The Story So Far
The history of Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney, as probably suggested by the name, is the result of an amalgamation between two local clubs Arklow Geraldines and Bally money. As you will see from the history of both clubs each had it’s own successes at various stages, but the time had come when, in the interest of GAA in Arklow, a merging of clubs was necessary.
Ballymoney GAA Club
Ballymoney GAA dates back to 1906. It’s name derived from a small townland North of Arklow town. Early statistics are scarce, but it is believed the club survived until 1932.
Ballymoney was reformed in 1942 but had to wait until the “fifties” to experience real success on the playing fields. They achieved a famous “3 in a row”, between 1955 and 1957, in the South Wicklow Junior Hurling and Football Leagues. In between they won the 1955 Junior B Championship. Despite their successes the club disbanded again in 1962 and twelve years elapsed before the club would be reformed for the second time on 27th November 1974.
Once again success followed and the club finally broke from the ranks of Junior to achieve Intermediate status in 1980. This also coincided with the acquisition of a new pitch at Shelton. In 1981 they won the Intermediate county final and attained Senior status, a remarkable achievement in just 7 years since it’s reformation. The club was also making great headway in Juvenile competitions winning numerous trophies at all levels. 1994 was another wonderful year for Ballymoney winning the treble of Junior A Championship, League and Swan Cup. This is just a brief history of a wonderful club and it’s numerous achievements despite being twice disbanded and rising from the ashes each time to go on to bigger and better things.
Arklow Geraldines GAA
The first meeting of Arklow Gealdines was held on March 26th 1940, a time when Gaelic games had reached a low ebb in the town. Founder members at that historic meeting included former greats Billy Byrne, Pat Kinsella, Bill Neill, Joe New, Mick and Sean Boucher.
The following year, 1941, they won a Junior Championship. In 1942 they won the Junior hurling championship beating Ashford in a replay. In 1947 Arklow Gers reached the Inter mediate football final only to be beaten. However, they did win the Junior hurling cha mpionship that year. Arklow made a bold bid for the Senior football title in 1963 but suffered defeat at the hands of Baltinglass in a thrilling final at Aughrim. Two years later, in 1965, they reached the Senior hurling final and were unlucky to lose out to Carnew.
Despite winning 21 championships in as many years prior to 1969 in various grades they had never won that elusive Senior title, until October 09 2016 when a moment in AGBs history will always be remembered, AGB played Ballinacor in the Championship County Final and it looked like all was lost with only minutes to go until the final whistle until a quick thinking move from the goals saw the ball played carefully through the field and past the Ballinacor side, where it landed into the hands of Cal Kelly who scored the winning goal, that crowned AGB winners of the Intermediate County Championship and then that Senior Title! Following two stong years at Senior Level, and reaching the Quarter Finals in 2017, the Semi Finals in 2018, 2019 was the mment that turned AGBs History. A succesfull year in both League and Championship, saw the AGB Senior Men reach the Final of 2019. Unfortunately it wasnt to be for the gallant team that made Arklow so proud, a narrow defeat saw them finish defeated to St. Pats of Wicklow. A momentous game of football, and a lead up to a Senior County Final that united a town and gave such pride to our club will always be remembered. We look forward to what the new season of 2020 will bring on the football field.
