Athy GAA
Encyclopedia
Athy GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
club in Athy
, County Kildare
, Republic of Ireland
, winner of six county senior football championships.
had 70 members, with Revd J Caroll, Martin Doyle, Daniel Foley and B King listed as officers. EJ O'Reilly, Brian Supple and P Lawler attended the 1889 convention. In 1905 Athy
rented a field for the Kildare Agricultural Society. The ground staged the replay of the 1908 All Ireland hurling final. Ronan Fenlon is player of the year 5 times in a row. He is from Ballyadams.
team was regraded senior in 1921. The team went to the 1923 County final under the guidance of Edward Sapper O'Neill. There they became the last team to end the county scoreless when they lost 2-5 to nil against Naas
. With the emergence of Paul Mattews and Tom Mulhall they beat Rathangan to win the 1933 championship in a trial of youth v experience. Paul Mathews got a late goal to equalize the 1934 final and Athy
won the replay under the captaincy of John Joe Murphy. Athy
came back and won a disappointing 1937 county final against Sarsfields, having been eliminated on a walk-over by Raheens
and reinstated. In 1942 Athy
won another replayed final against Carbury
, having trailed at half-time in the drawn match 0-4 to nil and having seemingly blown their chance when Pat Mulhall missed a 14 yard free. An early Athy
goal in the replay set them on course for victory. Athy
's last county final for thirty years was that of 1946 when the weather, and then the "save the harvest" campaign caused the county final to be postponed twice. In between they lost two semi-finals against Ellistown
, and were shocked by near neighbours Rheban
in 1945. In the 1950s DannyFlood held the full back position on the Kildare
team for ten years. Athy
stepped down to intermediate in 1967. Their seven years in the grade saw them lose successive finals in 1969 and 1970, the second to local rivals Rheban and even enter an area team, St. Michael's
, in the championship. The return of Mick Carolan, and the emergence of Brian O'Doherty and Pat Shaughnessy all helped bring about a 1974 intermediate championship triumph. But the most exciting prospects for the club seemed to lie in the 1973 Athy
CBS and Kildare minor All Ireland teams, back-boned by five Athy
players.
Although shocked by St. Laurences
in the 1974 minor final, Athy
had won the under-21 championship in 1975. A defeat to Monasterevin
in their senior championship debut did not deter them. In 1976 Athy went to the county semi-final where they were beaten by four points by Raheens. Heavily beaten by Carbury in 1977, they took the lead against Raheens in the 1978 final, with goals from Ger Clancy and a fabulously executed move finished by Donie Lambe sent them into a 2-3 to 0-5 lead against Raheens, but a penalty given against them and two players sent off meant they lost 3-14 to 2-6. Athy won the Kildare County Championship in 1987 when they defeated Johnstownbridge in the final at St. Conleths Park in Newbridge by 2-09 to 0-9. Bobby Miller lined out at centre forward that day and was also the teams manager.
Athy had to wait 24 years before reaching the summit of Kildare Senior Football once again. On the 9th of October 2011 in St Conleths Park Newbridge Michael Foley
captained a young Athy side to victory against Carbury
with a final score of 2.11 to 2.07. Athy scored 2-5 in the opening 15 minutes and two points in the closing four minutes but managed just four points in between, a period during which Carbury accumulated 2-4. Indeed, when Daryl O'Brien rasped home Carbury's second goal in the 57th minute to cut the deficit to two points, it looked as if they might have timed their run to perfection. The next score was crucial and it went Athy's way as Man of the Match Cian Reynolds held his nerve and calmly pointed a free.
"It was a crucial score because Carbury were going very well at that stage," said Athy manager Mark Brophy.
Reynolds added another point in stoppage time, sending the red-clad hordes in the 6,000 crowd into ecstasy as they began the celebrations after a job well done by a well-balanced squad.Irish Independent http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/athy-hold-their-nerve-to-bridge-gap-of-24-years-2900841.html
GAA club in 1887. Athy
lost to Monasterevin in the 1887 hurling championship. Hurling was revived in 1928 and 1932.
In 1998 Eddie lawler was elected as Chairman after being involved as Secretary and PRO since 1972 and continues as Chairman to this day. He's also in his third year as chairman of the Kildare Hurling Board.
Titles
Senior 1928, 1936, 1959
Intermediate 1937, 1943, 1950, 1958, 1989
Junior 1982, 1998, 2007
advertised for a reunion of players in 1909. Clan Bridge and St Patrick’s clubs from Athy
affiliated separately in 1935. Athy
beat Ballitore in the 1940 junior final. Ballyroe St Anne’s was formed in 1959. Coached by Jimmy Hickey, they won the 1961 senior league, Brigid Moran scored seven goals as they won the 1961 county final and they went on to win four county titles in a row before disbanding suddenly in 1964. Ballyroe won the Senior League in 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1964.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club in Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, winner of six county senior football championships.
History
RIC records from 1890 show that AthyAthy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
had 70 members, with Revd J Caroll, Martin Doyle, Daniel Foley and B King listed as officers. EJ O'Reilly, Brian Supple and P Lawler attended the 1889 convention. In 1905 Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
rented a field for the Kildare Agricultural Society. The ground staged the replay of the 1908 All Ireland hurling final. Ronan Fenlon is player of the year 5 times in a row. He is from Ballyadams.
Gaelic Football
Under the guidance of Seamus Malone the club's Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team was regraded senior in 1921. The team went to the 1923 County final under the guidance of Edward Sapper O'Neill. There they became the last team to end the county scoreless when they lost 2-5 to nil against Naas
Naas GAA
Naas is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of eight Kildare county senior football championships, six senior hurling championships, three senior camogie championships and Kildare club of the year in 1981....
. With the emergence of Paul Mattews and Tom Mulhall they beat Rathangan to win the 1933 championship in a trial of youth v experience. Paul Mathews got a late goal to equalize the 1934 final and Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
won the replay under the captaincy of John Joe Murphy. Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
came back and won a disappointing 1937 county final against Sarsfields, having been eliminated on a walk-over by Raheens
Raheens GAA
Raheens is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Caragh, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of the Leinster senior club championship in 1981, 10 county senior football championships, first winners of the Kildare club of the year in 1973 and winners again in 1976. The separate hurling club,...
and reinstated. In 1942 Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
won another replayed final against Carbury
Carbury GAA
Carbury GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of 11 Kildare county senior football championships and participants in eight successive county finals between 1965 and 1972...
, having trailed at half-time in the drawn match 0-4 to nil and having seemingly blown their chance when Pat Mulhall missed a 14 yard free. An early Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
goal in the replay set them on course for victory. Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
's last county final for thirty years was that of 1946 when the weather, and then the "save the harvest" campaign caused the county final to be postponed twice. In between they lost two semi-finals against Ellistown
Ellistown GAA
Ellistown is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of four county senior football championships, including two under their former name of Mountrice Blunts. They also played as Knavinstown for a period and combined with Ballykelly to form an area team, St. Brigids...
, and were shocked by near neighbours Rheban
Rheban GAA
Rheban is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in South County Kildare, Ireland. Twice winners of the Club of the year in 1996-1997, they competed in the senior championship in the 1940s, reaching the semi-final in 1945, and after winning the Junior and Intermediate championships in successive...
in 1945. In the 1950s DannyFlood held the full back position on the Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
team for ten years. Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
stepped down to intermediate in 1967. Their seven years in the grade saw them lose successive finals in 1969 and 1970, the second to local rivals Rheban and even enter an area team, St. Michael's
St. Michael's GAA
St. Michaels G.F.C. is a Gaelic football club in Cork City, Ireland. The club was formed in 1951 after a discourse in the Leaping Salmon bar in Blackrock near Cork. At that time some of the Blackrock hurlers played football with different city teams and it was thought a good idea to enter a...
, in the championship. The return of Mick Carolan, and the emergence of Brian O'Doherty and Pat Shaughnessy all helped bring about a 1974 intermediate championship triumph. But the most exciting prospects for the club seemed to lie in the 1973 Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
CBS and Kildare minor All Ireland teams, back-boned by five Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
players.
Although shocked by St. Laurences
St Laurence's GAA
St Laurence’s is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in south County Kildare, Ireland. The Larries are current Kildare Senior Football Champions having beat Moorefield in the 2009 final. Before this historic win they had been senior football finalists on four occasions. St Laurence's is the most...
in the 1974 minor final, Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
had won the under-21 championship in 1975. A defeat to Monasterevin
Monasterevin G.F.C.
Monasterevin G.F.C. is a Gaelic football club based in Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland. The club being located in County Kildare competes in the County Kildare GAA board league and cup system...
in their senior championship debut did not deter them. In 1976 Athy went to the county semi-final where they were beaten by four points by Raheens. Heavily beaten by Carbury in 1977, they took the lead against Raheens in the 1978 final, with goals from Ger Clancy and a fabulously executed move finished by Donie Lambe sent them into a 2-3 to 0-5 lead against Raheens, but a penalty given against them and two players sent off meant they lost 3-14 to 2-6. Athy won the Kildare County Championship in 1987 when they defeated Johnstownbridge in the final at St. Conleths Park in Newbridge by 2-09 to 0-9. Bobby Miller lined out at centre forward that day and was also the teams manager.
Athy had to wait 24 years before reaching the summit of Kildare Senior Football once again. On the 9th of October 2011 in St Conleths Park Newbridge Michael Foley
Michael Foley (Kildare Gaelic footballer)
Michael "Mick" Foley is an Irish Gaelic footballer from Kildare who plays for his local club, Athy. He also played hurling with Kildare.He plays full back for the Kildare senior inter-county team since making his senior debut in 2004...
captained a young Athy side to victory against Carbury
Carbury GAA
Carbury GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of 11 Kildare county senior football championships and participants in eight successive county finals between 1965 and 1972...
with a final score of 2.11 to 2.07. Athy scored 2-5 in the opening 15 minutes and two points in the closing four minutes but managed just four points in between, a period during which Carbury accumulated 2-4. Indeed, when Daryl O'Brien rasped home Carbury's second goal in the 57th minute to cut the deficit to two points, it looked as if they might have timed their run to perfection. The next score was crucial and it went Athy's way as Man of the Match Cian Reynolds held his nerve and calmly pointed a free.
"It was a crucial score because Carbury were going very well at that stage," said Athy manager Mark Brophy.
Reynolds added another point in stoppage time, sending the red-clad hordes in the 6,000 crowd into ecstasy as they began the celebrations after a job well done by a well-balanced squad.
Hurling
Daniel Whelan of Fontstown placed an order for hurleys for AthyAthy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
GAA club in 1887. Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
lost to Monasterevin in the 1887 hurling championship. Hurling was revived in 1928 and 1932.
In 1998 Eddie lawler was elected as Chairman after being involved as Secretary and PRO since 1972 and continues as Chairman to this day. He's also in his third year as chairman of the Kildare Hurling Board.
Titles
Senior 1928, 1936, 1959
Intermediate 1937, 1943, 1950, 1958, 1989
Junior 1982, 1998, 2007
Camogie
AthyAthy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
advertised for a reunion of players in 1909. Clan Bridge and St Patrick’s clubs from Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
affiliated separately in 1935. Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
beat Ballitore in the 1940 junior final. Ballyroe St Anne’s was formed in 1959. Coached by Jimmy Hickey, they won the 1961 senior league, Brigid Moran scored seven goals as they won the 1961 county final and they went on to win four county titles in a row before disbanding suddenly in 1964. Ballyroe won the Senior League in 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1964.
Geraldine Park
First rented from the Kildare Agricultural Society in 1905, Athy GAA grounds was quickly developed in time to stage the replay of the 1908 All Ireland hurling final, the Leinster football finals of 1907, 1908, 1942 and 1944, and the Leinster hurling final of 1907. Geraldine Park was opened in 1930 and developed under the guidance of Fintan Brennan. To the seating of the 1940s was added a stand in 1984. The dressing rooms, built in 1964 (now replaced), had a holy water font near the exit for use of teams running on to the pitch.Honours
- Kildare U-21 Football ChampionshipKildare U-21 Football ChampionshipKildare U-21 Football ChampionshipThe Kildare U-21 Football Championship is an annual GAA club competition for Kildare GAA Clubs.-Roll of Honour:...
Winners 2010 - Kildare Senior Football Championship Winners 1933, 1934, 1937, 1942, 1987, 2011
- Kildare Minor Football ChampionshipKildare Minor Football ChampionshipThe Kildare Minor Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition organised by Kildare GAA.-Roll of Honour:...
Winners ,1956 1966, 1973, 2008, 2009, 2010 - Kildare Senior Hurling Championship winners 1959
- MH Champions 1970.
- Mick Carolan was chosen on the Kildare football team of the millennium and was a Cuchulainn All StarsGAA All Stars Awards Past Winners (Football)This is a list of all past winners of the official GAA All Stars Awards since the first awards in 1971. As an insight to the prominent players of the 1960s, it also includes the unofficial "Cuchulainn" awards presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of Gaelic Weekly magazine.For each year...
Award winner in 1966. - Geraldine Dwyer was chosen on the Kildare camogie team of the century.
- Cian Reynolds captained the 2009 Kildare minor team to a Leinster Final where they were beaten in extra-time of the replay by Dublin.
Honours Ballyroe
- Kildare Senior Camogie ChampionshipKildare Senior Camogie ChampionshipCamogie was played in Kildare shortly after the sport was first organized in 1904. However due to sparse records it is not certain when the first senior camogie championship was held.The earliest record of Camogie appears in an advertisement by Athy Ladies Hurling Club advertised a members reunion...
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964. - Senior Camogie League 1960, 1961.