Ballymartle GAA Club
Our History
The Hurling tradition was strong in Ballymartle long before the GAA was founded. Our story begins early in the 19th Century.
Interparish matches were the highlight of the week. The teams met at a half way mark on a Sunday afternoon and continued playing until sundown.
The earliest recollections we have of hurling about this time come from the late Maurice O’Donoghue a former Chairman of the Club. Maurice as a young lad heard discussed over and over again of the famous match between Ballymartle and Ballinadee on St. Patrick’s day 1850. After a tremendous struggle Ballymartle were victorious.
In 1890 in the book " The story of Champions " we read that Ballymartle participated in the County Senior Hurling Championship of 1890.
At the turn of the Century Hurling was very strong in the parish when the club fielded two teams. The Examiner of Monday March 29th 1899 states " Ballymartle defeated Castletownroche in the Park in the Senior Championship "
1906 was a year of notable achievements when Ballymartle won the Senior League competition only to lose the gold medals on an objection. The club reached the final of the championship only to lose to the great St. Finbarrs.
From 1909 to 1918 there was really no active team in Ballymartle even though they got together now and again to play matches. Two Ballymatle players played with Blackrock at this time Ger Deasy and Denny Barry.
In 1918 a new team was started, the jerseys were green, white and gold and were made by an Aunt of Bob Regan. We have little information until 1925 when Ballymartle were playing in the South West Division. They returned to the South East division in 1926 to reach the final of the championship. But 1927 saw the break up of the team and in 1928 Fr. Micheal Lynch got together a team in Belgooly. This team kept hurling alive in the parish until Ballymartle was reformed in 1936.
1936 The Reformed Club
Two men Jimmy Tobin and Finbarr Kiely were mainly responsible for this new beginning. Finbarr was the Secretary and Ger Deasy was Chairman. Jimmy Tobin was the Captain that year when Ballymartle got off to a dream start wining the South East. Championship. The team reached the county final but lost to Blarney on a scoreline of 6 – 02 to 3 – 01.
1937 and 1938 Ballymartle were not a successful but in 1939 they completed the double League & Championship in the South East giving way to Mayfield in the County Semi – Final after a memorable win over Cloughduv.
You Hurling fans of South East Cork
You need no longer frown
On Ballymarlte hurling team
Those hurlers of renown
They conquered every team they met
And brilliantly did shine
When they won the League & Championship in 1939
In 1940 the South East Championship was annexed once more defeating Tracton in the final in Carrigaline. However Newtownshandrum proved best in the county. Once again Tracton were defeated in the League Final.
In 1943 Ballymartle were back on the county trail having overcame Passage in the South East Final.
Blarney fell by the wayside in the first round but Glen Rovers proved best in a tough County semi final.
Times were tough during the war years of 1944 & 1945 and success on the field was difficult. For the next three years Ballymartle had to give best to Carrigaline in the championship. But in 1949 Ballymartle captured the League title defeating Passage 8 – 07 to 1 – 05 in the final.
Although in 1950 defeated by Tracton in the Championship they overcame the same opposition to win the second league title in a row. Championship and League titles also came to Ballymartle in 1951but Cloughduv proved best in the county championship.
I952
The year 1952 will be etched forever in the annals of Ballymartle. This proud club captured its first ever County Title and completed four league titles in a row in the South East. Surely a remarkable achievement for such a small club but with a huge heart skilfully dedicated players with a great will to win.
The campaign began on MAY 11TH in Kinsale and ended on December 7th in Carrigaline. Initially Valley Rovers and Shamrocks were defeated and Ballymartle overcame Ballinhassig in the South East Final.
In the county rounds Aghbullogue were defeated, Clonakilty were next in the semi final and after a tough encounter Ballymartle were through to meet Lough Rovers in the County Final.
The Final
The first game ended in a draw, Danny Walsh sending over the equaliser in the last puck of the game. After an exciting replay during which the lead exchanged hands on many occasions Ballymartle were victorious on a scoreline of 2 – 10 to 3 –05.
TeamDenny O’Reilly, Willie Barry, Tom Kelleher, Ger Hanlon, Paddy Walsh, Ted Walsh, Dan O’Donoghue, Sean Kelleher,
Sonny O’Mahony ( capt .) Andy Murphy, Danny Walsh, Sonny Nyhan, Bob O’Regan, Con Kelleher, Paddy Deasy.
Subs: Sean Walsh, Denny O’Mahony, Christy Corkery, Johnny Dwyer.
