Valentia Young Islanders GAA

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Valentia Young Islanders
Founded:	1905
County:	Kerry
Nickname:
Club colours:
Grounds:
Standard colours

Valentia Young Islanders are a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Valentia Island, south County Kerry, Ireland. They play in Division 3 of the county league and in the County Junior Champions.

Contents 1 History 2 Roll of Honour 2.1 Kerry Junior Football Championship 2.2 Kerry Intermediate Football Championship 2.3 Kerry Novice Football Championship 2.4 Kerry Club Football Championship 3 All-Ireland Medal Winners 4 Famous Players

[edit] History

The 'Young Islanders' club was founded in 1905, though football was being played in Valentia in the 1800s. The 'Young Islanders' reached the County Championship semi-final in 1907 being beaten by Dingle and by Tralee Mitchel's in the final of 1908. The club won its first South Kerry Championship in 1939 beating Cahirciveen by 2-8 to 1-2 in the final. They added a second in 1945. A third Championship came in 1950 but that was about all the success there was in the 1950s. For seven years they fought without success to regain the South Kerry Championship title. In 1957 the Young Islanders broke a seven year deadlock and took the South Kerry title overcoming a much fancied Renard side. Centre-field for Valentia on that day was Mick O'Connell, a man who was destined to annex every honour the game has to offer. Between 1957 and 1964 Valentia won seven South Kerry Senior Championship titles and were South Kerry minor and senior champions in 1958 and 1961. Valentia were the first club to win the Kerry club championship in 1964, with victory over Ballymacelligott in the final. In 1959 the All Ireland and Munster Senior Championship Cups (Mick O'Connell being senior captain), the Munster Junior Championship Cup (John 'Dasher' Connor capt.) and the South Kerry Senior Championship Cup all came to the island.

After a long time without success Valentia won the Novice Football Championship Final in 1975 defeating Scartagin by 1-10 to 2-4 in Killarney. From 1979 to 1993 can certainly be considered as the golden era of Valentia football. After losing five consecutive South Kerry Senior Football Championship Finals from 1973 to 1977 the tide turned in 1979. Mick O'Connell made a comeback in 1979 and helped Valentia bridge a 15 year gap as Valentia won their first South Kerry Championship since 1964. Between 1979 and 1993, Valentia won nine South Kerry Championship titles, seven South Kerry League titles, the County Junior and Intermediate Championships and the County Club Championship. Valentia were strongly represented in the South Kerry County Championship winning teams of 1981 and 1982. Ger Lynch won three All-Ireland medals and an All-Star award with Kerry. Ger O'Driscoll won senior (two), Under 21 and Junior All-Ireland medals with kerry and Michael Anthony O'Connell also winning an All-Ireland Junior Football Championship medal.

In 1995 Valentia won their second County Intermediate Championship defeating Spa in a replay. In 2000 Valentia win the South Kerry Championship defeating favorites Sneem in the final. 2005 saw Valentia senior team win their 20th South Kerry Championship by defeating title holders Dromid Pearses in the final. In 2006 Paul O'Connor Captained South Kerry to Victory in the County Championship final win over Dr Crokes

[edit] Roll of Honour

• South Kerry Senior Championships 20

1939, 1945, 1950, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 2000, 2005

• South Kerry Minor Championships

1958, 1961, 1972

• County Intermediate Champions

1986, 1995

• County Club Champions

1964,1986

• County Junior Champions

1981

• County Novice Champions

1975

• County League Division 1

1984

[edit] Kerry Junior Football Championship

Valentia have won the Kerry Junior Football Championship once

Year	Winner	Opponent
1981	Valentia

[edit] Kerry Intermediate Football Championship

Valentia have won the County Intermediate Champions 2 times

Year	Winner	Opponent
1995	Valentia	Spa
1986	Valentia	Annascal

[edit] Kerry Novice Football Championship

Valentia have won the Kerry Novice Football Championship once

Year	Winner	Opponent
1975	Valentia	Scartaglin

[edit] Kerry Club Football Championship

Valentia have won the County Club Champions 2 times

Year	Winner	Opponent
1986	Valentia
1964	Valentia

[edit] All-Ireland Medal Winners

Senior

• John McCarthy
• John Casey
• Mick O'Connell
• Ger O'Driscoll
• Ger Lynch

Under 21

• Ger O'Driscoll

Junior

• Ger O'Driscoll
• Michael A. O'Connell

[edit] Famous Players

• Mick O'Connell
• Ger O'Driscoll
• Ger Lynch

v • d • e Kerry Gaelic Athletic Association Affiliated Clubs Individual club* An Ghaeltacht • Austin Stacks • Ardfert • Dingle  • Dr. Crokes • John Mitchels • Kilcummin • Kerins O'Rahilly's • Laune Rangers • Legion • Milltown/Castlemaine • Rathmore East Kerry Cordal • Dr. Crokes • Currow • Firies • Fossa • Glenflesk • Gneeveguilla • Kilcummin • Legion • Listry • Rathmore • Scartaglin • Spa Mid Kerry Beaufort • Churchill • Cromane • Glenbeigh-Glencar • Keel • Laune Rangers • Milltown/Castlemaine North Kerry Ballyduff • Beale • Brosna • Castleisland Desmonds • Ballydonoghue • Ballylongford • Duagh • Finuge • Knocknagoshel • Listowel Emmets • Moyvane • St. Senan's • Tarbert South Kerry Sneem • St. Marys Cahirciveen • Renard • St. Michael's/Foilmore • Skellig Rangers • Valentia • Dromid Pearses • Waterville • Derrynane • West Kerry Lispole • Castlegregary • Annascaul • Dingle • An Ghaeltacht Other divisions Feale Rangers • Kenmare • Shannon Rangers • St. Brendans • St. Kierans Former clubs Tralee Mitchels *=Competed as individual club in 2007 Kerry Senior Football Championship