History of Mountcollins GAA

While Mountcollins is now better known as a football club, their origins were in hurling. In 1888 Fr. Bernard O’ Mahony set up the Shamrocks Hurling Club whose colours were red with a green sash and a shamrock emblem. The team members included William Curtin, John Micky Lyons, Bill Phil O’ Connell, Con Guiney, Pat Flannagan, Dan Curtin, W. D. Cahill, John Collins, Dan Leahy, Michael Kelly Sheehan, Tade Curtin, Jock Lenihan, The Lodger Lane, Dick Jackie Brosnahan, Big Jim Hartnett, Dan T Cahill and Jack Mick Lenihan. With no league or championship at that time, games were played as tournaments. 

                The arrival of Fr. Byrne in the parish during the 1890's saw the formation of a football team, which was unbeatable in tournaments in Newcastlewest, Brosna, Broadford and Castleisland. Team members were, Noel Lane, Jack Naughton, Jack Murt Sheehan, Jack William Connell, Jim Connors, John Daly, Ronnie Leahy, Sonny McAuliffe, Jim Noble O’ Connor, Jer Flynn, Bill Noble O’ Connor, Jack Horgan and Dave Noble O’ Connor.

                Mountcollins affiliated to the west Limerick GAA Board in 1926. The club was represented by some great players and were unlucky in a number of finals. Their first major championship honour came in 1939 when they defeated Foynes in the West final, 1-5 to 3pts and were unlucky to lose the county final to St. Patrick's. The team was Connie Doherty, Larry Curtin, Con Brosnahan, Dan Cotter, D.J. O’ Connell, Michael D Lenihan, Jerry Lyons, M. Flynn, Moss Walsh, Lou Murphy, Tommy Murphy, Jackie O’ Connell, Michael J Lenihan, Chris O’ Connell and D. O’ Connor.

                Emigration had a big impact on the club up to the 1980's. While the club were always competitive at juvenile and junior level, the open door system at the time was a major disadvantage against the bigger clubs in the county. We were fortunate to have men like Aeneas Lenihan, Paddy Carroll, Timmy Brosnahan, Mick Murphy amongst many to keep the club going in very lean times. 

 

The clubs most successful year came in 1990, winning three trophies. In the league final they defeated Monagea by 2-7 to 6pts. Their second trophy came with a 9pts to 1-4 victory over Templeglantine in the West Championship Final. Our first ever county title came in December 1990 with victory over Castletown/Ballyagran by 1-7 to 1-6. The team was managed by Larry Begley with John Carrig as coach and Connie Brouder as Selector. 

 

The team was Jimmy Danaher, Ned Sheehan, John O Reilly, Mossie McCarthy, Con Lane, Florrie O’ Connell, Willie Sheehan, Denis Flanagan, Willie Hatnett, Mike Daughton, Gerard Moroney (capt) Mike Larkin, Keiran Collins, Connie Brouder, Mike Finnegan. Subs, Chris O’ Connor, Jack Lane, Dan Shine, John Lane, Paudie Naughton, John Lyons, John Collins, Mike Hartnett, Davy Dilane, Timmy Larkin, Tim Lenihan.

 

The Club again won the West Junior B Championship in 2000 defeating Fr. Casey's by 4-5 to 1-13 in the Final. The team was, Terry Brosnan, Chris McCarthy, Sean Lyons, William Brosnan, Seamus O Connell, Brian Lenihan, Denis McCarthy, Paul Keogh, Patrick Lenihan, Joe Lyons, Brian McCarthy, Shane Gleeson, Paudie Naughton, Sean Gleeson, Paul McCarthy (Capt) Subs, Donal O Connell, Mike Brosnan, John Paul O’ Connell, Noel O Connor, Colm O Connell, Gerard Brosnan, John O Connell, Donal Gleeson, John Paul Lenihan, Diarmuid McCarthy.

  

2009 was an incredible year for Mountcollins Football. The Junior A footballers made history by bringing the first championship title to the parish. They defeated Glin in the Gaelic Grounds on a score line of 12pts to 11pts after extra time. Two days later the team then went on to play Tipperary side, Knockavilla Kickhams in the Munster quarter final where they won on a score line of 1-9 to 1-8 again after extra time. In the Munster Semi Final, Mountcollins played Kilgobnet of Waterford, where they ran out winners on an 8pt to 3pt score line. This set up a Munster final meeting with Castlegregory of Kerry. Unfortunately, the Kerry side proved too strong for the Mountcollins side and the game finished Castlegregory 1-20, Mountcollins 4pts. 

The team was Thomas Begley, Sean Lyons, John Paul O'Connell, Eric O'Connor, Timothy Begley, Con Begley, Michael Quirke Captain, Denis Dillane, Tom McCarthy, Bernard McCarthy, Sean Gleeson, Seamus O'Connell, Michael Curtin, Donal Gleeson, Brian McCarthy. Subs: Shane Gleeson, Brian Lenihan, Paudie Naughton, Timothy Walsh, Batt Dillane, Donagh Walsh, John O'Connell, DJ Gleeson, Keith Garvey, Mike Dillane, Bryan O'Connell.

In 2011, Mountcollins, then competing in the Intermediate Football Championship gained senior status by defeating Oola in a replay on a scoreline of Mountcollins 1-10, Oola 1-6. Mountcollins were then beat by Tipperary champions Mullinahone in the Munster Intermediate Club Championship by 1-9 to 9pts.

The future of the club is very strong with an excellent Club Na Nog set up, with under age teams of all age taking part. The club is expertly run by a team of dedicated volunteers and helpers are always welcome.