Oliver Plunketts GFC explained

Oliver Plunketts GFC is a GAA club located in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. The club was formed in 1942 by the amalgamation of Ramblers United and St Joseph's.^[1] From its base on the Slane road, the club serves the Mell Parish in West Drogheda and fields gaelic football teams in competitions organised by Louth GAA.

In 1957 the club won the Louth Senior Football Championship, defeating St Mary's of Ardee. They went on to complete the League and Championship double that year by beating Dundalk Young Irelands in the final of the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup.^[2]

Oliver Plunketts currently compete in the Louth Junior Championship^[3] and Division 3A of the county football Leagues, after being relegated from the Intermediate grade in 2022.^[4] Emmet Kelleher is team manager for 2023.^[5]

Honours

• Louth Senior Football Championship (1): 1957
• Louth Intermediate Football Championship (1): 1985^[6]
• Louth Junior Football Championship (3): 1981, 1984, 2014^[7]
• Cardinal O'Donnell Cup (2): 1957, 1959^[8]
• Old Gaels Cup (Senior Subsidiary League) (2): 1953, 1958^[9]
• Louth Junior A Football League (4): 1943, 1984, 1993, 1996
• Grogan Cup (3): 1999, 2001, 2004
• Kevin Mullen Shield (1): 2023^[10]
• Louth Junior 2B Football Championship (3): 1999, 2001, 2013
• Louth Junior 2 Football League (Division 4C) (3): 1994, 2001, 2011
• Louth Minor Football Championship (3): 1996, 2003,^[11] 2012^[12]
• Louth Minor Football League (1): 2003^[13]
• Louth Minor B Football Championship (1): 2020
• Louth Under-14 Football Championship (2): 1993, 2005

Inter-county players

Club members who have represented Louth at Senior level include:

• Fr. Larry Carr – former Ramblers United player. Won Leinster Championship medals in 1943 and 1948. Centre half-forward.^[14]
• Peadar Smith – centre half-back in 1957 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final win against Cork. Unused substitute in Louth's 1950 defeat to Mayo.
• George Carroll – Defender on Louth teams from late 1950s to early Sixties.
• Frank 'Ja' Clarke – Won Cardinal O'Donnell Cup with Oliver Plunketts in 1959. Later transferred to Newtown Blues. A regular in Louth teams of 1960s.
• Jackie Reynolds – Forward. Unused substitute in the 1957 All-Ireland Final.
• Mal Clarke – Goalkeeper. Member of 1978 Louth side that won the Leinster Under-21 Championship.^[15] Brother of former Louth manager Paddy Clarke.^[16]
• Frank Taaffe – regular in the Louth forward line from mid-Seventies to 1985. Played on team that beat Meath in the 1975 Leinster Championship.^[17]
• Paddy Matthews – regular at right corner-back for Louth in 1980s.
• John Kermath – played at midfield in county's 2005 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship campaign.
• Robert Brodigan – appeared in 2014 Leinster Championship for Louth as substitute.
• Conor Early – made Louth debut in 2019. As of 2023, he is a regular at midfield for Mickey Harte's team. Won National Football League Division 3 medal in 2022. Transferred to Na Fianna in 2023.^[18]

Notes and References

1. News: Formed in '42. Drogheda Independent. 23 September 1983.
2. Web site: Smith family enjoy a remarkable GAA record. Drogheda Independent. 13 January 2010.
3. Web site: Louth GAA senior, intermediate and junior club championship draws . . 27 February 2023.
4. Web site: Lannléire reach Division 2 with play-off win over relegated Oliver Plunkett's . . 17 October 2022.
5. Web site: Louth GAA Division 3A league preview. . 20 April 2023.
6. Web site: Plunketts want to jump into big time. . 3 October 2003.
7. Web site: JFC final: Plunketts are champions . 22 December 2022 . . 15 September 2014.
8. Web site: Plunketts clinch the O'Donnell . . 12 September 1959.
9. Web site: Pat O'Donoghue of Cashel – Obituary. Tipperary Live. 27 May 2014.
10. Web site: Oliver Plunkett's recover from seven down to pip Sean McDermott's in Kevin Mullen Shield final. . 3 June 2023.
11. Web site: Minor miracle for Plunketts!. Drogheda Independent. 26 September 2003.
12. Web site: All's 'Mell' that ends 'Mell' as Plunketts crack the combination . . 3 December 2012.
13. Web site: Plunketts end extra special year on high. . 7 November 2003 .
14. Web site: Louth Legends pre-1950. . 6 December 2002.
15. Web site: Michael McCabe had an outstanding career with club and county. . 5 December 2018.
16. Web site: Paddy Clarke was a coaching genius with a winning touch, writes his close friend, Joe Carroll . . 12 November 2018.
17. Web site: Passion spilled out on the playing field . . 3 December 2012.
18. Web site: Louth midfielder Conor Early secures transfer to Dublin senior club. . 27 February 2023.