Nurney GAA
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Nurney is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Nurney, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the home club of the current county chairman Syl Merrins.
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[edit] History
[edit] Gaelic Football
The earliest recorded history of GAA in the area goes back to the turn of the century, Nurney Club was formed in 1912 or 1913 but only lasted 3 years. The main reason for the break up of the team at this time is believed to have been due to quite a number of the young men of the area going to the First World War. This team wore a white jersey and a green sash and some of the teams they played against in that era were Maddenstown, Kilbern, Narraghmore, Kilrush, Bert, Ballitore and Moone.
In 1915 another Club was formed in the area called Kildoon, Joseph Breen was one of the founders. This team also lasted about 2 or 3 years.
In the early 1930s another team was formed with Eamonn Lawlor being one of the founders. They played their games on the Balkinstown road in Hanleys field. Some of the players at this time were Paddy, Carroll, Thos Farrell, Pat Cahill and Johnny Ging and the Chairman of the Club was Tim Kelly.
After the break-up of Kildoon in 1940 many players played with a successful Kildangan Team and in 1942 this Kildangan Team won the Junior Championship.
The team which won this championship was as follows:-
- John (Shirty) Sexton
- George Sexton
- Jack Sexton
- Eamonn Lawlor
- Paddy Behan
- Tommy Berns
- Michael Ryan
- Hal Conway
- Mick Behan
- Jimmy Behan
- Tommy Behan
- John Joe Martin
- John Merrins
- Joseph Conlan
- Bill Broderick
The Kildangan team beat Cappagh in this final of 1942 in the County Grounds in Newbridge. The winners were 1 point behind in the last minute when a goal by Midfielder Hal Conway secured victory. The previous year in 1941 they had been beaten in the final by Ardclough and in 1943 they reached the Intermediate Final also against Ardclough who went on to dominate Senior Football for a number of years later.
Full back Jack Sexton represented Kildare at Senior Level in 1936-37 as did goalkeeper John (Shirty) Sexton around this time. Shirty actually played in the Railway Cup for Leinster around 1937, playing against Munster in Portlaoise.
In 1944 Kildoon were reformed, practising in Allens Field with many of the players returning from Kildangan. They were unsuccessful for a number of years and later played their Matches in Merrins & Deerings field. They again broke up in 1950, reforming again in 1956 under the Chairmanship of Tim Kelly and Con Houlihan as Secretary. This team had a relatively successful run getting to a quarterfinal one year, a semi-final and in 1958 they reached the Junior Final against Clongorey where unfortunately they were beaten by 2-4 to 2-3. This team also went three years unbeaten in the league.
In 1964 a meeting was held with the topic on the Agenda being the amalgamation of the Kildoon & Kildangan to form Nurney G.A.A. Club with Sean O’Connor being Chairman and Con Houlihan Secretary. In 1968 it made a major step forward by purchasing a field from the Land Commission, a decision which showed tremendous foresight on the part of men like Con Houlihan, Sean O’Connor & Jack Brennan (RIP). The young Club had now its own home and the emphasis was now placed on the playing end of things. Unfortunately, success would not arrive for a number of years. 1975 saw the commencement of the G.A.A. Centre and Dressing Rooms, with this complex being officially opened in 1978 with a game between Kildare and Offaly marking the opening. This period also marked an upturn in the fortunes of the Club with many underage players winning championships with Rosglas and the Junior Team reaching the final stages of the Championship. Nurney reached the Semi-Final of the Championship in 1978, 1981, & 1983.
The first final was reached in 1980 when Nurney was beaten by 2 points in a replay to an Eadestown team containing Larry & Joe Tomkins and Dave Kavanagh. In 1982 another final was reached more heartbreak as Celbridge beat the Nurney men by a single point. Spirits were not dampened by these defeats and numerous Tournaments were won during this period, also a League Title in 1980, Nurney gaining revenge over Eadestown for the Championship defeat.
1984 saw another final being reached and this time Nurney made no mistake beating hot favourites Straffan by 13 points. Nurney continued on their winning ways that year beating Clogherinkoe in the final of the Jack Higgins Cup by 2 points after a replay.
Nurney were now an Intermediate side and 1985 saw them reach the Semi final of this Championship only to be beaten by Suncroft after another replay. The Club continued in the Intermediate Championship up to 1989 without success and in 1990 they returned to Junior Ranks.
Many Nurney players have worn the White Jersey of Kildare over the years, with Pat Deering winning a Leinster U-21 medal in 1972. Syl Merrins winning a Leinster U-21 medal in 1983 a Leinster Junior Medal in 1989 and an O’Byrne Cup” Medal with the Seniors in 1989. Eddie Molloy and Seamus Deering have won All-Ireland medals with the O-40’s team in 1990 and 1991. Others to represent the County have been John Conway, Pat Burke, Pat Smullen, Francis Byrne, and Darren Byrne, Patrick Hannon,Ml. Conway, William Heffernan.
An emphasis has been placed on youth over the last few years, with some promising players coming through the minor and U-16 teams and winning numerous titles with school teams at U-11 & U-13 grades so hopefully it will not be long until success similar to the ‘80’s returns to Nurney Gaelic Football Club.
In 2001 Nurney Camogie Club was reformed and now has almost 100 members catering for girls from under 9 to under 14. In 2005 a junior Camogie team entered competition for the first time in 30 years and this year also Nurney won Under 11 Camogie titles in both Club and schools competitions.
In 2006 thanfully saw a return to winning ways as the senior team won the junior a championship and div 3 league final beating straffan and grange respectively.The team was Paul Conway,Leslie Broughall,Brian Behan,Keith McCormack,Derek Bracken,Darren Byrne,Robert Behan,Willie Heffernan,Eoin Merrins,Pa Joe Hannon,Patrick Higginbotham,Paddy Sexton,Andy Behan,Mikey Conway,Murt Conway.
The growth in population in the Nurney area has thankfully seen a huge increase in the participation of people in our Club. Our pitch and G.A.A. Centre are used on a continuous basis and is a focal point for our Community.
[edit] Hurling
Nurney were one of the first participants in the Junior B Hurling championship.
[edit] Camogie
Margaret Deering of Nurney scored 1-1 for Kildare in the Leinster Junior/Smyco Cup final victory over Meath in 1967.
[edit] Handball
Nurney is one of the few clubs where handball has been played continuously. The first alley in Nurney was erected in Kildoon, beside a road that no longer exists; joining Kildoon to Nurney via the Sweeps Lane. In the middle of the 1930s a new alley was built on the other end of this lane. the building was of mass concrete and the builders were the young men of the area among whom were Tommy O'Brien, Ned Hyland, P Boland. Tommy O'Brien was a formidable athlete and was a well known handballer. He represented Kildare at junior level as an individual and with Ned Hyland as his doubles partner won many an intercounty match.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Bibliography
- Kildare GAA: A Centenary History, by Eoghan Corry, CLG Chill Dara, 1984, ISBN 0-9509370-0-2 hb ISBN 0-9509370-1-0 pb
- Kildare GAA yearbook, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 2000- in sequence especially the Millennium yearbook of 2000
- Soaring Sliothars: Centenary of Kildare Camogie 1904-2004 by Joan O'Flynn Kildare County Camogie Board.
[edit] External links
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