As Cumann Lútchleas Gael celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2009 the GAA in Loughmacrory continued to be a very central part of the Community. The 2009 season may be regarded by many as a disappointment primarily due to the fact that the Senior team got relegated out of Senior football for first time since 1998. There are other aspects however, both on and off the field of play which in my opinion give the club great hope and expectation for many years to come if the proper effort is applied. Starting off with events on the field and firstly to our Senior team: the season will generally be regarded as a disappointing one for all involved as the side ended up being relegated to Intermediate football after a play off defeat at the hands of Kildress on Sunday 25th October on a 2-3 to 0-13 scoreline. The side under the management team of Paddy Mc Guigan, Tom O Brien and Malachy Coyle began the year hopeful that they could build on the good form that they showed at the end of the 2008 season. The team played in the Ulster League competition but did not manage to qualify out of their section as they only managed one victory over Armagh side Clan Na Gael. The competitive league programme began on Sunday 5th April away to neighbours Carrickmore and ended up in 0-12 to 0-4 defeat. The side suffered a further loss to Clonoe before picking up their first point of the season after a 0-10 to 1-7 draw at home to Trillick. The team lost a further two league games to Donaghmore and Dromore before playing Carrickmore in the Championship. This game played at Pearse Park in Galbally on Saturday 9th May ended up in a 2-7 to 1-11 defeat but the lads played with great passion and determination and were very close to recording an historic victory over our Parish rivals. It was back to league action the following Sunday when we suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Errigal Ciaran before going three games unbeaten. Firstly on Sunday 7th June away to Eglish the side recorded their first won of the season on a 2-8 to 3-10 scoreline, they then travelled to Aghyaran and came away with a share of the spoils courtesy of a 0-10 to 1-7 result before going on to record their final victory of the season with a 1-11 to 1-4 victory over Kildress on Friday 26th June. Unfortunately the side went for five games without picking up any points as they suffered defeats at the hands of Moy, Coalisland, Galbally, Killyclogher and Omagh before securing a point against Ardboe in our final league fixture of the season. This meant the side finished the season on seven points having won two games, drawn three and lost ten. A series of other results meant that we had to beat Kildress in the relegation play off to ensure we got another chance to maintain our Senior status. This never materialised however, as the team suffered a 2-3 to 0-13 defeat and the side now face the prospect of playing Intermediate football in 2010. The Reserve side again showed that they are more than capable of competing with the majority of sides in the county as they finished their league campaign on 14 points having won seven of their games and losing eight. Five of these defeats came early in the season when the side were struggling for numbers and when the panel got stronger the team went from strength to strength winning 7 of their remaining games. The side fell to the challenge of Carrickmore in the Championship on a 1-7 to 1-8 scoreline in a very closely contested fixture on Monday 22nd June. Contd
