Midleton GAA
Encyclopedia
Midleton Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club based in the town
of Midleton
in County Cork
, Ireland
.
was formed with the ideal of creating a National Athletic body. Midleton man, P.N Fitzgerald was one of the committee members who eventually set up the Gaelic Athletic Association and thus Midleton's love affair and commitment to the G.A.A. was established.
The club was formally affiliated to the association, when at the third meeting of the fledgling organisation, held in Thurles
on the 17th January 1885; Jeremiah J Coffey formally registered the club as Midleton Football club. The club blossomed in the early years and in 1890 brought the first senior football All Ireland title to Cork under the captaincy of Jim Power. This was an historic year in the annals of Cork G.A.A. as the hurlers, under the Aghabullogue
banner also brought the hurling title to the Leeside. Exactly 100 years later their modern day counterparts repeated this historic feat of winning the two All Ireland senior titles in the one year. Two Midleton players, Kevin Hennessy
and Ger FitzGerald
, were instrumental in guiding the hurlers to their victory in 1990.
The club purchased its present location from Lord Midleton in 1958 and has continuously upgraded its facilities in the meantime to make it the capital of sporting venues in East Cork and one of the finest arenas in the country. In 1975 the club's pavilion was opened and since its completion has played a vital role for the GAA and other sporting and cultural organisations within the greater East Cork area.
Following this, the club entered its' greatest period in its history on the playing fields. When the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship
was annexed in 1978 the club went from strength to strength culminating in winning the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
title in 1987. Along the way, every county hurling title was won from underage to senior with the 1983 victory over St.Finbarrs being the most treasured. This was beyond the wildest dreams of anyone within the club, but the players proved it was not a one off wonder when they fulfilled their potential by winning three other Cork Senior Hurling Championship
titles in 1986, 87 and 91 beating the cream of Cork hurling along the way.
By winning the title in 1983 the club were rewarded with the captaincy of the Cork team for 1984, the centenary year of the Association. In that year the club became only the second club in the history of the G.A.A. to provide All Ireland winning senior captains in both hurling and football when John Fenton
captained Cork to All Ireland victory over Offaly
in Thurles
. There were five other Midleton players on the Cork panel that year with Joe Desmond being chairman of the selection committee.
The 1980's and early 90's were great years for the club but after the feast came some lean years. However, following tremendous work at street league level and in the schools success is starting to flow again. While the expanding population around the area will bring its own opportunities and problems the members of Midleton G.A.A. club are determined to keep the flag of the association flying proudly within the town and where ever the games of hurling and football will take them.
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 based in the town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, 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,...
.
History
The concept of a Gaelic Athletic Association was first mooted in 1883 when a sub-committee of the Irish Republican BrotherhoodIrish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
was formed with the ideal of creating a National Athletic body. Midleton man, P.N Fitzgerald was one of the committee members who eventually set up the Gaelic Athletic Association and thus Midleton's love affair and commitment to the G.A.A. was established.
The club was formally affiliated to the association, when at the third meeting of the fledgling organisation, held in Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
on the 17th January 1885; Jeremiah J Coffey formally registered the club as Midleton Football club. The club blossomed in the early years and in 1890 brought the first senior football All Ireland title to Cork under the captaincy of Jim Power. This was an historic year in the annals of Cork G.A.A. as the hurlers, under the Aghabullogue
Aghabullogue GAA
Aghabullogue GAA are a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Cork, Ireland. They are affiliated to the Cork County Board and play in the Mid Cork division of Cork GAA. Aghabullogue cater for both Gaelic football and hurling.-History:...
banner also brought the hurling title to the Leeside. Exactly 100 years later their modern day counterparts repeated this historic feat of winning the two All Ireland senior titles in the one year. Two Midleton players, Kevin Hennessy
Kevin Hennessy
Kevin Hennessy is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1993.-Club:...
and Ger FitzGerald
Ger FitzGerald (hurler)
Ger FitzGerald is an Irish hurling manager and player. He is the current manager of the Cork under-21 hurling team....
, were instrumental in guiding the hurlers to their victory in 1990.
The club purchased its present location from Lord Midleton in 1958 and has continuously upgraded its facilities in the meantime to make it the capital of sporting venues in East Cork and one of the finest arenas in the country. In 1975 the club's pavilion was opened and since its completion has played a vital role for the GAA and other sporting and cultural organisations within the greater East Cork area.
Following this, the club entered its' greatest period in its history on the playing fields. When the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship
Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship
Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship is the second-tier hurling competition organized by the Cork Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The winners usually will play in the senior grade the following year for the Cork Senior Hurling Championship. This championship has been played for since 1909...
was annexed in 1978 the club went from strength to strength culminating in winning the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
title in 1987. Along the way, every county hurling title was won from underage to senior with the 1983 victory over St.Finbarrs being the most treasured. This was beyond the wildest dreams of anyone within the club, but the players proved it was not a one off wonder when they fulfilled their potential by winning three other Cork Senior Hurling Championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
titles in 1986, 87 and 91 beating the cream of Cork hurling along the way.
By winning the title in 1983 the club were rewarded with the captaincy of the Cork team for 1984, the centenary year of the Association. In that year the club became only the second club in the history of the G.A.A. to provide All Ireland winning senior captains in both hurling and football when John Fenton
John Fenton
John Fenton is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1987. Fenton is regarded as one of Cork's greatest-ever players.-Club:Fenton played his club hurling with his local Midleton club and...
captained Cork to All Ireland victory over Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
. There were five other Midleton players on the Cork panel that year with Joe Desmond being chairman of the selection committee.
The 1980's and early 90's were great years for the club but after the feast came some lean years. However, following tremendous work at street league level and in the schools success is starting to flow again. While the expanding population around the area will bring its own opportunities and problems the members of Midleton G.A.A. club are determined to keep the flag of the association flying proudly within the town and where ever the games of hurling and football will take them.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
s: 1- 1988
- Munster Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
s: 2- 1983, 1988
- Cork Senior Club Hurling Championships: 6
- 1914, 1916, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991
- Cork Intermediate Hurling ChampionshipCork Intermediate Hurling ChampionshipCork Intermediate Hurling Championship is the second-tier hurling competition organized by the Cork Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The winners usually will play in the senior grade the following year for the Cork Senior Hurling Championship. This championship has been played for since 1909...
s: 3- 1948, 1962, 1978
- Cork Junior Hurling ChampionshipCork Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe Cork Junior Hurling Championship is the third tier championship for hurling clubs in Cork. The winners of this championship compete in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in the following year. This championship is often considered the most difficult championship to win, since more teams...
s: 4- 1917, 1945, 1984, 1990
- Cork Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipCork Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipThe Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for players under the age of 21. Clubs affiliated to Cork board compete to win this championship. Seven of the divisions in Cork organize their own championship . The divisional winners compete against each other to decide the county...
s: 5- 1979, 1983, 1988, 1989, 2011
- Cork Minor Hurling ChampionshipCork Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe Cork Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Cork Premier Minor Hurling Championship since 1992. It is played on a countywide basis. Prior to 1992, all teams...
s: 6- 1928, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2010
Famous Hurlers
This is a list of notable hurlers who have played for Midleton. Generally, this means players that have enjoyed much success with the club or have played for the Cork senior hurling team.| Player | Era | Club titles | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Ireland | Munster | County | ||
| John Fenton John Fenton John Fenton is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1987. Fenton is regarded as one of Cork's greatest-ever players.-Club:Fenton played his club hurling with his local Midleton club and... |
1970s-1990s | 1988 | 1983, 1987 | 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991 |
| Ger FitzGerald Ger FitzGerald (hurler) Ger FitzGerald is an Irish hurling manager and player. He is the current manager of the Cork under-21 hurling team.... |
1980s-1990s | 1988 | 1983, 1987 | 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991 |
| Paddy FitzGerald Paddy FitzGerald Paddy FitzGerald is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1958 until 1967. His son, Ger FitzGerald, won All-Ireland medals with Cork in 1986 and 1990.-Club:FitzGerald played his club hurling with... |
1950s-1960s | |||
| Pat Hartnett | 1980s-1990s | 1988 | 1983, 1987 | 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991 |
| Denis Mulcahy | 1970s-1990s | 1988 | 1983, 1987 | 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991 |
| Mickey O'Connell Mickey O'Connell Mickey O’Connell is an Irish athlete. He plays hurling with his local club, Midleton, and is a former member of the Cork senior inter-county team.... |
1990s-2000s | |||
| Colm O'Neill Colm O'Neill (born 1964) Colm O'Neill is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football and hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county football team from 1984 until 1991.... |
1980s-1990s | 1988 | 1983, 1987 | 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991 |
| Conor Lehane | 2010s | |||
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
s: 1- 1890
- Munster Senior Football ChampionshipMunster Senior Football ChampionshipThe 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...
s: 1- 1890
- Cork Senior Football Championships: 2
- 1889, 1890
- Cork Intermediate Football ChampionshipCork Intermediate Football ChampionshipThis is the Second tier Gaelic football team competition organized by the Cork GAA board. This championship was discontinued after 1938 because of a lack of clubs. From 1939 until 1964 any team that won the Junior County Football Final could go straight to Senior. The Intermediate Championship was...
s: 1- 1984
- Cork Junior Football ChampionshipCork Junior Football ChampionshipThe Cork Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition in Cork. The competition was originally established in 1895 as a competition for second teams of clubs playing in the Cork Senior Football Championship. This is the fourth level of football clubs, under Senior, Premier...
s: 3- 1896, 1917, 1939