are now household names in Antrim football. Amongst those wearing the green jersey that day were Tomas McCann, Gerard McCann, Justin Crozier and Enda McGroggan in a side that was widely fancied to lift the cup.

With seven minutes remaining everything looked to be going to plan for the South West side when they led by five points. It didn’t seem to be going the way of the Gorts when they had a goal disallowed but substitute Patrick McCafferty instigated a sensational comeback when he fired to the net from the penalty spot and the momentum was now very much with his side.

Gort na Mona pressed in the closing minutes and two late points from Michael Pollock saw them home by the minimum as their supporters raced onto the field amidst scenes of wild celebrations. This group went on to win the U21 championship in 2007 while four of them started the 2005 Intermediate final and three more were on the bench as Gort na Mona claimed the title.

This panel had the potential to achieve great things but for various reasons many of them didn’t progress to senior level. Seven of that panel emigrated which was a great loss to this group and the club. However 16 years later there are a number who are still involved at senior level and are pivotal members of the present senior side.

Indeed two of them featured in Niall Enright’s recent Gort na Mona ‘Best 15’ in the Saffron Gael with Paul Conlan and Michael Pollock making his selection. Unfortunately for Gort na Mona Pollock transferred to St. Gall’s shortly after that success and has gone on to be one of the top players the county but the Gorts remain a major force in Antrim.