School has a strong tradition of Gaelic games
BOHERBUE Comprehensive School remains to the forefront in GAA circles, from its founding to the present day, and ranks amongst the great promoters of football, hurling, ladies football and handball - with an assortment of county, Munster and All-Ireland titles won over the years.
In 1992, the Senior boys football team reached the All Ireland final for the first time ever only to be narrowkly defeated in the final by Tullow, Co Carlow. That team, captained by Pat O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe) featured Mark O’Sullivan (Newmarket) who later went on to play Senior football for Cork.
All-Ireland glory surfaced in 1998 when the Junior boys team emerged victorious, defeating St. Brendan’s College, Belmullet with a late goal scored by Gerald O’Connell (Boherbue). This Boherbue side defeated Cookstown from Tyrone - coached by the great Peter Canavan - in a thrilling semi-final by virtue of another late goal by Ian Buckley (Dromtarrife).
A glut of county titles have been won in both hurling and football over the years and several players have worn the Cork jersey with distinction, including All-Ireland Senior medalist Donnacha O’Connor (Ballydesmond).
Amongst those to wear the county jersey with Cork Minor, U21’s and Juniors include AJ O’Connor, Jimmy Dennehy, Anthony Casey, David Scannell and Maurice Angland (Kiskeam), Jerry O’Connor, John Corkery, Kevin Cremin (Boherbue); Conor Cronin and John Ryan (Newmarket).
Girls football remains highly popular in the school with All-Ireland Senior glory achieved in 2002 from a team containing future Cork Senior stars Regina Curtin, Maireád Kelly and Norita Kelly.
In 2016, former pupil Shauna Kelly played a starring role for Cork Senior ladies in their victory over Dublin in the All-Ireland final.
The school has been lucky over the years to have the involvement of many teachers, namely Dan Neligan and Joe Carroll who coached the boys football Junior All-Ireland winning team. Also, the late Jim Fitzgerald coached both hurling and football teams to county titles in the school.
Familiar names such as Brendan O’Connor and Robert Stack coached the Junior team to both county and Munster titles.
Over recent years, James Twohig and Kevin Roche (current team manager) have taken up coaching roles in both hurling and football.
In ladies football, former Kerry footballer Margaret (O’Donoghue) Fitzgerald and Joe Carroll form the management team.
Boherbue Commprehensive School is synonymous with the rich tradition of gaelic games, contributing enormously to the development and growth of the national games. Long may it continue.