Killeagh GAA

History

Hurling and Gaelic football were played in the parish of Killeagh before the foundation of the GAA in 1884. The first game that Jamesy Kelleher of Dungourney played was in 1892 in Dangan field in the parish of Killeagh. At that time Killeagh did not have a team of their own, so those who did hurl played with the Dungourney team of the early years of the 20th century.

In the early years of the 20th century, football was more popular than hurling, and the club affiliated to the newly formed East Cork board in 1925. In 1957, Killeagh contested the East Cork Junior A hurling title for the first time but lost to a St. Catherines combination. Ten years later, in 1967, the club won the East Cork final by defeating rivals Castlemartyr after a replay. Further hurling titles followed in 1970 and 1971.

Killeagh won its first county title in 1981 by defeating Bandon in the final at Caherlag. Killeagh won the Jamesy Kelleher Cup in 1988 and, after enduring final defeats in 1993 and 1994, won the title again in 1995 - the year when the county was also won by defeating Ballinhassig in the final. They won the All Ireland Junior 7's title in 1996.

In 1999, Killeagh clubman Mark Landers captained Cork to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup and had as his teammates Joe Deane and subkeeper Bernard Rochford.

Killeagh were crowned Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship winners when defeating Mallow in a replayed final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 2001.

Camogie

Killeagh camogie club won the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship in 1980. They won further Munster club championships, five in all, in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1988 and five Cork senior titles. The club was formed in 1973 by Tony O’Neill, Sheila Spillane and Eamonn Lenihan. They won Féile na nGael Division 1 in 1977 Mary O'Connor is Ireland's most decorated GAA player. The dual star, from Killeagh, won 12 All-Ireland finals. In football she holds five senior All-Ireland titles, seven Munster championships, four National Leagues, three senior All-Ireland club medals and one at intermediate, seven Munster clubs and 13 county titles. In camogie she holds seven senior All-Ireland medals, 10 Munsters, nine National Leagues, two All-Ireland club medals and four Munster clubs.

In popular culture

Limerick-based folk band Kingfishr released a song about the hurling club, titled “Killeagh”, in 2024.

Notable players

The inter-county hurling player Joe Deane, who played for Cork as a left full forward, was born in Killeagh. Mark Landers, who captained Cork to an All Ireland title in 1999, was also part of the Killeagh team that won the County Intermediate title in 2001. Séamus Harnedy, later captain of the Cork county hurling team, played with Killeagh through the underage ranks when they were Killeagh/Ita's.

Others players that have represented Cork senior teams include:

• Bernard Rocheford
• Michael Byrne
• Damien Irwin
• Eoghan Keniry

Hurling

• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2001 (runners-Up 1998)
• Cork Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1995
• East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship (5): 1967, 1970, 1971, 1988, 1995
• Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship(0): (runners-Up 2017) (with St. Ita's)
• Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship (1): 2014 (with St. Ita's)
• Cork Minor Hurling Championship (0): (runners-up 2014, 2016) (with St. Ita's)
• Cork Premier 2 Minor Hurling Championship (2): 2022, 2023
• Cork Minor A Hurling Championship (1): 2006 (with St. Ita's)
• Cork Minor B Hurling Championship (1): 1987
• Cork Minor B Football Championship (2): 1989, 2001
• Féile na nGael Division 6 (1): 2019 (with St.Ita's)

References

References

1. Moran, Mary. (2011). "A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie". Cumann Camógaíochta.
2. Piater, Zoé. (2024-12-06). "Kingfishr end a phenomenal year with the new Single 'Bet On Beauty' & 'Killeagh' - large Dublin and Limerick headline shows announced for 2025".
3. (19 June 2015). "Killeagh and Youghal set for a derby thriller". Irish Examiner.
4. "Roll Of Honour Section - Junior A HC". Cork GAA.
5. "Killeagh GAA Club History".