About Us - Overview
Valley Rovers GAA Club is a vibrant and successful Hurling, Football, Camogie and Ladies Football club in the parish of Innishannon in Co. Cork. Formed in the early part of the last century, the club has made a significant contribution to the GAA whilst contributing to the many diverse organisations and groups within the local community.
Valley Rovers have enjoyed considerable success over the years. The club has a very even balance between football and hurling, both in terms of success on the playing field and in the relative emphasis placed on the two sports within the club. Furthermore, in recent years, the advent and growth of camogie and ladies' football has added a new dimension to the club.
Valley Rovers is presently represented at Cork County in Premier Intermediate level in hurling and Senior level in football. Recent highlights for the club was winning the 2008 intermediate football county title, 2009 Premier intermediate football county title and completing the double in 2009 by winning the Intermediate Hurling county title. The football team's earlier achievements have
included county intermediate league titles, as well as numerous divisional honours, while the hurling teams' successes have included Cork County junior in 1988 and Intermediate hurling title in 1989 which resulted in the Club playing Senior hurling for several seasons.
At under-age level, Valley Rovers has been very successful in both hurling and football, bringing
numerous titles to the club over the years.
The Camogie part of the club has had considerable success since its inception in 1987. Many titles have been captured at all grades from under 12 to Junior A, and the club is currently represented at Senior B grade.
In its short history, Valley Rovers ladies football club (founded in 1995) has also enjoyed great success at all levels, including several under-age county titles.
In addition to the achievements mentioned above, some of the many high points in the history of Valley Rovers over the years have included the following:
Valley Rovers is unique in that two club members, Sean McCarthy and Conchur Ó Murchú, have served as national Presidents of the GAA.
Sean McCarthy - 1932-1935
Sean was a native of Upton. Sean was president during the GAA's golden jubilee year (1934). A member of Cork County committee for 60 years, he first became a delegate at 23 and He became chairman of Cork County Board in 1917 at the age of 27. He was a Member of the Munster Council
for many years, including a term of office as chairman. He took part in War of Independence, was a judge in the Dail and Republican courts. He was also a Member of Cork County Council for 20 years, and of Cork Corporation for 22 years, Lord Mayor of Cork 5 times, member of Dail Eireann for 18 years. After a lifetime of service to the GAA Sean died in 1974; aged 84.
Con Murphy - 1976-1979
Con Murphy was born in Innishannon, County Cork in 1922. The eldest of seven children, he developed a strong love of Gaelic games, culture and language from a young age. His uncle was Seán McCarthy, an administrator with the GAA, who also served as President of the association in
the 1930s. In 1976 Murphy became President of the Gaelic Athletic Association, a role which he held until 1978. During his three-year term as President there were many significant developments, such as the official opening of the 50,000-seat Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork in 1976, which he played a big part in the construction of. He also campaigned to the British government on the behalf of
Crossmaglen Rangers, whose pitch had been occupied by the British army.
Conchur Ó Murchú was also a member of Cork hurling team which won four All Irelands in a row in the 1940s.
Brendan O'Sullivan was midfield on the Cork hurling team that won the All Ireland in 1990 which formed part of Cork's double All Ireland year in 1990.
The club was immensely proud to see Elaine Burke captain Cork's winning All Ireland senior Camogie team in 2005.
The club has also taken pride in seeing Kevin Canty as Centre Forward on the Cork senior hurling Team in 2008.
Alan Quirke has spent many years as Cork's first choice senior football goalkeeper in recently and in 2010 was the Cork Goalkeeper on the All Ireland winning Football Team. Also Part of the panel was Fiachra Lynch thus creating another historic Double for Valley Rovers as these players brought the first Senior Football All Ireland Medals to the Club.