O'Connells GFC (Louth)

O'Connells

Uí Chonaill CLG
Founded:	1929
County:	Louth
Colours:	Maroon and White
Grounds:	The Grove Field, Castlebellingham
Coordinates:	53°53′42″N6°23′15″W / 53.89510°N 6.38755°W / 53.89510; -6.38755
Playing kits
Standard colours

O'Connells GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club that fields gaelic football teams in competitions organised by Louth GAA. The club pitch is located in the mid-Louth village of Castlebellingham. Players are drawn from Castlebellingham, Kilsaran and surrounding areas.

As of 2024, the club competes in the Louth Junior Championship and Division 3A of the county football Leagues.

History

The village had been represented in Louth GAA competitions by Glyde Rangers in the late 1800s and then Castlebellingham. The latter had three representatives on the Louth team that won the 1925 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship, including the captain Jack Lynch. ^[1] The club had use of the Grove field, which had been leased from the Bellingham Estate in the early Twenties. ^[1] In 1928 Castlebellingham won the Louth Junior Championship, beating St Mary's in the final at Drogheda. ^[2] Castlebellingham folded shortly afterwards. ^[3]

O'Connells was then founded in 1929. As it was the centenary of Catholic emancipation it was decided to name the club after Daniel O'Connell. ^[4] Later that year they reached the final of the Louth Senior Football Championship, only to lose to Wolfe Tones by 2–06 to 0–01. ^[5]

In 2012, O'Connells won the county Intermediate Championship for the first time and progressed to represent Louth in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship Final. A low-scoring game in Drogheda saw them edged out 0–04 to 0–03 by Kildare champions Monasterevin. ^[6]

In 2013, the club won a Senior-grade competition for the first time, by beating St Patrick's in the final of the Paddy Sheelan Cup. ^[7]

Honours

• Louth Intermediate Football Championship (2): 2012, ^[8] 2017 ^[9]
• Louth Junior Football Championship (2): 1983, ^[10] 1988
• Louth Intermediate Football League (1): 2009
• Intermediate Football League Division 2B (1): 2001
• Paddy Sheelan Cup (1): 2013
• Paddy Sheelan Shield (1): 2015
• Louth Junior A Football League (3): 1992, 1994, 1999
• Avonmore Shield (2): 1993, 1994
• Louth Junior 2A Football Championship (3): 1932, 1949, 1976 ^[11]
• Louth Junior 2B Football Championship (1): 2010 ^[12]
• Louth Junior 2 Football League Division 4B (3): 2005, ^[13] 2009, 2012 ^[14]
• Louth Junior 2 Football League Division 4C (4): 1999, 2000, ^[15] 2003, ^[16] 2015
• Louth Under-21 Football Championship (4): 1986, 1997, 1998, 2014 ^[17] (shared with Stabannon Parnells )

Inter-county players

O'Connells players who have represented Louth at senior inter-county level include:

• Gerry Fox ^[18]
• Stefan White ^[19]
• Mark Stanfield ^[20]
• Colm Doyle ^[21]
• Colm Kearney
• Stuart Reynolds ^[22]
• Cian Doyle ^[23]
• Niall Conlon ^[24]

References

1. "A Short History Of Louth G.A.A. Clubs". Drogheda Independent . 28 March 1953.
2. "Louth Final". Dundalk Democrat . 1 December 1928.
3. "Gaelic Football - The Past Year". Dundalk Democrat . 28 December 1929.
4. "O'Connell's one of best GAA spots". Drogheda Independent . 2 March 2019.
5. "Club History -Honours". O'Connells GFC.
6. "Fitzpatrick the Monasterevin hero in dour final". The Argus . 12 June 2013.
7. "'Bellingham boys leave Pats feeling a bit blue". The Argus . 12 June 2013.
8. "shoe was on the other foot in 2012". The Argus . 7 October 2017.
9. "IFC final: O'Connells make quick return to top flight". Hogan Stand . 9 October 2017.
10. "O'Connells welcome back White". Hogan Stand . 13 February 2003.
11. "Club News - Boys of '76 tribute". O'Connells GFC.
12. "Brace of goals seal final victory for O'Connell's". Drogheda Independent . 27 October 2010.
13. "White rolls back years to clinch O'Connell's win". The Argus . 16 December 2005.
14. "LOUTH GAA CLUB ROLL OF HONOUR". Drogheda Independent . 26 December 2012.
15. "St Fechins to face relegation play-off nail-biter". Drogheda Independent . 6 October 2000.
16. "Stronger than ever at 75". Hogan Stand . 30 November 2004.
17. "U21FC final: glory for O'Connells/Stabannon Parnells/John Mitchels". Hogan Stand . 22 December 2014.
18. "Our very own marathon man!". Drogheda Independent . 2 July 2016.
19. "Stefan White on his career with Louth, semi-final pain, controversy, relationships and the rivalry with Meath". Dundalk Democrat . 18 March 2018.
20. "20 Questions: MARK STANFIELD Louth footballer". Irish Independent . 8 May 2005.
21. "they deserve a medal and they each got one". Drogheda Independent . 2 February 2001.
22. "20 Questions: STUART REYNOLDS Louth footballer". Irish Independent . 27 August 2006.
23. "O'Rourke names five new faces for 2014". Drogheda Independent . 18 December 2013.
24. "Injured Conlon facing months sidelined". Drogheda Independent . 20 January 2018.