Drom-Inch GAA - Juvenile History

Juvenile History

Juvenile GAA Club:

When the Drom-Inch club was founded, the juveniles in the parish were under the control of the senior club, but as the underage population started to grow, and with increasing demands placed on the senior club, it was decided to establish a separate juvenile club. Previous to this the juveniles did participate in competitions, but some amalgamations were common and the three in a row minor teams of ‘61, ’62, ’63 are testament to this when Drom/Inch combined with Templemore and Clonakenny under the name of Na Fianna.

The first ever AGM of Drom & Inch Juvenile GAA club was held in Drom Community Centre on the 25th February 1982 under the chairmanship of Larry Looby, a position he was to hold for an incredible 12 years. Along with Larry, the first committee consisted of the following: Secretary: Joan Hassett; Joint Treasurers: Fr Tom Breen and Joan Hassett; Delegates to Mid Board: Martin Dwan, Michael Carey and Martin Kennedy.

The Juvenile club developed a plan in the early stages to establish quality training for children in the parish at all age groups and the enthusiastic new club began their work. The first success of the juvenile club would be an U12 mid title coming to the club in 1987, quickly followed by another in 1990. By 1992, Drom-Inch had captured its first ever U12A county championship, which was a remarkable achievement and a just reward for the many years of endeavour, which was highlighted by the club winning the Mid Bord na nÓg club of the year award. This was followed by an U14 county title in 1995.

In that year Drom-Inch also qualified for the Division 1 final at Feile na nGael. After an epic match against Sixmilebridge, with extra time having failed to separate the teams, it was decided that both clubs should share the Christy Ring Cup. The first county championship at U16 level in 1997 showed that there was a solid base of young hurlers in the club. Again the achievements on the field of play resulted in Drom-Inch winning the Mid club of the year award back to back in ’96 and ’97.

Three mid minor A championships in a row ’96, ’97, ’98 (adding the county title in ’98) remains one of the greatest triumphs in the juvenile club’s history. The juveniles were now competing with and winning against the larger and more traditional clubs in Tipperary. Another U12A championship success was achieved in 1999/2000 whilst the players who achieved success in the early ‘90s were now delivering county titles at U21 level. The mixture of these two teams provides many of the players on the present successful senior team.

The only county football title was achieved in 2002 when the U16s managed to bring back the title and then two years later, this talented group pulled off a unique distinction of winning the Mid A Minor Hurling/Football double.

Standards in the juvenile club have never slipped, nor has the passion of its committee or members waned throughout the years. During the period of the Celtic Tiger, when other organisations were finding it hard to get volunteers, the juvenile club went from strength to strength. The summer camp in 2008 saw its largest ever turnout when 96 boys and girls form the ages of 8 to 14 turned up. The juvenile club certainly has captured the hearts and minds of the younger children in the community. The past year has seen the 12s, 16s and 18s all win mid titles, and the future of the senior club looks good thanks to the hard work of the juvenile club.

Roll of Honour:

Senior Hurling:

Mid (5): 1974, 1984, 2006, 2008, 2009

County (1): 2011

Intermediate Hurling:

Mid (3): 1970, 1994, 1995

County (1): 1970

Junior A:

Mid (10) :1937, 1944, 1951, 1963, 1970, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2005.

County (3):1937, 1970, 2005

Junior B:

Mid (5): 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011

Cunty (1) : 2011

U21 Hurling

Mid (9): 1964, 1966, 1991(B), 1996(B), 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007

County (2): 1999, 2000

U18 Hurling:

Mid (14): 1961, 1962, 1963, 1984 (B),1990 (B), 1995(B), 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002 (B), 2003 (B), 2004, 2008(B), 2011(B).

County (6): 1940, 1984(B), 1995 (B), 1998, 2003 (B), 2011 (B)

U16 Hurling:

Mid (5): 1988(B), 1996, 1997, 2008(B), 2012

County (2): 1997, 2012

U14 Hurling:

Mid (6): 1984(B), 1992, 1994, 1995, 2009(B), 2011

County (2): 1995, 2011

U12 Hurling:

Mid (10):1987(B), 1990(B), 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008 (B), 2009, 2012.

County (2): 1992, 1999

Football:

U12 Football:

Mid (7): 1990 (B), 1991 (B), 1992, 1998 (C), 1999 (C), 2009 (B), 2010

County (1): 2009

U14 Football:

Mid (3): 1998 (C) 2010 (B), 2011

County (2): 2010 (B), 2011

U16 Football:

Mid (5): 1995(B), 2002(B), 2004(B), 2011 (B), 2012.

County (1): 2002 (B)

U18 Football:

Mid (4): 2004, 2009 (B), 2011(B), 2012(B)

U21 Football:

Mid (1): 2011 (B)

Junior A :

Mid (5) : 1975, 1984, 1992, 2004, 2012

County (1): 1975

Intermediate:

Mid (1): 1975

County (1): 1975