20 years on the go, Dripsey GAA hoping for a special 2025

It’s a special year for Dripsey as they celebrate 20 years since they were formed. 

Since their high-profile split from Inniscarra, the team in red and blue have enjoyed great success on and off the field.

The last number of years has been challenging though when it comes to results, but there is a feeling now that Dripsey, whose home ground of O’Brien’s field is in Inniscarra parish, are on the up again.

The club competes at Junior A level in both codes in Mid-Cork and for the new campaign, they will be coached by Ger Gibbons in both hurling and football. It will be Gibbons' third stint involved with Dripsey having made a big impression in his two previous spells.

In the MJK Oils JAHC this season, Dripsey are in Group 2 along with the holders Ballinora, Grenagh, Éire Óg’s reserves and Kilmichael. In the Ross Oil JAFC, Dripsey are in Group 1 with Donoughmore, Ballincollig’s second team and Blarney's reserves. 

“I was actually Dripsey’s first coach when they began in 2005,” the city native said.

“We started out training above in Donoughmore’s community pitch as the club had no field at the time. I will always remember the first training session, there were 42 lads on the pitch. We had a great first year, we won the County Junior B football championship and made progress in the Muskerry Junior A hurling championship.

“There is a huge appetite for GAA in Dripsey, a fantastic bunch of people. I actually came back then for three seasons a good few years later and we reached an Intermediate hurling county final, but Charleville beat us in 2015. Darragh Fitzgibbon absolutely killed us that evening and we threw the kitchen sink at him. He was brilliant. 

“I have kept myself busy over the last few years, having been involved with Tipperary, Aghinagh and Fermoy football teams. So, Dripsey rang me towards the end of last year. To be honest, I wasn’t aware when the club spoke to me about returning that this year was their 20th anniversary. It was an easy conversation, I didn’t hesitate. I jumped at the opportunity to come back. I have a great relationship with the club.” 

Gibbons is fully aware of the job that he has on his hands in both codes this year. He will be working under William Buckley with the footballers and Paul Maher in the hurling set-up.

“A few of the lads that helped start the club 20 years ago are still playing in their 40s,” the Dripsey coach says.

“Those players know themselves that there probably isn’t too much left in them. But, we want to keep them involved and use their experience to help the young lads come through. There’s no hiding the fact that it has been a difficult few years for Dripsey, but we have a good crop of young lads on the panel now.

“The numbers are tight, but it’s a challenge we are looking forward to. Success changes everything. If we can manage to have success this year, it might help with all of the other issues off the pitch like redevelopment work and so on.

“I want to get the best out of the players, that’s all you want. If we are as good as we can be, I would be happy. It’s just trying to get consistency in both codes. We are after bringing in Colm Dinneen from Newcestown, who will be doing the strength and conditioning. He will be my right hand man. We are optimistic. We are looking up not down.” 

It does help that Gibbons knows Dripsey inside out, which will give him an advantage.

“It’s more or less the same club officers involved now that were there 20 years ago,” he states.

“It’s testament to the GAA that they can keep people involved for that length of time. Dripsey is a small club, but that can create a siege mentality, which to be fair, Dripsey has always had. It’s Dripsey against the rest of the world.

“When Dripsey did break away from Inniscarra, a lot of people around Cork would have felt that Dripsey wouldn’t last a few years and here they are 20 years later. The club has had great success. For a small club in Muskerry to win an All-Ireland title in Croke Park was fantastic.

“Dripsey has fallen on hard times recently, but they will bounce back again. Hopefully this year we can steer the lads in the right direction.” Gibbons concluded.

Dripsey's 20th anniversary dinner dance will take place on Friday, March 21 at the Lee Valley Golf and Country Club in Ovens.