McGuinness rejoices as Emyvale scale the Monaghan mountain

By Niall McCoy

IF you get knocked down, and down again, and down another eight times after that, well all you can do is keep getting back up – and after Sunday’s Monaghan final victory, Emyvale’s legs aren’t feeling as shaky anymore.

The Oriel final is always a big occasion, but the 2024 version carried intrigue not only in Monaghan but from all over the country as 22-in-a-row chasing Donaghmoyne had been knocked out at the semi-final stage by a resolute and supremely committed Magheracloone outfit that had limited the free-scoring Fontenoys to a measly four points.

The Mitchell’s couldn’t repeat the dose in the final though, as Emyvale, motivated beyond belief by 10 previous final losses to Donaghmoyne, were in unstoppable form, running in a huge 5-12 tally in an 18-point win.

Dejection for Magheracloone who had beaten the unbeatable, but were unable to finish the job, but with a new, young team emerging – suddenly Monaghan club football is looking competitive.

Gráinne McGuinness certainly thinks so, but that’s for the future, for now this is Emyvale’s time.

Part of the famed McNally family that have given so much to Farney football, they moved to Emyvale from Tyholland in 2008 and while it may have taken over a decade and a half, the rewards have finally arrived.

How fitting too, that the trophy they finally got to lift was the Pauline Devlin Cup, named after the Monaghan ladies powerhouse who died just over 10 years ago.

On Ulster GAA’s tribute to Pauline at the time, the picture chosen showed her and McGuinness smiling at each other, with the player captaining their school – St Louis Convent – to an All-Ireland title.

After Sunday’s final, the 25 St Louis current pupils and past pupils on the squad gathered for a group photo that the school proudly posted on their social media channels.

It was a day to remember for McGuinness, joining her husband as a county senior champion with Christopher enjoying success with Ballybay in the past – and he’ll be hoping for more in the coming weeks too as captain of the side.

“I always knew we had the calibre of players to win it, we knew the skill that was there, and you just wished that one day we would have managed to do it,” said McGuinness, an All-Star for Monaghan in both 2011 and 2013.

“We also knew Donaghmoyne had so many good players, 21 titles in a row says as much.

“We had said in the past that if we weren’t in the same county as Donaghmoyne we would have probably met them outside in Ulster or if we were down the country maybe in an All-Ireland final.

“I always had the belief but Donaghmoyne was a bit of a mental block, they were just so good.

“We just hoped that it would happen, when that would be we weren’t too sure, but in fairness to our girls, to lose 10 finals and come back every, single year – each girl – they believed and it was just great to see. You just wished it happened, and now it has.”

McGuinness, a familiar face to RTÉ viewers with the McNally family competing on Ireland’s Fittest Family two years ago, believes there could be an interesting period ahead for Monaghan club football.

“I have no doubt that the likes of Emmet Óg, Scotstown, teams like that, are really going to push on.

“We played Carrick’ and ‘Blayney in league games and they were all so good.

“There’s Magheracloone coming up and Donaghmoyne will be back too, so there are a good few teams that will give it a rattle next year.

“Next year it could be a completely different team that does this because you just don’t know now.”

McGuinnness’ career has led to quite the impressive CV, but there were two big absences heading into this season.

One, now, is stroked off the list for good – and it ranks right up there with the extra motivation of coming out on top for her sister Therese who was unable to play.

“The last couple of minutes when we had it won, it was just a case of finally.

“The other thing we didn’t have was a senior county All-Ireland medal with Monaghan, but thank God we managed to get that county title that was missing.

“Now we know how Donaghmoyne kept going every year, it was for that feeling.”

Next up for the Monaghan champions is an Ulster date with Armagh side Clann Éireann, the current provincial champions. That’s something to worry about on another day though, for now Emyvale can look with pride at how they finally scaled the Monaghan mountain.