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Clan Na Gael GFC (Louth)

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Coordinates: 54°00′40″N 6°24′47″W / 54.011°N 6.413°W / 54.011; -6.413
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Clan na Gael
Founded:1916
County:Louth
Nickname:The Clans
Colours:Green with Yellow stripes
Grounds:Clan na Gael Park
Coordinates:54°00′40″N 6°24′47″W / 54.011°N 6.413°W / 54.011; -6.413
Playing kits
Standard colours

Clan na Gael GFC is a GAA club from Dundalk, County Louth, which fields Gaelic football teams in competitions organised by Louth GAA. Their motto is 'Once a Clan, Always a Clan'.

History

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Affiliating in 1916,[1] the club won the Louth Minor Football Championship in 1920.[2] The first adult title followed in 1922 with victory in the Louth Junior Football Championship. 1923 saw the club win the Louth Senior Football Championship by defeating Boyne Rangers of Drogheda, captained by inter-county player Peter Garland.[3] In 1924 the Clans retained the championship by beating Larks of Killineer in the final on a scoreline of 1–06 to 0–01 at the Dundalk Athletic Grounds.

In 1933 the club lost the Louth Senior Football Championship final for the first time, going down 3–03 to 1–07 against Newtown Blues at the Drogheda Gaelic Grounds, with a team that featured five Hearty brothers.[4][5] It would be a further 26 years before Clans would reach their next senior championship final. In 1959 they came from behind to draw with St Mary's, going on to win the replay at the Gaelic Grounds by 0–08 to 0–05. The side was captained by Benny Toal.[6]

In 1954 Louth reached the final of the Leinster Junior Football Championship. The team, which lost to Dublin by seven points, included five Clans' players. They were Eddie Murphy (goal), John McArdle, Paddy Dixon, Benny Toal, and Séamus Connolly.[7]

The early 1960s saw the emergence of Newtown Blues as the dominant force in Louth football.[8] The Drogheda men would win seven Louth SFC titles during the decade. Their replay victory in 1964 at Ardee came at the Clans' expense, on a scoreline of 3–08 to 0–04.[5]

The club's new home ground Clan na Gael Park was officially opened in 1966, coinciding with 50th anniversary celebrations.[9]

The club's minor team won the Minor Championship in 1976,[10] beating Oliver Plunketts 1–02 to 0–04 at St Brigid's Park, Dowdallshill. This side contained Jim Brady, Aidan Wiseman, Gary O'Callaghan and the McKeever brothers who all went on to win SFC titles in the 1980s.

The drought at Louth Senior Football Championship level finally ended in 1985 with a 1–06 to 0–04 win over Roche Emmets in the final at Dowdallshill.[11] A bid for two in-a-row ended at the semi-final stage with defeat to Kilkerley Emmets in 1986. The Clans returned, however, the next year and defeated Newtown Blues in the final at Ardee, 1–07 to 0–04. The Louth county team now included several Clans players, including the O'Hanlon brothers, Niall O'Donnell, Peter Fitzpatrick and Gerry Curran. More success at minor level followed in the Eighties, with the Fr. Larry Murray Cup returning to the Ecco Road in 1981, 1983 and 1988.[12]

The next few years saw Clan na Gael lose three county finals in a row, all narrowly, to opponents Newtown Blues (1988),[5] Cooley Kickhams (1990)[13] and Stabannon Parnells in 1991.[14] Only a late equalizing point from the boot of Séamus O'Hanlon prevented a fourth straight county final defeat, against town rivals Dundalk Gaels in 1992. Clans won the replay at Dowdallshill on a scoreline of 3–11 to 1–06.[15] The arrival of Stefan White from Castleblayney Faughs in 1991 further strengthened the team.[16] The club went on to win all three Senior football competitions in both 1992 and 1993. The 1993 SFC final versus St Mary's at the Gaelic Grounds was won by four points, 1–12 to 1–08. This side was managed by Peter Fitzpatrick who also played centre-half back.

Clan na Gael won their eighth county SFC title in 1998 with a 0–08 to 0–04 win over Lann Léire in Castlebellingham.[17] This was followed by further silverware in each of the next two seasons - the ACC Cup in 1999 and the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup in 2000[18] - defeating Cooley Kickhams in both finals. There was also success at underage level in this period, as the club won consecutive county Minor championships in 1999[19] and 2000.[20]

A 1–10 to 1–07 defeat to Mattock Rangers at the semi-final stage ended the Clans' hopes of winning another Joe Ward cup in 2002.[21] The club reached their last Senior championship semi-final to date in 2004, losing to eventual winners St Patrick's on a scoreline of 0–08 to 0–06.[22] Relegation to the intermediate grade of Louth football was confirmed at the end of the 2006 season.[23]

Clans' efforts to return to senior football since being relegated have been hindered by four successive defeats in the final of the Louth Intermediate Football Championship - in 2011 to O'Raghallaighs,[24] to O'Connell's in 2012,[25] in 2015 to Kilkerley Emmets (via replay)[26] and O'Connell's again in 2017.[27] As of 2023, the Ecco Road men are still competing at intermediate championship level and in Division 2 of the county football leagues.[28] The club's manager for the 2023 season is Alan O'Neill.[29]

Catchment area

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The club was founded by residents of the Castletown district of Dundalk and draws its players from the housing estates in the vicinity of the Castletown Road and the Redeemer parish. The clubhouse and pitches are located on Ecco Road just off Castletown Road and adjacent to the Dublin-Belfast railway line.[30] In 2004, the County Board honoured the club by choosing Clan na Gael park as the venue for that year's Louth Senior Football Championship final, for the first time since their foundation in 1916.[31] Three further SFC finals have since been staged at the Ecco Road grounds, in 2006, 2009 and 2022.

Rivalries

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The club's main local rivals are cross-town neighbours Dundalk Gaels - whom they beat in the 1992 Louth SFC final replay[32] - and Seán O'Mahony's.[33] At various times in their history, the Clans have had rivalries with clubs such as Newtown Blues, Cooley Kickhams and Stabannon Parnells.[34]

Inter-county players

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Current and former club members, who have played with Louth inter-county football teams, include:

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Gael Force". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ Once-a-Clan always-a-Clan, Peter Brannigan (1992).
  3. ^ "Louth Legends pre-1950". The Argus. 6 December 2002.
  4. ^ "Drogheda's 26th Championship". Drogheda Independent. 14 October 1933.
  5. ^ a b c "Newtown Blues and Ardee St Mary's Louth SFC finals' record and winning captains". The Argus. 7 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Joe Carroll pays tribute to three great,late Louth sportsmen: Tom Kirk, Benny Toal and Mickey Nulty". Dundalk Democrat. 22 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Louth Juniors Fought Hard Against Superior Dublin Side". Drogheda Independent. 21 August 1954.
  8. ^ "Death, taxes and Newtown Blues winning titles: Holders see off Naomh Máirtín in Louth SFC final". Dundalk Democrat. 20 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Clans Bar a great hub for local area". The Argus. 1 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Clans can build on last years success". The Argus. 15 September 2000.
  11. ^ "Staunton knows all about magic of Croke Park". Irish Independent. 18 January 2006.
  12. ^ "Clans can build on last years success". The Argus. 15 September 2000.
  13. ^ "McGuigan stars as Cooley land Joe Ward with victory over Clans". Dundalk Democrat. 17 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Pat Butterly was a star for Louth and Stabannon Parnells in their four senior championship wins". Dundalk Democrat. 8 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Clans earn local bragging rights after final replay". The Argus. 3 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Stefan White on his career with Louth, semi-final pain, controversy, relationships and the rivalry with Meath". Dundalk Democrat. 18 March 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Dundalk side in control". Irish Independent. 7 September 1998.
  18. ^ "Clans win Cardinal ODonnell Cup again!". The Argus. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  19. ^ "About Glyde Rangers GFC". www.glyderangersgfc.com.
  20. ^ "Duffy goal sinks battling St Marys". Drogheda Independent. 22 September 2000.
  21. ^ "Mattock secure a big date with the Brides". Drogheda Independent. 23 August 2002.
  22. ^ "the immovable objects..." Hogan Stand. 30 November 2004.
  23. ^ "90 years young". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2006.
  24. ^ "IFC final: Sweet success for O'Raghallaighs". Hogan Stand. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  25. ^ "shoe was on the other foot in 2012". The Argus. 7 October 2017.
  26. ^ "IFC replay: Kilkerley come good". Hogan Stand. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  27. ^ "IFC final: O'Connells make quick return to top flight". Hogan Stand. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Louth GAA senior, intermediate and junior club championship draws". The Argus. 27 February 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Louth GAA club management teams begin to take shape with several recent appointments". The Argus. 6 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Meet the Godfather of Clan Na Gael..." Dundalk Democrat. 1 August 2020.
  31. ^ "Clans beat off opposition to host first senior final". The Argus. 20 August 2004.
  32. ^ "Maurice Harrison selects his Clan na Gael and Louth all-time XVs". Dundalk Democrat. 28 March 2020.
  33. ^ "No late drama as Clans finish off O'mahony's". The Argus. 8 October 2012.
  34. ^ "Will Stabannon be dethroned?". The Argus. 18 August 2000.
  35. ^ "Louth legend Leslie gets All-Ireland medal 40-years later". Dundalk Democrat. 2 January 2018.
  36. ^ "Leslie Toal has the Midas touch". Hogan Stand. 27 November 2011.
  37. ^ "Melia and Wiseman chosen". The Argus. 4 August 2000.
  38. ^ "Louth team of the millennium". Drogheda Independent. 21 January 2000.
  39. ^ "Irish legend Steve Staunton remembers his winning goal in the Louth Senior Championship final". Dundalk Democrat. 3 October 2017.
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