Club stalwarts honoured at Fermanagh and Western awards night

TWO men who gave outstanding service and played key roles in bringing success to their clubs over many years were honoured at the Fermanagh and Western Hall of Fame awards in the Killyhevlin Hotel on Friday evening.

James McGrath, Lisbellaw United became the 14th person to be inducted into the Fermanagh and Western’s Hall of Fame while Gary Mortland, Dergview, was presented with a Merit Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the local game at a number of different levels.

Mr McGrath first joined Lisbellaw United in 1972 after seeing a club poster in Enniskillen Tech appealing for players and it seemed entirely fitting that he should receive his award in what is his 50th year involved with the Drumad club.

As a player “Jimmy”, as he was affectionately known, won the lot. Playing at outside right, he helped the club win five Mercer League and five Mulhern Cup titles in the space of eight years as well as playing an integral role in the Lisbellaw team which became the first ever Fermanagh and Western side to win the prestigious Irish Junior Cup back in May 1978.

As a manager McGrath was every bit as successful. He took over a Lisbellaw side that was floundering in Division Three and rebuilt a team that went on to win back-to-back Division Three (Brendan Keogh Memorial Cup) and Two (Enda Love Memorial Cup) titles en route to regaining their top-flight status.

With the addition of a number of key signings and under Jimmy’s continued direction, Lisbellaw went on to capture three Mercer League titles and reach another Junior Cup final in 1997 before he handed over the reins to Andy Reilly..

Like McGrath, Mortland enjoyed much success as a player. After progressing through the ranks as a talented young player who attended Castlederg High School, he went on to establish himself in a first team which, in terms of winning trophies, enjoyed a golden era.

Dergview, initially under manager Adrian Forbes, won four Mercer League titles, two Mulhern Cups and two Kennedy Cups in the space of six years as well as reaching the Irish Junior Cup finals in 1995 and 2001.

During that period of unprecedented success, Mortland scored many a crucial goal as Dergview locked horns with the leading teams of the day, Enniskillen Rangers, Enniskillen Town, Ballinamallard United, Shelbourne and Fivemiletown United.

Even at this stage Gary had also dipped his toe in management and, as the club embarked on a journey through the ranks to their current position in the Lough 41 Championship, he would fill a number of managerial positions, mostly notably when alongside David McAskie, the club won the old Irish League Second Division.

Nowadays as the club’s vice-chairman and board member, Gary’s abilities as an administrator are very evident behind the scenes. He continues to play a key role in the every day running and progression of the club and, like McGrath, it’s done with intergrity, diplomacy, a passion for the game and a love for his club.