Man-O-War GFC
An Long Cogaidh
Founded:1946
County:Dublin
Nickname:The 'War
Colours:Yellow and Blue
Grounds:Man-O-War
Coordinates:53°33′07.55″N 6°11′16.03″W / 53.5520972°N 6.1877861°W / 53.5520972; -6.1877861
Playing kits
Standard colours

Man-O-War GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Man of War, Fingal, Dublin in Ireland. The Club is affiliated with Dublin Gaa.

History

The club was founded in 1946 following a 'challenge' match between Hedgestown and the Man Of War. Both sides had difficulty fielding a full team, so they decided to amalgamate. Johnny Jones was a founder member of the club. In 1954 the club won its first trophy – the Nugent Cup for the Fingal Junior League. Eleven years later, the club won its next trophy – the Jubilee Cup – when it defeated Starlights in Ballyboughal. This win sparked a renewed enthusiasm and juvenile teams were formed. These juveniles were eventually to form the nucleus of the team which won many competitions in the Fingal League and achieved the club's crowning glory in 1979, the Dublin Junior Football Championship. After years of heartache and disappointment in the later stages of the Championship, Man O' War won their only Dublin Championship when defeating Fingallians by the minimum margin in Rush, having trailed for most of the match.


Successes came sporadically during the late 1980s and '90s with the team now playing football in Division 8. However, a new generation of juveniles from the mid-1990s were the basis of the team which won the Parson Cup in 2005 and earned a return to Division 7. Subsequent years have seen the team progress through Division 6 to Division 5 where the team has shown that it is well capable of playing at this level. Some compensation was earned for the loss of the 2006 Junior 'B' Championship Final in May 2007 when the Division 6 title and the Stacey Cup were won later in the year, followed by the Conlon Cup in 2008.

The Ladies section of the club began in October 1992 with a minor team composed of girls ranging from 12 to 17 years. The first hint of greater things came in 1995, when the minor team finished runners-up in the league. A few near misses on the trophy front followed, before the big breakthrough in 1999 when the ladies team went through the Division 3 North League campaign undefeated and defeated St Peregines in the playoff for the Division 3 title and promotion to Division 2. The team campaigned in Division 2 until 2008, with the major achievement of progressing to the Intermediate Championship Finals in 2003 and 2004 at Parnell Park where they were runners-up on both occasions.

A major highlight for the club took place in 2005 when they were invited to participate in the Powerscreen International 7s Tournament in Toronto. The travelling party consisted of 53 people, made up of a men's 'A' team, a men's 'B' team, a ladies team and many supporters. The ladies team were beaten in the Senior Final after a battle with Donoughmore, County Tyrone. The men's 'A' team were beaten in the Senior semi-final by the eventual winners and the men's 'B' team were unlucky not to reach the Junior semi-finals.

The Ladies Adult Team won the Junior A Championship in 2019. The Mens Adult Team won the Junior 1 Championship in 2023.

Club Grounds

Grounds are located between Lusk and Balbriggan.

Roll of Honour

Champions 2023

Sunday October 29th is date that will live long in the memories of the Man O'War club, as for the first time in 44 years their men’s team hoisted the Dublin Junior championship trophy.

Conor Dolan lifts the cup
Man O'War Lift the 2023 Dublin Junior 1 Championship

Cue scenes of unbridled joy! The game itself was tightly contested from the very first whistle to the last. It started with O’Dwyers getting up a two-point lead early on before our lads got their first score on the board. We held a four-point lead at half time, and in the 2nd half a goal by Sam Clancy proved to difference after scores from Shane Moore, John Fleming, an impressive brace from Conor Dolan (Dublin U20 Captain 2023) and monster sideline free from Willie Moore. The release of joy and raw emotion at the final whistle was sight to behold, as the Man O’War supporters ran onto the field to congratulation their heroes like kids on Christmas morning! Many former players, coaches and mentors who soldiered for years seeking the very prize we had just won. During his acceptance speech, Sean Hussey thanked the management, supporters and, while recalling how long we had been trying to win the championship, the crowd reminded him it was exactly 44 years! Sean called out the win our as the start of something new our club. After his speech, the cup was hoisted by Jason McGlynn and Conor Dolan, cue more wild celebrations. After the game the players a made their way via convoy from Naul to Nags Head, the Five roads, up to Balrothery Village, through the village and up to the clubhouse. Many supporters young and old lined the route to welcome the lad’s home with the cup! The team had a few hours in the clubhouse with family and friends before making their way to the Man O’War Pub for a wonderful evening of celebration.

Toronto 2005

In 2005 the club entered its first international 7-aside tournament, this took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 52 club members spent a week in Toronto in September 2005.

2022 Ladies Football Celebrates 30 Years

In August 2022 Man O'War GFC celebrated 30 years of Ladies Football in Man O’War. A community mass was concelebrated by Fr.Tom Hogan and Fr. Micheal O’Grady and assisted by Angela Morgan’s beautiful choir and some of our Ladies Footballers. Prayers of the faithful were read out by Ladies Footballers from across age grades in the club. A commemorative game was preceded by refreshments and catch-ups in our hall where a gallery of photos from over the 30 years was on show. It was great to see so many past players return to play and mingle with todays players and supporters. Henry McKenna was on hand to pick up all of our past players and drop them back to the pitch where a guard of honour was formed by our current Adult Ladies Teams. Some players were still late for the bus , but this didn’t dampen spirits. A piper lead both teams around the pitch before playing the national anthem. The match threw in with our 2022 senior team squaring off against the original team of 1992. There were some training ground moves executed that hadn’t been seen before and hopefully never again in many cases. There was great fun and banter going on through the game both on and off the pitch, which added to the joyous atmosphere of the day. The full time score still remains unknown! The Player of the match was Deirdre Farry. Post match , each player was presented with a medal and Bernice Jones Moore made a speech thanking everyone for coming and making special mention of Theresa Sheridan for washing the ladies jerseys for all 30 years. Afterwards a huge crowd retreated to Man O’War pub where a great night exchanging stories and having fun was had. Our ladies team presented Bernice Jones Moore with gifts to commemorate her 30 years of service to Ladies Football in Man O’War. Dermot Sheridan (Treasurer) and Pat Moore (Vice-Chairperson ) made speeches and thanked everyone who dedicates their time to the growth and nurture of Ladies Football in Man O’War.

References


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