Club History
The Club is based in the village of Shanagarry, about nine miles east of Midleton and draws its support from Churchtown South, Ballycotton, Garryvoe and Shanagarry itself. It was founded in 1930 in the home of the Doolan family, Ballymaloe, later to become the family home of Nell and Moss O’Brien. It was popularly believed that the Club acquired its name from the neighbouring townland of Ballyrussell but deeper research suggests that the Club was probably named after a Fr. John Russell who was P.P. of Cloyne in the 1840’s. Fr. Russell was a prominent and sometimes controversial figure, a staunch defender and protector of the Catholic faith and its followers. He was a prolific and colourful letter-writer as can be seen from correspondence with the Cork Examiner and Cork Constitution newspapers in October 1848 when he took issue with the local Protestant curate of Ballycotton, the Rev. George Hingston whom he accused of proselytism; i.e., of bribing hungry children with food to attend Protestant schools, etc. Fr. Russell is also credited with being instrumental in setting up National Schools in the area during his tenure as P.P.
Some of the founding members of the Club were as follows: Ned O’Brien, Eddie Vale, Jim Shanahan, Willie Heffernan, Ned Griffin, Eddie Harty, Dick Kennefick, Dick Doolan and John Connolly. They played their earlier games without gear and then a decision was made to purchase a set of jerseys, the players contributing two shillings each for same – a substantial sum of money in those days. Mossy Fitzgerald, driving Paddy Egan’s truck, and Nell Doolan were delegated to travel to Cork to arrange the deal in Dan Hobbs in Patrick Street and there was great excitement in the Doolan household when they arrived home with the new set of jerseys. In the first full year of the club’s existence (1931), they won the East Cork Junior A Football title with the following team:
Michael Dorgan, Pats Cusack, Willie Duggan, Mick Mullaney, Dan Hoare, Alfie Considine, Ned Shinnick, Sonny Power, Larry O’Connor, Dan Gleeson, Gerald Considine, Thomas Hennessy, Ned Griffin, Arthur McNally, Jim Driscoll, Tom Quinlan, Mick Kearney, Bobby Garde, Denis Walsh, Eddie Vale, Ned Ivers, Jack Walsh, Dick Doolan, Tom Burke and Dan Fitzpatrick.
In 1933 the club won the East Cork Minor Football championship (15 a side) for the first and only time.
The first of five hurling titles came to the club in 1945 when they beat Watergrasshill in the East Cork Junior ‘B’ final.
This was the Rovers line-out: Billy Cotter, Daw Connolly, Donie O’Driscoll, Phil Higgins, Mick Kenneally (Capt), Thomas Hennessy, Paddy O’Driscoll, Tadhg O’Driscoll, Jackie Egan, Mick Lane, Paddy Clarke, Billy Kenneally, Tommy Hennessy, Sean Mullane and John O’Riordan.
Rovers reached the ‘A’ J.H.C. semi-finals of 1953 and 1954, losing the latter by a single point to Castlemartyr. In 1955 it was decided to amalgamate with Cloyne under the banner of St Colmans and reached the semi-final for the third year running, losing to St Catherines by four points with the following team which had nine Rovers players on the starting 15: Connie Walsh, Bunty Cahill, Haulie O.Driscoll, Donie O’Driscoll, Paddy O’Driscoll, John Shanahan, Johnny Clifford, Michael O’Brien, Jackie Egan, Robert Fitzgerald, Dan Joe O’Brien, Paddy Joe Ring, Jimmy Motherway, Paddy Connors and John O’Brien. The amalgamation did not work out and the clubs went their separate ways again after just one year in existence.
in 1958 Rovers reverted to ’B’ Grade again and won the East Cork title for the second time with the following team: John Barry, Maurice Power, Michael Shanahan, Richie Fitzgerald; Michael Walsh, John Shanahan, John O’Brien; Dan Joe O’Brien, Thomas Hennessy; (Capt) Connie Walsh, John Motherway, Dinny John Scannell; Robert Fitzgerald, John Stack and Jimmy Fitzgerald. Jack O’Sullivan, Mike Hogan and Bro.Denis Manning played in earlier rounds. This was a remarkable victory as most of the players were drawn from a confined area around Shanagarry with Ballycotton and Churchtown South having formed their own club, St Cottins that same year.
The third East Cork Junior ‘B’ hurling title was captured in 1963 under the name of Shanagarry Rovers, defeating Cloyne in the final in a low scoring game, 1-8 to 1-3.
Team: Danny Fitzpatrick, John Stack, Michael Shanahan, Richie Fitzgerald; Mike Hogan, John Shanahan, Michael Walsh; John Coleman (Capt), Dinny John Scannell; Jimmy Fitzgerald, Davy Scannell, Mossy Coffey-Walsh; Connie Walsh, Pat Delea, Thomas Hennessy. Jimmy Fahy and Redmond Walsh had played in earlier rounds. Other subs: Mick Kenneally, Michael Kearney and Jack Crowley.
This victory was followed by three appearances in the Junior A semi-finals of 1964, 1965 and 1969 without making the breakthrough to that elusive “A” final. Losing the 1969 semi-final to Carrigtwohill in a replay was bitterly disappointing as Carrig had secured a draw in the first game in highly controversial circumstances.
The club reverted to ‘B’ Grade once more in 1973 and regained the title in 1978 by beating Whites Cross in the final which was described by the Southern Star as being the best Junior Hurling game, A or B, seen in the Division that year. The team lined out as follows: Ned Coleman, Dick Fitzgerald, Joe Aherne, Claud McCarthy; Ollie McGrath, David Walsh, Richie Walsh (Capt); Kevin Barry, John Crowley; Gene McGrath, Larry Lee, DD Costine; James Kearney, Gerard McGrath, Redmond Walsh. Subs: Michael Kenneally (Garryvoe), Michael Kearney, Noel O’Brien (Ballymaloe), Michael Garde, Christy O’Sullivan, Martin O’Sullivan, Liam Cullinane, Mick Wall, Charlie Eaton, Leonard O’Brien, Dinny John Scannell and Maurice Walsh (Trainer).
Around this time Club Officers persuaded the late Stevie Motherway and William Smiddy to sell two small fields behind the hall and a price of £14,000 was agreed. This will always rank as the most important step ever undertaken by the Club as opportunities to purchase land adjacent to the village were becoming very limited. The acquisition of new playing facilities was timed to perfection as it coincided with the appointment of Fr. Bertie Troy as C.C. in Ballycotton. Bank interest rates were punitive at the time and paying off the loan was going to be a major financial burden. But Fr. Bertie eased the headaches considerably by devising various fund-raising schemes such as steam threshings, horse-racing in Garryvoe Hotel, etc, resulting in the grounds being paid off in a relatively short period of time. The pitch was officially opened by the President of the GAA, Mr Paddy McFlynn, on the 4th August 1980 and despite heavy rain during the day over 1000 people attended. The opening was followed by a senior hurling challenge game between Cork and Limerick but as Cork had been knocked out of the championship a few weeks previously, a depleted team turned up in Shanagarry and a number of Rovers players had to tog out, namely David Walsh, Richie Walsh, Ollie McGrath and Connie Walsh (Midleton). The Chairman of the County Board at the time was Paddy O’Driscoll, a native of Ballycotton and a former Rovers player, who promised the club he would arrange another challenge game. This promise was fulfilled in May 1981 when strong Cork and Kilkenny teams played at the venue.
Football returned to the fore in the 1980’s and the U-21 ‘B’ football title was claimed for the first and only time in 1981, with the following team: Richard Irwin, Denis McCarthy, Noel O’Leary, Gerry Kenneally, John O’Driscoll, Pat Irwin, Tommy Whelehan (Capt), Christy O’Sullivan, Michael O’Brien, Harry Walsh, Martin O’Brien, Pat Draddy, Michael Barry, Haulie Walsh, Billy Smiddy. Subs: Gerry Walsh, Mossy Murray, Liam Walsh, Gerry O’Brien, Ray McGrath, Brian Hennessy, Stephen Beausang and Liam O’Shea.
Trainer: Garda Barth O’Leary, a native of Ballingeary.
This U-21 victory provided the springboard for further success in 1986 when the club annexed the East Cork Junior “B” Football title for the first time in their history, defeating Midleton in the final by 1-10 to 0-5, with the following team: Redmond Walsh,(Rooska) Ollie Steele, Gene McGrath, Anthony Smiddy, Tom Ahern, Tommy Whelehan, John O’Driscoll (Captain), Pa Murray, John Fleming, Mossy Tattan, David O’Brien, Haulie Walsh, Harry Walsh, Christy O’Sullivan, Mossy Murray Subs: Billy Smiddy, Andrew Crotty. Trainer: Batty Cronin.
In 1984 and 1986 Christy O’Sullivan and Tommy Whelehan brought further glory to the club when they won Cork County Senior Football medals with Imokilly.
Hurling went into decline for a number of years and reached a low point in 1995 when the club could muster only 14 players for the first round of the JBHC against Lisgoold and a selector had to tog out to complete the team. But worse was to follow in 1996 when the club failed to field a hurling team in the championship for the first time since 1944. The club looked in real danger of going out of existence altogether as far as hurling was concerned but a number of people, such as John Crowley, Mossy Coffey-Walsh, Gerald Walsh, etc, had laid plans for the future by putting an excellent under-age structure in place. This came to fruition in 2002 when the club was fortunate to acquire the coaching services of the former Midleton/Cork hurling star, Kevin Hennessy who promised to bring back the Eamon Fleming Cup for the fifth time. This promise was fulfilled on the 6th October 2002 when the following team defeated Lisgoold in the final after a replay:
Eoin Ivers; Kevin Walsh (Capt), Declan Healy, Barry Fitzgerald; Kieran Ivers, Kevin Hartnett, Michael O’Brien; Matt Fitzgerald, Derek Crowley; John Paul Ivers, Joe Walsh, Donal Fitzgerald; Paudie Higgins, Seamus Kearney and Barry Hartnett. Noel Murray was introduced at half time. Other subs: Ian Smiddy, Tom McGrath, Brian Crowley, Niall Cronin, Anthony Archer, Brendan Kearney, Michael Mannion, Jonathan Walsh, Colin Crowley, Vincent Walsh, Pat Kenneally, Billy O’Sullivan and Pa Walsh. The average age of this team was only 20 which augured well for the future. Earlier they had won the O’Flynn Cup against the same opposition before going under to Oliver Plunketts in the County semi-final at Pairc Uí Rinn.
The club was promoted from Division 3 to Division 2 of the JHL in 2001 and maintained the momentum with promotion to Division 1 in 2002. In addition, the East Cork Minor B football title was also captured in 2002 under the banner of Russell-O’Neills.
Sunday, 5th September 2004 was a red-letter day in the club’s chequered history when we hosted our first ever East Cork Junior ‘A’ Hurling Final, the organisation of which won rave reviews from the East Cork Board, the teams involved, etc.
Sunday, 27th February 2005 was another red-letter day in the club’s history when Kevin Hartnett became the first player from the club to play senior hurling with Cork in a competitive game when he came on as a sub in the NHL tie versus Wexford . He followed this up with a Munster Senior Hurling Championship medal as a member of the Cork panel that defeated Tipperary and added an All-Ireland Senior Hurling medal in September when Cork defeated Galway in the final. In 2001 he won an All-Ireland minor hurling medal with Cork and added All-Ireland Intermediate hurling medals in 2003 and 2005. The year 2005 was his third year on the Cork U-21 hurling team. He also played Minor football with Cork in 2002. Another first for the club was the achievement of Matt Fitzgerald in winning Harty and All-Ireland Senior Colleges’ medals with St Colman’s, Fermoy in 2001 with
his younger brother Barry repeating the feat as a panellist the following year.
But one of the most significant achievements by the Club was our inaugural appearance in an East Cork Junior A Hurling Final on the 10th September 2006 against Dungourney after failing so many times in the past at the pen-ultimate stage. We weren’t successful in our first attempt but hopes were high that one day we would reach the Holy Grail!
That team lined out as follows: Eoin Ivers; Anthony Archer, Paudie Higgins, Derek Crowley; Kieran Ivers (Capt), John Paul Ivers, Colin Crowley; Matt Fitzgerald, Kevin Hartnett; Joe Walsh, Seamus Kearney, Barry Hartnett; Barry Fitzgerald, Pa Daly, Ian Smiddy. Subs: Declan Healy, Michael O’Brien, Brian Crowley, Donal Fitzgerald, Brendan Kearney, John Ahern, Tadhg Crowley, Anthony Walsh, Mike Mannion, Chris Scanlon, Vincent Walsh, Jonathan Walsh, Mikie Walsh, David Morrissey, Tom O’Brien, Colin Garde.
In 2007 our Minors carried the torch for the club when they won a County Minor C (12 a-side) double in hurling and football with the following group of players:
Kevin Tattan, Graham Archer, John Ahern (Capt F), James Ahern, Patrick Crowley, Barry O’Keeffe, Anthony Walsh, James Furlong, Tadhg Crowley, Daniel Moynihan, Alan Cott, Mikie Walsh (Capt H), Brian Hartnett, Luke Cullinane, Aidan Beausang, Kieran McCarthy John Paul Walsh, James Walsh, Michael Kenneally, Kieran O’Brien, John Burke, Daniel Burke, John Cronin, John Quinlan. They defeated Kilmeen 4-12 to 2-4 in the football final and St Colums 5-9 to 1-8 in the hurling decider.
In 2009 they captured the East Cork Minor A Hurling title with magnificent wins over Cloyne and Youghal. Team: Andrew Hartnett; Kevin Ivers, Aidan Beausang, Shane Fleming; Paul Lane, Kevin Tattan, David Whelehan; Daniel Moynihan, Kevin O’Brien; Eoin McGrath, James Ahern, Brian Hartnett; Ciarán Mullins, Sean Maher, Aaron Beausang. Subs: Daniel O’Brien, Alan Cott, Joe O’Flynn, Ricky Walsh, Philip O’Neill, David Casey, James Walsh, Kieran O’Brien, James Moynihan, Chris O’Brien.
Our footballers reached the County Junior B Final in 2009 but went under to a much stronger Kilbrittain team on a score-line of 2-11 to 0-9.
Team: Mike Mannion; Anthony Walsh, Derek Crowley, Anthony Archer (Capt); Seamus Kearney, Paudie Higgins, Barry Fitzgerald; Kevin Hartnett, Colin Crowley; John Paul Ivers, Barry Hartnett, Dan Moynihan; Brian Hartnett, Eoin Ivers, Kevin Tattan. Subs used: John Ahern, Ian Smiddy, Joe Walsh, Tadhg Crowley.
On the 24th June 2009 Brian Hartnett followed in the illustrious footsteps of his older brother Kevin when introduced as a sub on the Cork minor hurling team against Tipperary in Pairc Uí Chaoimh with just ten minutes remaining, he salvaged a draw almost single-handedly, scoring 2-2. The following year against the same opposition in the same venue he amassed a grand total of 1-14 in a master-class display in Pairc Uí Caoimh. In
The Club went through a barren spell over the following years until our second hurling team annexed the East Cork Junior C title for the first time in 2014 when they defeated Bride Rovers by 2-11 to 1-11 in Dungourney. Team: Chris Scanlon; Aidan Beausang, Shane Casey (Capt), David Whelehan; Ricky Walsh, James Ahern, Seamus Kearney; Brian Crowley, Chris Ruddy; Tadhg Crowley, Kevin Moynihan, Colman Quinlan; Daire Healy, Brendan Kearney, Alan Cott. Subs: Jack Beausang, Joe O’Flynn, James Moynihan, Philip White, Donal Fitzgerald, Kieran Ivers, Michael Furlong, James Walsh.
The amalgamation of Russell Rovers and Cloyne at Juvenile level under the banner of St Colmans reaped dividends in 2015 when they won the County P2 MHC title, defeating Charleville by a point in the final. Rovers provided 10 of the starting 15 with the following players: Ross Walsh, Colin Maher, Andrew McMahon, Chris Ruddy, James Kennefick, Dan Ruddy, Josh Beausang, Kevin Moynihan, Eoghan O’Sullivan and Shane O’Neill. Subs: Eoghan Cronin, Daire Healy (Joint Capt), Luke O’Riordan, Cormac Aherne, Kiaran Aherne, Sean Gilsenan, Stephen Walsh. Following his heroics with St Colmans, Josh Beausang was honoured with a place on the Cork minor hurling team in 2016 in which he acquitted himself well.
The club reached their second East Cork Junior A hurling final in 2017 under the management of Richie Lewis, Joe Walsh, Anthony Archer and Mossy Tattan but defeat to St Catherines was to be our lot again. This was the first year that the losing Divisional finalists were allowed to go forward to contest the County where we reached the semi-final stage but once more our opponents St Catherines proved to be too strong for us.
Team: Ross Walsh; Aidan Beausang, Kevin Ivers, Kevin O’Brien; Daniel O’Brien, James Kennefick, Chris Ruddy; Daniel Moynihan (Capt), Kieran Walsh; John Ahern, Kevin Moynihan, Eoghan O’Sullivan; Kevin Tattan, Josh Beausang, Brian Hartnett.
Subs: Ian Smiddy, Joe O’Flynn, Luke Duggan-Murray, John Paul Ivers, Eoin McGrath, Jack McGrath, David Whelehan, Barry Fitzgerald, Dan Ruddy, Seamus Kearney, Alan Cott, James Moynihan, Cormac Aherne, Kiaran Aherne, Sean Gilsenan.
The team, however, made amends later when they won the East Cork JHL Division 1 title for the first time ever, defeating Cobh by 3-19 to 3-16 after ET in Killeagh.
A new management team was appointed in 2018, consisting of Michael Mannion, Frank Flannery and Eoin Ivers who steered the club to their first ever East Cork Junior A hurling title when they defeated St Itas by 2-16 to 1-12 and also retained the JHL Div 1 title. They progressed to the County JHC final but lost out to Cloughduv by 4 points.
Team: Ian Smiddy; Eoghan O’Sullivan, Chris Ruddy, Kevin O’Brien; Daniel O’Brien, John Paul Ivers James Kennefick; Luke Duggan-Murray, Kieran Walsh; Kevin Moynihan, Daniel Moynihan (Capt), Jack McGrath; Fintan Murray, Josh Beausang, Brian Hartnett.
Subs: Ross Walsh, Brian Whelehan, Eoin McGrath, David Whelehan, Dan Ruddy, Kevin Ivers, James Ahern, Kiaran Aherne, Cormac Aherne, Sean Gilsenan, Aidan Beausang, Alan Linehan, Paul Lane.
A week after the disappointment of losing the County JHC final, the club returned to Pairc Uí Rinn to capture the County Junior B Inter-Divisional football title for the first time in their history when they defeated Castletownbere by 3-15 to 1-10, having claimed the East Cork Junior B title against Bride Rovers eleven weeks earlier.
Team: Dan Ruddy, Aidan Beausang, John Paul Ivers, Kevin O’Brien; Paul Lane, James Kennefick, Daniel O’Brien; Eoghan O’Sullivan, Eoin McGrath; Brian Whelehan, Kieran Walsh, Brian Hartnett (Capt); Fintan Murray, Chris Ruddy, Josh Beausang.
Subs: Luke Duggan-Murray, Kevin Moynihan, Daniel Moynihan, David Whelehan, Jack McGrath, Anthony Archer, James Ahern, Alan Linehan, Ian Smiddy, Cormac Aherne, Kevin Ivers, Alan Cott, Kiaran Aherne, Sean Gilsenan.
The club retained the Jamesy Kelleher trophy in 2019 with Noel Furlong replacing Frank Flannery as coach. They defeated Carraig na bhFear in the East Cork JAHC final with a goal in injury time by Luke Duggan-Murray and eight weeks later the sides met again in the County final when Rovers had a comprehensive win on a score-line of 1-17 to 0-9.
The John Quirke trophy was brought to Shanagarry for the first time but the journey was only beginning. In the Munster championship we easily overcame Kilgarvan in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney and in the Munster final we defeated the Waterford champions St Mary’s in Fraher Field, Dungarvan by 2-13 to 0-11. In the All-Ireland semi-final against Michéal Breathnachs of Galway, played in Kilmallock, we were fortunate to draw the game with a marvellous injury-time free by Brian Hartnett but won easily in extra time, 1-26 to 1-15.
The 18th January 2020 will be remembered for ever in the annals of our club history when Russell Rovers lined out in Croke Park in the All-Ireland Junior Hurling championship final against Conahy Shamrocks of Kilkenny but sadly lost out to a better team on the day on a score of 0-22 to 0-15.
Team: Ross Walsh; Kevin O’Brien, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Paul Lane; Chris Ruddy, John Paul Ivers, James Kennefick; Kevin Tattan, Kieran Walsh; Jack McGrath, Luke Duggan-Murray, Daniel Moynihan; Kevin Moynihan, Josh Beausang, Brian Hartnett.
Subs: Daniel O’Brien, Eoin Ivers, James Ahern, Kevin Ivers, Dan Ruddy, Eoin McGrath, Luke O’Riordan, Kiaran Aherne, Cormac Aherne, Brian Whelehan, Alan Linehan, Sean Gilsenan, David Whelehan, Fintan Murray, Aidan Beausang, Ian Smiddy.
As County champions, the club was promoted to Intermediate hurling ranks in 2020 and participated in the Lower Intermediate grade. We topped our group with a win and two draws and then went on to defeat Milford and our old foes St Catherines in the knock-out stages to reach the final against Castlemartyr which was fixed for the 10th October 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the match was delayed until 21st August 2021 and A new management team took over the reins for 2021, consisting of Seamus Kennefick, Ian Smiddy and Coach Tommy Ryan of Tallow. Rovers were well in the game at half-time but after losing key player Josh Beausang to a serious injury we lost our way in the second half with Castlemartyr winning comfortably on a score-line of 1-20 to 0-11.
Team: Ross Walsh; Kevin O’Brien, Paul Lane, Eoghan O’Sullivan; Daniel Moynihan, James Kennefick, Chris Ruddy; Kevin Tattan, Kieran Walsh; Luke Duggan-Murray, Kevin Moynihan, Pierce Cummins; Fintan Murray, Josh Beausang, Brian Hartnett. Subs: Brian Whelehan, Eoin McGrath, David Whelehan, Kevin Ivers, Jamie Scannell, James Ahern, Cormac Aherne, Kiaran Aherne, Aidan Beausang, Sam Walsh, Conor O’Brien, Jack McGrath, Jonathan de Vries.
St Colmans minor hurlers won the 2020 County Premier 2 MHC title for the second time in five years, defeating a fancied Kanturk side by two points in the final but this time the numbers were reversed with Rovers contributing only one third of the team with the following players: Conor O’Brien, Jonathan de Vries, Sam Walsh, Ruairi Cummins, Pierce Cummins and subs Mark O’Dwyer and Jack Smiddy.
While the club wasn’t successful in reaching the knock-out stages in the 2021 campaign, we had better fortune in 2022 to reach at least the quarter-finals after defeating St Catherines and Glen Rovers in the Group stage with one game versus Tracton still to play. This championship, previously known as the Lower Intermediate grade, has been re-named Premier Junior.
