CLUB HISTORY
Before 1940 there is no record of a club as such in Glenbeigh and Glencar but it is known that football was played in both areas down through the years, and matches took place regularly between teams in different regions of the parish and also with outside opposition, see Early History. Travelling was difficult and emigration took its toll on the younger generation but like every Kerry parish, there was always a keen interest in the game.
Before the Mid Kerry Board was founded in 1947,Glenbeigh was attached to the East Kerry Board with such teams as Keel, Listry, Laune Rangers, Kilcummin, Dr.Crokes and Killarney Legion.
Glenbeigh won the East Kerry Junior Championship in 1943. On that team were Paddy Lyne, Mick Aherne, John Lyne, Dan and Pat Moriarty, John Teahan, Michael Griffin, Andy O'Sullivan, Batt Donoghue, Paud Jones, Phil McGillicuddy, Francis Conway, Timmy Sweeney, Dan Donoghue, John and Diarmuid O'Sullivan and P.Clifford.
On the formation of the Mid Kerry Board in 1949 Glenbeigh affiliated and were successful in the Senior Championship of that year. The team as far as can be ascertained was: P.Clifford, D.Browne, Andy O'Sullivan, P.Lyne, P.Murphy, P.Clifford, D.Sheehan, M.Doherty, Sean Sheahan, Pat Scully, Sgt.O'Donnell, Jerry Coughlan, Tom Campbell and Phil McGillicuddy.
After some near misses Glenbeigh won the Mid Kerry Championship of 1956 when they defeated Keel in the final. This team also won the Laune Rangers Cup. The team was as follows: John McGillicuddy, Paddy Joe Riordan, Denny Sheahan, Den Sullivan, Paddy Brennan, Jim Moriarty, Mattie O'Riordan, Brian and Liam Wall, Liam Scully, Jerry O'Riordan, Kevin Scully, Paddy S. O'Sullivan, Des O'Connor, Sean S. O'Sullivan. SUBS: Chris Riordan, Pat Griffin, Denis O'Shea, John Buckley.
In 1956 the Glenbeigh Minor team won the Mid Kerry title.
The club was represented by Teddy Bowler, James Harmon, Tony McSweeney and Enda Scully on the Mid Kerry Minor side that won the County Championship in 1960. In 1957 Milltown defeated Glenbeigh in the Mid Kerry championship final but Glenbeigh returned the favour in the Laune Rangers Cup. Glenbeigh beat Laune Rangers in the Mid Kerry Championship final of 1964 in Killorglin.
TEAM: Paddy O'Sullivan, Seamus Daly, Teddy Bowler, Enda Scully, Dode Mahony, Connie Sullivan, Mattie Riordan, Micheal Griffin, Pat Griffin, Jimmy Healy, Gerry Riordan, Joe Sweeney, Tony McSweeney, Mickie O'Sullivan, Kevin Griffin.
SUBS: Mike O'Sullivan, John Barton.
In 1965, Glenbeigh players powered the Mid Kerry team that won the County Senior Championship for the first time. Glenbeigh were represented by the following players: Teddy Bowler, Jimmy Healy, Mickey Sullivan, Gerry Riordan, Pat Griffin, Kevin Griffin, Micheal Griffin and Enda Scully. In 1971 Mid Kerry won the the County Championship for the second time, ably assisted by Kevin Griffin, Jimmy Healy, Mike Breen, Michael O'Grady, Teddy Bowler, Owen Riordan and Derry Sullivan.
Though the championship eluded Glenbeigh until 1974 the late sixties were reasonably successful as the Mid Kerry League Title came our way in 1968, 1969 and 1970. The O'Sullivan Cup was captured for the first time in 1971 and in 1974 Glenbeigh beat Keel in a replay as the Mid Kerry Championship came to Glenbeigh again. The winning team was as follows: Teddy Bowler, Liam Scully, Micheal Griffin, J.Dwyer, Pat McGillicuddy, Jimmy Healy, Pat Riordan, Mike Breen, Neil Sullivan, Owen Riordan, Barry Sullivan, Michael O'Grady, Connie Sullivan, Gerry Riordan, and Kevin Griffin.
The double was achieved in 1975 with Keel again beaten in the Mid Kerry final and Glenbeigh also securing the O'Sullivan Cup. Glenbeigh won the O'Sullivan Cup again in 1976. Prior to these triumphs Glenbeigh won the County League Division 2, were promoted to Division 1 and remained there until 1984.
Glenbeigh won Mid Kerry again in 1979, beating Beaufort in the final.
TEAM: Owen Riordan, Raymond Sullivan, Mike Breen, Pat Sheehan, Neilly Sullivan, Jimmy Healy, Mike Horan, Pat Riordan, Pat McGillicuddy, Donie O'Sullivan, Michael Moriarty, Peadar Sullivan, Derry Sullivan, Denis Griffin, Michael O'Grady.
Jimmy Healy, the captain, was presented with the Kelleher Cup to honour his retirement as a player after more than twenty years of service to the club.
In the eighties the Club continued to be successful winning the Mid Kerry League in 1982 and 1983 along with success in the O'Sullivan Cup in 1981, 1982,1984, 1985 and 1986. Glenbeigh narrowly missed out on winning the County League Division 1 in 1982, finishing as runners-up, a remarkable achievement for a small club.
On 3 August 1986 Glenbeigh/Glencar opened Pairc na nGael, the new sportsfield in Glenbeigh village. Prior to this the club had played its home games on the pitch in Rossbeigh. Rossbeigh was an ideal setting on a fine day but when a gale blew in from Dingle Bay it was a different story.
Kerry beat Cork on the first game on the new pitch. Fr. Brian Kelly P.P , chairman of the club at the time put a colossal amount of work into the new sportsfield.
In 1992 Mid Kerry won the County Championship for the third time, defeating St.Brendans by 3-9 to 1-10. Glenbeigh players on duty that day were Patie Griffin, Pat Grady, Aidan Roche, Gerard O'Connor and Kieran O'Sullivan.
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