Ballyskenagh GAA was a Gaelic Athletic Association club located near Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland but affiliated to the Offaly County Board. The club was primarily concerned with the game of hurling.
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| Founded: | 1925 | ||||||||
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| County: | Offaly | ||||||||
| Colours: | Red and black | ||||||||
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History
editAssociated with the parish of Roscrea, County Tipperary but geographically situated in County Offaly, the club was formed in 1925 under the name Mount Heaton. The club affiliated to the Offaly County Board and had its first success in 1927 when the Offaly JHC title was claimed.[1] The club remained active until 1940.
After a two-year lapse in activity the club was reformed as Ballyskenagh but affiliated to the North Tipperary Board. The new club won the North Tipperary JHC title in 1948 before winning the title for a second time in 1959. A new bye-law introduced by the Tipperary County Board in 1961 restricted each parish to one hurling and one Gaelic football club resulting in Ballyskenagh being refused affiliation. Later that year, the Offaly County Board agreed to accept affiliation. Success was immediate with the club winning the Offaly JHC title in its first year back in competition in County Offaly.[2]
Ballyskenagh claimed a third Offaly JHC title in 1994, before securing senior status a year later when the club claimed the Offaly IHC title.[3] Ballyskenagh had their first senior success in 2001 when they won the O'Connor Cup. The club reached the Offaly SHC final in 2003 but lost out to Birr by 1-18 to 1-11.[4]
A decade after reaching the SHC final, Ballyskenagh struggled to field teams due to a lack of playing numbers. Because of this the club amalgamated with Killavilla in March 2013 to form the new Ballyskenagh/Killavilla club.[5]
Achievements
edit- Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship (3): 1979, 1995, 2008
- Offaly Junior A Hurling Championship (3): 1961, 1977, 1994
- North Tipperary Junior A Hurling Championship (2): 1948, 1959
Notable players
edit- Pat Cleary: All-Ireland SHC-winner (1985)[6]
- David Franks: All-Ireland SHC runner-up (2000)[7]
- Paddy Kirwan: All-Ireland SHC-winner (1981)[8]
- Brendan Murphy: All-Ireland SHC runner-up (2000)[9]
References
edit- ^ "Rolls of honour". Offaly GAA website. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Another David and Goliath clash as Ballyskenach aim to block Birr's five-in-a-row title bid". Offaly Independent. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Goalpoacher's wish list". Irish Independent. 4 July 2004. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Ballyskenach's dreams fade as Birr do five in a row". Irish Independent. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Ballyskenagh and Killavilla amalgamate". Hogan Stand. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "The Offaly Connection". Kilmacud Crokes GAA website. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Franks bows out". Hogan Stand. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Old pals stand in Kirwan's way". Irish Independent. 1 December 2001. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Murphy leads the way in Offaly's walking success story". GAA website. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2024.