Offaly GAA
Encyclopedia
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA) or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards
of the GAA in Ireland
, and is responsible for Gaelic games
in County Offaly
. Separate county boards
are also responsible for the Offaly inter-county teams
titles in the 1980s, as well as their first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
in 1981 and 1985.
The county has since gone on to win three other All-Irelands. Perhaps Offaly's most famous win came in the All-Ireland Final of 1994 in what has come to be remembered as the "five minute final." Limerick
looked set to win their first All-Ireland title since 1973 until Offaly staged one of the greatest comebacks of all time, scoring two goals and five points in the last five minutes. They defeated Limerick
by 3-16 to 2-13.
The Vocational Schools team has made it to 12 All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship
finals but have never won one.
Squad as per Offaly vs Antrim (Leinster Quarter Final 2010)
Perhaps the most famous moment in Gaelic football history came in the 1982 All-Ireland Final when Offaly played Kerry
. The match was a repeat of the previous year's, however, not only that but a win for Kerry
would give them an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland Final victory in a row. Kerry were winning by two points with two minutes to go when Séamus Darby
came on as a substitute and scored one of the most famous goals in Gaelic football of all time. Kerry
fumbled the counter attack which allowed Offaly to win by one single point with a score of 1-15 to 0-17. The Offaly Vocational Schools Team have made it to 6 All Ireland finals but lost all 6 including the first final when they were beating by the Cork City team in 1961
Squad as per Offaly vs Meath (Leinster Quarter Final 2010)
disputes of the 1940s and had to be revived by Clare-born Mary O’Brien in 1973, and a county board re-formed in 1979.
Offaly won their first major national titles in 2002 when they won the second division of the National Camogie League
and in 2009 when they defeated Waterford in the All Ireland junior
final.
Drumcullen reached the final of the All Ireland club junior championship in 2003. Kinnity owon the Division 3 shield at Féile na nGael
in 1997, Drumcullen won the Coiste Chontae an Chláir Shield in 1997.
Notable players include soaring star award winners Karen Brady, Elaine Dermody, Audrey Kennedy
, Michaela Morkan
, Fiona Stephens
, and Arlene Watkins
.
Miriam O’Callaghan
served as president of the Camogie Association
).
Under Camogie’s National Development Plan 2010-2015, “Our Game, Our Passion,” five new camogie clubs are to be established in the county by 2015.
www.edenderrygaa.com
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...
(GAA) or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards
GAA county
A Gaelic Athletic Association county is a geographic region within the Gaelic Athletic Association , controlled by a county board and originally based on the counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the counties of Ireland have changed since the foundation of that date, the GAA counties have...
of the GAA in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and is responsible for Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
in County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
. Separate county boards
GAA county
A Gaelic Athletic Association county is a geographic region within the Gaelic Athletic Association , controlled by a county board and originally based on the counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the counties of Ireland have changed since the foundation of that date, the GAA counties have...
are also responsible for the Offaly inter-county teams
Hurling
After a scheme developed by the Gaelic Athletic Association in the 1970s to encourage the playing of hurling in non-traditional counties, Offaly was one of the first teams to benefit from such a scheme. As a result the county won six LeinsterLeinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
titles in the 1980s, as well as their first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
in 1981 and 1985.
The county has since gone on to win three other All-Irelands. Perhaps Offaly's most famous win came in the All-Ireland Final of 1994 in what has come to be remembered as the "five minute final." Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
looked set to win their first All-Ireland title since 1973 until Offaly staged one of the greatest comebacks of all time, scoring two goals and five points in the last five minutes. They defeated Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
by 3-16 to 2-13.
The Vocational Schools team has made it to 12 All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship
All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship
The All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association football and hurling competition. There are two levels of competition. Individual schools compete for county, provincial and All-Ireland competitions...
finals but have never won one.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
s: 4- 1981, 1985, 1994, 1998
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
s: None
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
s: 3- 1986, 1987, 1989
- All-Ireland Junior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
s: 2- 1923, 1929
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
s: 1- 1991
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
Div 2 2- 2005. 2009
- Leinster Senior Hurling ChampionshipLeinster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
s: 9- 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995
- Leinster Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipLeinster Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipFor the Senior equivalent see: Leinster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship or for sponsorship reasons the Erin Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship is an U-21 hurling tournament. The first tournament took place in 1964 when Wexford were crowned champions. Wexford...
s: 5- 1978, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2000
- Leinster Minor Hurling ChampionshipLeinster Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council...
s: 4- 1986, 1987, 1989, 2000
- Walsh CupWalsh Cup (hurling)The Walsh Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1954 for the top inter-county and third-level hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The cup was named after Tom Walsh , Chairman of the Leinster Council...
: 5- 1977, 1981, 1990, 1993, 1994
- Leinster Junior Hurling ChampionshipLeinster Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe Leinster Junior Hurling Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland...
s: 7- 1915, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1938, 1953
Offaly Hurling Squad
- Manager: Joe DooleyJoe DooleyJoe Dooley is an Irish former hurlers and manager.Regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, Dooley enjoyed a successful playing career at club level with Seir Kieran and remains the only Offaly player to have won three All-Ireland titles...
(Seir KieranSeir Kieran GAASeir Kieran is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Clareen in County Offaly, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.-Famous players:* Joe Bergin* Eugene Coughlan* Billy Dooley* Joe Dooley...
)
Squad as per Offaly vs Antrim (Leinster Quarter Final 2010)
Gaelic football
Gaelic football is the stronger of the two sports played in Offaly.Perhaps the most famous moment in Gaelic football history came in the 1982 All-Ireland Final when Offaly played 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...
. The match was a repeat of the previous year's, however, not only that but a win for 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...
would give them an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland Final victory in a row. Kerry were winning by two points with two minutes to go when Séamus Darby
Séamus Darby
Séamus Darby is an Irish former sportsperson who played Gaelic football for County Offaly in the 1970s and 1980s...
came on as a substitute and scored one of the most famous goals in Gaelic football of all time. 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...
fumbled the counter attack which allowed Offaly to win by one single point with a score of 1-15 to 0-17. The Offaly Vocational Schools Team have made it to 6 All Ireland finals but lost all 6 including the first final when they were beating by the Cork City team in 1961
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: 3- 1971, 1972, 1982
- All-Ireland Under-21 Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
s: 1- 1988
- All-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
s: 1- 1964
- All-Ireland Junior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Junior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition for junior gaelic football inter-county teams in Ireland. The definition of what constitutes a junior player differs from county to county. In some, the junior team is the second team after the senior team...
s: None
- National Football LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
s: 1- 1998
- Leinster Senior Football ChampionshipLeinster Senior Football ChampionshipThe GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
s: 10- 1960, 1961, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1997
- Leinster Under-21 Football ChampionshipLeinster Under-21 Football ChampionshipFor information on the latest U-21 championship see: Leinster U21 Football Championship 2007The Leinster Under-21 Football Championship is the Under 21 "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland...
s: 8- 1968, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1986, 1988, 1995
- Leinster Minor Football ChampionshipLeinster Minor Football ChampionshipThe Leinster Minor Football Championship is a Gaelic football "knockout" competition played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council. Each county in the province fields a team in the competition. The term "minor" is given to players who are...
s: 6- 1947, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1989
- Leinster Junior Football ChampionshipLeinster Junior Football ChampionshipThe Leinster Junior Football Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council. The competition began in 1906, with Wicklow winning during the inaugural year. The...
s: 4- 1935, 1972, 1998, 2001
Offaly Football Squad
- Manager: Tom Cribbin
Squad as per Offaly vs Meath (Leinster Quarter Final 2010)
Camogie
Nine Offaly camogie clubs were organised in the 1930s and Offaly entered the Leinster championships of 1935 and 1936, but the game declined amid the Camogie AssociationCamogie Association
The Camogie Association organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and across the world. The Association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Association.-History:...
disputes of the 1940s and had to be revived by Clare-born Mary O’Brien in 1973, and a county board re-formed in 1979.
Offaly won their first major national titles in 2002 when they won the second division of the National Camogie League
National Camogie League
The National Camogie League is the second most important competition in the Irish team sport of Camogie, played exclusively by women. The competition is held in four divisions graded by ability....
and in 2009 when they defeated Waterford in the All Ireland junior
All-Ireland Junior Camogie Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Camogie Championship is the most important competition for third-tier county teams in the women’s field sport of camogie. In accordance with the practice in GAA competitions the term junior applies to the level of competition rather than the age group...
final.
Drumcullen reached the final of the All Ireland club junior championship in 2003. Kinnity owon the Division 3 shield at Féile na nGael
Féile na nGael
Féile na nGael , Irish for "Festival of the Gaels") is an annual tournament comprising the sports of hurling, camogie and handball organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association...
in 1997, Drumcullen won the Coiste Chontae an Chláir Shield in 1997.
Notable players include soaring star award winners Karen Brady, Elaine Dermody, Audrey Kennedy
Audrey Kennedy
Audrey Kennedy is a camogie player and sports therapist. She won a Soaring Star award in 2009 and won a 2009 All Ireland junior camogie medal. Audrey has a total of seven Leinster medals in her collection – two with the county Junior team, one schools and four Junior club...
, Michaela Morkan
Michaela Morkan
Michaela Morkan is a camogie player and student. She won a Camogie All Stars award in 2008 having been nominated in 2006, a Soaring Star award in 2009 and won a 2009 All Ireland junior camogie medal. She won All-Ireland 'B' titles with Offaly in Under-16 and Under-18 , as well as three Senior...
, Fiona Stephens
Fiona Stephens
Fiona Stephens is a camogie player and student. She won a Soaring Star award in 2009 and won a 2009 All Ireland junior camogie medal. A twotime Purcell Cup medal-winner with Athlone IT, Fiona received sports scholarships for the 2006-'07 and 2007-'08 academic years. Freshers player of the year in...
, and Arlene Watkins
Arlene Watkins
Arlene Watkins is a camogie player and student. She won a Soaring Star award in 2009 and won a 2009 All Ireland junior camogie medal. Arlene has played with the county since 2005 and won two Purcell Cup medals with Athlone I.T. in 2007 and 2009...
.
Miriam O’Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan (camogie)
Miriam O'Callaghan became the 26th president of the Camogie Association when she defeated Helen McAleevy of Down 39-27 at the 2003 congress in the Arklow Bay Hotel.-Background:...
served as president of the Camogie Association
Camogie Association
The Camogie Association organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and across the world. The Association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Association.-History:...
).
Under Camogie’s National Development Plan 2010-2015, “Our Game, Our Passion,” five new camogie clubs are to be established in the county by 2015.
See also
- Offaly Senior Club Football ChampionshipOffaly Senior Club Football ChampionshipThe Offaly Senior Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Offaly Clubs. The winners of the Offaly Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to the...
- Offaly Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipOffaly Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipThe Offaly Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Offaly Clubs. The winners of the Offaly Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship and in turn, go on to the All-Ireland...
External links
- St Rynaghs Football Club Gaa Website
- Rhode Gaa Website
- Walsh Island Club Website
- The Offaly Express Newspaper
- Offaly on Hoganstand.com
- National and provincial titles won by Offaly teams
- Club championship winners
- Offaly GAA site
- uibh fhaili fan's site
- Ballycumber GAA Club Website
- Tullamore GAA Website
- Ballycommon GAA Website
www.edenderrygaa.com