Sixmilebridge GAA - History

History

Sixmilebridge Hurling Club was founded in 1904. The first recorded matches were at Junior hurling and football level against Newmarket on Fergus with the hurlers winning and the footballers losing 2-7 to 0-2.

The first recorded championship success was in 1940. Kilkishen were defeated in the Intermediate “B” championship in Newmarket. A further 10 years elapsed before Sixmilebridge won the Junior “A” title and then in 1951 they won the Intermediate Championship beating Turnpike of Ennis in the final.

The following year the ‘Bridge reached the County Senior final only to be beaten by Scariff. In 1954 Sixmilebridge won their first ever senior trophy winning the Clare Champion Cup against Newmarket on Fergus on a scoreline of 4-6 to 2-6.

The next county final appearance was in 1962, where they lost to Ruan in a replay 3-9 to 2-8. After this defeat Sixmilebridge slipped into senior wilderness for more than a decade.

1968 saw the formation of a minor club. In 1970 the Minor “A” Championship came to the village for the first time, and the following year the U.14 title was also a first time visitor to the ‘Bridge. The U.14 title was won again in 1975 and they represented Clare in the Feile na nGael competition.

The U.21 “A” title and the Intermediate title came to the ‘Bridge in 1971. However they had to wait until 1976 to contest the third Senior County final in the club’s history. Newmarket on Fergus were the opponents and they emerged victorious on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-5.

In 1977 Sixmilebridge won their first senior championship defeating Kilkishen by 1-6 to 1-5 in the final. They were beaten in the Munster club championship by St. Finbarrs of Cork in a replay. In 1979 the ‘Bridge won the senior championship, the U.21 (first of 3 in a row) and the Minor (first of 2 in a row) as well.

Seven and a half acres of land were bought in 1978 and the new pitch and dressingrooms were opened by Paddy Buggy in 1982. They won the senior championship in 1983 and again in 1984 winning their first Munster club championship beating Patrickswell in the final. County titles also came in 1989, 1992, & 1993. In 1995 the ‘Bridge had three reasons to celebrate. The Tommy Morey memorial stand was officially opened, the U.14 won the All-Ireland Feile competition, and the senior hurlers won the senior hurling championship and the Munster title and went on the win the All-Ireland senior club championship on St. Patrick’s Day 1996.

In 2008 sixmilebridge officially celebrated the opening of their new facilities by hosting a challenge match between Clare and Kilkenny.

In 2009 sixmilebridge captured the u21 A hurling title as they overcame Wolfe Tones, Clooney-quin, neighbours Cratloe and finally Crusheen in the final.