Rockchapel GAA
| Séipéal na Carraige | |||
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| Founded: | 1934 | ||
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| County: | Cork | ||
| Nickname: | The Rock | ||
| Club colours: | Maroon and White | ||
| Grounds: | Stagmount | ||
| Playing kits | |||
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Rockchapel GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Rockchapel in the North West of County Cork, Ireland which forms part of the parish of Rockchapel and Meelin. The village is located close to border with County Kerry and County Limerick. The club plays Gaelic Football in the Duhallow division competitions.[1] Ladies' Gaelic football is also played within the club. Rockchapel juvenile footballers play with St. Peter's which is an amalgamation of Meelin, Freemount and Rockchapel clubs at juvenile level. They are the current Duhallow Football Champions of 2012 and won the Cork County Junior Football Championship later that year.
Football
Early years
Gaelic football began in Rockchapel in the 1920s. A priest named Father Hurley, the nephew of the renowned Father Casey from Abbeyfeale, was there at the beginning. Games were organized between Rockchapel, Meelin, Brosna and Mountcollins as there was no structure or Board in place at that time. 21 years after the Duhallow Board was first formed Rockchapel had its first victory when they defeated Kilbrin in the novice final in 1954 which was played in Banteer. The team was captained by Tom Murphy of Lyreneague and the panel of players included PJ Morrissey, M Nelligan, C Murphy, J Guiney, Denise JD O'Mahony, D O'Connell, Fr. T Murphy, C O'Carroll, D O'Mahony, D Sheehan, D O'Keeffe, B Guiney, Donie O'Connell, J Carroll, J Moyles and JJ Curtin. Playing in the junior ranks from 1955 to 1957 brought no success so the club re-graded to Novice in 1958. The following year the novice championship was won for the second time , defeating Castlemagner in the final.
The 1960s
After competing in the junior grade in 1960 and 1961, the Club again re-graded to Novice in 1962. In an amazing sequence Rockchapel lost the in the Novice finals of 1962 - 1965 inclusive. There was some compensation when the Novice Football League was won in 1964 and 1965. Of the team which beat Ballydesmond by 2-7 to 0-3 in the 1965 decider, there were 3 priests in the defence, namely Fr. Finbarr Kelleher at left corner back, Fr. Tom Murphy centre back and Fr. Padraig Keogh at left half back. Rockchapel also won the Novice Football League of 1967 but the final was not played until May 1968 owing to the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease. In the final Rockchapel defeated Lyre 2-6 to 1-5.
The 1970s
After losing the 1970 Novice Football League final to Banshee Rovers by 2-12 to 1-6, Rockchapel bounced back in the Novice Championship. Ballydaly were defeated by 2-6 to 2-2 in the semi-final, to set up a meeting with Lyre in the final after drawing 6 points each on the first occasion both teams returned to Banteer and Rockchapel won by 1-5 to 1-2. Since 1971 the Club has been contesting the Junior Football Championship and after waiting 5 years the Junior Football Championship was won for the first time ever. After defeating Newmarket in the first round, Knocknagree were defeated by 1-12 to 0-2 and Kiskeam in the semi-final by 1-8 to 1-5. The final, which was played in Kiskeam on the first Sunday of October, was a rip roaring contest of swaying fortunes which Rockchapel won by 2-7 to 2-5 against Ballydesmond. In 1977 Knocknagree defeated Rockchapel in the Examiner Cup final by 1-10 to 0-4. In defending the Junior Football Championship, they defeated Newmarket in the first Round and Dromtariffe in the semi-final. In the final, played in Newmarket, they defeated Knocknagree by 1-7 to 0-2. In the county Championship they were victorious over Brian Dillon's in the first round by 0-9 to 1-5. In the semi-final at Buttevant, the North Cork Champions Grange were defeated by 1-7 to 1-4. The club's first County Final appearance was against Castletownbere which Rockchapel lost by 3-5 to 0-8 in Macroom.
The 1980s and early 1990s
In 1985 the Junior Championship was won when Kiskeam were defeated in the Final played in Boherbue. This was followed with victory in the 1986 Examiner Cup final when we defeated Kanturk 1-12 to 1-7. 1987 will be remembered for a long time in Rockchapel. After victories over Boherbue, Newmarket and Kiskeam in the Championship, Rockchapel qualified for the final against Kanturk which was played in Dromtariffe on 27 September. Rockchapel scored 2-6 to 1-8 to win the Duhallow title for the 5th time in their history. In the County Championship they defeated Kilmichael and Urhan before Rockchapel came to face Carbery Rangers in the County Junior Football final played in Inchigeela on November 29. After a close match, Rockchapel were victorious 2-9 to 1-4. In 1988, their first year in the Intermediate football championship, they reached the semi-final of the league and were defeated by the eventual champions Kilshannig in the semi-final of the championship. In 1989 the Club created history by winning the Intermediate Football Championship and League finals, with the team captained by Joe Carroll and trained by Pat Curtin, with selectors Den O'Mahony and Seanie Piggott. On winning the Intermediate Football Championship we defeated Fermoy by 3 points at Buttevant, Nemo Rangers by a point at Mourneabbey and accounted for Naomh Abán by 3 points in Dromtariffe at the semi-final and Mallow after a replay in the final. In 1990 the team competed in the Senior ranks, losing to Carrigdhoun. The club re-graded to intermediate in 1991 and 1992 and re-graded to Junior grade in 1993.
Mid to Late 1990s and 2000s
In 1996 Rockchapel won the Examiner Cup and the clubs next success was the Duhallow Junior football championship in 2001. The same year Rockchapel were knocked out of the County Championship at the quarter final stage by Imokilly Champions Cloyne
Rockchapel have won the Duhallow Junior A Football Championship 7 times in total. Rockchapel lost the 2009 and 2011 Duhallow Junior A Football Championship finals to Kanturk.[2][3][4] They last won this competition in 2012, defeating Milstreet in the Final.[5]
Ladies football
The Rockchapel ladies team won the All-Ireland ladies Junior club final in 1999, beating St.Nathy's from Sligo in Lusmagh, Co. Offaly. The ladies footballers won the All-Ireland ladies Intermediate club final in 2000, beating Confey from Kildare at Semple Stadium, Thurles.[6][7]
Honours
- Cork Intermediate Football Championship Winners 1989
- Cork Junior Football Championship Winners 1987, 2012[8] Runners-Up 1977
- Duhallow Junior A Football Championship Winners 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1987, 2001, 2012[9]
See also
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References
- ↑ "Relieved Rockchapel let off by Lyre". Corkman. 2009-07-02. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ↑ http://www.corkman.ie/sport/gaelic-football/early-defeat-to-rockchapel-spurred-us-on-says-kerins-1907851.html
- ↑ http://www.corkman.ie/sport/gaelic-football/greater-hunger-the-difference-1907850.html
- ↑ http://www.corkman.ie/news/tears-of-joy-as-kanturk-bridge-a-47year-gap-1907809.html
- ↑ http://www.corkman.ie/sport/other-sports/rockchapel-hoping-to-take-yet-another-step-towards-first-junior-football-final-and-title-since-1987-750756.html
- ↑ http://www.ladiesgaelic.ie/honours/clbChampInter.htm
- ↑ http://www.corkman.ie/sport/other-sports/rockchapel-are-allireland-intermediate-champions-1118198.html
- ↑ "Rockchapel complete the fairytale season". Irish Examiner. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ↑ "Rockchapel finally rule the roost". The Irish Examiner. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.