Kilmurry GAA celebrate their first county title victory, 100 years on

It was a special occasion at Kilmurry GAA complex last Friday night. 

They celebrated the centenary of their first county title which was at Junior level when they defeated Nils in the final on a scoreline of 1-2 to 0-2 in 1924.

As part of the event, local historians Michael Galvin and Seán Crowley shared captivating insights and stories from this historic time, going through every player on the team and their background. It was a great night of reminiscing, storytelling and community spirit.

A large crowd gathered with every family member in attendance with representatives from the Cork County Board and the Muskerry GAA Board also present.

Kilmurry have had their ups and downs over the last 100 years and it was fitting that a century on, the Mid-Cork club won their seventh adult county title when they defeated local rivals Canovee in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC final in October. It was Kilmurry's sixth county crown at Junior level with one county triumph coming then in the Intermediate ranks.

With a thriving underage and a young first-team, the future is bright for Kilmurry as they look ahead to the next 100 years full of promise.

It was the heroes of 1924 that laid the foundation for future successes.

For club chairman Peter Lyons, it was a hugely successful night six days ago looking back on that memorable year.

“We reached out to the relatives of the players from the 1924 team many months ago and they were fiercely interested in this event from the get go,” he says. 

“Every player had a family member representing them. A lot of work went into the planning of this event. A committee was formed and we started meeting on Monday nights. We had a lot of members who did trojan work and we thank them all. We have to mention Michael Galvin and Seán Crowley, they have an awful lot of knowledge from that year and that team.

“There has and always will be a fierce appetite for football in Kilmurry. People are just mad for it. We might not have fierce numbers but we have the hunger and drive which makes up for that. This event is also special for the fact that we have won a county title 100 years on.

“It has been a phenomenal year for Kilmurry. Everyone has a passion for the club to do well. We are lucky that we have great people involved. Hopefully there will be more counties won over the next 100 years. I have no doubt there will be. There's a bright future ahead for Kilmurry on and off the pitch with work currently going on in Crookstown to open a full sized second pitch for the club. After that, the plan is to construct dressing rooms.” 

The current Kilmurry team have already made history this year by winning the county, but it could get even better on Saturday evening. The team in green and gold are chasing a first ever provincial crown when they take on Firies of Kerry in the Munster Club JFC final in Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale (6pm). 

The Kilmurry 1924 Junior football panel:

Denis J Long, Paddy Long, Jerry Hallihan, Murt Kelleher, Dan Long, William Desmond, Jerh O’Mahony, Tim Walsh, Charlie Foley (captain), Jack Murphy, John Crowley, Patrick Mahony, Tim Murphy, Tom Foley, Jimmy Lordan, Dan Donovan, John Carroll, Jackie O’Mahony, Daniel O’Connor.