Cork County Board founded at 20 Maylor Street on December 19th 1886 is the second oldest in the county being predated by Wexford by fifteen days. Its first Chairman was Alderman Dan Horgan and its first Secretary was D.M. Lane who emigrated to America the following year.
In the early days hurling and football were equally prominent. The two leading football clubs in the city Nils Desperandum and Lees (a sister club of Lee Rowing Club) recruited many of their players from those in employment in the large business houses in the city many of whom came from the traditional football areas of the county. However many of those involved in hurling had little interest in Gaelic Football and as a result the big ball game declined in the years 1910-1940. Its revival around the latter time was encouraged by J.J. Walsh former County Board Chairman, 1916 Revolutionary, Government Minister and at that stage a successful businessman. He sent £250 (equivalent to £10,000 in today's terms) to the County Board in successive years 1939 and 1940 for the promotion of Gaelic Football His investment bore fruit in a short time and Cork football has never looked back in the interim. J.J. Walsh is fondly remembered by earlier generations of Corkonians for inventing the one-way train ticket from Cork to Dublin when as a Minister in the fledgling Free State Government he recruited many Cork people for positions in the Civil Service.
It is fair to say that hurling is the game at which Cork has achieved such renown down the years. So many of our hurlers became household names not only in their own generation but down the generations that it is invidious to mention but a few. Names such as the Coughlans of Blackrock five of whom won All-Ireland medals, Jarnesy Kelleher of Dungourney, Eudie Coughlan, freedom fighter Jim Hurley, Dinny Barry Murphy (he'd take the bailout of your eye boy and he wouldn't hurt a fly boy). These presaged our glorious four in a row team featuring Jack Lynch, Christy Ring, Billy "Long Puck" Murphy and the colourful Micka Brennan. Our footballer's encouraged by J.J. Walsh and led by Tadhg Crowley won out in 1945. When Ringy soldiered on to further glory among his lieutenants were Paddy Barry of Sars, Willy John Daly and that prince of hurlers Vincy Twomey and so onto 1966 the Golden Jubilee year of the Rising when Gerald McCarthy led our team to one of our sweetest victories. Paddy Barry of Saint Vincents would lead us to our list in 1970. Three years later Billy Morgan captained a talented team to regain the Sam Maguire Cup. Ray Cummins, Martin O'Doherty and Charlie McCarthy led us to three in a row 1976-1978 and so to Centenary Year 1984 when Seanie Leary’s goals were instrumental in stylish John Fenton bringing hack the MaCarthy Cup. Two years later Tom Cashman captained us to victory over Galway in a game which marked the retirement of all time favourite Jimmy Barry-Murphy who was never on a losing side against Tipperary. Denis Allen led Cork footballer's to victory over Mayo in 1989. 1990 saw Cork win the double (a feat they had achieved previously in 1890) with Tomas Mulcahy and Larry Tompkins at the helm. The nineties which started so well were to prove difficult until last year when Jimmy Barry-Murphy masterminded a series of
classic performances which culminated in Mark Landers captaining the youngest ever Cork team to victory before the footballer's led by Philip Clifford narrowly missed completing another double. Finally on Sunday September 24th 2000 our minor footballer's captained by James Masters won Corks first title of the new millennium and our 105th in all when they gave a brilliant display against worthy opponents Mayo in Croke Park.
In the matter of AIl-Irelands won Cork are the clear leaders with 111 titles followed by Tipperary with 70, Kerry with 67 and Kilkenny with 61. Camogie is also very strong locally and like our hurlers and footballer’s they also lead the way with 36 titles five ahead of nearest rivals Dublin.
Thanks to Cork Gaa Website for there help with this.
Return to Top
|
