Ilen Rovers
Encyclopedia
Ilen Rovers is a Gaelic football
club in County Cork
, Ireland
. The club is affiliated to Cork GAA and Carbery GAA
divisional boards.
The farming and fishing community of Ilen Rovers hails from the estuary of the River Ilen, the West Cork river that flows through Skibbereen
before entering the sea near the fishing port of Baltimore, the gateway to the islands of Sherkin
, Cape Clear and Heir. The club crest depicts this rural geographical area showing the Beacon to the south and Kilcoe castle to the west with the Ilen flowing between and the sea beyond.
In the club's first year, three teams were affiliated under 14, under16 & minor. Success was instant, winning the SW minor B championship, in that first year. This prompted the club to enter under 21 and junior B teams in 1974, with the under 21's losing the SW championship final. They were runners up in the same competition in 1975, before winning this championship at the third attempt in 1976. However the promising start failed to transfer itself to the junior team. In fact the club lost the first round of the junior B championship every year from 1974 - 1982. Finally their championship jinx was broken in 1983, and the team went all the way to championship success. Four fruitless years followed in junior A, before the club re-graded for the only time in their history in 1988. The Junior B championship was won again that year and history was made when the team reached its first county final, only to lose to Abbey Rovers after a replay.
The early 1990s were barren years for the club, at all grades, until 1995, when the minor team won league and championship double, and followed this with Cork Minor B Football Championship
honours, beating Newtownshandrum
in both league and championship finals. These remain the club's only county titles at under age level to date. The achievement sparked new enthusiasm within the club and in the following year, 1996, the club won its first West Cork Junior A Football championship in its first final appearance.
A second junior A title was won in 1999, sparking off a remarkable period of success for the club. Three SW junior A titles were won in a row, 1999, 2000 & 2001. It was a setback to lose the Cork Junior Football Championship
final in 1999 by a point to Youghal, but 2001 yielded dividends capturing the title by overcoming Kinsale. The first year up in the intermediate grade, 2002, was a successful one, winning the county league title and also the All Ireland junior 7 a-side. They returned the following year to win the Cork Intermediate Football Championship
, beating Carrigaline
in the final. This was followed up by winning the inaugural Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship
in this grade, beating St Senan's of Limerick
in the provincial decider and the first All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship
title by defeating St Michael's of Donegal
.
Since then, pride of place must go to the under 16s who won the club's first ever SW championship at this grade in 2005, and followed it up with victories in 2006 & 2007, to complete the club's second three in a row. The under 16’s reached the county final in 2005, losing out to Valley Rovers
and again in 2006, losing to Glenville
in the final. The club has also introduced Hurling at underage level in recent years.
Meanwhile the club made its senior championship debut in 2004 and the appearance in a county final at the grade so soon would seem an improbable dream to the founders of the club.
In those early years of the club, they had no proper pitch of their own and depended on the generosity of local farmers to provide fields. In the late 1970s the club, in tandem with Aughadown Community Council, started to develop a playing pitch in Church Cross which was completed in 1982. More recently, a second pitch has been completed in Rath and was opened in 2005. This is hugely important for the club as the number of participating teams has risen from eight in 2004 to thirteen in 2007.
From its humble beginnings, in 1973, the commitment shown by the people of the community to develop our native games has given the club its current status culminating in reaching the County Senior Football final. The dedication shown by all both on and off the field has provided a rich harvest.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The club is affiliated to Cork GAA and Carbery GAA
Carbery GAA
Carbery GAA are a divisional team from the south-west division of County Cork, Ireland, in ancient Carbery. They compete in the Cork Senior Football Championship. They competed in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship up to and including 2010. They did not enter a hurling team in 2011...
divisional boards.
The farming and fishing community of Ilen Rovers hails from the estuary of the River Ilen, the West Cork river that flows through Skibbereen
Skibbereen
Skibbereen , is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is the most southerly town in Ireland. It is located on the N71 national secondary road.The name "Skibbereen" means "little boat harbour." The River Ilen which runs through the town reaches the sea at Baltimore.-History:Prior to 1600 most of the...
before entering the sea near the fishing port of Baltimore, the gateway to the islands of Sherkin
Sherkin Island
Sherkin Island, historically called Inisherkin , lies southwest of County Cork in Ireland alongside other islands of Roaringwater Bay. It had a population of 106 people at the time of the 2006 Census, measures 3 miles long by 1.5 miles wide...
, Cape Clear and Heir. The club crest depicts this rural geographical area showing the Beacon to the south and Kilcoe castle to the west with the Ilen flowing between and the sea beyond.
History
The Club was founded in 1973 and so comprises players from the parish of Rath and the Islands and the parish of Aughadown, the two parishes that bound the river estuary.In the club's first year, three teams were affiliated under 14, under16 & minor. Success was instant, winning the SW minor B championship, in that first year. This prompted the club to enter under 21 and junior B teams in 1974, with the under 21's losing the SW championship final. They were runners up in the same competition in 1975, before winning this championship at the third attempt in 1976. However the promising start failed to transfer itself to the junior team. In fact the club lost the first round of the junior B championship every year from 1974 - 1982. Finally their championship jinx was broken in 1983, and the team went all the way to championship success. Four fruitless years followed in junior A, before the club re-graded for the only time in their history in 1988. The Junior B championship was won again that year and history was made when the team reached its first county final, only to lose to Abbey Rovers after a replay.
The early 1990s were barren years for the club, at all grades, until 1995, when the minor team won league and championship double, and followed this with Cork Minor B Football Championship
Cork Minor B Football Championship
The Cork Minor B Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition played in County Cork, Ireland. The competition is between Gaelic Athletic Association clubs affiliated to the Cork board. All players have to under the age of 18 on January 1 of the year in which the competition is being held...
honours, beating Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
in both league and championship finals. These remain the club's only county titles at under age level to date. The achievement sparked new enthusiasm within the club and in the following year, 1996, the club won its first West Cork Junior A Football championship in its first final appearance.
A second junior A title was won in 1999, sparking off a remarkable period of success for the club. Three SW junior A titles were won in a row, 1999, 2000 & 2001. It was a setback to lose the Cork Junior Football Championship
Cork Junior Football Championship
The Cork Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition in Cork. The competition was originally established in 1895 as a competition for second teams of clubs playing in the Cork Senior Football Championship. This is the fourth level of football clubs, under Senior, Premier...
final in 1999 by a point to Youghal, but 2001 yielded dividends capturing the title by overcoming Kinsale. The first year up in the intermediate grade, 2002, was a successful one, winning the county league title and also the All Ireland junior 7 a-side. They returned the following year to win the Cork Intermediate Football Championship
Cork Intermediate Football Championship
This is the Second tier Gaelic football team competition organized by the Cork GAA board. This championship was discontinued after 1938 because of a lack of clubs. From 1939 until 1964 any team that won the Junior County Football Final could go straight to Senior. The Intermediate Championship was...
, beating Carrigaline
Carrigaline GAA
Carrigaline GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Carrigaline in County Cork, Ireland. The club fields both Gaelic football and hurling teams in competitions organized by Cork County Board.The club has been nicknamed by its supporters as being the "yellow -bellies". The...
in the final. This was followed up by winning the inaugural Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship
Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship
The Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition played between the Intermediate Championship winner from each county in Munster...
in this grade, beating St Senan's of Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in the provincial decider and the first All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition started up in 2003 to be played by the winners of the Intermediate Club Championship from each County. The 2010 final was contested by Spa of Kerry and Cookstown Fr...
title by defeating St Michael's of Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
.
Since then, pride of place must go to the under 16s who won the club's first ever SW championship at this grade in 2005, and followed it up with victories in 2006 & 2007, to complete the club's second three in a row. The under 16’s reached the county final in 2005, losing out to Valley Rovers
Valley Rovers
Valley Rovers GAA Club is a vibrant and successful Gaelic Athletic Association club in the parish of Innishannon in Co. Cork, Ireland. Formed in 1919 when the two teams in the parish, Innishannon and Knockavilla, came together. The club fields teams in hurling, Gaelic football, Camogie and Ladies'...
and again in 2006, losing to Glenville
Glenville GAA
Glenville GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Glenville, Cork, Ireland. This is a Gaelic football only club. The club participates in Cork county board and in Imokilly GAA dvisional competitions.-Achievements:...
in the final. The club has also introduced Hurling at underage level in recent years.
Meanwhile the club made its senior championship debut in 2004 and the appearance in a county final at the grade so soon would seem an improbable dream to the founders of the club.
In those early years of the club, they had no proper pitch of their own and depended on the generosity of local farmers to provide fields. In the late 1970s the club, in tandem with Aughadown Community Council, started to develop a playing pitch in Church Cross which was completed in 1982. More recently, a second pitch has been completed in Rath and was opened in 2005. This is hugely important for the club as the number of participating teams has risen from eight in 2004 to thirteen in 2007.
From its humble beginnings, in 1973, the commitment shown by the people of the community to develop our native games has given the club its current status culminating in reaching the County Senior Football final. The dedication shown by all both on and off the field has provided a rich harvest.
Honours
- Cork Senior Football Championship Runners-Up 2007
- Cork Intermediate Football ChampionshipCork Intermediate Football ChampionshipThis is the Second tier Gaelic football team competition organized by the Cork GAA board. This championship was discontinued after 1938 because of a lack of clubs. From 1939 until 1964 any team that won the Junior County Football Final could go straight to Senior. The Intermediate Championship was...
Winners 2003 - Cork Junior Football ChampionshipCork Junior Football ChampionshipThe Cork Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition in Cork. The competition was originally established in 1895 as a competition for second teams of clubs playing in the Cork Senior Football Championship. This is the fourth level of football clubs, under Senior, Premier...
Winners 2001 Runners-Up 1999 - Munster Intermediate Club Football ChampionshipMunster Intermediate Club Football ChampionshipThe Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition played between the Intermediate Championship winner from each county in Munster...
Winners 2003 - All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Intermediate Club Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition started up in 2003 to be played by the winners of the Intermediate Club Championship from each County. The 2010 final was contested by Spa of Kerry and Cookstown Fr...
Winners 2004 - West Cork Junior A Football Championship Winners 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001 Runners-Up 1997
- West Cork Junior B Football Championship Winners 1983, 1988
- West Cork Junior D Football Championship Winners 1983, 1988, 1996
- West Cork Under-21 A Football Championship Winners 2009 Runners-Up 1991, 2004
- West Cork Under-21 B Football Championship Winners 1976, 1996 Runners-Up 1974, 1975, 1981
- West Cork Minor A Football Championship Runners-Up 1998, 2001
- West Cork Minor B Football Championship Winners 1973, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2007 Runners-Up 1981, 1986, 1988, 2003
Famous players
- Fachtna CollinsFachtna CollinsFachtna Collins is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Ilen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1990s and 2000s.-References:...
- Kevin O'SullivanKevin O'Sullivan (Gaelic footballer)Kevin O'Sullivan is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Ilen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 2004 until 2008.-References:...
- Diarmuid Duggan