15 December 2012
“We’re taking this match very seriously.
We’re now training twice a week and some of the lads have been off the
beer since Tuesday!” These were the
immortal words of Offaly’s Johnny Pilkington as he and his teammates prepared
for one of their All Ireland final appearances in the 1990’s. It was a glorious period in the history of
Offaly hurling with the dramatic All Ireland victories of 1994 and 1998
doubling their previous victories of 1981 and 1985.
Offaly hurling has been in the doldrums at inter county level since
those heady days but the club scene there has still remained strong with Birr
the driving force winning All Ireland Senior Club titles in the 1994/95,
1997/98, 2001/02 and 2002/03 seasons.
After dominance by Kilkenny powerhouses James Stephens, O’Loughlin Gaels
and Ballyhale Shamrocks in recent years, Offaly club hurling has now
resurrected itself once more with Coolderry’s Leinster Club Championship
success in 2011 before falling to Antrim’s Loughgiel Shamrocks in the St.
Patricks day decider earlier this year.
And now Kilcormac/Killoughey have made history by becoming Offaly Senior
Hurling champions for the first time in October of this year and then marching
their way to the Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship final where they
defeated hot favourites Oulart-the-Ballagh of Wexford on Sunday last. A fantastic achievement for a rural club and
once more emphasising how special the GAA is to such communities.
 |
| Victorious Kilcormac/Killoughey players celebrate their historic victory over Oulart-the-Ballagh |
But are Kilcormac/Killoughey unique in becoming county champions for the
first time and then proceeding to become provincial kingpins? The answer is no but they join a select band
of club sides which have managed this accolade in both Gaelic Football and Hurling. The other sides are as follows:
Carrick
Davins (Tipperary) 1966
Carrick Davins of Carrick-on-Suir won their first Tipperary Senior
Hurling Club title in 1966 by defeating Lorrha in the decider on a scoreline of
2-12 to 1-02. The club was named in
honour of Maurice Davin who was the first President of the GAA and who lived
near the town. The success continued
when they defeated Ballygunner of Waterford in the Munster Club Hurling decider
later that year on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-11.
The All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was not founded until
1971 so Carrick Davins did not get to participate in an All Ireland
series. The clubs most famous player was
Mick Roche who had won a second All Ireland medal with Tipperary when they had
defeated Wexford earlier that year.
Ballyhale
Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 1978
Ballyhale Shamrocks won their first Kilkenny Senior Hurling Club title
in 1978 by defeating The Fenians in the decider on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-10. It was an historic achievement as the club
had only joined the senior grade four years previously. The success continued when they defeated
Crumlin of Dublin in the Leinster Club Hurling decider later that year on a
scoreline of 1-13 to 1-6. However, there
was to be no fairytale ending with Ballyhale defeated by a Ray Cummins inspired
Blackrock side from Cork in the All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
decider in March 1979 on a scoreline of 5-7 to 5-5.
Cushendall
(Antrim) 1981
Ruairi Og, Cushendall won their first Antrim Senior Hurling Club title
in 1981 by defeating McQuillans of Ballycastle in the decider. They had an emphatic win over Portaferry of
Down in the Ulster Club Hurling decider later that year on a scoreline of 4-17
to 0-9. However, they were defeated at
the semi final stage of the All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, James
Stephens of Kilkenny going on to be victorious.
St Martins
(Kilkenny) 1985
St. Martins won their first and only Kilkenny Senior Hurling Club title
in 1984 by defeating Ballyhale Shamrocks in the decider on a scoreline of 1-14
to 1-7. Captain Johnny Brennan had the
honour of lifting the Tom Walsh Cup and he went one step further when lifting the
O’Neill Cup after their defeat of Kinnitty of Offaly in the Leinster Club
Hurling decider later that year on a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-12. And the perfect season was rounded off when
they defeated Castlegar of Galway after a replay in the All Ireland Senior Club
Hurling Championship decider in March 1985 on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-10.
Ballybrown
(Limerick) 1989
Ballybrown won their first Limerick Senior Hurling Club title in 1989
and in turn lifted the John Daly Cup by defeating Doon in the decider on a
scoreline of 4-10 to 2-09. The success
continued when they defeated Sixmilebridge of Clare in the Munster Club Hurling
decider later that year on a scoreline of 2-11 to 1-8. However, there was to be no fairytale ending
with Ballybrown defeated by Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny in the All
Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship decider in March 1990 on a scoreline
of 1-16 to 0-16.
Dunloy
(Antrim) 1990
Cuchullians, Dunloy won their maiden Antrim Senior Hurling Club title in
1990 by defeating O’Donovan Rossa of Belfast in the decider. They then proved far too strong for
Ballygalget of Down in the Ulster Club Hurling decider later that year on a scoreline
of 0-17 to 2-4. However, they were
defeated at the semi final stage of the All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship,
Glenmore of Kilkenny going on to be victorious.
Their team included Gary O’Kane who was part of the Antrim side which
reached the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final of 1989 but which was defeated by
Tipperary.
Cashel King
Cormacs (Tipperary) 1991
Cashel King Cormacs won their one and only Tipperary Senior Hurling Club
title in 1991 and in turn lifted the Dan Breen Cup by defeating
Holycross-Ballycahill in the decider on a scoreline of 2-08 to 1-05. The success continued when they defeated Midleton
of Cork in the Munster Club Hurling decider later that year in a low scoring
encounter on a scoreline of 0-09 to 0-6.
However, they were defeated at the semi final stage of the All Ireland
Senior Club Hurling Championship, Kiltormer of Galway going on to be
victorious. Their most famous players
were the Bonner brothers Conal, Colm and Cormac who backboned the Tipperary
senior team during the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Wolfe Tones
(Clare) 1996
Wolfe Tones of Shannon won the first of their two Clare Senior Hurling
Club titles in 1996 by defeating Clarecastle in the decider on a scoreline of
1-11 to 1-08. The success continued when
they defeated Ballygunner of Waterford after a titanic struggle in the Munster
Club Hurling decider later that year on a scoreline of 4-09 to 4-08. However, their dreams were dashed when they
were defeated by Athenry of Galway in the All Ireland Senior Club Hurling
Championship decider in March 1997 on a scoreline of 0-14 to 1-08. Their most
famous players were the Lohan brothers Brian and Frank who manned the fullback
line of the Clare senior team during their All Ireland successes of 1995 and
1997.
Na Piarsaigh
(Limerick) 2011
Na Piarsaigh won their one and only Limerick Senior Hurling Club title
to date in 2011 and in turn lifted the John Daly Cup by defeating Ahane in the
decider on a scoreline of 2-18 to 0-13.
The success continued when they defeated Crusheen of Clare after a
replay in the Munster Club Hurling decider later that year on a scoreline of
1-13 to 0-09. However, they were
defeated at the semi final stage of the All Ireland Senior Club Hurling
Championship, Loughgiel Shamrocks of Antrim going on to be victorious. Their most well known players are David
Breen, Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes who spearheaded the Limerick Senior teams
Munster Championship campaign in 2012.
Tommy
Larkins, Galway 1971, Sarsfields, Galway 1980, Killimordaly, Galway, 1986,
Athenry, Galway 1987, Clarinbridge, Galway 2001, Portumna, Galway 2003 and St. Thomas’, Galway 2012
All of the above clubs won the Galway Senior Club Hurling Championship
for the first time in these years and as Galway clubs automatically qualified
for the Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship final, a competition that has
now been disbanded since the 2007/08 season, they would have won the Connacht
Club Hurling titles also in those years.
Athenry went on to contest the All Ireland club final of 1987/88 but
were defeated by Midleton of Cork by 3-08 to 0-09. Clarinbridge went on to
contest the All Ireland club final of 2001/02 but were defeated by Birr of
Offaly by 2-10 to 1-05. St Thomas’ now
fly the flag for Galway and Connacht hurling in the All Ireland series in
February 2013.
Nemo Rangers
(Cork) 1972
The famous Nemo Rangers club from Cork City won the first of their
record 18 Cork Senior Football Club titles in 1972 when they defeated UCC in the
decider on a scoreline of 2-09 to 0-08.
The success in 1972 continued when they defeated Doonbeg of Clare in the
Munster Club Football decider later that year.
And the perfect season was rounded off when they went on to capture the
All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship title. The most notable members of this famous club
over the years were Billy Morgan, Dinny Allen, Jimmy Kerrigan, Shea Fahy,
Stephen O’Brien, Colin Corkery and Joe Kavanagh.
Knockmore
(Mayo) 1973
The Knockmore club won the first of their eight Mayo Senior Football
Club titles in 1973 when they defeated Garrymore in the decider on a scoreline
of 3-13 to 2-11. The success in 1973
continued when they defeated Ballinamore of Leitrim in the Connacht Club
Football decider later that year on a scoreline of 4-10 to 0-08. However, they were defeated in the latter
stages of the All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, UCD of Dublin
going on to be victorious.
Killererin
(Galway) 1976
The Killererin club of Tuam won the first of their six Galway Senior
Football Club titles in 1976 when they defeated Mountbellow in the decider on a
scoreline of 2-05 to 1-04. The success
in 1976 continued when they defeated Garrymore of Mayo in the Connacht Club
Football decider later that year on a scoreline of 3-08 to 0-05. However, they were defeated in the latter
stages of the All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, Austin Stacks of
Kerry going on to be victorious. The
most notable members of this club over the years were Billy Joyce and his now
retired nephew Padraig Joyce.
St. Mary’s
(Sligo) 1977
The St. Mary’s club in Sligo town won the first of its ten Sligo Senior
Football Club titles in 1977 when they defeated St. Patrick’s, Dromard in the
decider on a scoreline of 1-08 to 0-05.
The success in 1977 continued when they defeated Corofin of Galway in
the Connacht Club Football decider later that year on a scoreline of 4-06 to
1-09. However, they were defeated in the
latter stages of the All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, Thomond
College of Limerick going on to be victorious.
Thomond
College (Limerick) 1977
Thomond College won the first of their two Limerick Senior Football Club
titles in 1977 when they defeated Croom in the decider. The success in 1977 continued when they
defeated Nemo Rangers of Cork in the Munster Club Football decider later that
year. And the perfect season was rounded
off when they went on to capture the All Ireland Senior Club Football
Championship title. The most famous
member of the team was Pat Spillane from Kerry who went on to achieve so much
success with the great Kerry team of the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Castlehaven
(Cork) 1989
The West Cork club of Castlehaven won their first Cork Senior Football
Club title in 1989 when they defeated St. Finbarr’s in the decider on a
scoreline of 0-09 to 0-07. The success
in 1989 continued when they defeated St. Senan’s, Kilkee of Clare in the
Munster Club Football decider later that year.
However, they were defeated in the latter stages of the All Ireland
Senior Club Football Championship, surprise packets Baltinglass of Wicklow
going on to be victorious. The most
notable members of this club over the years were Niall Cahalane, Larry Tompkins
and John Cleary.
Salthill/Knocknacarra
(Galway) 1990
The Salthill/Knocknacarra club won the first of their three Galway
Senior Football Club titles in 1990 when they defeated Corofin. The success in 1990 continued when they
defeated Sean O’Heslin’s of Leitrim in the Connacht Club Football decider later
that year on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-05.
However, they were defeated in the latter stages of the All Ireland
Senior Club Football Championship, Lavey of Derry going on to be victorious. The most notable members of the club over the
years are Liam Sammon, Michael Donnellan, Alan Kerins and Sean Armstrong.
O’Donovan
Rossa (Cork) 1992
The O’Donovan Rossa club of Skibbereen won their one and only Cork
Senior Football Club title in 1992 when they defeated powerhouses Nemo Rangers
in the decider on a scoreline of 2-09 to 0-10.
The success in 1992 continued when they defeated St. Senan’s, Kilkee of
Clare in the Munster Club Football decider later that year. And the fairytale was complete when they
defeated Eire Og of Carlow in the All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
decider in March 1993. The most notable members of this club were Tony and Don
Davis and Michael McCarthy.
Errigal
Ciaran (Tyrone) 1993
Errigal Ciaran in Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone won the first of their Tyrone
Senior Football Club titles to date in 1993 when they defeated Moortown St.
Malachy’s in the decider. The success in
1993 continued when they defeated Downpatrick of Down in the Ulster Club
Football decider later that year.
However, they were defeated at the semi final stage of the All Ireland
Senior Club Football Championship, Nemo Rangers of Cork going on to be
victorious. Their most famous players are
Peter and Pascal Canavan, Enda McGinley, Davy Harte and John Devine.
St. Brigid’s
(Dublin) 2003
St. Brigid’s GAA Club in Castleknock won the first of their two Dublin
Senior Football Club titles to date in 2003 and repeated the feat in 2011. The success in 2003 continued when they
defeated Round Towers of Kildare in the Leinster Club Football decider later
that year on a scoreline of 3-11 to 1-10.
However, they were defeated at the semi final stage of the All Ireland
Senior Club Football Championship, Caltra of Galway going on to be
victorious. Their most famous players were
Peadar Andrews and Barry Cahill, who won an All Star Award in 2007.
Caltra
(Galway) 2003
The Caltra club won their one and only Galway Senior Football Club title
in 2003 when they defeated Killererin in the decider on a scoreline of 3-11 to
0-05. The success in 2003 continued when
they defeated Curry of Sligo in the Connacht Club Football decider later that
year on a scoreline of 1-06 to 0-06. And
their dreams were realised when they defeated An Ghaeltacht of Kerry in the All
Ireland Senior Club Football Championship decider in March 2004.
After their Leinster Final success the stewards had a job to get the
Kilcormac/Killoughey players up to accept the cup such was the good time that
the players were having celebrating with their followers out on the field. Eventually they came up, and when captain Ciaran
Slevin held aloft the cup, their Rock Me Like A Wagon Wheel anthem got a brief
airing.
What odds of another rendition next March in Croke Park if Ciaran Slevin
were to lift the Tommy Moore Cup?
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