Mayfield GAA Club

Mayfield GAA Club (CLG Baile na mBocht) is located in the Mayfield area of Cork City, Ireland. Teams are fielded in Gaelic football, hurling, and Ladies' Football. The Club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Seandún board competitions. The Club competes at Intermediate level in football and Junior ‘A’ level in hurling. Boys and girls from Academy, juvenile to adult level are catered for. Our pitches are located at Lotabeg in Mayfield and the clubhouse is located on Kerry Road.

Club Foundation

Mayfield GAA Club was formed in 1893, with Michael Fleming as the first secretary of the club. The club competed at both Minor and Junior level in the early years making their presence known with splendid victories in various feiseanna and tournaments that they had been invited to. The club entered a trial period of merging with local clubs, Brian Dillons and Sarsfields in 1903 to form a senior team. However, following various arguments and quarrels between members of each club, the trial period ended and each club went back to representing their respective areas.

The Club’s progress was halted somewhat following World War I, along with many other clubs throughout the country as the members and players were constantly harassed and subsequently arrested by the British Forces. Another amalgamation was attempted between local clubs in the Mayfield and surrounding are in 1922. Although on this occasion, Mayfield declined to merge due to the failed attempt at amalgamation in 1903.

1920’s – 1960’s

Mayfield affiliated with the newly established City Division Board in the 1920’s and made great progress in this decade, culminating in the winning of the City Division Junior Hurling Championship for the first time in 1935. The Club retained these titles in the three years that followed. The 1935 Cork Junior Hurling Championship final between Mayfield and Castlemartyr, became famous in that this final was played four times and never brought to conclusion. The Cork County Board decided that no medals would be presented and both teams were suspended. Following the victories of the 1930’s, many players retired from hurling which led to a lean period on the playing field. 1954 saw the first Mayfield Junior Football Team being entered into the City Division Junior Championship and League. This team did not have to wait too long for success, as in 1959, they tasted success in the City Division Junior ‘A’ Football Championship, beating St. Nicholas’ in the final.

In 1962, the Club moved the clubhouse to its present day location on Kerry Road. The club tasted success in hurling in the City Division Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship in 1967, after a 32 year gap. The success of the Club’s underage structure was beginning to show as many of these players had begun with the Club in Street League competition ten years previous. Thy reached the County Final in 1969, but ultimately came up short against an excellent Kanturk side in what was a magnificent final.

1970’s – 1980’s

The 1970’s proved to be the most successful period in the history of Mayfield GAA Club. This decade saw Mayfield claim a total of 18 titles at adult level across both codes, the most important of which being the Club’s County Final victory in hurling on November 5th, 1978. This famous victory over a fancied Carrigtwohill side remains the only victory by a Mayfield team in an adult level County Final. Unfortunately, this victory did not lead to greater times on the field and Mayfield experienced another lean period in the 1980’s.

1990’s Onwards

The 1990’s saw the club experience a revival in fortunes. A major restructuring of the underage section under the leadership of Juvenile Chairman Seán McCarthy began to pay dividends, and the club won the Minor ‘A’ Championship in football and hurling in 1994, 1995 and 1996. A City Division Junior ‘A’ Football Championship followed in 1997, as well as the Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship in 1999. Under the stewardship of Club Chairman John Brennan, major developments of the Club’s facilities took place. These included the complete upgrading of existing pitches at Lotabeg and the addition of two new pitches across the road. This also included the total refurbishment of our clubhouse on Kerry Road. In January 2002, a new complex was built at our grounds at Lotabeg which comprised of an ultra-modern gym, a multi-purpose sports hall, a 400 seat viewing stand over the main pitch, and new dressing rooms. This new complex which is open to all members of the community makes our club one of the most advanced in terms of facilities in the county. In January 2004, Cork County Board recognised the successful performances at Junior Football level over the previous few years and regraded the club to Premier Intermediate Football Status.

Mayfield GAA Club was thrust into national spotlight in 2008 when they were nominated to partake in a prime-time reality TV series on RTÉ called “Celebrity Bainisteoir”. The series involved various celebrities taking over as coaches of local Gaelic football teams and competing against each other. The Celebrity Bainisteoir for Mayfield was celebrity solicitor Gerald Kean. This opportunity gave the club incredible exposure and showed the club and its facilities in a positive light. It also gave our players a fantastic opportunity to test themselves against teams from other counties. The club progressed to the final of the competition by beating Crumlin of Dublin and Kiltimagh of Mayo in what were two great days at our GAA grounds. However, the club was beaten in the final of the competition by a very strong Maryland team from Westmeath.

In recent years, Mayfield GAA Club has experienced mixed fortunes on the field at adult level. In 2012, our intermediate footballers were relegated from the Premier Intermediate level down to Intermediate level. This was a disappointing result for the club as it had done well in previous seasons at that level and had claimed victory in the Tom Creedon Cup in the very same year. 2010 and 2011 saw Mayfield win the City Division Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship, beating local rivals Brian Dillons both years. In 2011, the club reached the final of the Cork County Junior ‘A’ Championship, losing narrowly to Charleville after a replay.

Further redevelopment of our pitches at Lotabeg began in 2014. The small pitch next to our main pitch was sold and the funds received were used to redevelop the pitches across the road to include a sand-based pitch. The future of Mayfield GAA Club is bright when we consider the success of the Club at juvenile level over the past decade. Participation in Féile na nGael tournaments, as well as County Final victories at Fé14 and Fé16 level in 2004 and 2006 respectively. In 2015, the underage coaching structure of the Club received a huge boost when it was awarded Category Silver in the Lee Coaching Initiative, which recognises excellence in coaching standards at underage level.