CLUB FOCUS: Moneygall FC

An impromptu friendly game against Shinrone in 1978 led to Kieran Costello, Gerry Hayes and Matt Douglas forming a club that would encourage and promote the sport of soccer in the Moneygall community.

The growth of the club over a short period led to a second team being formed in 1981/1982 when Moneygall FC had its pitch based in Gravel Park.

The mid 1980’s also witnessed the formation of youth and schoolchildren’s soccer where players joined from neighbouring villages and parishes so they could enjoy the beautiful game. The club was evolving and recognised to maintain future adult teams we needed to train and encourage the youth to get involved.

The club in its infancy saw the ‘A’ team promoted after four years, contested the 1987 Barry Cup and Division 2 Shield finals, with the ‘B’ team challenging in 1991 for the Fast-Food Cup and the Division 3 Shield in 1994. 1995 saw the Junior ‘A’ team win promotion to the premier division as division 1 runners-up.

Underage level saw great potential in 1989 with success in the U16 Cup, developing in 1991 winning the U18 Cup & Shield and retaining it in 1992. The U18’s captured another double in 1994 winning the league and cup, and in 1998 won the U12 League.

Moneygall FC in the 1990’s continued to see growth in the club and relocated to Barna for a number of years and then to Ballingrawn. The frustration of renting agricultural land made it hard for the club to really expand and offer all year-round facilities to our members or community.

In 2001, on the field the club had continued progression at Junior men’s level with the ‘A’ team appearing as finalists in both the Premier Cup and the Tipperary Cup. In 2004 the juniors finally captured the clubs first top tier trophy winning the Premier Cup.

After relegation Moneygall returned to the premier division by securing promotion in 2005. In 2011 Moneygall sorely represented the NTDL by reaching the 5th round of the FAI Junior cup. In 2014 the U16s were league winners and in 2015 the U16’s completed a league and cup double.

2016 saw the Junior team reach the Barry Cup Final, the U16’s won the league, while the U12’s won the divisional Cup & Bowl and finished as league runners-up. The U13’s won the regional Cairdeas Cup. In 2017 the U12’s were Bowl winners, the U13’s were finalists in the divisional cup while in 2018 witnessed both U17 & U14’s win their respective divisional shields and the U13’s reaching a Cup final.

2019 saw the Junior men win their first ever NT&DL Division 1 League title securing promotion once again. The U18’s won the league while the U15’s won the NTSFL Major League.