Ardfinnan GAA
Encyclopedia
Ardfinnan GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club in County Tipperary
, Ireland
. The club draws its players and support from the small town of the same name. The area comprises three parishes of Ardfinnan
, Grange and Ballybacon and their surrounding hinterlands. The club is known by its supporters as "the village" in south Tipperary. The team's home ground is on the main Ardfinnan to Clonmel road (the R665
) just outside the village.
Ardfinnan GAA club only play gaelic football
but the village of Ardfinnan
also has a senior hurling team, Ballybacon-Grange GAA
who play their games in Goatenbridge village which is around three miles from Ardfinnan.
there was very little football played in the period between 1919 and 1922. Ardfinnan reached their first South Final in 1927 but were beaten by a Carrick on Suir side who went on to win the County Title. In 1928 Ardfinnan had two players on the Tipperary County Team
that beat Kerry
in the Munster Senior Football Championship
, they were Ned Lonergan and John O' Leary, to date this was the last time Tipperary beat Kerry in a Munster Championship. The 1960s will be remembered in history as Ardfinnan's golden era, during this period Ardfinnan won the county senior title three times 1962, 1963, 1964, the South senior title 5 times including the four in a row from 1961 to 1964 and then 1968.
In May 1988, the club's new GAA grounds were officially opened. The grounds consisted of a playing field, a covered stand, four changing rooms and a car park for up to 80 cars.
In November 2005, Ardfinnan won their first county title since 1974 with a 1-5 to 1-4 win against Loughmore-Castleiney
. That title ended a 31 year famine with a late winning point by player manager Peter Lambert
.
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 County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, 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,...
. The club draws its players and support from the small town of the same name. The area comprises three parishes of Ardfinnan
Ardfinnan
Ardfinnan is a small village in the barony of Iffa and Offa West, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is situated on the River Suir and R665 regional road. The parish of Ardfinnan is made up of three areas: Ardfinnan, Ballybacon, and Grange. The village is located 14 kilometres from the town of Clonmel...
, Grange and Ballybacon and their surrounding hinterlands. The club is known by its supporters as "the village" in south Tipperary. The team's home ground is on the main Ardfinnan to Clonmel road (the R665
R665 road
The R665 road is a regional road in Ireland. The route runs from Mitchelstown to Clonmel via Ballyporeen, Clogheen and Ardfinnan, passing through parts of counties Cork and Tipperary. The R665 was once a key part of the historic route from Dublin to Cork, and was mapped as such as late as 1778...
) just outside the village.
Ardfinnan GAA club only play gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
but the village of Ardfinnan
Ardfinnan
Ardfinnan is a small village in the barony of Iffa and Offa West, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is situated on the River Suir and R665 regional road. The parish of Ardfinnan is made up of three areas: Ardfinnan, Ballybacon, and Grange. The village is located 14 kilometres from the town of Clonmel...
also has a senior hurling team, Ballybacon-Grange GAA
Ballybacon-Grange GAA
Ballybacon-Grange GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club with an senior hurling team, located in the areas of Goatenbridge and Ardfinnan in south County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is famous for players Michael "Babs" Keating and Brendan Cummins....
who play their games in Goatenbridge village which is around three miles from Ardfinnan.
History
Ardfinnan GAA club was formed in the village of Ardfinnan in 1910. There were games played on the green in Ardfinan village between local teams until in 1910 the GAA club was founded. At that time the woolen mills had a big influence on the club as a lot of players were employed there. At this time the club were a junior club although they entered the Tipperary senior championship in 1912 for the first time but were beaten by Fethard. At this time Ardfinnan were known as the magpies because of the jersey being black and white. The colour of the jersey was not liked by many who wore it so a collection was made for a new set of jersey which were Green with a white band and white shamrock, that shamrock still remains on the jersey's to this very day. The club played senior in 1917 and 1918 but due to the War of IndependenceIrish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
there was very little football played in the period between 1919 and 1922. Ardfinnan reached their first South Final in 1927 but were beaten by a Carrick on Suir side who went on to win the County Title. In 1928 Ardfinnan had two players on the Tipperary County Team
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
that beat Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in the Munster Senior Football Championship
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
, they were Ned Lonergan and John O' Leary, to date this was the last time Tipperary beat Kerry in a Munster Championship. The 1960s will be remembered in history as Ardfinnan's golden era, during this period Ardfinnan won the county senior title three times 1962, 1963, 1964, the South senior title 5 times including the four in a row from 1961 to 1964 and then 1968.
In May 1988, the club's new GAA grounds were officially opened. The grounds consisted of a playing field, a covered stand, four changing rooms and a car park for up to 80 cars.
In November 2005, Ardfinnan won their first county title since 1974 with a 1-5 to 1-4 win against Loughmore-Castleiney
Loughmore-Castleiney GAA
Loughmore-Castleiney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club draws its players and support from the small parish of the same name. The area comprises the villages of Loughmore and Castleiney and their surrounding hinterland.-History:Loughmore-Castleiney has...
. That title ended a 31 year famine with a late winning point by player manager Peter Lambert
Peter Lambert (GAA)
Peter Lambert is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Ardfinnan and also with Cork team Nemo Rangers, and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1991 until 2003...
.
Honours
- Tipperary Senior Football Champions (8) 1935, 1939, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1974, 2005
- South Tipperary Senior Football Champions (9) 1935, 1939, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1973, 1974
Famous players
- Peter LambertPeter Lambert (GAA)Peter Lambert is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Ardfinnan and also with Cork team Nemo Rangers, and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1991 until 2003...
- Michael "Babs" Keating
- Brendan CumminsBrendan Cummins (Tipperary hurler)Brendan Cummins is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with Ballybacon-Grange and Gaelic football with Ardfinnan. A former dual player at the highest level, Cummins has been a member of the Tipperary senior hurling team since 1995...
- Michael Phelan