Ballincollig AFC celebrates 50 years of glory in the village 

BALLINCOLLIG AFC, the club that launched the careers of Republic of Ireland internationals Liam Miller and Colin Healy, recently celebrated their 50th birthday. 

The function was held at the Oriel House Hotel, which is in the heart of Ballincollig, with a large crowd in attendance.

Miller, who passed away from cancer six years ago, Healy and Mark McNulty, are the best-known players Ballincollig have produced in their long and proud history to date.

The celebration night would have not been possible without the work of the organising committee of Gerardene McNamara, Gordon Murphy, Bernard Twomey, Sheila O’Riordan, Laura O’Neill and Greg Okon.

Ballincollig AFC honoured members who are no longer with us with tokens of remembrance presented to the families for their dedication to the club over the years. Presentations were made to families of founding members, Seán Collins, Michael McNulty Snr and Tim Cotter and to the families of past members, John Coughlan, Paddy Byrne, John Hogan and Martin O’Neill.

The club also dedicated awards to president Vincent Drumm and vice-president Michael Healy, who received standing ovations on the night.

The Munster Senior League, Cork Youth League, Schoolboys League and the Soccer Referee Society, attended the function and also gave gifts and well wishes to Ballincollig AFC.

To reach half a century is a remarkable milestone by any sporting organisation. The club was founded in 1974 and in the first season achieved promotion out of the AUL Division 3 league in the 1974/75 campaign. That kick-started Ballincollig AFC’s early years of success. 

The biggest trophy the club has arguably won to date was back in 2016 when the team in green and white won the FAI Youth Cup after a 3-1 win over Ringmahon Rangers in an all-Cork final at Turners Cross. Ronan Barrett, Matthew Whelan and Darren Murphy found the net for the Collig.

Ballincollig AFC have always been about the community which is one of the reasons why they are 50 years on the go. There have been ups and downs along the way but they are all the better for it as they look to the future with real optimism.