Club History

Thank you to B.Twomey for taken the time to write a concise history of our club.
It took a lot of time and research and we are greatfull the time was taken to do this

The history of the Crotta club is entwined with that of Kilflynn because even though there was, on occasion, a team in each area, there was always a crossover of players and they always eventually finished up forming the one team. People may wonder why this link existed as Crotta & Kilflynn are in two different parishes. It probably goes back to the time of the Tullig Gamecocks whose players came from both areas. Also many of the players attended the same schools in Kilflynn & Clandouglas and the Kilflynn pubs were regarded as their locals by most Crotta people.

The tradition of hurling in the Crotta/Kilflynn area can be traced back to the early years of the 20th century, the Tullig Gamecocks were the first organised team in the area. This team won the County Junior Championship in 1916 and then played and defeated Kenmare (who had won the Senior County Championship) for the senior medals as these were the only set provided by the County Board. So the ‘Gamecocks’ claimed to be the Senior County Champions also for 1916.

1920
Garrynagore entered a team in the County Championship but withdrew due to the troubles in Ireland from 1919 onwards.

1928
The North Kerry Hurling Board introduced a primary schools Under 16 competition with 13 schools taking part. Kilflynn won this competition beating Abbeydorney by 2 point in Egan’s Field near Shannow Bridge. The team that day was as follows: Pat Herbert, Tom McCarthy, Mickey Kenny, Thady McCarthy, Thady Loughnane, Sonny Relihan, Paddy Loughnane, Willie Shanahan, Mikey Barry, Dan Buckley, Danny Lynch, Pat Laide, Florrie McCarthy, John Lynch and Jack Loughnane.

From 1928, when the full County Championship resumed, until 1934 Kilflynn entered a team.

1931
Kilflynn lost the County Final to the Rock (Austin Stacks)

1933
Kilflynn lost the County Final to the Lixnaw

1937/1938
Under the name Pearses (Crotta/Kilflynn selection) won two Senior County Championships in a row. There were 7 from Kilflynn & 8 from Crotta on that 1937 winning team.
To illustrate how strong hurling was in the area at the time both Crotta & Kilflynn were fielding separate teams in the North Kerry League in the late 1930’s.

1927/1933/1937/1938
Kilflynn won the North Kerry League (In 1938 Kilflynn beat Crotta in the final)

1939/1940
Crotta won the North Kerry League

So after winning the 2 County Championships together in 1937 & 1938 and with such a surplus of talented players in the area, it was decided to enter 2 teams in the 1939 County Championship – Crotta & Kilflynn and so the Crotta club was born.

Only a defeat for Kilflynn in the County semi-final to Shannon Rangers prevented both teams from meeting in the final. Crotta had a convincing win over Shannon Rangers in their 1st final and so began the golden era for the club.

It is generally accepted that the establishment of the Crotta club was the brain child of Jim ‘Jimeen’ Flaherty. He & Willie Walsh served as officers of the club for many years. Jimeen was regarded as the team’s inspirational leader and captained them in 5 of their County Final victories. He was still involved as a selector/trainer when Crotta won their last County final in 1968.
Jimeen was the holder of 10 County Championship medals, followed by Dick Laide on 9.

1941
Brought the next County Final win for the club.

1943/1944/1945
Brought the 3 in a row achievement.

1947
Brought the last victory of the decade.

1948
Crotta lost the quarter final to eventual winner Kilmoyley.

1949
Crotta lost the semi-final by a point to eventual winners Ardfert. At this stage Crotta had a unique record in playing in 6 County Finals and never loosing. This record was further enhanced when they contested 2 more finals in 1950/51 and winning both.

Crotta as a club was renowned for its fighting spirit and ‘never say die ‘attitude over the years. This may well stem from the fact that many of its players in the early years all lived along a stretch of road, scarcely a mile long, from Crotta Cross to Keel gate & into Keel. There were 6 sets of brothers involved along this road:

• Flahertys (Crotta)
• Kennys
• McCarthys (Keel Gate)
• Laides
• O’Briens (Keel)
• Flahertys (Keel)
• Along with Tom Canty, Mick Leen & Willie Walsh.
• Later in the 40’s came the Nolan & Stacks Brothers.

But the boys from the ’Road’ were helped in that golden era by some other brilliant hurlers:

• John Joe Quilter – Dysert
• John P. Harrington – Ballyrehan
• Tommy Conway – Ballyrehan
• Sam Hillard – Listowel
• John Twomey – Dromakee
• Pat Fitzgerald – Derrivrin
• Eddie Egan – Aulane
• Paddy Browne – Castletown
• Eddie Hayes – Glenballyma
• Christy Murphy – Irremore
• Tom Corridan – Ballyhorgan
• Mick Landers – Glenoe
• John O’ Connell – Ballinageragh
• Jim Galvin – Finuge
• Tommy Daly – Lixnaw
• Jerome Maloney – Kilflynn
• Phil Kenny – Borrisoleigh , Co. Tipperary (He later won a Senior All Ireland medal with Tipp in 1950 )
• Sean Gleasure – Tullig
• Tom O’Brien – Clounafineela
• Monty McElligott – Cunnigar
• Dan Shanahan – Irrebeg
• Nicholas Scollard – Abbeydorney

For the 1950/51 victories that same stretch of road also contributed:

• John Joe Whelan,
• Tom Egan and the McCarthy brothers – John & James.

Others who contributed to the double were:

• Tommy Fitzmaurice – Ballyrehan
• John ‘Doc’ O’Connell – Ballyrehan
• Will Falvey – Ballyrehan
• Pat O’Sullivan – Muckenagh
• Dan O’Sullivan – Deal Road
• Mickey Joe King – Glenballyma
• Denis Condon –Kilflynn
• Along with five or six of the heroes from the 1940’s teams.

However after 1951, who could imagine that the fortune of the club could change so much, up to 2017 the club contested 12 Finals, including a replay and won only 1, the 1968 Final.

The 50’s started on a very bright note for the club when winning the two in a row in 1951 & 1952 but the golden era had come to an end when they lost 2 county finals in 1952 & 1957.By then many of the stars of the earlier victories had emigrated or come to an end of their careers.
However the hope for the future lay with the minors & juveniles. In 1954 Crotta had their own minor team in North Kerry but for the championship they combined with Abbeydorney under the ‘St. Patricks’ name and went on to win the minor championship, captained by Tom Kenny- ironically the same man who captained Crotta to their last senior Championship win in 1968.On that ‘St Patricks’ team Crotta had 8 players and 4 subs.
In 1956 Crotta again joined with Abbeydorney to win the minor Championship again having 4 players on the team – John Lawlor, Michael McElligott, J.P. Twomey & Brendan Landers.
In 1957 again they had 2 players combining with Abbeydorney to win another minor championship – J.P. Twomey & Joe Fuller.
1959 was a truly historic year for the club when the juveniles (Under 14) team won the County Championship for the first time with Eamonn Leen as captain. Apart from the players, the credit for this victory must go to Michael Kenny who did Trojan work in organising, training & transporting the players at a time when morale in the senior club was very low.

1959 Crotta Juvenile Panel

• Joe McCarthy
• Eugie Canty
• John Galvin
• Frank O Flaherty
• Billy Kenny
• Eamon Leen
• Kevin Galvin
• Danny Lawlor
• Donal Leen
• Todd Nola
• Connie Barry
• Tom Fitzmaurice
• Johnny Kenny
• Martin Crowley
• Tom Galvin
• Tim Fitzmaurice

As we know Crotta had no club field until the 1980’s so the club were very dependent on the kindness of the locals to allow them use their fields. Quilters – Ballyrehan, now Mahoney’s, was used a lot in the early years, later Stacks – Crotta where their home games were often played, also O’Connell’s & Canty’s in Garrynagore. Laides & O’Connell’s (Ballyrehan) were also used for training for County Finals.

After 1962 Sam Byrnes field in Dromakee was the clubs main base.
Meanwhile Kilflynn won the North Kerry Junior League in 1957 with some ex Crotta seniors & some future Crotta seniors. Kilflynn then entered a team in the 1958 Senior County Championship, unfortunately they were drawn against Crotta, a real heated derby ensued ending in a draw, with Crotta winning the replay. 1958 was also the year the only championship game was ever played in Kilflynn, where Kilflynn defeated Ballyheigue in Joe McElligotts field beside the bridge. Fullers field in Fahavane was also available to Kilflynn hurlers for many years with Costelloe’s in Castletown also used at times throughout the 1950’s.

After this both teams went into decline and by 1961 neither side could field a team. A few Crotta players had gone to Lixnaw and Kilflynn had joined with Abbeydorney but neither arrangement worked out. So with both clubs struggling for senior players in the early 1960’s, the clubs were reunited, the Crotta club was reborn in 1962 and entered a very successful decade.

The officers that oversaw that rebirth were

• Chairman – John Herbert
• Vice Chairman – Pats Egan
• Secretary – J.P. Twomey
• Treasures – Johnny Rohan & Tom Egan

Crotta Members on the 1954 St Patricks Minor Team

• Eddie O’Connell ( Lisahane)
• Larry white
• Tom Kenny
• John Joe Nolan
• Pats Hickey
• Tom ‘Mas’ Donoghue
• Jimmy King
• Paddy O Connor (Garrybawn)
• Billy Landers
• Brendan Landers
• Tim ‘Begs’ Nolan
• Garry McMahon (Listowel) – Who later went on to Win 2 All Ireland Senior Football medals with Kerry in 1959 & 1962.

So began the next chapter in the clubs illustrious history. The club was also very lucky in the sixties that James Driscoll, Tom & Pat Cronin came on board and gave a great boost to the team

The early years brought no joy at senior level but overall it proved to be a very successful decade with huge young talent coming on stream. This was reflected in the under 21 team winning the North Kerry Championship in 1964.

The minors of that decade had no luck as they lost County Finals to Lixnaw in 1963 and to Kilmoyley in 1964 and though they beat Causeway in the 1968 Final but later lost on an objection. Nevertheless, it was the minors of those years that provided 8 or 9 of the 1968 championship winning team.

At senior level the first signs of progress emerged in 1966 when the club reached the semi-final of the Championship only to lose to Ballyduff who went on to win the final. In 1967 after a 10 year gap, the club appeared in the County Final and were unlucky to lose to Ardfert through conceding a last minute goal on the score line 1-8 to 1-6

Finally in 1968 they reached the ‘holy grail’ after a 17 year wait, amid scenes of unbridled joy when defeating the ‘Rock’ by a point. Celebrations lasted a good 2 weeks!!!

The celebrations of 1968 brought scenes of jubilation to Kilflynn never witnessed before and continued long into the night. It was generally agreed that the village never saw such crowds or experienced the atmosphere that prevailed on that night. The long wait was over.

After that invitations from neighbouring publicans had to be fulfilled over the following months with those loyal supporters all too willing to continue the celebrations. Now we can only have the memories but they are wonderful ones.

The Munster Club Championship followed against Roscrea powered by two outstanding Tipperary players Kieran Carey and Francis Loughnane. Though well beaten in the end on a score line of 3-13 to 0-8 Crotta put up a very creditable performance but had huge difficulty in breaking down the Roscrea rear guard.

Crotta Team :

• J. Breen
• T. McCarthy
• J. McCarthy
• B Kenny,
• J. Driscoll
• P.Cronin
• M Hickey
• T. Nolan,
• T. Cronin,
• J McCarthy
• T. Kenny,
• T.Galvin
• JP.Twomey,
• K. Nolan
• M.Nolan
• Subs: D. McCarthy for K. Nolan, JJ Conway for T. McCarthy

The club finished the decade on a high when winning the under 21 North Kerry Championship at the expense of Ballyduff. A Ballyduff objection was ruled out of order but sin sceal eile.

In 1969 Todd Nolan was selected on the Munster Panel.

1963 & 1964 Crotta Minor Panel that contested the County Minor Finals

• Brendan Cashell
• John Barry
• Seamus Byrne
• Eamonn Leen
• Donal Leen
• Brendan Herbert
• Dan Shanahan
• John Shanahan
• Mike Flaherty
• Joe McCarthy
• Timmy FitzMaurice
• Eugie Canty
• Tim ‘Siney’ Somers
• Kevin Galvin
• John Galvin
• Jerome McCarthy
• Laurence Costello
• Todd Nolan
• Brendan Twomey
• Billy Kenny
• Frank O’Flaherty
• Dick Spring
• Michael Twomey
• Tony Riordan

1968 Minor County Final Winners

Scoreline 6-03 to 5 -04 (later lost on objection by Causeway)

• Johnny Kenny
• Tom 0’Brien
• Dan McCarthy
• Tom McKenna
• Vincent Twomey (Waterfall)
• Jon Joe Landers
• Jon Joe Conway
• Tom Quilter
• Paschal Nolan
• Cyril Nolan
• Vincent Cashell
• Vincent Twomey (Pallas)
• Mikey Fuller
• Kieran Nolan
• John O’Callaghan
• Subs: Son Egan,Pat Hayes, Maurice Heffernan, Mickey Leen, Paudie Twomey, Timmy Sheehan & Jackie O’Sullivan

In the 1970’s the fortunes of the club ebbed and flowed through there was still a huge pool of talent available, with 12 of the team wearing the County colours, the team never really achieved its full potential in the sense of winning a championship. The club lost 2 County Finals in 1972 & 1979. The club probably erred in playing the 1972 final on the appointed date as 8 of the players had won the junior All Ireland in London the previous Sunday, this proved to be a huge distraction.

The 1979 County Final was another bitter pill to swallow as the team was cruising and leading by 4 points as the game entered the final 10 minutes. But the players believing they had it won, lapsed in concentration, they conceded two quick goals with no time for a comeback.

The team experienced more misery when losing the County League final to Lixnaw also in 1979.

On the bright side, the North Kerry Competitions proved very fruitful during that decade. In 1971 the club won the North Kerry Championship for the first time, defeating Ballyduff. In 1974 they won the North Kerry League.

In 1976 they again defeated Ballyduff to win another North Kerry Championship and then again in 1978 & 1979 added two in a row beating St Brendan & Causeway.

The other big plus for the club was the achievement of the minors in getting to the County Final in 1971 where they went under to Abbeydorney on the score line of 4-10 to 4-4.Some of those minors were to give great service to the club at senior level through the 1970’s & 1980’s.

In 1979 Dick Spring was capped 3 times for Ireland.

1971 Minor County Finalist

Who lost to Abbeydorney

• Liam McElligott
• Stephen O’Halloran
• Jackie O’Sullivan
• Timmy O’Sullivan
• Joe Twomey
• Cyril Nolan
• Francis White
• Tom Harrington
• Timmy Sheehan
• Joe McElligott
• Dan Galvin
• Michael Laide
• Johnny Flaherty
• Diarmuid Galvin
• Billy O’Connell

This decade started off on a bright note for the club with the seniors winning the County League for the first time, the minors contesting the county final and the under 14 winning the County Championship. In the County League the seniors defeated Ardfert on a score line of 6-06 to 03-11. The minors lost heavily also to Ardfert in the County Minor final but the winning of the under 14 championship in 1980 with James McCarthy as captain was definitely the achievement of the decade.

Another Senior County League followed in 1982 when Crotta defeated Lixnaw on the score line 1-12 to 1-07. Also in 1983, the club derived great satisfaction from winning the North Kerry Intermediate League for the first time again defeating Lixnaw in the final & also a County League Division 3 title. However more heartbreak followed for the club in the County Finals of 1985 & 1986 – Losing to Lixnaw and Ardfert respectively – Ironically the two teams they had defeated in the County League Finals.

Nevertheless the indomitable spirit of the club remained very much alive and the seniors bounced back and in 1987 won the Division 2 County League Final & the North Kerry ‘B’ Championship.

Throughout this decade great work was being done at underage and minor level and one of the plus factors for the club was the emergence of strong minor teams especially in the second half of the decade.

1987 – Minors won the North Kerry ‘B’ Championship.

1988 – Minors lost County Final to a very strong Kenmare team

1989 – Favourites to win the Championship but were beaten by Ardfert in the quarter final

1988 – County Junior Hurling Champions

However it was the minors of these years that laid the foundation for the success of the 1992 Under 21 team and the senior teams of the late 90’s.

In 1989 Brendan Mahony won a Munster minor Football medal, scoring 0-1 against Cork

Underage Hurling

At underage the hardwork was rewarded with the winning of the North Kerry Under 12 ‘B’ competition in 1986 and again in 1988. This was a land mark achievement for the club. That same team reached the County Final in 1988 only to lose to Abbeydorney. The under 14 and under 15 also reached North Kerry Finals. These achievement allied with the under 14 championship win in 1980 ensured the future of the club was on a solid footing at a time when the senior team was in decline.

1980 Crotta Under 14 Juvenile Champions Panel

• Gerald Whyte
• Fergal Whyte
• Stephen Fuller
• Declan Fuller
• Padraig Fuller
• Ronan Falvey
• Aidan Falvey
• TJ O’Sullivan
• Kenneth Hayes
• Francis Sheehy
• Eddie Sheehy
• Liam Quilter
• James McCarthy (C)
• Noel Quinlan
• Denis O’Mahony
• Brendan O’ Mahony
• Mike Parker
• John Parker
• Kevin McElligott
• Cyril O’ Halloran
• Alan O’ Halloran
• Eamon Whelan
• Michael O’Connor
• Stephen Moloney
• Anthony Kelliher
• Michael Hickey
• Victor Hayes
• Tom Breen
• Michael Whyte
• Pat Carmody
• Gerry Carmody
• Noel Lawlor
• Fintan Lawlor

1981 Minor County Finalists

Who lost to Ardfert

• Noel Quinlan
• J.P. Twomey
• James McCarthy
• John McCarthy
• Domnic Ryan
• John McCarthy
• Alan Hayes
• Tom Shanahan
• Ger O’Donoghue
• Paul O’Donoghue
• Martin Quinlan
• Denis O’Mahony
• Maurice Egan
• Donal Hunt
• Gerald Behan
• Subs: Michael O’Connell, Liam Quilter, Kenneth Hayes, Aidan Falvey, Sean Daughton & TJ. O’Sullivan

1983 Intermediate Team

That won the North Kerry League beating Lixnaw

• Noel Quinlan
• N.Relihan
• E. Leen
• C. Flaherty ( Capt.)
• Mickey Leen
• JJ Conway
• M. Egan
• Paul O’Donoghue
• John McCarthy ( Garrynagore)
• M .Fahy
• G. O’Sullivan
• D. Mahony
• John McCarthy (Knocknacaske)
• M. Leen ( The Black)
• R. Laide
• Subs P Hayes JJ Barret, L. Quilter, Nicholas Leen (Ballymac) T.Sheehan A Hayes K Hayes D Leen

1983 Senior team County League Winners (beating Lixnaw)

• E. Canty
• Tom Nolan
• JJ. Conway
• D. McCarthy
• J. Sheehan
• J. McElligott
• D. Nolan
• G. O’Sullivan
• J. McCarthy
• M. Fahy
• B. Twomey
• P. O’Donoghue
• M. Laide
• Todd Nolan
• D. Galvin
• Subs D. Mahony John McCarthy (Garrynagore) E. Leen T.Cronin M. Leen JJ. Barrett
  Note: Cyril Nolan did not play due to injury

 

 1988 Minor County Finalist

• John Condon
• Declan Fuller
• Padraig McGrath
• Maurice McCarthy
• Fergus O’Sullivan
• Brendan O’Mahony
• Pat Fennell
• Kevin Leen
• Ronan Falvey
• Mike Parker
• J.P. Hickey
• Alan O’Halloran
• Pete McGrath
• Pat Carmody
• Padraig Fuller
• Subs: Larry Keane, Mike Whyte, Fergal Whyte, Andrew Byrne, Noel McGrath, john P. Quilter & Karl Shanahan

1989 Crotta County Junior Championship Winners

Beating Lixnaw in a replay on a score line of 1-03 to 0-04

• Donal Leen
• Tom Cronin
• John Joe Conway
• John McCarthy (C)
• Pat Carmody
• Gene O’Sullivan
• Michael O’Connor
• Ronan Flavey
• Jerome Nolan
• Mike Leen
• Connie Flaherty
• Maurice McCarthy
• TJ O’Sullivan
• Joe McCarthy
• Richard Laide
• Subs: Liam Quilter for Richard Laide
• Trainer: Son Egan

On the night of July 30th 1980 a very important club meeting was held to discuss the possibility of buying a club field. The meeting was called because a notice had been erected offering Wynne’s lands for sale – These lands were opposite the entrance to the present club field.

In the meantime the late Jim Mahony had expressed interest in selling some land to the club if it was interested so the club members had to decide which property they would pursue. Prior to this the club had failed to secure any land close to the village or school. So it was decided to approach Jim Mahoney with a few to buying 6 or 7 acres.

So on the Tuesday night Sept 9th 1980 the Crotta club purchased 6.05 acres at Dromakee from Jim Mahony for £10,000 pounds through

• Michael Hickey – Chairman
• Brendan Twomey – Secretary
• Gerald Byrne – Treasurer
• Diarmuid Galvin

Who were to be the field trustees.

On Wednesday evening Sat 24th 1980 the trustees went to Donal Kelliher (Solicitor) to sign the purchase order from Jim Mahony. £2000 pounds was paid on signing. Next £3000 was to be paid on or before 31st Dec 1980 with the remaining £5000 to be paid on or before 1st June 1981.

In January 1982 local farmers & contractors provided tractors and diggers voluntarily to draw gravel for the roadway and carpark from Mike stack’s river in Fahavane.

The Hayes brothers carried out the draining, levelling and laying out of the field with a view to having it ready for 1984.

On Easter Sunday 1984 ( Centenary year) the club achieved its goal of playing its first game in the field – In perfect conditions Crotta beat Ballyduff 5-4 to 1-8 with Diarmuid Galvin scoring the 1st point. This was the 1st senior home game in Crotta in 30 years – £120 was collected at the gate.

£2000 pounds grant came from Munster Council

£1000 pounds came from Central Council

Loan of £4000 pounds from Central Council

1986 – Dressing rooms started and completely early 1987.

1995 – Dugouts erected

2001 – Work commenced on Meeting rooms, Refs’ changing rooms and toilets.

2016 – Allman Contractors started work on developing the sand based pitch @ a cost of €109,000 euro. Two training areas were added @ a further cost of approx. €25000. This was funded from a sports grant from the government of €75000 and a further grant of €12000 from the Munster Council

The 90’s started on a disappointing note for the club as it failed to field a team in the championship in 1990, similar to approx. 30 years previously. Nevertheless as the decade progressed it proved to be a very fruitful for the club. Though the club did manage to field a team in 91, 92 & 93 they failed to progress beyond the 1st round of the championship.

After 93 the tide began to turn and progress was made each year.

1993 – ‘B’ Championship & Division 2 County League

1995 – ‘B’ Championship again.

1997 – Division 1 County League (beating Ballyheigue on a score line of 2-11 to 2-08)

North Kerry ‘B’ League

“3 Counties” League was won (beating Feoghenagh)

However the great hopes the club had for the championship were dashed when Ballyheigue overturned the County League result at the quarter final stage. Unfortunately, similar to the two previous decades, the senior team contested two County finals in 98 & 99 and lost both.

1998 – Crotta Lost to Causeway in County Final

1999 – Crotta lost to Lixnaw after a replayed in the County Final

The 1998 and 1999 County Finals were just two more near misses and shows us how elusive the winning of the Neilus Flynn trophy is to Crotta. They also show us the heartbreak Crotta teams have experienced in their quest for a County Championship win. To lose two successive Finals by a point, the second after a replay, is hard to take.

We can only speculate on the outcome if Paul 0’Donoghue was available for both of those Finals. Paul had been forced to retire early in 1998 due to injury. Likewise if Michael Carlton, Crotta’s free scoring half forward had been able to finish the replayed game against Lixnaw. He was forced to retire after 20 minutes with a broken collar bone, having already scored 1-02. In the 1998 Final against Causeway, playing well below par Crotta were down 7 points with just 2 minutes of normal time remaining when suddenly they roused themselves and staged a tremendous fight back and when the 6 minutes of extra time had expired they were just a point behind.

For other club teams, the decade proved very successful

1990 – Crotta had 9 members on the Crotta/Abbeydorney Under-21 team that lost the County Championship Final to Kilmoyley after a replay.

1992 –  The  wheel  turned full circle for those Under 21 players – They made history by winning the Under-21 County Championship for the 1st time, defeating Kilmoyley on a score line of 1-09 to 1-07

1993 – Lost the Under 21 Final to Kilmoyley

1994 – Lost the Under 21 Final to Ballyheigue

It was a great achievement for the club to appear in 3 successive County under 21 Finals.

1990 –  Under 12 won NK ‘B’ Competition

1990 – Minors won NK ‘B’ Championship

1992 – Minors won ‘B’ County League & Championship

1992 – Under 14 won Borg Na N-Og ‘B’ Competition

1996 – Under 12 won County Competition

1997 – Under 12 won Division 2 County League

1998 – Minors won NK ‘B’ Championship defeating Causeway in the Final in Lixnaw

In 1990 The Club setup Bord Na N-Og with Sonny Egan as Chairman & Organiser

Other Memorable Events in the 90’s

1995 – Crotta was represented at Scor Na Nog for the first time.

Crotta played Kilmailie of Scotland in a shinty game in the Pan Celtic Tournament in Tralee.

1997 – Crotta Club had its 1st sponsorship deal with the local publicans under the title – Kilflynn Vintners.

1999 – The club chairman Michael Hickey retired after a 24 year stint, stretching from 1973, with a 3 year sabbatical from ’88 – ’90.

Mike’s contribution to the club sprung from his deep rooted love and passion for the game and this was evident from the early ‘60’s onwards and never faltered.

During his time in office, Mike gave fantastic service and was one of the chief driving forces within the club. When the heavy work needed to be done in developing the field and building the dressing rooms, Mike was the first to put his shoulder to the wheel and quietly completed the task at hand irrespective of how much help was available. Only his fellow officers could fully appreciate his input.

Under 21 Team 1992

• Tom Red McElligott
• Kevin McKenna
• Paud McGrath
• John O’Mahony
• Fergus O’Sullivan
• John P. Quilter
• Pa Fennell
• Tomas Stack
• Declan Fuller
• Padraig Cronin
• Ronan Falvey
• Brendan O’Mahony
• Fergal Whyte
• JP Hickey
• Pete McGrath
• Subs:  John Condon, Tom O’ Donoghue, John Edwards,Tommy Cashell, Maurice Whelan, Tom ‘Blonde’ McElligott
• Trainer: Maurice Leahy

Minor Team 1992

• Diarmuid McElligott
• Aidan Cronin
• Kevin McKenna
• Pat Cronin
• Tom ‘Blonde’ McElligott
• John P. Quilter
• Keith Nolan
• John Mahoney
• Tomas Stack
• Tom McElligott
• Maurice Whelan
• Tom O’Donoghue
• Richard McCarthy
• Tommy Cashell
• John Edwards
• Trainers: Brendan Twomey & Denis O’ Mahony

Under  14 Team 1992

• David Twomey
• Aidan Cronin
• Maurice McElligott
• Seamus Quilter
• Andrew Keane
• Brendan Whelan
• Timmy Whyte
• Johnny Hannon
• Tom Cronin
• Jody Hannon
• Adrian Fitzmaurice
• Sean Twomey
• John J. Quilter
• Bernard Costelloe
• Sean Keane
• Subs James Gornell for Jody Hannon
• Trainers: Son Egan & Jer Nolan

1994 Cumann Na Bunscoil Finalist – Kilflynn National School Roinn 4

• Eoin Lynch
• Diarmuid Nolan
• John Mike Hannon
• Sean Finucane
• Jack Twomey
• Colm McElligott
• Martin Keane
• Michael O’Brien
• Paul Shanahan
• Liam McElligott
• Sean Scanlon
• Diarmuid McCarthy
• Keith Lynch
• Seamus Enright
• Teacher: Francis White

1998 Minor Team

• Ray Galvin
• Pa Quille
• Kevin Galvin
• Diarmuid Nolan
• Paul Shanahan
• Jack Twomey
• Martin Keane
• Andrew Keane
• Brien Fitmaurice
• Seamus Enright
• JP McElligott
• Rory Stapleton
• Eoin Lynch
• Paul Culhane
• Connie Twomey
• Trainer: Brendan Twomey

Though this was the only decade since the foundation of the club that Crotta failed to reach a County Final, There were nevertheless some very positive landmarks in the history of the club.

The club Lotto was established in 2000 which has proven to be the main money spinner for the club since with great help from local & outside support.

In 2000, the Eddie Hayes ground hurling tournament was established and has proven to be a very competitive competition since. Abbeydorney were the inaugural of this.

2000 – North Kerry Junior League (after a gap of 63 years, last won in 1937)

2001 – North Kerry Intermediate League

2001 – North Kerry Senior Championship (beating Ballyheigue)

2008 – North Kerry Senior ‘B’ League

For under age club team

2001 – Under 15 ‘B’ Champion

2002 – North Kerry Minor ‘B’ Championship

2005 – Under 14 ‘B’ Championship

2007 – North Kerry Minor ‘A’ Championship

2009 – Under 12 ‘B’

Also in 2000 the under 12 team, along with Ardfert, travelled to Antrim for Feile Na Gleann.

Crotta Minor Panel 2007

• Eoin O’Sullivan
• Paul Lenihan
• Jonathan Caffery
• Luke Sheehan
• Sean Weir
• Alan Leen
• Paul Costello
• Keith Hannafin
• Darren Twomey
• Richard Nolan
• Shane McAuliffe
• Gary Marshall
• Luke Ward
• Shane Nolan
• David Moloney
• Padraig Leary
• Aaron Sheehan
• Cian Counihan
• Maurice McElligott
• Trainers : Paul Shanahan & Brendan Twomey

This must be the decade of the underage and minors. This is a unique decade in the history of the club because although it experienced the highs & the lows, it was still probably the most progressive decade in the clubs history. The low being the failure of the club to field a senior team in 2013 after having gone so close to winning a senior county championship in 2011.The best the team could do was compete unsuccessfully in the intermediate championship.
But in many other ways, the club reached the summit. The under 21’s won the North Kerry Championship in 2010 being the first team to win the Paddy Kelly memorial trophy.

In 2010 the seniors won the County League beating Ballyduff in the final.
In 2011 the Seniors reached their first County Final since 1999 after beating Ballyheigue in the semi-final on a scoreline of 0-10 to 0-06.However despite opening up a 6 point lead in the second half Crotta lost the final on a score line of 2-11 to 0-15 with Shane Nolan giving a man of the match display with 13 of the 15 scores (11 from placed balls).
In 2016 we had the provision of a sand based pitch driven by the hard working field committee spearheaded by Tom Cronin Junior who put in unlimited hours and effort. The special Finance committee are providing the drive to help support and finance this achievement.
But the icing on the cake has to be the achievements of our underage & minor teams. Certainly a new era has dawned where the Crotta club is envied for its success at youth level. But this has not happened accidentally. It has come about as a result of the Trojan work put in by various club members. Those dedicated workers deserve great thanks and the club is deeply indebted to them. However a special work of thanks is reserved for those who gave their time to organise and encourage hurling in Dromclough and Kilflynn schools- namely:

• Son Egan
• Jerome O’Sullivan in Dromclough
• Brendan Mahony & Paul O’Donoghue in Kilflynn.

Without the contributions from Dromclough school, the club would not have enjoyed such success as these ‘extra’ players ensured a full panel of players with plenty of skill was always available for selection.
The various underage achievements but especially the victorious Under 16 championship winning team of 2017 and the winning minor teams of 2016 & 2017 along with the Under 21 county finalists bear testament to this.

But definitely the highlight of the decade was the minor breakthrough in 2016 and then the back to back achievement in 2017.The fact the club had already lost minor finals, one on an objection, made the breakthrough all the sweeter.
Crotta teams and their supporters have missed these winning occasions at Austin Stack Park for far too long.
2016 was also noteworthy that one of the victorious minor hurlers Tomas O’Connor created another piece of history when winning a Munster & All Ireland minor football medal with Kerry
A truely wonderful achievement for Tomas, his family & the club.
Also in 2017 we witnessed another wonderful achievement and a momentous occasion for himself, his family and the club when hurling ace, Barry Mahony, won an All-Ireland minor Football medal with Kerry, having played a major part in the victory @ Number 8.
Before we close this chapter it is worth noting that the minor teams of 2017/2017 provided a direct link with the Pearses 1938 team (Jeaic Mckenna). There were also several links going back to Crotta winning teams from the 1940’s onwards as well as much later teams. If we look at the 1981 minor County finalists we can see close links to the present minors also.
Long may the conveyor belt continue.

2010
North Kerry Under 11 A
Under 21 Championship (3rd Title)
County League Division 1 Under 12 (First Time)
2011
North Kerry Under 14 A
Senior County Finalist

In 2011 Barry’s Mahony 1st step on the road to Croker – Kilflynn National School Panel who won the St Brendan’s Board section of the Cumann Na Bunscoil Football Competition for 3 or 4 teacher schools:

• Ryan Ward
• Jeaic McKenna
• Darragh O’Donoghue
• Barry Mahony (C)
• Darragh Clark
• Adam O’Sullivan
• Eamon Rohan
• Kate McKenna
• Edith White
• Parker Sutton McLemore
• Declan O’Donoghue
• Aodhan McKenna
• Daniel Quirke
• Sean Murnane
• Daniel O’Rourke
• James Sheehan
• Jack Kevin McKenna
• Darragh Murnane
• Ryan Murphy
• Teacher: Francis White
• Coach: Brendan Mahony

2012
North Kerry Under 11/13/15 A
2013
North Kerry Under 11 B
North Kerry Under 12/14 A – Under 12 team was joined with Abbeydorney
County League Division 1 Under 12
County League Division 1 Under 14
County Feile Under 14

2014
North Kerry Under 15 A
County League Under 14
County League Division 1 Under 16

2015
North Kerry Under 13 B
North Kerry Under 16 A
County League Division 2 Under 12
County League Division 1 Under 16

2016
North Kerry Under 12/13/14 B
County League Under 12
County Feile ‘B’ Under 14
County Shield Under 16
County Minor Championship – First Time
2016 County Minor Champions Team

• Adam O’Sullivan
• Eamonn Shanahan
• Thomas Quinlan
• Darragh Kennelly
• Brandon Conway
• Darragh Behan
• Jeaic McKenna
• Tomas O’Connor
• Sean O’Donoghue
• Colin Browne
• Barry Mahony
• John Quilter
• Darragh O’ Donoghue
• Dylan McElligott
• Donal Hunt
• Subs:
• Darragh Stack
• Micheal Kennedy
• Brian O’Connell
• Paudie Dillion
• Domnic Nolan
• Eamonn Rohan
• Aodhan McKenna
• James Sheehan
• Ryan McElligott
• Denis Quille
• Daniel Sheehan
• Pairic shanahan
• Manager: Brendan Mahony
• Selectors: John Edwards, Michael Lynch, Paul O’Donoghue & Shane Nolan

2017
North Kerry Under 13/15 B
North Kerry Under 16 Championship
County Under 16 Championship – First Time
County Minor Championship – 2 in a row
County Under 21 Finalists
2017 County Under 16 Champions Team

• Darragh Murnane
• Sean McGrath
• Ryan McElligott
• Jack Kevin McKenna
• Killian Trant
• Aodhan McKenna
• Daniel O Rourke
• Aodhan Behan
• Tadgh McKenna
• Denis Quille
• Sean Murnane
• James Sheehan (C)
• Eoin Relihan
• Declan O Donoghue
• Tomas Dillon
• Denis Nolan
• Donnacha Sayers
• Cillian Baker
• Darragh Keane
• Gavin Parker
• Rory Mahony
• Kian Hickey
• Aaron McElligott
• Mentors:
• JP McElligott
• Paul Culhane
• Francis Keane
• Sean Weir
• Brendan Mahony

2017 County Minor Champions Team

• Adam O’ Sullivan
• Daniel O’Rourke
• Jeaic McKenna
• Micheal Kennedy
• Domnic Nolan
• Darragh Behan
• Eamonn Rohan
• Eamonn Shanahan
• John Quilter
• James Sheehan
• Donal Hunt
• Denis Quille
• Darragh O’Donoghue
• Barry Mahony
• Declan O’Donoghue
• Darragh Murnane
• Aoghan Behan
• Aodhan McKenna
• Sean Murnane
• Cillian Trant
• Ryan McElligott
• Tadhg McKenna
• Eoin Relihan
• Jack Kevin McKenna
• Manager: Brendan Mahony
• Selectors:
• John Edwards
• Paul O’Donoghue
• Shane Nolan
• Tomas O’ Connor

2017 County Under 21 Finalists

• Adam O’Sullivan
• Tom Quinlan
• Darragh Ryan
• Domnic Nolan
• John Quilter
• Eamonn Shanahan
• Tom McElligott
• Tomas O’Connor
• Adrian Mahony (C)
• Donal Hunt
• Bill Keane
• Darragh Kennelly
• Darragh O’Donoghue
• Sean Hartnett
• Sean O’Donoghue
• Darragh Behan
• Darragh Stack
• Paudie Dillion
• Kieran Lyons
• Daire Dineen
• Jeaic McKenna
• Raymond Nolan
• Ciaran Breen
• Jordan Conway
• Manager: Brendan Mahony
• Selectors:
• John Edwards
• Paul O’Donoghue
• Shane Nolan
• Shane Herbert