Kenmare GAA

Infobox GAA club
club gaa = Kenmare Shamrocks
irish = na Seamróige An Neidín
crest = Kenmare crest.jpg|150px
founded= 1888
province= Munster
county = Kerry
Website = http://www.kenmaregaa.com
colours = Blue and white
grounds =
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pattern_b=_blacksides
pattern_ra=
leftarm=000000
body=EE0000
rightarm=000000
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socks=000000 |

Kenmare GAA (Full name in Irish "Craobh Chumann Iomána & Peile na Seamróige An Neidín") is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Kenmare in County Kerry. [cite web |url= http://kerry.gaa.ie/coleagues/2006/fixtures/senfootdiv1.htm|title=Credit Union Co. Senior Football League 2006 |accessdate=2008-03-24] The club competes as a joint divisional side with other clubs from the Kenmare area like Templenoe GAA in the county championship and as an individual club in other competitions [cite web |url=http://www.kerrygaa.ie/old_website/cochamps/2007/seniorfootball.htm |title= Co. Championships 2007|accessdate=2008-04-06] .

History

The Kenmare Athletic Club was founded on September 25th 1888 when they held a meeting with the newly formed GAA.The club was originally named afer Daniel O'Connell, a famous Kerry politician.Kenmare played in theinaugural Co. Kerry Championships in Football and Hurling in 1889. The footballers lost that year in the quarter final to eventual champions Laune Rangers.Hurling used to be the dominant game in the Roughty River valley as indicated by the fact that on St. Patrick's Day in 1858 a game of hurling was played between two games called "Kenmare Guards" in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.Kenmare also won the first Kerry Senior Hurling Championship on May 19 1889 versus Kilmoyley GAA.In 1895 Kenmare were in another hurling final but this time lost to Kilmoyley GAA.They won the 1902 County Hurling final against Tralee Celtic, lost the 1904 final to the same team and then won in 1916 and lost the final in 1917. Kenmare's last hurling County title was won in 1942 although they did reach the final 4 more times.was won in 1942. Further County Hurling finals were reached in 1943, ’45, ’47 and 1991. In 1940 the County Intermediate Football title was won.From the 1970's onwards Gaelic Football became the dominant sport in Kenmare.In 1974 the Kenmare District Team won the Kerry Senior Football Championship.In 1972 & 1983 Kenmare represented Kerry in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship and on each occasion were narrowly beaten by the club championship specialists Nemo Rangers from CorkThe 1980s proved to be an era for under age successes at football and hurling with many Co. competitions being won. Minor Hurling, U21 Football and a host of other under age hurling and football titles came our way. In 1984 and 1992 All Ireland Hurling Féile na nGael titles were won. In 1982 the Club won an All Ireland Minor Football competition. In under age hurling Kenmare have for long teamed up with the neighboring parish Kilgarvan to field teams in County competitions.The club colours today are red & black and these were adopted in the late 1960s; the previous colours being blue & gold. The Club’s home ground is Father Breen Park and it has two playing fields with a new synthetic training ground being developed. A new sports hall has also been completed and this should add to the promotion of hurling as indoor hurling has contributed hugely to the present day position of hurling in the greater Kenmare area. In fact Kenmare Kenmare Club pioneered the concept of indoor coaching in hurling and football in Kerry in the late 1970s.

Finnegan Cup

The 4 clubs in the Kenmare District play for the Finnegan Cup [ [http://archives.tcm.ie/thekingdom/2003/01/29/story8071.asp Finnegan Cup ] in the Kenmare district board championship.The Kenmare District is the smallest such district in Kerry.The 4 clubs are:
*Templenoe GAA
*Tuosist GAA
*Kenmare GAA
*Kilgarvan GAA

Roll of Honour

Kerry Novice Football Championship

They've won the Kerry Novice Football Championship (the Quirke and Hickey Cup [ [http://www.kerrygaa.ie/old_website/cochamps/2005/novicefootball.htm Quirke and Hickey Cup ] ] ) once in 1974 as Kenmare "B".

Kerry Minor Football Championship

They've been in one Kerry Minor Football Championship final; in 1959 when they were beaten by West Kerry.

Kerry Under 21 Football Championship

They were in 2 Kerry Under 21 Football Championship finals and won it once.

Famous Players

*Paul O'Connor
*Alan O'Sullivan
*Phil O'Sullivan Though from Tuosist parish Phil O'Sullivan played for Kenmare. Hecaptained Kerry to an All Ireland Football title in 1924, played with Kenmare and won a Senior Co. Hurling medal in 1917.
*Mickey O'Sullivan Mickey ‘Ned’ O’Sullivan won a county league medal in 1972, as well as a senior county championship in 1974. It was Kenmare’s first county title ever, with a second medal following in 1987.

References