Glenroe GAA History

Located in the furthest part south of county Limerick in the Ballyhoura Hills, Glenroe are one of the oldest clubs affiliated to the GAA. The historian P W Joyce, describes hurling games that were played between local parish teams long before the famine of the 1840s. There are several accounts of Glenroe hurling and football teams playing before the official foundation of the GAA. Shortly after the foundation of Cumann Luth-Chleas Gael, in the 1890s Glenroe was an affiliated club. Hurling became the dominant sport as the years went by.

Glenroe reached their first county final in 1896. Commercials beat them in the football final of that year by a score of 0-4 to 0-1. They did not have much success until 1947 when they qualified for the South Limerick junior hurling final. Current club president, George Howard was a player that year.

Glenroe had to wait until 1974 before their next success. In that year, they beat Castletown/Ballyagran by 2-7 to 0-6 in the South junior hurling final. They progressed to the county final where they beat Caherline to win their first county title. The players involved were: Seamus Murphy, Michael O’Brien, Moss Lee, John McSweeney, Michael Leahy, Dick Coffey, Pat Moloney, Denis O’Dwyer, Tom O’Brien, Tom O’Dwyer, Matt O’Brien (captain), Michael Murphy, Pat Meade, Tom Coffey, Moss Coffey, R Lee, J Hennessy, M O’Connor, M J Hennessy, J Moloney, J O’Brien, O Coffey, D Moloney.

For the next three years, Glenroe did quite well in intermediate hurling. They reached three county finals in a row between 1975 and 1977. Unfortunately, they failed to win any of them.

In 1978, the intermediate hurling championship was discontinued, and Glenroe went back down to junior.

In the early 1980s, Glenroe fielded two hurling teams. In 1983, they won a South Limerick novice hurling title, beating Castletown/Ballyagaran by 3-8 to 3-4.

In 1987 and 1988, they won the South Limerick novice hurling title

They won the South junior hurling league title in 1990 and 1991. They were also county junior hurling league winners in 1991.

Glenroe won their second county junior hurling final in 1992. Firstly, they beat Effin in the South Limerick junior hurling final by 3-10 to 1-6. They followed this up with wins over Ahane and Monaleen to qualify for the county final where they beat Effin 2-9 to 2-6. The players involved with this success were: Dave Wallace, Padraig Moloney, Paddy Kelly, Liam Howard, Matthew Walsh, John Kelly, Daithi McCarthy, Eamonn McCarthy, Mike Wallace, Mike Meade, Mac Wallace, Pat O’Sullivan (captain), Danny Murphy, Mike Murphy, M J Coffey. Subs. J Frewen, G Keane, P Moloney, C Nunan, T Hyland, M Sheehy, D Sheehy, D Coffey, Denis Coffey.

In 1993, Glenroe stepped up to the intermediate grade, but did not do too well. In 1997 and 1998 they barely escaped relegation. In 1999, they were finally relegated back to junior grade. A number of the older members retired to make way for the up and coming young lads.

The year 2000 saw Glenroe beat Blackrock in the South junior hurling final by 2-8 to 1-9. They progressed to the county final where they overcame Newcastlewest by 1-9 to 0-7.

County Junior Hurling Champions 2000

In 2001, the under-16 hurlers created history when they won the county final for the first time.

The under-21 hurlers captured the South under-21 B title for the first time in 2003.  The following year, although they failed to retain the South title, they won the county title at under-21 for the very first time.

In 2005, the intermediate hurlers had their most successful year for quite some time when they went unbeaten as far as the county final.  A disastrous first half cost them dearly.  They recovered from conceding a few soft goals in the opening period to lead with five minutes remaining.  However, they ran out of steam in the final minutes to be overtaken by Granagh-Ballingarry.

In 2010, the under-21 hurlers took part in and won the county 12-a-side chaampionship.

In 2011, Glenroe were proud to open their new dressing rooms. The building of the dressing rooms and much of the field development were carried out through the voluntary labour of club members and friends.

At under-age level, great success was had from 2004 to 2006 when numerous trophies were won at both South Limerick and county level to bring the club unprecedented success at under-10, under-11, under-12, under-13 and under-14 age groups.  With proper management of these teams, the club should have a firm foundation upon which to build the future of Glenroe hurling.

Between 2010 and 2018, Glenroe had much success at under-21 and minor level, winning a number of county titles, and this set them up for further success at intermediate level.

In 2019, after many years of trying, the intermediate hurlers won the Nick Grene Sportsgrounds sponsored county final against Newcastlewest on a score of 1-13 to 0-10. Managed by Danny Murphy and captained by Mark O’Connell. The previous day of the same weekend, Danny Murphy managed the under-13 hurlers who also won a county final against St Kierans.

County intermediate champions 2019

Roll of Honour

County Titles
Intermediate Hurling 2019
​Junior Hurling: 1974, 1992, 2000.
Under-21 B Hurling: 2004.
Under-21 12-a-side championship: 2010, 2012, 2014.
Under-21 13-a-side hurling champions 2018.
Minor Hurling 13-a-side 2016.
Under-16 C Championship: 2001, 2018.
Under-14 C Hurling: 1988, 1995, 2017.
Under-11 C Hurling: 2005.

All-County Hurling Titles
Under-14 Division 3: 2016
Under-14 Div 4: 2006.
Under-12 12-a-side: 2005.

Feile na Gael Titles
Division 5: 1994.

South Limerick Hurling Titles
Intermediate championship: 2012
Junior Hurling Championship: 1974, 1987, 1998, 2000.
Junior B Hurling Championship: 1983.
Under-21 B Hurling Championship: 2003.
Minor A Hurling Championship: 1985.
Under-16 Hurling Championship: 1961.
Under-16 C Hurling Championship: 2001
Under-15 B Hurling Championship: 1988, 1989.
Under-15 C hurling Championship: 2000.
Under-14 B Hurling Championship: 2006.
Under-14 C Hurling Championship: 1966, 1988.
Under-13 C Hurling Championship: 1986, 1987, 1988, 2004, 2005.
Under-12 B Hurling Championship: 2005.
Under-12 C Hurling Championship: 1996, 2004.
Under-11 C Hurling Championship: 2004, 2005, 2006.

Leagues
Intermediate Hurling League: 2006. 
All-County Hurling League: 2011
Junior Hurling League: 1985, 1987, 1988.
Junior B Hurling League: 1986, 1987.
Minor Hurling 12-a-side League: 2006.