Meelin GAA


Meelin GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Meelin, Cork, Ireland which forms part of the parish of Rockchapel and Meelin. The club is affiliated to the Duhallow division of Cork GAA. The club has both a hurling and a Gaelic football teams. Up to recently the club did not have any Gaelic football team with the area represented in football by Knockscovane GAA Club which took part in Duhallow division football competitions until its amalgamation with Meelin GAA club. Meelin juvenile footballers play with St. Peter's which is an amalgamation of Meelin, Freemount and Rockchapel clubs at juvenile level. Meelin won the 2009 Duhallow Junior A Hurling Championship after a barren spell of 13 years, they followed this up with back-to-back titles in 2010, defeating Kilbrin. This was the start of the club's incredible journey that took them to the All-Ireland Junior Final in Croke Park. Meelin won the final on a score line of 0–12 to 1–5 over John Locke's of Kilkenny.

History

Meelin GAA Club was founded in 1928 and for a number of years played competitive hurling in the North Cork Division. When Duhallow division was established in the 1930s Meelin then took part in their competitions. Meelin won its first Duhallow Junior A Hurling Championship in 1939, and followed on with three more victories in 1940, 1941 and 1943. However, after the 1943 victory, Meelin had to wait 27 years for its next Duhallow Championship which was won in 1970. This was the beginning of a new era for the club and since then Meelin have won the Duhallow title on 15 occasions. Meelin contested the final of the Cork Junior Hurling Championship in 1973 and 1986 but were defeated by Ballinhassig and Ballymartle. Meelin have won the Duhallow Junior Hurling League on 11 occasions – 1970, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2008, 2010.
Due to a big decrease in the local population, the club merged with Freemount for juvenile hurling purposes. The amalgamated club is called St. Mark's.

County Finals

Meelin reached their first ever county junior hurling championship final in 1973. The opposition that day was Ballinhassig from the Carrigdhoun division. Meelin were defeated on a scoreline of 1–6 to 0–5 at Coachford. Cork goalkeeper at the time Martin Coleman played in goal for Ballinhassig.
In 1986 Meelin returned to the county final, however the club suffered a similar fate, losing to Ballymartle, on a scoreline of 3–8 to 2–4 also played at Coachford.
2010 proved to be a year to remember forever in the history of Meelin GAA Club, as they won the County Junior A Championship. Meelin defeated Cloughduv 1–19 to 2–9 in the County Final at Páirc Uí Rinn in front of almost 4,000 people.

Munster Championship

By virtue of winning the County in Cork, Meelin represented Cork in the Munster Junior Hurling Championship. In the Semi-final Meelin beat Effin of Limerick, at an eagerly contested and well attended game in Kilmallock. St Patricks of Tipperary provided the opposition for the Final in Mallow. Meelin were by far the better side, triumphant on a scoreline of 5–18 to 0–9, and Meelin were crowned Munster Champions.

All-Ireland journey

The first step on the All-Ireland campaign was at Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham. Meelin's opposition for the All-Ireland quarter final were the Fullen Gaels club from Manchester.
The supporters travelled from far and wide to see 'the Mighty Meelin' play a championship game overseas. Meelin won the game 2–15 to 0–8, to set up an All-Ireland semi-final with Bearna/Na Forbacha of Galway. The All-Ireland Semi-final was played at Éire Óg, Ennis and Meelin prevailed on a scoreline of 0–16 to 1–4, after a poor performance. This set up a date with Kilkenny club John Lockes on 13 Feb at Croke Park. Meelin won on a scoreline of 0–12 to 1–5.

All-Ireland Squad

Intermediate

Meelin's first championship encounter at Intermediate level was against Fr. O'Neills. Meelin lost this game after extra time on a scoreline of 4–16 to 2–20. Aghada defeated Meelin in the fourth round of the championship ending their championship season. 2011 Also saw Meelin win Division 3 of the Intermediate League defeating Dripsey in the final. The team qualified for the final with wins over Kanturk, Milford, Cobh, Barryroe, Éire Óg, Blackrock, Dripsey and Dromina along with a draw against Fr.O'Neills. The only defeat of the league campaign was at Meelin's first ever Intermediate game at home against Fermoy. The League victory earned Meelin promotion to Division 2 for the 2012 season.
Meelin's second year at Intermediate level saw them beaten in the County Quarter Final by Argideen Rangers. Meelin had got to the quarter-final by beating Dripsey in the first round and beating Milford in the fourth round. 2012 saw Meelin promoted yet again in the Intermediate League. A draw with Aghada coupled with wins against Kilbrittain, Aghabullogue, Dripsey, Argideen Rangers, Castlelyons and a final day victory over Ballyhea helped Meelin qualify for the final. Defeats in the league were home games to Valley Rovers and Ballygarvan. Ballyhea defeated Meelin in the final however both finalists get promoted, so Meelin played in Division 1 in 2013.
Meelin's third year at Intermediate level saw them knocked out of the championship by Kanturk at the quarter-final stage. Meelin lost the first round to Aghada but regrouped with a win over Aghabullogue in the second round. The fourth round saw Meelin grind out a victory over Argideen Rangers that set up the quarter final encounter with Kanturk. The league saw mixed results with Meelin finishing on 10 points, 5 victories and 5 defeats, enough to preserve Division 1 status for another year.
2014 was another year of mixed results for Meelin on the league and Championship front. Meelin won comfortably in the first round of championship after a good display against Aghabullogue. They then received a bye in the draw to the quarter-final where Aghada were the opposition. Meelin were beaten by Aghada who lost out in the semi-final to county champions Kanturk. The league also brought mixed results with both memorable displays and poor performances. Home wins against Cloyne, Tracton, Castlelyons and away win against Fermoy plus a draw against Premier Intermediate Champions Ballyhea was enough to preserve division 1 status for another year. The defeats in the league campaign were against Bandon, Ballinhassig), Newcestown, Kilworth and Ballincollig.
2015 brought yet another change of management but hit and miss league performances saw the team relegated from Division 1 and lost out to Fr. O'Neills in the Championship 4th Round. Meelin were drawn against Dripsey in the first round and won by 10 points, but went on to lose out in the 4th Round to a last minute goal from O'Neills. The League form was mixed and saw Meelin relegated with 7 points, 3 wins, 1 draw, and 5 defeats. The County Board restructured the championship at the end of 2015 eliminating relegation from all grades and promoting 10 new teams to the Intermediate Hurling grade, this resulted in Meelin preserving Division 1 hurling status as only one team dropped out of the division.
2016 was another year of mixed results for Meelin in both the County League and Intermediate Championship. Meelin were eliminated from the championship at the quarter final stage after a comprehensive defeat to Aghada. The First round saw Meelin record a victory over Ballincollig. This set up a winners section game against Fr. O'Neills for a place in the quarter final. Meelin lost out in a tight game but recorded victories over Grenagh and Blackrock to bring them to the quarter final encounter with Aghada. Meelin were relegated from Division 1 in the County League after a campaign of mixed results. Meelin finished on 7 points, 3 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats. This relegated Meelin to division 2 for the 2017 season.

Honours