Four Masters GAA
| Na Ceithre Máistir | |||||||||
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| Founded: | 1932 | ||||||||
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| County: | Donegal | ||||||||
| Colours: | Blue and White | ||||||||
| Grounds: | Pairc Tir Conaill | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 54°39′17.21″N 8°07′19.08″W / 54.6547806°N 8.1219667°WCoordinates: 54°39′17.21″N 8°07′19.08″W / 54.6547806°N 8.1219667°W | ||||||||
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Four Masters is a GAA club located in the town of Donegal in County Donegal, Ireland. They are one of the strongholds of Gaelic football in County Donegal.[1]
History
Based in the parishes of Townawilly and Killymard, Donegal Town, Four Masters is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Donegal having won 5 Donegal Senior Football Championships.[2]
The GAA club under Warwickshire County Board in Coventry, England, is named after the Four Masters club in Donegal.[3] That club was unable to register as a Donegal Club but reserved the Four Masters name.
Austin O'Kennedy, a top GAA doctor who oversaw all Donegal county teams for 22 years, has also been involved with Four Masters for even longer.[4]
Tom Conaghan who managed the Four Masters to two county championships in 1982 and 1984 went on to manage the county team during the late 80s. He managed Donegal to the 1989 Ulster Final which they lost in a replay to Tyrone.
The club has more All Stars Awards than any other club in the county, Donal Monaghan winning one in 1974 the year he was Man of the Match against Down in the final of the Ulster Senior Football Championship, Joyce McMullan winning one 1990, Paul Durcan winning one in 2012 and Karl Lacey winning four in 2006 and 2009 at corner back and 2011 and 2012 at centre-half back. He also won the GAA GPA Player of the year award in 2012.[3]
After the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Four Masters organised the homecoming for the victorious Donegal inter-county team.[5]
Notable players
- Seamus Bonner
- Barry Dunnion
- Paul Durcan (All Star: 2012, 2014)
- Luke Keaney
- Karl Lacey (All Star: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012 + 2012 All Stars Footballer of the Year)
- Joyce McMullan (All Star: 1990)
- Barry Monaghan
- Donal Monaghan (All Star: 1974)
Honours
- 3 Donegal Senior Football Championships (1982, 1984, 2003)
- 3 Donegal Senior League Division 1 (1948, 1949, 2010)
- 3 Donegal Junior Championships (1943, 1965, 1975)
- 2 Donegal Under-21 Football Championships (1979, 2001)
- 3 Donegal Minor Football Championships (1996, 2001, 2002, 2007)
- 3 Donegal Senior Reserve Championships (2000, 2001, 2010)
- 5 Donegal Senior League Division 1 Reserves (2000, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2014)
- 1 Donegal Intermediate championships (1996)
- 2 Donegal Intermediate Reserve Championships (1995, 1996)
- 2 League Shields (1987, 1993)
- 3 Senior League Division 2 (1981, 1989, 1996)
- 1 Donegal Under-21B Championship (1995)
References
- ↑ Cullen, Damian (20 September 2012). "Final countdown". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
The strongholds of Gaelic football in the county – particularly since the turn of this century – such as Gweedores Gaoth Dobhair, Letterkennys St Eunans, Ardara, Four Masters from Donegal Town and Naomh Conaill from Glenties have all been well represented on the pitch this summer.
- ↑ "Roll: Football". Retrieved 6 May 2009.
- 1 2 "Four Masters GFC Club History". fourmastersgaa.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ↑ McCoy, Niall (14 December 2012). "Time for a club GPA". Gaelic Life. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ↑ "Huge crowds expected in The Diamond for Donegal's heroes". Donegal Daily. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
Gardaí have revealed that the Diamond area and surrounding streets will be closed to traffic from around 4pm onwards to prepare for the huge crowds expected on the streets. The homecoming to the Diamond is being organised by the local Four Masters club who are co-ordinating parking.