Shannon Gaels
| CLG Gaeil na Sionna | |||||||||
| Founded: | 1940 | ||||||||
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| County: | Clare | ||||||||
| Colours: | Red & White | ||||||||
| Grounds: | Ballyguiry, Labasheeda, Co.Clare. | ||||||||
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Shannon Gaels is the GAA club of Kilmurry McMahon/Labasheeda, County Clare. The name Shannon Gaels first appeared in 1940 but Gaelic Football has been played in the parish since 1887 under different names.
The first club was formed in May 1887 under the name Labasheeda. Their first ever game was played against Kilmacduane(Cooraclare) on the 21st of that month. The game ended with a victory to Kilmacduane on a scoreline of 0-1 to 0-0. The club continued for another 13 years without any success,until 1900 when a parish team under the name St. Patricks captured the county title from Kilmihil by a winning margin of six points. It wasn't until 1930 that the whole parish united as one club (Labasheeda).
The name Shannon Gaels did not appear until 1940, however once again there was a split in the parish. The Shannon Gaels club won the Junior A championship in 1941 defeating Clohanes in a game played at Kilmurry McMahon. The following year, Shannon Gaels completed in the intermediate division and reached the final before being defeated by Kilmihil. With the split continuing, players from the parish captured the Cusack Cup in 1944 playing for Coolmeen. For a period of three years (1946–1948) there was no club in the parish until 1949 when the parish once again united, this time under the name of Shannon Gaels. And it has remained so to this day.
The fifties brought success which was based on a good youth policy under the stewardship of Vincent McGarry. A minor title was won in 1957 with a juvenile title being won the following year and numerous other finals were reached throughout the decade. In 1959 the club annexed its first Junior championship beating Kilfenora by a solitary goal. The club was in Senior ranks for the first time now since 1945.
In 1963, Shannon Gaels contested its first county Senior final since 1907, however the team met its match on the day losing to a more experienced Kilmurry Ibrickane team despite outplaying them for over fifty minutes. Underage success continued notably two under 21 titles in 67 and 69. Shannon Gaels appeared in another county final in 1969 and were defeated by Doonbeg.
The following year success arrived, when the parish had its first Senior county championship success since 1900. On 16 August 1970, Arthur Ford lifted the Jack Daly Cup in the Square in Miltown Malbay after a hard fought victory over Kilrush Shamrocks. Shannon Gaels won the Senior Championship again in 1971 defeating Doonbeg. P.J. Murphy was on hand to accept the Jack Daly trophy on behalf of the club. This should have been the beginning of something of a famine for the other teams in the county but, sadly, the following years did not bring the success the tremendous talent which existed in the parish deserved. 1973 saw another final defeat at the hands of Doonbeg. The Cusack Cup was won in '75 and '76 but this was scant consolation for what should have been numerous additions to the Roll of Honour list for the Senior title.
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