Cool Timeline
Foundation
Danesfort GAA Club was founded in 1922. Three years later, in 1925, the club was awarded its first Junior Hurling title on grounds of an objection. The club proceeded immediately to the senior ranks, there being no intermediate championship at the time. In 1930 Danesfort were once again in the Junior Final when they defeated neighbours Crowraddie (Callan) by a narrow 3-2 to 2-3. However Crowraddie objected and a replay was ordered by Leinster Council, which Danesfort won by 6-2 to 3-3. Danesfort were immediately launched into the delayed 1931 Intermediate Championship and found themselves in the final beating Slieverue 4-6 to 4-1. in an outstanding game of hurling.
1940’s
After a break of 14 years, Danesfort beat Conahy in the Northern Junior Final of 1944 by 2-3 to 0-4, having the assistance of budding inter county star Mark Marnell in that victory. The Rower beat Danesfort narrowly in the county final, after ‘Fort had led for most of the game.
1960’s
In 1960 and ’61 Danesfort suffered heartache of loosing two consecutive Northern Finals to Lisdowney by 1-7 to 2-2 in 1960 and to Coon by 4-2 to 3-2 in 1961. In 1963 Danesfort reached the Northern Junior final drawing with Galmoy (Danesfort 2-0 Galmoy 1-3), before losing the rely by 5-3 to 3-4.
1970’s
A Northern U-21 Roinn B hurling title was won in 1975 with victory over Conahy Shamrocks by 4-5 to 0-1. There was no county final as there was no equivalent southern competition.
1980’s
The following year Danesfort lost the Northern Junior final to Conahy Shamrocks by 2-11 to 2-8 and did not contest a Northern decider again until 1983 when they lost narrowly by 3-9 to 1-12 to Tullaroan.
Two years later they were back in the North final against great rivals and neighbours Graigue/Ballycallan. In a very physical game Graigue /Ballycallan triumphed by 1-13 to 1-9.
In 1986 Danesfort finally overcame that North Final stumbling block beating Blacks and Whites by an emphatic 3-13 to 1-5. The County Final saw the club paired against Windgap who ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-11 to 2-1.
1990’s
The club’s Special Junior team brought great excitement to the club in 1993 with a great seven match unbeaten run which culminated in a final victory Tullaroan in the Barlo- Nissan Division 3 League Final on a 5-9 to 2-12 scoreline.
2001/2002
Under age success began in 2001 when Danesfort won the Lisdowney 7-a-side Tournament. This was followed by an U-14 Roinn C win in 2002, coupled with two football titles (2001 & 2002).
2003 – 2005
2003 was a glorious year that saw the rising Danesfort stars shine as they swept the board with the U-16 Roinn B, Minor Roinn C and U-21 Roinn C hurling Championships. The U-21’s went on to further success in 2004 winning the Roinn B Football Championship and in 2005 took the Roinn B hurling honours.
2004
A breakthrough was to come in 2004 when a far superior Danesfort team overran Thomastown in the All County Junior League Final. It was indeed a fitting tribute to the late Tommy Murphy who had sadly passed away a short time before this final. A former County and Northern Board Chairman, Tommy was a staunch clubman who had given great service to his Club.
2006
2006 saw Danesfort delivered from the long 75year drought of success at adult level. By far the most in-form team in the Junior Football Championship, Danesfort beat Ballyragget in the County final in May of that year. This was to pave the way the most important success of all, the long coveted and elusive Junior Hurling Championship. In the Northern decider it took two hours to separate Danesfort from Conahy Shamrocks. In the County Final, Danesfort, after a hard fought and breath taking battle, emerged victorious over Southern challengers Tullogher/Rosbercon. Danesfort people were overcome with emotion as the long exile in hurling limbo finally came to an end. But it didn’t end there! Danesfort now entered the Junior Hurling Club Championship winning the Leinster title over Knockbridge of Louth, defeating Kilworth of Cork in a most memorable All-Ireland semi final in Dan Fraher’s field and coasting home to an All-Ireland victory over Clooney Gaels of Antrim in Croke Park.
2008 – Present
In 2008 Danesfort found themselves in the Intermediate Final only to be narrowly defeated by Erin’s Own. However they were to make amends two years later when they won the 2011 Intermediate Final in fine style by beating Rower/ Inistiogue. 2014 was to bring further honour to the club when county stars Paul Murphy and Richie Hogan winning All –Stars, the latter also scooping Hurler of the Year on the same occasion.