Stair an Chumann

Club History

Cumman Iomanaíocht Maigh Cuilinn was founded in 1929 although there are records of hurling being played in Moycullen since 1904. The first club secretary was Thomas Lally of Baillnahaile. There was no pitch in those days and matches and training took place in Colm O’Donoghoe’s field in Clooniffe. Teams originally lined out in green and white but club colours changed in 1944 to maroon and white jerseys bought in Elverys of Dublin by Tommy Madden of Kilagoola and Paddy O’Connor Poulnaclough.

Those early days were successful for the club with junior county titles won in 1937 and 1944. The 1937 team were the first to bring glory to the parish and included Paddy Cooke, John Faherty, Dick Walsh, John O’Donoghoe, Matt Donoghoe, Pete Callaghan, John Richardson, John Joe Sullivan, Colm O’Donoghoe, Mick Conneely, Sean Conneely, Michael Devaney, Paddy Rabbitte, Billy Conneely and Michael Joe Walsh. Prominent members of the 1944 team included Hubert Faherty, Pete Callaghan, John Hanley and Padraig Callaghan. 1945 was also a successful year with teams winning intermediate and minor county titles.

Moycullen played senior hurling from 1945 to 1953 but mass emigration in the fifties had a severe impact on hurling and only one junior B title was won in 1954. It was nine years before a Moycullen team was to win another county title. In that year of 1963 the Moycullen team captained by John O’Connor defeated Rahoon, Carnmore, Liam Mellows, Oranmore, Monivea and Eyrecourt in the final to win the Junior title and were promoted to intermediate level. 1964 saw Michéal Lally captain the team that defeated Cappataggle in the intermediate championship with resulting promotion to senior level. The 1965 championship started with a draw against an Ardrahan team that included many county players of the time including Padraic Nyland and Johnny Whiriskey. Moycullen were beaten by four points in the replay on a day when nine Moycullen hurlers also played for Fr. Toms in Boston – an indication of the high level of emigration at that time.

There was to be no success for the club at senior level between 1965 and 1978. 1979 finally saw club relegation to intermediate level. In contrast to the senior team, under-age teams won a considerable number of titles in the years between 1968 and 1992 including the 1968 U-21 championship, the 1982 U-16B county and Connacht championship, the 1983 Minor B and U-21 championship, the 1989 Minor championship, the 1991 U-16B champsionship and the 1992 U-21A championship.