| Eas Geitine | |||||||||||||
| Founded: | 1891 | ||||||||||||
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| County: | Limerick | ||||||||||||
| Club colours: | Green and Gold | ||||||||||||
| Grounds: | Askeaton Gaelic Grounds | ||||||||||||
| Playing kits | |||||||||||||
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| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||||||
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Askeaton GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Askeaton, Limerick, Ireland. The club participates in competitions organized by the Limerick GAA county board.
The first mention of Askeaton GAA is in 1891 when the club organised an important Senior Hurling Tournament in which South Liberties beat Fr. Murphys, a Foynes hurling team. South Liberties had played Askeaton Desmonds earlier in a place called 'The Sugarfield' in Houghs (later Kennedy’s) land in Moig, below Askeaton in a 21 a-side hurling match, which Askeaton won, by one goal and one point. The same Desmonds team met Kildimo Faughs in the Newcastle West Tournament and won 2–4 to 0–6 and brought home a silver cup.
The Askeaton hurling panel in the early days of the GAA consisted of: Mike Halloran(Captain), Tom Riordan, Goalie, Bill Marshall, Dan McNamara, John Fitzgerald, Bill Cussen, John McMahon (Snr) John McMahon (Jnr), John Kennedy, Jim, John and Mick Cahill, Dick Costelloe, John Neville, M. Somers, G. Somers, Ned Sheehy, John Lynch, Simon Madigan, J Scanlan, (-) Farrell, (-) Walsh.
Askeaton had one of the top football sides in the County in the first decade of the Century and reached the County Final of the 1905 Senior Championship where they lost to the famed Commercials side at the Markets field on the scoreline of 1 – 5 to 0 – 1. The last surviving member of that side, Paddy McDonnell of Courtbrown, who was playing senior at fifteen, claimed that Askeaton was the only club in West Limerick to have their own clubhouse. They had their meetings in an old house in the New line, the rent was sixpence a week, and it was decorated by the professional painters, Jack, Mick, and Paddy Fitzgerald, who were member of the team. The football panel were: Mick Scanlan (Cunigar) Capt. Paddy O’Shaughnessy, Goalkeeper, Willie O’Shaughnessy, W. Quaid (Glin) Pat Egan, Paddy O’Halloran, Jim and Paddy McDonnell (Courtbrown) Jack, Paddy and Mick Fitzgerald (Painters, Church St.) John Egan (Ballynort) Jack Stack (Mount Pleasant), Harry Conway, Micky Mulligan, Mike and Danny Guerin, Paddy Cronin, Jim Hanley (Moig), Jim Ryan.[1]
In the thirties and forties, the Askeaton Desmonds were a strong Junior Hurling program. In 1935, they won the West Final defeating Feenagh in Ballingarry. They accounted for Hospital in the County Semi Final and met Cappamore in the County Final, which was played the following April in Croom. Askeaton beat the East men on a scoreline of 4-5 to 1-7. The team lined out as follows: Jackie Purcell, John Moran, Michael Kenneally, Willie McDonough, Paddy Hackett, Paddy Kenneally, Jackie Kenneally, Michael ‘Tyler’ Madigan, Jack Gallagher, Henry Hackett, Mick Guerin, Johnny Purcell, Con Murphy, Denis Jones, Mick Hackett. Subs: Tom Nolan, John Joe Egan, Jimmy McKnight, Jimmy Lenihan.[2]
In 1946, there was four adult hurling teams in the parish of Askeaton/Ballysteen. There was an Askeaton A and B hurling team, a Southern Chemicals team that the locals referred to as the Lime Burners and a team in Ballysteen called Lodge Rangers. This was a great achievement for a parish where football was also very popular.
In 1954, the club took the major step of purchasing their own field. This field which was always called “The Meadow” was the field which had been used for hurling and football for as far back as could be remembered. The club had it for a nominal rent from the Hunt family. The club purchased 5 acres for £100 per acre. People involved in the purchase were J. McGough, Eddie Corbett, Chris Walsh, Fr. O’Dea, M. Kenneally and Michael Ryan.
Between 1964 and 1972, the same bunch of players won 4 county senior football titles. In 1964, the team was called Ballysteen and the team that won the 1965, 1966 and 1972 titles was called Askeaton. This was a golden era for the gaels of the parish and has not been surpassed since. Players who won the titles between 1964 and 1972 were M.J. O’Donoghue, Tom Perryman, Paddy McMahon, Donie Nestor, Dick Costello, Tony Fitzgerald, Mike Ranahan, Tommy Carrig, D.J. Daly, John O’Donnell, Noel Ranahan, Mike McMahon, Tom Corrigan, Willie McMahon, Francie Kenny, Peter, Pat and Brian Neville, Jimmy Nealon, Hugh O' Boyle (Salesians), John and Michael Kenneally, John and Thade Shiels, Terence Madigan, Tomàs Sheahan, Pat Sheahan, Malachy Keaveney, Bobby Walsh, Liam O’Shaughnessy, Paddy Carrig, Donie Nestor, Basil Fitzgibbon, Eddie Walsh, Tommy Carrig, Pat Chambers, Paddy Reidy, Minie Allen, Michael Walsh, Gerard Neville.
The West Senior Football Final of 1980 was notable for the fact that it was contested by two teams from the one parish, Askeaton and Ballysteen. Ballysteen had won the Junior County the previous year, and Askeaton Gaelic field was packed for the occasion. After a tense 60 minutes the sides finished level. A goal from Willie McMahon minutes from time gave Ballysteen a one point lead, Fintan Ryan equalised on the call of time, and it went to a replay. This was a complete anti-climax with Askeaton winning easily.[3]
Askeaton contested the Centenary year county final against Claughaun, but were defeated by the city men. The players then were Ray Kelly, Declan Barron, Paddy Ivess, Dan Neville; Eunan McDaid, Tom O’Connell, John Horrigan (R.I.P.), Paddy Barrett, Enda McDaid, Mal McDaid, Don Ryan, Eamon Òg McDaid, Cormac Ryan, Michael J. O’Donoghue, Fintan Ryan.
In 1984 Askeaton relaunched adult hurling which had been dead since the mid sixties, entering a team in the West Junior B Championship. Askeaton beat Broadford in the West Final. There was no County Championship that year. The West Final team was Cormac Ryan, Dan Neville, Mike Ryan, Pakie O’Donoghue, Eamon Murphy, Dick Costello, Seanie Barry, Seanie Kelly, Fintan Ryan, Gerry Cantillon, Ken Hanley, Ray Neville, Mike Hennessy, Michael John O’Donoghue, Jimmy O’Donoghue. Subs: Mike Dillon, Eddie Kirwan, Paddy Carrig, Haulie Ryan, Bobby Hennessy, Ed Manning.[4]
In 1992 Askeaton dropped from Senior Football to Intermediate and launched a fine campaign, ending with a win over the Galtee Gaels. The victorious team's players were Bernard Burke, Cormac Ryan, Paddy Ivess, Sean Fitzgerald, Tom Hayes, Enda McDaid, Don Ryan, Tom O’Connell, Fintan Ryan, Seanie Barry, Albert Burke, Dave Barry, Donie O’Gorman, James McMahon, Pat Fitzgerald.[5]
Askeaton won their first West Junior A Hurling Championship since 1935 in 1995 when they defeated Knockaderry in Rathkeale after a replay. Askeaton later lost out to a strong Dromin Athlacca team in the county final. The team that won the first West in 70 years were Sean Barron, Aidan Burke, Mike Neville, Pa Ruttle, Eamon Barry, Seanie Barry, Haulie Kenny, Sean Fitzgerald, Brian Costello, Peter Harty, Albert Burke, Dave Barry, Cormac Ryan, Fintan Ryan, Mike Neville(Beagh)[6]
Askeaton was relegated from intermediate football in 2002 but Ballysteen and Askeaton amalgamated in 2003 and came to an amicable agreement that the hurling team in the parish would be called Askeaton and the football team Ballysteen.
Askeaton added another Junior A West title in 2006 when they defeated Monagea in the West Final which was played in Newcastlewest. The team on that occasion were Conor Ranahan, Paul Fitzgerald, Robert Whelan, Paul Anglim, Mike Griffin, Anthony Burke, Roger Somers, Philip Prendiville, Mike Neville, Brendan Hayes, Ray Hayes, Shane Gallagher, Maurice Somers, Dervan Gallagher, Pa Ranahan. This team lost out on county final day to a strong Mungret St. Pauls team.[7] Askeaton Junior A hurling team added a controversial fourth Junior A title to their roll of honour in 2010. The West final was played in Feenagh against St Kierans. Askeaton were winning by two points with time nearly up when a substitute came on for St Kierans without notifying the referee. Nobody went off and St Kierans had 16 players on the field. The substitute scored a goal after a long delivery from a sideline cut. Consternation ensued and the referee blew up the game. St Kierans were presented the Cup but the West Board ordered a replay after an investigation. St Kierans would not play the replay so Askeaton were awarded the 2010 West Junior A Championship. Askeaton later lost heavily to a strong Effin team in the county semi final. The team that played the west final that day were Conor Ranahan, Paul Fizgerald, Roger Somers, Anthony Burke, Mike Griffin, Ray Hayes, Mark Ranahan, Paul Anglim, Shane Gallagher, Pa Ranahan, Mike Neville, Brendan Hayes, Mossy Kenrick, Matt O’Meara, Tom Kelly.[8]
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