A long history of excellence
WHEN it comes to clubs synonymous with GAA, Kanturk is right up at the top of the list.
Rich in history, the club have stood the test of time, maintaining the rich tradition of Duhallow and Cork GAA, contributing enormously to the growth of the national games. An investment in underage structures has paid off during the past decade. Off the field, the Kanturk GAA Complex continues to develop new features to portray the go ahead of a progressive club.
It can be said that football and hurling are dear to the hearts of Kanturk from prior to the GAA’s founding, the torch lit in 1882 continues to burn brightly today. Accepted as one of the oldest clubs in the country, not the best of starts on the playing fields losing county football finals to Dohenys and Lees in 1897 and 1902.
With the advent of gradings in 1909, Kanturk regraded to intermediate level and it proved a master stroke to capture the 1910 title easily overcoming CYMS. Of that Kanturk side, P Carver, R Moyhnihan, P Dennehy and D Singleton figured on the Cork Junior side.
On the formation of the Duhallow division in 1933, Kanturk’s breakthrough surfaced on landing the 1944 Junior Hurling Championship, repeated in 1949 and progressing to a county final only to incur a defeat to Bandon at the Cork Athletic Grounds.
Football honours emerged in 1954 with a first time Duhallow JAFC win over Dromtariffe. Come 1957 and a special year for Kanturk, a near grand slam completed within Duhallow, winning the Junior Football League and Championship, the Junior Hurling League and both minor football and hurling championships, the odd one out was the Junior Hurling Championship.
Another football title in 1962 saw the team elevated up to intermediate ranks up to 1970. Back at the ranch in Duhallow, Kanturk began a spell of hurling dominance on collecting a whopping five in-a-row of divisional honours culminating on a county glory following victory over Mayfield in the decider with a team captained by Denis Kenneally whose brother Tom captained the 1949 side,
Success at Juvenile level, ten in-a-row of divisional Minor hurling titles in addition to wins in Under 21 helped to provide a supply line of talent in both codes yet disappointment surface in the adult grades.
However, the veil that had lain over Kanturk for 33 years was lifted in 2002 when the Junior A Hurling side bounced brilliantly back into the limelight in glorious sunshine to land a victory over Meelin in the JAHC Final.
Despite a county championship defeat to Diarmuid Ó Mathunas, Kanturk recovered to gain back to back Duhallow Junior Hurling championship victories in 2003 with a replay win against Freemount.
A narrow county semi-final defeat to Dromina followed before an invitation to upgrade to Intermediate level was accepted in 2004.
Fortunately, the underage categories continued to churn out young talented footballers and hurlers with Wolfe Tones and Cuchulainns that was now translating into adult success.
In 2009 Kanturk won the Duhallow Junior A Football Championship for the first time in 47 years on defeating Rockchapel in the final. Though forfeiting their title to Lyre, a third Duhallow final appearance in-a-row in 2011saw Kanturk renew rivalry with Rockchapel to regain the accolades and proceed to add a county title by overcoming Mitchelsown.
Not to be outdone, the Intermediate hurlers followed suit, though defeated by Kilworth in the 2012 Co. IHC Final, Kanturk put that disappointment behind them to power past Éire Óg and inscribe their name for the first time on the 2013 roll of honour.
Kanturk hasn’t rested on its laurels, through ongoing hard work and an unwavering and passionate commitment to underage development, the club has continued to thrive. The past season will be recorded as a year of spectacular achievement for the club rewarded on county Intermediate Football and Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship titles.
Unbeaten in both grades, Kanturk lit up the Cork championship with a thrilling brand of pacey, disciplined, attacking football and hurling against many worthy opponents.
And for the first time, Kanturk reached the Munster summit to land provincial hurling silverware and progress to the All Ireland Final.
Running onto the Croke Park turf will be:
Anthony Nash, Paul Walsh, John McLoughlin, Lorcan O’Neill, John Browne, Darren Browne, Alan Sheehy, Aidan Walsh, Ryan Walsh, Donnacha Kenneally, Mark Healy, Ian Walsh, Alan O’Keeffe, James Fitzpatrick, Liam O’Keeffe, Lorcán McLoughlin, Martin O’Riordan, Barry Kenneally, Eoghan O’Connor, Denis O’Connor, Dan O’Donoughue, Jordan Fullerton, Christopher Mullane, Alan Sheehy, Billy O’Keeffe, Cathal Burke.
Team Management: Donagh Duane, Jim McCarthy, Tom Walsh, Padraig Kearns.