https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/sean-moran-fifty-years-a-growing-all-ireland-club-finals-reach-major-milestone-1.4730708
My first experience of the phenomenon though was in the spring of 1990 when I visited Baltinglass in Wicklow, as they sized up the All-Ireland final against Clann na nGael from Roscommon.
It was dark and cold but there was palpable excitement about being in the an All-Ireland final – the only previous such distinction in those parts had been Wicklow's junior title all the way back in 1936. They had the familiar club assembly of brothers, O'Briens, Murphys and Kennys and were trained by corner forward Tommy Murphy.
What impact has it on clubs and their neighbourhoods? Well, to this day there's a sign on the N81 welcoming people to Baltinglass, 'All-Ireland club champions 1990'.
Martin Coleman, then club secretary, says that younger people around the club still ask about the day of the All-Ireland and that, before the semi-final, the pitch was thronged with volunteers from all over the county forking the surface to drain it in time for the match.
He also recounts how when at a women's football awards event, he met Cumann Peil na mBan president Micheál Naughton from Donegal and as soon as he mentioned being from Baltinglass, the recognition was immediate: All-Ireland club champions.
"Thirteen counties and 27 clubs have won the football All-Ireland with 10 and 26 the figures for hurling. "
And counties that never won or rarely won Sam or McCarthy have featured club winners- Antrim (in both), Wicklow, Ros and Laois
It's an amazing experience to have come to your club, some clubs are blessed with that continued run at it, but to give the regular club player or supporter the chance to celebrate an All Ireland championship will stay with that person/club forever.
Decent chance we will have a new winner in football in 2022, when you look at the teams remaining.
Looking in from the outside it sets apart those clubs who achieve it even once, among the vast majority of GAA supporters for life. What an amazing achievement for any community!
I personally love the club championships over inter county comps.
The last couple of weeks have been excellent, 20, 40, 60 years waits, the scenes of joy around the country are brilliant to see, hard slogged battles, the stories you hear and read, the team and self-redemption stories
Quote from: TheGreatest on November 18, 2021, 12:25:42 PM
I personally love the club championships over inter county comps.
The last couple of weeks have been excellent, 20, 40, 60 years waits, the scenes of joy around the country are brilliant to see, hard slogged battles, the stories you hear and read, the team and self-redemption stories
Yeah same as that. I'm lucky enough to have championship medals myself and it means the world to have won them with lads I grew up with as well as older lads I grew up watching.
There is something special about seeing the parish on tour en masse in Baile Átha Cliath on the big day.
Quote from: shark on November 17, 2021, 11:40:18 AM
Decent chance we will have a new winner in football in 2022, when you look at the teams remaining.
Yeah, i think there are only 4 previous winners left in the competition:
None from either Ulster or Connacht,
One from Leinster (Kilmacud Crokes) and
Three from Munster (Austin Stacks, Dr Crokes & St Finbarr's)
And of those 4 teams - Kilmacud and Finbarr's have a county final to play
The two Kerry teams are only at the semi-final stage
I'm one of the luckiest footballers in Ireland. I grew up with a bunch of lads who were serial winners from we were cubs and we brought that through to adult level. I remember a Clan na Gael man chiding me saying I was the worst player to ever win an All Ireland....I disagreed with him...I told him I was the worst player to ever win 3!
It is 50 years since the first one and next year is 25 years since our first one but the competition is only getting better. I think our win coincided with the new world we were living in with people having more money from an improving economy and freedom following on from the ceasefire. The GAA became 'sexy' and we as a team were part of the new media focus on the games. Coupled with that was the internet which brought things to a whole new level of exposure.
Our story is well written, our heroes are well known, but to this day I still get goosebumps when i remember back to the 'good old days'....I love meeting old foes who are now good friends. We all have the same aching limbs and fading memories, though some of the tales are getting bigger as the years pass!
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on November 18, 2021, 04:03:56 PM
I'm one of the luckiest footballers in Ireland. I grew up with a bunch of lads who were serial winners from we were cubs and we brought that through to adult level. I remember a Clan na Gael man chiding me saying I was the worst player to ever win an All Ireland....I disagreed with him...I told him I was the worst player to ever win 3!
It is 50 years since the first one and next year is 25 years since our first one but the competition is only getting better. I think our win coincided with the new world we were living in with people having more money from an improving economy and freedom following on from the ceasefire. The GAA became 'sexy' and we as a team were part of the new media focus on the games. Coupled with that was the internet which brought things to a whole new level of exposure.
Our story is well written, our heroes are well known, but to this day I still get goosebumps when i remember back to the 'good old days'....I love meeting old foes who are now good friends. We all have the same aching limbs and fading memories, though some of the tales are getting bigger as the years pass!
Class. Can't beat it.
My father won one in the early 70's , when the competition was only new. Even then, they knew what it meant. It was a big deal right from the off. They'll soon have their 50th anniversary celebrations of county, province, and all-Ireland. I think just two of them have passed away to date, which is not bad going for men in their 70's. They are all 25 again when they meet up together, of course.
Quote from: Estimator on November 18, 2021, 02:29:59 PM
Quote from: shark on November 17, 2021, 11:40:18 AM
Decent chance we will have a new winner in football in 2022, when you look at the teams remaining.
Yeah, i think there are only 4 previous winners left in the competition:
None from either Ulster or Connacht,
One from Leinster (Kilmacud Crokes) and
Three from Munster (Austin Stacks, Dr Crokes & St Finbarr's)
And of those 4 teams - Kilmacud and Finbarr's have a county final to play
The two Kerry teams are only at the semi-final stage
Even when you look at the provincial championships, there are not than many serial county winners.
In Leinster it is very rare for a "new" county champion to win the province. Ballymun might be the last one, in 2012.
Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Meath, and maybe Dublin, will all have teams competing who are new to this stage. If Mullinalaghta are close to the level of 3 years ago then they could do it again.
Someone said to me once that if the Railway Cup was renamed the All-Ireland inter-Provincial Series that it would still be on the go.
Offer any player a Chance of winning an AI medal at any level and they will bite your hand off!
Dramatic finish in Tralee.
Penalties now!
Stacks win, some lad called Kieran Donaghy with the winner!
Driving through a winning parish always had something special. I remember being in Athlone after Brigids won.
Or going through Portumna.
There was absolutely nothing to compare with the Connacht Double. Athenry and Crossmolina did it in 2001
I actually was in Crossmaglen the night they won the first. Was a good aul day in the club, and I randomly said be some craic in Cross tonight, hey presto someone offered to drive down, great day became even a better night
I miss club finals on St Patrick's Day
Credit where due: Larry McCarthy has been a huge proponent of the club championship.
Quote from: seafoid on November 20, 2021, 08:58:50 PM
Driving through a winning parish always had something special. I remember being in Athlone after Brigids won.
Or going through Portumna.
There was absolutely nothing to compare with the Connacht Double. Athenry and Crossmolina did it in 2001
It was some day of Maroon and White!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opzeo1Mi-VE
Fill your boots. 25 years today. Enjoyed watching this today.
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 17, 2022, 06:22:00 PM
I miss club finals on St Patrick's Day
I do as well I wish they never changed it.
Quote from: Baile an tuaigh on March 17, 2022, 07:23:25 PM
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 17, 2022, 06:22:00 PM
I miss club finals on St Patrick's Day
I do as well I wish they never changed it.
It had to be changed. The Season was to long for competing Clubs. The Club Championship should be finished in the Calendar year.
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 17, 2022, 06:55:52 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opzeo1Mi-VE
Fill your boots. 25 years today. Enjoyed watching this today.
More of a distributer than a scorer
Quote from: dec on March 17, 2022, 07:31:34 PM
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 17, 2022, 06:55:52 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opzeo1Mi-VE
Fill your boots. 25 years today. Enjoyed watching this today.
More of a distributer than a scorer
Always was, I know my limitations and played to the very edge of them when I could!
Some half back line.
Was actually at the game at the time, spend the 90's going vto club finals then stopped, damn trains were costing to much.
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 17, 2022, 07:39:34 PM
Quote from: dec on March 17, 2022, 07:31:34 PM
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 17, 2022, 06:55:52 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opzeo1Mi-VE
Fill your boots. 25 years today. Enjoyed watching this today.
More of a distributer than a scorer
Always was, I know my limitations and played to the very edge of them when I could!
What position did you play in final?
Had club 7's tournament today, was great craic, the club was also running the games we played at Croke in both hurling and football, but would loved to have the club finals back at their traditional time. They talk about about finishing it in a calendar year, that hasn't happened.
Ruined my day at the club!
Quote from: Gael85 on March 17, 2022, 08:19:37 PM
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 17, 2022, 07:39:34 PM
Quote from: dec on March 17, 2022, 07:31:34 PM
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 17, 2022, 06:55:52 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opzeo1Mi-VE
Fill your boots. 25 years today. Enjoyed watching this today.
More of a distributer than a scorer
Always was, I know my limitations and played to the very edge of them when I could!
What position did you play in final?
Started full forward. Ended up round the MF in the second half which made a change from being taken off (or sent off before some smart hole says it!)
Club championships have been a huge success compared to Railway cup. Nothing beats the parish identity.
Some great highlights over the years. Clan na Gael's agony, Brigids showing how it is done, St Galls, Baltinglass, Cross, Corofin doing the 3 in a row
Quote from: seafoid on March 18, 2022, 10:23:28 AM
Club championships have been a huge success compared to Railway cup. Nothing beats the parish identity.
Some great highlights over the years. Clan na Gael's agony, Brigids showing how it is done, St Galls, Baltinglass, Cross, Corofin doing the 3 in a row
The Railway Cups pulled in huge crowds too in their day, the 50's and 60's, 70's but with extended IC scene and the rise of the clubs there was nowhere for them on the calendar.
Quote from: seafoid on March 18, 2022, 10:23:28 AM
Club championships have been a huge success compared to Railway cup. Nothing beats the parish identity.
Some great highlights over the years. Clan na Gael's agony, Brigids showing how it is done, St Galls, Baltinglass, Cross, Corofin doing the 3 in a row
That's why I cannot understand for the life of me when it cannot be retained on the 17th March? The final was only 4-5 weeks ago? Why could it not have been pushed out? By the time it gets to this stage there are very few county players impacted upon therefore it really shouldn't impact on that.
Was always a great excuse to go to Dublin for Paddys Day
It got great coverage for the gaa on the national holiday
Don't understand the issue. It was only 4 clubs involved by this time of year
Training for 3 or 4 months.....
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 18, 2022, 04:45:47 PM
Was always a great excuse to go to Dublin for Paddys Day
It got great coverage for the gaa on the national holiday
Don't understand the issue. It was only 4 clubs involved by this time of year
The issues are:
Interference with Intercounty teams preparation.
Interference with Sigerson Cup teams.
Interference with intercounty under 20 teams.
Interference in the down time of
real amateur players.
Making an already busy day in Dublin busier.
Dragging out an already prolonged season.
Adding more cost on club teams.
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 18, 2022, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 18, 2022, 04:45:47 PM
Was always a great excuse to go to Dublin for Paddys Day
It got great coverage for the gaa on the national holiday
Don't understand the issue. It was only 4 clubs involved by this time of year
The issues are:
Interference with Intercounty teams preparation.
Interference with Sigerson Cup teams.
Interference with intercounty under 20 teams.
Interference in the down time of real amateur players.
Making an already busy day in Dublin busier.
Dragging out an already prolonged season.
Adding more cost on club teams.
I'm glad we played our finals on St Patricks Day, added to the occasion. I know all the county players were happy enough with it.
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 18, 2022, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 18, 2022, 04:45:47 PM
Was always a great excuse to go to Dublin for Paddys Day
It got great coverage for the gaa on the national holiday
Don't understand the issue. It was only 4 clubs involved by this time of year
The issues are:
Interference with Intercounty teams preparation.
Interference with Sigerson Cup teams.
Interference with intercounty under 20 teams.
Interference in the down time of real amateur players.
Making an already busy day in Dublin busier.
Dragging out an already prolonged season.
Adding more cost on club teams.
4 clubs?
Surely sigerson panels don't rely on players from a few clubs. sigerson should be before xmas.
U20 interfered by 4 clubs? U20 championship isn't on yet
Amateur players can stop playing and take a rest anytime they want. Its a hobby.
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 20, 2022, 04:55:51 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 18, 2022, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 18, 2022, 04:45:47 PM
Was always a great excuse to go to Dublin for Paddys Day
It got great coverage for the gaa on the national holiday
Don't understand the issue. It was only 4 clubs involved by this time of year
The issues are:
Interference with Intercounty teams preparation.
Interference with Sigerson Cup teams.
Interference with intercounty under 20 teams.
Interference in the down time of real amateur players.
Making an already busy day in Dublin busier.
Dragging out an already prolonged season.
Adding more cost on club teams.
4 clubs?
Surely sigerson panels don't rely on players from a few clubs. sigerson should be before xmas.
U20 interfered by 4 clubs? U20 championship isn't on yet
Amateur players can stop playing and take a rest anytime they want. Its a hobby.
You clearly don't get the demands put on good players?
You clearly don't get what it means to play at Croke park on Paddies day for your club. County teams have huge panels now some county teams would only have a smattering of county players on their panel and if great to blood other players on to the county team.
I don't think any of our players complained about burn out..
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 20, 2022, 05:23:51 PM
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 20, 2022, 04:55:51 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 18, 2022, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on March 18, 2022, 04:45:47 PM
Was always a great excuse to go to Dublin for Paddys Day
It got great coverage for the gaa on the national holiday
Don't understand the issue. It was only 4 clubs involved by this time of year
The issues are:
Interference with Intercounty teams preparation.
Interference with Sigerson Cup teams.
Interference with intercounty under 20 teams.
Interference in the down time of real amateur players.
Making an already busy day in Dublin busier.
Dragging out an already prolonged season.
Adding more cost on club teams.
4 clubs?
Surely sigerson panels don't rely on players from a few clubs. sigerson should be before xmas.
U20 interfered by 4 clubs? U20 championship isn't on yet
Amateur players can stop playing and take a rest anytime they want. Its a hobby.
You clearly don't get the demands put on good players?
A simple rule that players can only train/play with one squad over any 7 day period would solve a lot of issues. Player welfare sorted
Quote from: Rossfan on March 18, 2022, 05:17:28 PM
Training for 3 or 4 months.....
What's this to mean?
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on March 20, 2022, 05:29:19 PM
You clearly don't get what it means to play at Croke park on Paddies day for your club. County teams have huge panels now some county teams would only have a smattering of county players on their panel and if great to blood other players on to the county team.
I don't think any of our players complained about burn out..
Neither did any of the Cross lads that I played with and particularly seeing as we regularly had 5-6 on the Armagh squad at the same time as Armagh being the strongest it has ever been would put the question of burn out to bed. Maybe we were freaks of nature but no one ever complained about burn out at the time as the teams generally worked with each other.
Is Kilcoo's AI win of lesser value to their players?
Quote from: Rossfan on March 24, 2022, 11:10:05 AM
Is Kilcoo's AI win of lesser value to their players?
Of course not but in my opinion it is a recognition of the place of the club championship within the calendar to have it played on St Patrick's Day....in fact if marketed right it could be even bigger. There was 17k at the final this year. When we played our first final there was double that. It was an occasion and Croke Park was bouncing. The streets were lined with people going to the game and also people out enjoying themselves for St Patrick's Day. That added significantly to the experience. Unless you've been part of it it's very hard to explain the buzz that comes off that.
Kilcoo a win was not if lesser value but I would suggest that the experience for players and all involved may have been better on a St Patrick's Day final
I totally agree.
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 24, 2022, 11:33:05 AM
Quote from: Rossfan on March 24, 2022, 11:10:05 AM
Is Kilcoo's AI win of lesser value to their players?
Of course not but in my opinion it is a recognition of the place of the club championship within the calendar to have it played on St Patrick's Day....in fact if marketed right it could be even bigger. There was 17k at the final this year. When we played our first final there was double that. It was an occasion and Croke Park was bouncing. The streets were lined with people going to the game and also people out enjoying themselves for St Patrick's Day. That added significantly to the experience. Unless you've been part of it it's very hard to explain the buzz that comes off that.
Kilcoo a win was not if lesser value but I would suggest that the experience for players and all involved may have been better on a St Patrick's Day final
I think that the GAA tore the arse out of the calendar reset. August free of hurling is insane.
SPD made the club finals into something else. It's a significant day in the year anyway and linking it up with club excellence worked really well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Problem was the rest of fixture World was seen to be broken.
Remember the CPA and "fix the fixtures"?
Any "rationalisation" in any field of life will have a sacrifice of something for the greater good :-\
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on March 24, 2022, 11:33:05 AM
Quote from: Rossfan on March 24, 2022, 11:10:05 AM
Is Kilcoo's AI win of lesser value to their players?
Of course not but in my opinion it is a recognition of the place of the club championship within the calendar to have it played on St Patrick's Day....in fact if marketed right it could be even bigger. There was 17k at the final this year. When we played our first final there was double that. It was an occasion and Croke Park was bouncing. The streets were lined with people going to the game and also people out enjoying themselves for St Patrick's Day. That added significantly to the experience. Unless you've been part of it it's very hard to explain the buzz that comes off that.
Kilcoo a win was not if lesser value but I would suggest that the experience for players and all involved may have been better on a St Patrick's Day final
It was a 'great' occasion in 1997 - even though we lost as you say the experience beforehand was something else.