Cork GAA

Cork GAA
Irish: Cumann Luthchleas Gael Corcaigh
Province: Munster
Nickname(s):

The Rebels, The Leesiders,

Blood and Bandage.
County colours:          
Ground(s): Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
Dominant sport: Dual county
Competitions
NFL: Division 1
NHL: Division 1A
Football Championship: Sam Maguire Cup
Hurling Championship: Liam McCarthy Cup
Ladies' Gaelic football: Brendan Martin Cup
Camogie: O'Duffy Cup
Standard kit

The Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Contae Chorcaí) or Cork GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Cork and the Cork inter-county teams. It is one of the constituent counties of Munster GAA.

Cork is one of the few 'dual counties' in Ireland, competing in a similar level in both gaelic football and hurling. As of the end of the 2015 National Leagues, Cork compete in the top division of both sports. However, despite both teams competing at the top level of the game for most of the county's history, the hurling team has experienced more success, winning the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 30 times. By comparison, Cork has only won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship seven times.

Traditionally football is strongest in the western half of the county, with the O'Donovan Rossa club of Skibbereen the only Cork team from outside the city to have an All-Ireland Club Football time. Hurling is the dominant sport in the east, with teams such as Sarsfields and Midleton having won Cork's club Championship multiple times. Naturally, there are exceptions to this rule of thumb, with hurling pockets in football areas and vice versa. One example is Fermoy in east Cork, which has seven Cork football titles to its name.

The city of Cork traditionally has strong teams in both sports, with Nemo Rangers being the record-holders for All-Ireland Club Football Championships won, and Blackrock having three All-Ireland Club Hurling titles. As well as this, the St. Finbarr's club in the city has eight Cork football titles and 25 in hurling.

Colours and symbols

Cork's current GAA crest is based on the traditional coat of arms of Cork city. Like the coat of arms, the crest features the King's old castle and the Queen's old castle with the Shandon Steeple in between. The centre foreground of the crest features a ship, as does the coat of arms. This is due to Cork's history as a port city, also shown in the city motto "Statio Bene Fida Carinis", which translates to "A safe harbour for ships".[1] The badge also features two footballs, along with a crossed pair of hurleys.

Cork inter-county colours (1888–1919)

Cork's traditional colours are red and white, but this was not always the case. In its early days of competing, the county wore a blue jersey with a saffron-coloured 'C' emblazoned on the chest. This was changed in 1919 when the Cork hurlers were preparing to play Dublin in the All-Ireland Final. In the week leading up to the game, British forces broke into the county board offices on Maylor Street in the city centre and seized the Cork jerseys. Because of the loss of their kit, the county board borrowed jerseys from the now-defunct Father O'Leary Temperance Association team. Cork went on to win the game, ending a sixteen-year spell without a trophy. Following this win Cork decided to wear the 'lucky' red jerseys in their future games.[2]

This red and white colour scheme has led to the Cork strip being nicknamed the blood and bandage. A colour clash with Louth in the 1957 All-Ireland Football Final saw Cork wear the blue jerseys once again, but this occasion saw the team wear the blue jersey of the province of Munster. In 1976 Cork's footballers became involved in an incident known as 'the three stripes affair'. Before the Munster football final Cork were offered a set of Adidas jerseys. The use of these jerseys caused controversy as it seemed to undermine the promotion of Irish manufacturers.[3]

Cork's alternative colours are traditionally white jerseys and white shorts. These alternate colours were worn in the 1973 All-Ireland Football Final when Cork defeated Galway to claim their fourth title. They were worn again in the 2010 Final when Cork defeated Down for their seventh title. Since then, Cork have generally worn their traditional red jerseys on all occasions.

Gaelic football

Gaelic football in County Cork is overseen by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. At present, there are 115 registered Gaelic football clubs in County Cork. Cork senior football team represents the county in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Cork have won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship seven times, most recently in 2010

Hurling

Hurling in County Cork is overseen by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. At present, there are 93 registered hurling clubs in County Cork. Cork senior hurling team represents the county in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Cork have won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 30 times, most recently in 2005.

Camogie

Camogie in County Cork is overseen by the Cork County Board of the Camogie Association. Cork senior camogie team represents the county in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.

Ladies' Gaelic football

Ladies' football in County Cork is overseen by the Cork County Board of the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. At present, there are 11 registered ladies' football clubs in County Cork.[4] Cork senior ladies' football team represents the county in the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship.

Gaelic handball

Handball in County Cork is overseen by the Cork Handball Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Rounders

Rounders in County Cork is overseen by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Sponsorship

Cork were for 15 years sponsored by O2. This came to an end on 31 December 2012.[5] In 2013 Chill Insurance announced they were to sponsor Cork on a three-year deal.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Cork City Council > Cork's Cultural Heritage". Corkcity.ie. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  2. ↑ "County Colours". GAA. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bizarre world of GAA". Killeshin GAA. Retrieved 30 July 2014. 7. The Three Stripes Affair. Before the Munster Football Final (1976) Cork were generously offered a set of Adidas jerseys [...] and with a mere twenty minutes before the throw-in [...] officials pleaded unsuccessfully with the players to wear the traditional blood and bandage.
  4. ↑ "Cork ladies' football".
  5. ↑ "Cork GAA and 02 to part ways". RTÉ Sport. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Boost for Cork as Chill Insurance announce bumper 1 million three year deal". Irish Independent. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.