History of Caulry GAA

The Early Years

Fr. Francis Skelly was the Curate in Mount Temple from 1917 to 1932. In 1928 he was faced with the task of building a new Church. Under his strong leadership and in his desire to bring all sections of the Parish together in a unified club, the Caulry club was born. The name Caulry which is derived from the Gaelic “Calraidhe”, has been applied officially to the Mount Temple/Baylin club since its foundation. The following were to the forefront of the new club – Charlie Griffin, Willie Horton, Abe Oughton, Frank Seery, Jim Allen and Fr. Skelly.

The inauguration of the McCrann Cup in 1928 was the high point of South Westmeath football. Caulry contested both League and Championship in the South Westmeath Division with little success.

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The 1930’s

Caulry won their first McCrann Cup final in 1933 beating Athlone by one point in the sports field in Athlone [Match Report] [See Pic], and Larry Nugent also became the first Caulry player to be selected on the Westmeath Senior County football team that same year. Caulry retained the McCrann Cup in 1934 in delayed final held in early 1935.

In 1935 Caulry defeated arch rivals Tubberclair in the final of the County League. That year proved to be very successful year for Caulry. With the McCrann Cup and League successfully tucked away, Caulry set out rather late in the season to contest the final stages of the County Junior Championship. In the semi-final they defeated Tubberclair by two points in a reply in Coffee’s field. In the final which was played in Cusack Park in November, Caulry defeated Coralstown in a close fought encounter.

In 1935 the Irish Land Commission announced the intention to divide the Carn Estate formerly the property of Thomas Grey Senior, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. The Caulry Club decided to apply for a division of land for use as a pitch. The parish committee, which had functioned under both Fr. Skelly and Fr. Higgins, and had overseen and organised fund raising to Clear the church debt, supported the club committee. The Land Commission agreed to allocate the field which to this day is known simply as the Park.

Caulry made early exists from the Senior Championship in 1936 and 1937. The highlight of the year 1937 was the official opening of The Park a week before the 1937 General Election. The 1938 and 1939 League and Championship were contested with limited success.

1930 Junior League winning Team: Ed Griggin, Frank Seery (Capt.), E Brady, Michale Nugent, P Allen, F Nugent, Paddy Fallon, T Cullam, Franice Allen, Frank Allen, L Nugent, J Doyle, M Allen, J Allen, J Kennedy, M Mahon.

1935 Junior Championship winning Team: Paddy Fallon, Paddy Cullam, Mick Nugent, Mike Malone, Frank Allen, Larry Nugent, T Daly, Tommy Cullam, Ned Egam, Sean Woods, Tommy Hickey, Paddy Nugent, Frank Nugent, Eddie Griffin, Andy Conlon

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The 1940’s

Throughout the 1940’s, the leaders of the club were Frank Seery, Frank Fitzgerald, Willie Horton, Paddy Nugent and Tom Gorman.

Following a poor start to the decade on the playing fields, the winning of the Junior Championship in 1944 vindicated the intervention of the new curate, Fr. Masterson. Due to the poor fortunes of both Caulry and Drumraney, it was proposed to amalgamate the clubs, to produce one good team at both Senior and Junior levels. Fr. Masterson cautioned against such a move and recommended another year of singular effort; it was to provide the divine intervention with The Downs being defeated in the county final.

1946 was to prove another memorable year for the Caulry club with the Intermediate Championship captured for the first time [See Pic], with Tyrrellspass being defeated in the county Final in Streamstown.

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The 1950’s

The 1950’s continued in a similar vein to the previous decades with the Junior League and Championship being contested with limited success. 1957 was to prove the highlight of the decade with Caulry defeating Shamrocks 1-10 to 1-05 in the Junior Championship County final [Match Report] [See Pic], and then continuing their winning ways to annex the 1957 League [Match Report], and indeed the 1956 League, which was not finished until 1957.

In the Intermediate Championship of 1958, Caulry went all the way to the final, only to be defeated by St. Mary’s on a score to 0-05 to 1-11.

1957 Junior Championship Winning Team: W. Ledwith, T O’Hara, M. Conlon, J. McHugh, O. Nugent, M. Nugent, J. Coffey, E. Rourke, P. Ledwith, P. Nugent, J Malynn, T. Fitzgerald, N Nugent, J Rourke, J Casey.

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The 1960’s

Caulry enjoyed little success on the fields of play in the early 60’s, yet 1963 was a proud year for the club, when two of it’s players, Padraig Malone and Eamon Daly, were on the Westmeath panel which reached the All-Ireland Minor Final only to be defeated by Kerry.

The untimely death of Frank Fitzgerald was a major shock for the club. He had been part of the Caulry club for nearly thirty years, and few could imagine it without his powerful guiding hand and deep wisdom.

1966 was to be one of the better years in the decade when Caulry qualified for the Junior football Championship final only to be surprisingly beaten by Killucan on a score of 0-05 to 1-04. St. Finians defeated Caulry in the final of the 1967 Junior “B” Championship final.

The year 1969 was to prove another historic year for the club. Caulry started the year in the Intermediate grade which had just been re-introduced. Several good challenge matches were played against top Senior club teams at the time, such as St. Brigids of Roscommon and Offaly’s Ballycumber, in preparation for the Championship. The Caulry side accounted for Ballymore in the first round which was played in Moate. Tubberclair were defeated in the semi-final after a draw and reply. In the county final against Ballynacargy, Caulry got off to a flying start with two early goals and playing with great spirit and determination, went on to win on a scoreline of 2-06 to 0-06 [Match Report] [See Pic].

1969 Intermediate Championship Winning Team: Stephen Haniffy, Frank Conlon, Jim McDonnell, Packie Allen, Willie Allen, Padraig Malone, Tom Seery, Pat Allen, Tom Fitzgerald, T.P. Hickey, James Fox, Noel Nugent, P.J. Cunningham, Georgie Hatton, Jack Allen, Jimmy Fallon, Seamus Allen, Richie Allen.

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The 1970’s

The Mount Temple/Baylin club were back in the intermediate final in 1973, but were beaten 1-07 to 2-06 at Pairc Chiarain, Athlone by Tang. Caulry came back in 1974 to capture the Junior “B” Championship beating Rosemount in the final played in Hogan Park, Moate on a scoreline of 2-02 to 1-02 [Match Report] [See Pic].

1978, the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of the club, saw Caulry’s next appearance in the Intermediate county final, only to go under to St. Mary’s on a 1-05 to 1-06 scoreline [Match Report].

1974 Junior B Championship Winning Team: M. Hickey, T. Flanagan, J. Allen, P. Allen, P. Rigney, T. Seery, S. Donoghue, T. Curley, R. Hickey, T. Rigney.

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The 1980’s

The 80’s began with much re-development in The Park. The sad passing of Paddy Ledwith, an outstanding player and official with the club, cast a shadow over the club in the early part of the decade.

Centenary Year marked the start of a new era of success at underage for the club, the high-light being the appearance of the Under 14s in the Feile na nOg All-Ireland final. The passing of Frank Seery, a founder member, player, captain, Chairman and President in 1984, was another black day in the club’s history.

1985 was another glorious year for the club with the winning of the Intermediate Championship [Match Report] [See Pic] and the Junior “B” Championship [Match Report] [See Pic] with Clonmellon side St. Pauls being the victims in both county finals. Caulry’s stay in the Senior ranks was to again prove brief and unhappy and they ended the decade relegated to Junior ranks.

1985 Intermediate Championship Winning Team: Tony Mulvihill, Tommy Rigney, T.J. Dunning, Anthony Allen, Seamus Dolan, Richie Allen(capt.), Tommy Woods, Johnny Woods, Tom Fallon, Pierce Gately, Peter Rigney, Niall Donohue, Aidan Dunning, Johnny Kenny and P.J. Allen.

Subs: T.P. Hickey for P.J. Allen.

1985 Junior B Championship Winning Team: Kieran. Mulldoon, Joe. Rourke, Jay. Egan, P. Donohue, John. Malone, Danny Muldoon, Michael Casey, Tom Seery, Micky Woods(0-4), Michael Donoghue, Larry Nugent (1-0), Tom. Donogue, Seamus. Allen (0-2), Jack Allen, Mick Moriarty(1-0). Subs: J. Daly for J Rourke, G. Hatton for J Malone.

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The 1990’s

The club’s investment in underage coaching in the 80’s was to pay rich dividend in the 1990’s as a new and youthful junior team swept all before them to win an historic treble at Junior Championship, League and Cup. It looked like the 1990’s was to be a glorious decade. Defeat by eventual champions, Tyrrellspass, in the 1991 Intermediate Championship semi-final did little to diminish the optimism.

1992 saw the Caulry club back in the Intermediate County final [See Pic]. As in the Junior final of 1966, Killucan were again the opposition, and the match was played in Tyrrellspass, as Cusack Park was being re-developed. History unfortunately was again to repeat itself as, in a game Caulry looked to be winning, Killucan put in a storming finish to snatch the title.

This heartbreaking defeat sent Caulry on a downward spiral and despite semi-final appearances in 1995 and 1997, the club ended the 1990’s fighting to retain their Intermediate status, which they did with a play-off, ironically against Killucan. Development work continued in The Park throughout the decade, the highlight being the completion of a new stand.

1990 Junior Championship Winning Team: Anthony Dowd, Danny Muldoon (capt.), T.J. Dunning, Sean Shortall, Tom Loddick, Martin McManus, Padraig Killane, Jody Maylnn, Tom Fallon, Ciaran Cunningham, Larry Nugent(0-01), Richie Allen(1-00), Aidan Dunning(0-05), P.J. Allen(0-02).

Subs: David Hatton for Tom Loddick, Fintain Shortall(0-01) for Ciaran Cunningham, and John Malone for Padraig Killane.

1992 Intermediate Championship Runners Up: Kieran Curley, Danny Muldoon, T.J. Dunning, Sean Shortall, Padraig Killane, David Hatton, James Casey, Tom Fallon, Martin McManus, Fintain Shortall, Niall Donohue, Kevin Flanagan, Ciaran Cunningham, Aidan Dunning, P.J. Allen.

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The New Millennium

The new millennium started with Caulry playing in the Intermediate ranks. However, this was not to last long, as in 2000, the club was relegated to the Junior ranks. However, after great underage success in the club during the 1990’s, there was great optimism that the club would bounce straight back. Under the guidance of their new manager, John Madden, Caulry played some fantastic football only loosing just once on their way to 3 County finals, Junior Championship, League and Cup. However, this was where the good fortune ended. In the Junior final, Bunbrosna defeated Caulry in a reply on a score of 2-05 to 1-06 [Match Report] [ See Pic]. In the ACFL Division 3 Final, Caulry were defeated by Killbeggan by 3-09 to 0-09, and in the Junior Cup final, Loughnavelly got the best of Caulry by the narrowest of margins[Match Report]. Like the Junior team, the Junior “B” team in 2001 were very unfortunate to loose the County final in a reply to a very strong Mullingar Shamrocks side [See Pic].

Caulry started the 2002 season under the guidance of former player and manager, Georgie Hatton. This proved to be the difference for Caulry as they marched undefeated to their fifth Junior Championship title with a highly impressive performance over St. Josephs [Match Report] [See Pic].

In 2002 the combination of Caulry/Castledaly won the Under 21 Premier Final with a win over St. Lomans by 7 points [Match Report] [See Pic].

2003 proved to be another successful year for the Caulry club as they lifted both the ACFL Division 3 title, and the Junior “B” Championship for the third time in their history [Match Report] [See Pic].

Championship glory was to return to Caulry in 2006, when managed by former player Aidan Dunning, they won the Westmeath Junior Championship for the sixth time. After being relagated from the Intermediate ranks in 2005, the club wasted no time in getting back, as a goal in injury time gave them a 2 point win over Milltown in the Junior Final. [Match Report] [See Pic].

The later end of the first decade of the new Millennium it was the Caulry Underage players who grabbed all the headlines. In 2006, the Caulry Under 12s won the Premier Football Championship, and in 2008, Caulry were unfortunate to be beaten in the final of the Under 14 [Match Report] and Minor [Match Report] Division 1 Championship finals. Also in 2008 Caulry had 5 representative on the Westmeath Minor team, and in 2009 Caulry had 4, where Alan Fitzpatrick had the honour of being the Westmeath Minor Captain for the year.

And in the last year of the decade, 2009, Caulry won the Westmeath Junior Championship for the seventh time, with a comprehensive win over St. Paul’s. [Match Report] [See Pic].

2002 Junior Championship Winning Team: Noel Murray, Brian Mullarney, Gary Flanagan, Jody Maylnn, Anthony Malone (Captain), Eddie Egan, Mark Dolan, Enda Murphy, Aidan Dunning, Peter Smith 0-1, David Hatton 0-1, Mark Rigney, Alan Carroll 1-6 (2 pts from frees), Alan Rigney 0-2, Leo Fallon 0-7 ( 3 pts from frees. 1pt from a sideline ball).

Subs: Simon Keegan for Mark Rigney, Mark Rigney for Simon Keegan, blood substitution. Damien Dowd for Jody Maylnn, Mark Malone for Mark Dolan, Simon Keegan for David Hatton.

2006 Junior Championship Winning Team: Eddie Egan, Damien Dolan, Johnny Buckley, Brian Mullarney, Ernie Buckley, Jody Malynn, Anthony Malone, Gary Flanagan, Peter Smyth (capt.), Mark Malone, Mark Fitzpatrick, Anselm Fitzgerald, Cormac Fox, Nicky Killane, Johnny Dolan.

Subs: Alan Carroll for Killane; Willie Buckley for Cormac Fox; Colm Fox for Mark Malone.

2009 Junior Championship Winning Team: Joe McMahon; Damien Dolan, Johnny Buckley, Pat Buckley; Ben Moran, Alan Rigney, Kevin Maguire; Gary Flanagan (0-1), Declan Donohue; Cormac Fox, Conor Allen, Alan Fitzpatrick (1-1); Robbie Kenny (1-1), Peter Smyth (0-2, 1f), Johnny Dolan (0-3).

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The 2010's

The new decade started off with a bang, as Caulry made their first semi-final appearances since 1997, after a great win against Tang. However, in the Semi-Final they couldn't get the better of Bunbrosna. Gary Flanagan also became the first Caulry man since Richie Allen in 1976 (against Wexford) to play Senior Championship football first Westmeath, and Kevin Maguire continued when he started in the Leinster Semi-Final versus Louth. 2010 was also special for Caulry, when the Westmeath Under 16 team, won the Gerry Reilly Memorial Football Tournament, and reached the final of the Fr. Manning Cup, with five Caulry lads on the panel, David Brooks, Evan Roarke, Stephen Woods, Michael McMahon and Andrew O'Sullivan [Report].

The St. Ciaran's combination of Caulry, Castledaly and Garrycastle were the highlight of 2011, as they captured the Westmeath minor football championship with a one point win over Ennell Shamrocks (St Malachy's/Ballinagore and Kilbeggan/St Joseph's) [Report].

In 2012 Caulry reach the Intermediate Championship final for the first time since 1992, but on the occasion succumbed to Castletown/Coole/Finea/Whitehall. 2013 was to prove a similar year for Caulry, reaching the Intermediate Final again, but this time falling to St. Malachys. But 2013 didn't prove unsuccessful, as Caulry were crowned ACFL Division 2 Champions, and also got the better Coralstown/Kinnegad in the Intermediate Cup Final on a score of 1-11 to 0-10.

But all was rectified in 2014, as Caulry when they won the Westmeath Intermediate Championship for the fourth time, with a 3 point win over Rosemount on a score of 1-5 to 0-5.

2014 Intermediate Championship Winning Team: Joe McMahon, James Petit, Kevin Maguire, Eoin Fox, Damien Dolan, Ben Moran, Brian Mullarney, Declan Donoughe, Alan Fitzpatrick, Alan Daly, Peter Smyth, Eoghan Grennan, David Brookes, Gary Flanagan. Andy O'Sullivan.

Subs; Alan Rigney for Daly; Robbie Hickey for Flanagan; John Maguire for Donoughe.

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Scor & Scor na nOg

Caulry also have a rich and proud tradition in Scor. It was in 1974 that Caulry first participated in Scor. A first county title was won in Rince Ceili in 19080. In 1983, the Figure Dancers reached the All-Ireland finals in Dublin. Further All-Ireland finals were reached in 1984 and 1986. Score na nOg was first competed in 1981. As in the Senior Scor, numerous county and Leinster titles were won over the years. It was fitting that in the Centenary Year of 1984, Caulry were presented with the Club of the Year for prompting Scor.

The elusive All-Ireland title finally came to Caulry on February 20th 1999, when Patricia Browne, Susan Conlon and Patrick Buckley won the Scor na nOg All-Ireland Instrumental Music title [Report]. From the years 2008 to 2010, Caulry man Georgie Hatton was also Chairman of Westmeath Scor.