Glenfarne Kiltyclogher GAA Club

Friday, March 28, 2003

 

Glenfarne GAA 1910- 1950

Football is said to have first appeared in Glenfarne around 1910. It is believed to have been introduced to Glenfarne by a member of a McDermott family from Cornacloy upon their return from college in Ballyhaise. However football activity in North Leitrim around 1910 was sporadic, however it is certain that Glenfarne fielded a Hurling team in a match against Kinlough in 1914. However it appears this was the only attempt at Hurling in Glenfarne.

The rise in the number of clubs in the North of the County resulted in a North Leitrim Board been formed in 1917. However this board never became active and it was not until 1925 that another effort was made to revive football in North Leitrim. A new board was formed and the following teams affiliated: Glenfarne, Manorhamilton, Duagh, Belleck, Garrison, Dromahaire, Kiltyclogher and Ballyshannon. (Kiltyclogher and Duagh are now part of the Glenfarne catchment area). In 1926 Glenfarne emerged from this Group to contest the County final against the South Leitrim Group winners. The final was postponed until 1927. Unfortunately Glenfarne were defeated on this occasion by Annaduff.

By 1932 Duagh had now become part of the Glenfarne set-up. In this year Glenfarne won the first ever North Leitrim Junior Championship and qualified for the County Final against the South Leitrim winners Bornacoola. Although beaten on this occasion this was the beginning of a glorious decade for Glenfarne. In 1934 Glenfarne defeated Ballinaglera by a single point in the North Leitrim Junior Championship and emerged to play Carrigallen in the County Final. Played in Glenfarne and roared on by the home crowd Glenfarne won on a score line of 1-6 to 0-0 to bring a first ever county title to a North Leitrim club.

In 1936 Glenfarne defeated Drumkeerin in the North Leitrim final and qualified once again to play Carrick-on-Shannon in the County Final. Glenfarne emerged as Comprehensive winners on a score line of 3-10 to 2-2.

This success continued in 1937. Glenfarne defeated Manorhamilton in the North Leitrim Final and defeated Gorvagh in the county final. In 1938 Blacklion defeated Glenfarne in the North Leitrim Final. In 1939 a North Leitrim Intermediate League was formed for new or weaker teams. Glenfarne could not be classified as either but however did enter a second team under the name of Lacoon managed by John Rooney of Mullawn Creamery. This Lacoon side emerged as the first winners of the North Leitrim Intermediate League in 1939 thus bring the curtain down on a decade which saw Glenfarne dominate North Leitrim football.

The 1940's saw a swing in the balance of power in the North away from Glenfarne and Blacklion emerge as the dominate force. However Glenfarne began the decade like they ended the previous by once again defeating Blacklion in the North Leitrim Final and emerging to play Ballinamore in the 1940 County final. This game was delayed until March 1941 but Glenfarne once again crowned champions on a score line of 2-7 to 0-1. From then until 1946 Blacklion were to dominate the North Leitrim Championship. However in 1947 Glenfarne emerged to contest the County final where they defeated Gorvagh. This was to be Glenfarne's Last County title for twelve years but they did win the 1948 and 1949 North Leitrim Junior Championship closing a glorious chapter in Glenfarne Football.

Source: Glenfarne GAA, A Time to Remember, 1994

Padraig Friday, March 28, 2003 link