# Watergrasshill GAA

Watergrasshill GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Watergrasshill, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated to Cork GAA and is part of the Imokilly division. Currently, the club fields teams in hurling and camogie, with Gaelic football teams competing with parish neighbours Glenville GAA .

## History

The club was founded in 1928. It was predominantly a Junior B hurling club for much of its early existence, winning an East Cork B hurling championship in 1947. It did on occasion sporadically enter teams in the East Cork football championship in its earlier years, with little success.
In 1960 the club became a sister club to the Gaelic football club in the parish, Glenville. Watergrasshill would send its footballers to play for Glenville and in return, Glenville would send its hurlers to play for Watergrasshill.
In 1968 the club won its second East Cork Jr B title and regraded to Junior A for the following season. Within 5 years the club had captured its first East Cork Junior A championship in 1974 and followed it up later that year by winning the Cork County Junior A hurling title beating Charleville in the final 3.08 to 0.10 on November 3rd. This was the first county championship ever won in the parish.
Between 1975 and 1981 the club competed in the Cork Intermediate hurling championship and reached the semifinals in 1978. The club regraded in 1982 back to Junior A and competed in and lost East Cork Jr A finals in 1982, 1985 and 1995.
Since the late '70s the club has owned its own facilities in Condonstown Watergrasshill, the facilities are named after prominent club man Felix Sarsfield who did massive work in running the club throughout its early existence, and the venue hosted the 1993 East Cork Junior A hurling final. In the 1990s, considerable effort was put into underage hurling in the parish through both national schools and through a newly formed and well run juvenile hurling club. Many underage titles were won during the'90s and 2000s and the club often competed at the highest grades of juvenile hurling in Cork. This commitment to juvenile hurling was to reap dividends in the new millennium as the club entered its most successful era.
In 2000 the club won its second East Cork Junior A championship and followed this up 3 seasons later with its third East Cork Junior A championship in 2003. The club was promoted back to the intermediate grade for the 2004 season.
The 2004 season was a great year for the club as it won the Cork Intermediate championship. Only the clubs second ever adult county title. Complete outsiders at the beginning of the campaign the team surprised many by going on an incredible run and defeating Bandon & Kilbrittin, drawing with Bandon (who had regrouped and availed of the new 2 cd chance system), defeating Bandon in the replay and defeating Nemo Rangers in the county semi-final and setting up a county final date with North Corkmen Dromina. On a wet and windy October Sunday 24th, Watergrasshill were crowned Cork County intermediate hurling champions on a scoreline of 2.13 to 2.08 amid huge celebrations.
The club was promoted to the Premier intermediate hurling championship (PIHC) in 2005 and was a competitive force at this grade for the next 20 seasons. In 2007 Watergrasshill reached the PIHC final before losing to Carrigtwohill 3.14 to 3.12 in one of the all time great finals. Relegation play-offs were overcome in 2011,2012,2014 & 2021. In 2022 and 2023 the club had the unique distinction of drawing 5 out of its 6 championship games.
That would all change in 2024 as the club embarked on its greatest ever season. In July 2024 the club captured the Division 5 hurling league title. Few in Cork could foresee what was about to transpire, 4 weeks later Watergrasshill faced Carrigaline in the first round of the championship, trailing by 10 pts with 18 minutes remaining the team staged a remarkable comeback to win the game by 2 pts. This win set in motion an incredible run of form, further victories followed against Castlemartyr and Valley rovers before a win over Mallow in a bruising semi final sent the Hill to the PIHC final where Carrigaline were again waiting for them. On November 10th 2024 Watergrasshill finally achieved their aim of becoming a Senior club defeating Carrigaline by 2.16 to 0.19 amid joyous & emotional scenes.
Six days later the club represented Cork for the first time in the Munster club intermediate championship semi final against Wolfe Tones from Shannon in Clare, The Hill emerged victorious and qualified for the Munster final to face Tipperary club Cashel King Cormacs. On Saturday November 30th in Limericks Gaelic Grounds, Watergrasshill tore into their illustrious opponents and were crowned Munster champions on a scoreline of 1.21 to 0.14. Following Munster championship success The Hill faced Antrim champions Carey Faughs in Navans Pairc Tailteann in the All Ireland semi final. After a comfortable victory in front of substantial Hill support the club qualified for the All Ireland intermediate final.
Sunday January 12th 2025 was to become the most famous day in the clubs history. GAA headquarters in Croke Park, Dublin, was the venue as Watergrasshill faced off against Galway champions Tynagh Abbey Duniry in the All Ireland final. After a strong 1st half the Hill led by 4 points at half time, The Hill endured a dogged Tynagh comeback during the 2cd half. With 5 minutes of injury time played , the teams were level and the game seemed destined for extra time when in the dying seconds a long ball broke kindly for Watergrasshill captain Sean Desmond, one on one with the keeper he made no mistake. Moments later the full time whistle sounded and 97 years after its foundation Watergrasshill hurling club were crowned All Ireland champions amid emotional scenes of triumph and tears.
Since the early 1970s the club has fielded a second team that usually plays in the East Cork Junior B hurling championship but has on occasion played in the East Cork Junior A championship. This second team has won East Cork Junior B championships in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2018. The 2018 triumph was followed later in the year by winning the Cork County Junior B hurling championship defeating Mallow in the final by 2.16 to 3.11.
The club continues to thrive and its main aim is to promote hurling in the parish. Plans are underway to purchase and construct new playing facilities while on field the club has recently achieved its long-held aim of attaining senior hurling status.

## Achievements

* All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Winner (1) 2025
* Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Winner (1) 2024
* Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Winner (1) 2024 (Runners up 2007)
* Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship Winner (1) 2004
* Cork Junior A Hurling Championship Winner (1) 1974
* Cork Junior B Hurling Championship Winner (1) 2018
* East Cork Junior A hurling Championship Winners (3) 1974, 2000, 2003 (Runners up 1982, 1985, 1995)
* East Cork Junior B Hurling Championship Winners (6) 1947, 1968, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2018
* Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship Winner (1) 2015 Runners up 2013
* East Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship Winners (6) 1976, 1981, 1998, 2005, 2013, 2015
* East Cork Minor A Hurling Championship Winners (2) 2001, 2010

## Notable players

* Eamon Ryan (Gaelic footballer)
* Seán Farrell (hurler)
* John Halbert (hurler)
* Daire O'Leary