Ellistown GAA - Gaelic Football

Gaelic Football

Of the 1891 Mountrice team, Pat Martin was grandfather of 1960s ace scorer Jack Donnelly, while Jim was father of Bob and Paddy - All Ireland medallist, inter-provincial, and Tailteann Games international in the 1920s. Ellistown were promoted in 1935, went to the semi-final in 1936, losing to Curragh having beaten Sarsfields on the way, lost the 1937 first round to Sarsfields, and eventually reached the 1938 county final. The first of two successive Ellistown v Kildare St. Patrick's finals never took place because six Ellistown players were ill, and they were surprised when a walkover rather than a refixture was given. They won the title the following year, Ellistown won revenge, 3-2 to 1-3. Ned Cullen put a shot through the net, while Mick "Butt" Donnelly got a goal for Ellistown. Ellistown won their second and last title in 1944, when opponents Carbury had a player sent off and struck the posts. Four Ellistown players were almost left behind when the bus on which they were travelling broke down. Davey Graham arrived just as the teams were lining up behind the band. Ellistown won 1-4 to 0-4. Ellistown, now with many of the sons of former stars on the side, returned to senior ranks in 1964 having come straight from junior B in two years. It was 1968 before Ellistown, now with Jack Donnelly braking scoring records, made a real impact on the senior championship, when they beat Maynooth and Sarsfields and qualified for a semi-final against Carbury that went to two matches and saw punches thrown freely before Carbury qualified by five points. In 1972 eight points from Jack Donnelly helped Ellistown to a 2-12 to 1-11 victory over Sarsfields and a place in the county final. Tom Moore got two Carbury goals within ten minutes of the restart, and Carbury cantered home 3-14 to 1-7. Six Ellistown players survived for their junior championship win nine years earlier.