Annaghdown GAA club is named after the parish of Annaghdown, which to its

west is bounded by Lough Corrib. Eanach Dhúin translated means “The Marsh of the Fort”.

The club itself was founded in 1887, 3 years after the founding fathers established the GAA in 1884.

EARLY YEARS

The first game of football was played on July 31 st 1887 in John Cummins’s field and neighbouring

clubs Corofin and Caherlistrane added to the occasion. The first county football title to come to our club was in 1910 when captain Thomas Cunningham brought the Junior title to Annaghdown. In 1931 the club were graded as senior, a memorable year as the club won their first senior football title, beating Oughterard before claiming the title against

Ballinasloe played in Athenry on a scoreline of 4:02 to 0:13. Further success followed when the minor footballers won the Wrest Championship with victories over St. Nicholas’ and Oughterard.

Football in the 40’s and 50’s was played in the Junior grade with victories in 1938, ‘56 and ’58. We also fielded in the Senior grade being successful in 1944. There followed a lull period but the club fielded senior again in 1957 and from ’59 to ’62.

The launch pad for the success of the Senior Football team of the eighties was the late seventies when senior league titles were accounted for in ’75 and ’76.

County Titles

The club won three county senior titles in the ‘80’s. In 1982 beating Ballinasloe 1:09- 1:07. In 1985 a draw at 0-6 apiece against Monivea/ Abbeyknockmoy gave us another day out, with victory ours in the replay by 2 points 1:08 -1:06. Gerry Forde went on to receive Galway Senior Footballer of the year for his performance in 1985.

In ’87 a highly fancied Milltown side felt the wrath of Annaghdown on a scoreline of 1:07-0:07. We tasted defeat to Tuam in 1989 and this led to a lull in winning county titles. In 2001 Annaghdown restored themselves back to the pinnacle of senior football with a hard fought victory over Killererin on a scoreline of 1:07 -0:08 in Tuam Stadium.

Defeat was to be ours in 2002 against Corofin. The senior side has remained competitive throughout the 21 st century yet not winning the elusive Frank Fox cup.

Hurling

Hurling can be traced back as far as 1926 when local teams played in tournaments, winning one of these tournaments in 1928. The mid-fifties saw a concerted effort to revive hurling with a North Junior league won in 1955 by beating Cussane. The Junior team remained competitive over the following years with victory in the North Junior final only to lose out to Killimordaly in the County Semi-Final. Further titles were added in ’64 and ’65 and the team fielding at Intermediate level in ’66. The following years produced mixed results, but in 1979 history was made in winning the County “B” beating St. Thomas by 4:07 to 3:05.

Hurling in the parish benefitted greatly from the coaching of Br. Vincent exiled in Corrandulla from Kilkenny. In 1980 Annaghdown made history by being the first Galway club to win a national Féile title beating Moycullen in the final. This feat was replicated in 2015 when division 6 was annexed beating Naomh Olaf of Dublin.

Since the late 1990’s Annaghdowns rise to prominence in hurling has been noticeable, with titles coming through the ranks of Junior Special, Junior C and Junior B consecutively from 1998 to 2000. In 2001 we tasted defeat in Junior A to Loughrea, but victory followed the following year in a replay. against Turloughmore that gave us our first Junior A title and Intermediate status for the years ’02-’12, reaching the semi-final in ’08.

2013 heralded the dawn of a new era in Annaghdown hurling, defeat following a replay in the Junior A final of 2013 led to success in 2014 when the title was ours with a victory of 1:08 -0:07 against An Spideal. A Connacht Senior league title as well as the County Junior 1 title ensured Annaghdown would be playing for Connacht glory, achieved by victory over Caulry St. Josephs of Sligo. Following on from this victory Annaghdown faced Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny. Despite a valiant effort where we were in the lead at half time, victory was not to be ours and Bennettsbridge went on to claim All Ireland glory.

From humble beginnings our club has become a stable place in our parish with the addition over the years of extra playing and walk way facilities.

“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”, “Mol and Óige agus tiocfaidh sí”.

Annaghdown GAA Club

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Annaghdown GAA