The earliest reported game of a GAA football team in the Croghan area is 1925, 24th October when Croghan played Rhode in the North Offaly Semi-Final.  The final score was Croghan 2 goal 5 points; Rhode, 1 goal 2 points.

In 1937, on 20th February St. Patrick's Gaelic Football Club Croghan, elected the following officers:—President, Mr. T Dunne • Vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Murphy and P. Hannon; Treasurer, Mr. J Dunne; Hon. Secretary, Mr. Byran Kelly; Committee—Messrs J. Green and Ed. Flynn. It was decided to hold an Aeridheacht and football match at Croghan Hill on St. Patrick's Day.
 
 

In 1954, following an inaugural meeting in the Old Croghan Hall, St. Brigid’s GAA was formally established with Bill Molloy as secretary and Paddy Bulfin as chairman. The club's early years proved to be quiet unproductive on the playing field and efforts were preoccupied with gathering up fifteen for the clubs annual championship outing. 
 

In 1955, on 19th February, over one hundred local Gales attended the meeting of the Croghan, football club, at which it was decided to affiliate minor, junior and juvenile teams to contest this year’s Offaly championships. Mr. M Fennessy, N.T., was appointed to take charge of the juvenile team. Officers elected were Chairman, Mr. P. Bulfin; Secretary, Mr. M. Kelly; Treasurers, Mr. Ed. Flynn and Mr. M. Casey."

1967 saw the beginning of St. Brigid’s success story when they were invited to participate in a high standard 7 aside senior tournament in Cloghan. St Brigid’s met Ferbane in the final who were led by the great Tony McTeague. Under the guidance of Paddy Smullen, Bill Molloy and Mick Casey (Cannakill), the Croghan men emerged victors by four points.

This was to pave the way for St. Brigid’s first championship success the following year. Again with Paddy Smullen as trainer, the Croghan men started their campaign with a comfortable win over Killeigh in Ballycommon.

Having defeated a strong St. Columbus team in the semi-final, St. Brigid’s squared up to Doon in the county final.  Captained by Frank Costello (who was to win a Leinster title with Offaly the following year) St. Brigid’s succeeded in defeating Doon by seven points to win their first Junior Championship.

This established their senior status for 1969 and they drew parish rivals Rhode in the first round of the championship. The match had the distinction of having two sets of brothers on opposing sides. Brian McCormack and John Hannon lined out with St. Brigid’s while Paddy McCormack and Joe Hannon lined out for Rhode. After a very hard fought encounter Rhode emerged victorious by four points and went on to win the Senior Championship. Following defeats by Daingean and Doon in the 1970 and 1971 SFC, St. Brigid’s returned to the junior ranks in 1972.

The next number of years was to prove fruitless for the Croghan men.  However in 1978, on the 10th anniversary of their first memorable champion-ship success, St. Brigid’s captured their second junior championship.  Again captained by Frank Costello, St. Brigid’s met Killeigh in the final.  Following the final whistle players and supporters believed Killeigh had won by a single point but jubilant scenes followed when news filtered into the Croghan dressing room that there had been a mix up in the scoreboard.  The game had actually ended in a draw. St. Brigid’s were to make no mistakes at the second time of asking.  Although Mick Quinn again received his marching orders, Croghan ran out comprehensive winners on a score line of St. Brigid’s 2-4, Killeigh 0-3.
 
 

Back L- R Donal Molloy, Paul Casey, Pat Moore, Michael Casey, Seamus Mcgrath, Frank Costello, Seamus Malone, Gabriel Moore, Peter Moore, Gerry Sheerin,Adrian Molloy,  Billy Kennedy, Laz Molloy, Bernard Dunne
Middle Tom Dunne, Tom Collins, Liam Molloy, PJ Hanlon, Brian McCormack
Front L-R Mick Moore, Johnny Collins, Michael Quinn, Paul Mcnamee, Denis Collins, Seamus Molloy
 

The following year St. Brigid’s took part in the intermediate football championship for the first time in their history. They were to go all the way to the semi- final where they were defeated by Rahan who were led by Fr. Nicholas Clavin. Following this, St. Brigid’s were to go from strength to strength.  In 1983, St. Brigid’s persistence yielded their first intermediate final appearance, which took place in Ballycommon. It was to prove a year too soon for the Croghan men, eventually losing out by a single point to Bracknagh.
 

1984, the Centenary year of the GAA, was to prove one of Croghan’s most memorable. With Sean Malone as manager, Bill Molloy and Tom Dunne as selectors St. Brigid’s began their campaign against Durrow.  On the day, they were lucky to escape with a draw.  However, subsequent victories over Clonbullogue and Cappincur ensured their place in the semi-final. 
 

Proving too good for Kilcormac, St. Brigid’s returned to the final where Ballycumber stood in the way of their first intermediate championship title.  Led out by Fr. Michael Moore, Croghan managed to force a draw. The replay saw St. Brigid’s claim their first intermediate title by the smallest of margins after a magnificently spirited team performance.

Back l-r Ger Sheerin, Frank Moran, John Hannon, Frank Costello, Micheál Casey, Pat Galvin, Tommy Cole, Padraig Mooney, Vincent Mooney, Michael Nolan, Paul McNamee, John McNamee.
Front l-r Tommy Moran, Paul Casey, Peter Moore, Adrian Molloy, PJ McGrath, Mick Moore, Michael Kennedy, Mick Casey, Vincnet Collins, Laz Molloy, Michael Galvin

St. Brigid’s were back to senior grade in 1985, with Ballycommon providing the opposition. This proved to be an unforgettable episode with Ballycommon finally coming out on top after three epic games. The following year, St. Brigid’s drew Ferbane in the first round. Unfortunately, St. Brigid’s were to suffer two crippling blows with the loss of Peter Moore and Vincent Collins through injury. None the less, they fought hard and finally were beaten by five points.  Ferbane subsequently went on that year to win the County and Leinster championships.

In 1987 Croghan returned to Intermediate grade.  Though always competing well, the men from Croghan had to wait three years before reaching the county final stage again.  They lost two county semi-finals narrowly in the previous two years. 
 

Frank Costello returned to the helm for the 1990 championship. With  Seamus Malone and Gerry Sheerin back on the team, St. Brigid’s advanced to the semi final relatively comfortably. Ballingar provided the opposition for the semi-final for the second consecutive year.  However after a replay, Croghan put their previous year’s heartbreak behind them with a narrow victory. 

The County Final took place in Tullamore against a much-fancied Shannonbridge side. Despite being complete outsiders, St. Brigid’s took the honours with one of their best ever championship displays inspired by captain Paul Casey at full back.

 

Back l-r Seamus Malone, Mick Casey, Peter Moore, Laz Molloy, John Dully, Padraig Money, Frank Moran, Ger Sheerin
Front l-r John Hannon, Adrian Molloy, Michael Kennedy, Jody Kennedy, Paul Casey, Paul Dunne, Martin Glynn
Mascot: Seán Casey 

1991 the Senior ‘B’ Championship was introduced but bad luck played a big part in St. Brigid’s eventual exit. Having drawn Cappincur in the semi-final, St. Brigid’s were forced to take to the field minus their captain Paul Casey, who had been injured in a car crash.  To add to their problems, Adrian Molloy and Frank Moran were sent off.  Cappincur went on to win by a single point and marched on to take the title. 

The following year, the Senior ‘B’ Championship was abolished and St. Brigid’s returned to Intermediate grade.  Though only losing one game, St. Brigid’s failed to get out of their group that year.

Local schoolmaster Gerry Hickey took charge in 1993.  He brought St. Brigid’s to the County Final, where Belmont ultimately proved too strong, winning on a score line of 2-4 to 1-6. The championship outcome the following year was even more disappointing. Croghan produced a wonderful attacking display against a much-fancied Erin Rovers side in the semi-final.  However they failed to reproduce this form in the final against a highly motivated Ballycumber side, who took the title with three points to spare. 

St. Brigid’s returned to the county final in 1995 against Erin Rovers in Geashil.  Both teams provided a thrilling game with a total of seven goals for the large crowd. Croghan were forced to line out minus the in-form Jody Kennedy.  The game swung from end to end but Erin Rovers were to prove the masters in the finish winning on a score line of 3-9 to 4-4. Some consolation was to follow when John Hannon captained the juniors to their first league title.

 1996 saw Frank Costello, Billy Kennedy and Denis Collins take over as management team.  This year was noteworthy for the introduction of six minors.  Lack of experience may eventually have told, as Croghan were defeated at the hands of St. Rynagh’s in a disappointing game. However the seeds of a new St. Brigid’s team were sown.
The same year the junior team marched to the county final with some great performances but after a brave effort, Ballycumber took the championship by a one-point margin. The disappointment was eased when Alan Dunne captained the juniors to their second league title. The seniors continued their progress capturing the division 2 League title with a win over Bracknagh.
 
 

St. Brigid’s sought for the intermediate championship of 1997 to be played on a knock out basis, which was granted.  The knock out system was to suit the Croghan men. Bracknagh, one of the championship favourites, was drawn in the first round and after an impressive display St. Brigid’s came out on top.  They continued in that form with wins over Birr and Kilcormac/Killoughey. Ferbane provided the opposition in the final.  St. Brigid’s looked in real trouble until Michael Kennedy was switched into attack and scored some wonderful points to force a replay. Again the teams proved inseparable in the replay but extra time saw a powerful performance from the Croghan men which saw Jody Kennedy lift the Intermediate Cup for the third time in the clubs history.

Back L-R Sean Egan, Paul Casey, James Carroll, Laz Molloy, Mick Casey, Billy Grogan, Adrian Molloy
Front L-R Jody Kennedy, Derek Egan, Edward Grogan, Enda Egan, Mattie Moore, Mick McCabe, Paul Dunne, Michael Kennedy
Mascots: Cian Donoghue (left) and Dean Kenney (right)
 

St. Brigid’s subsequently failed to make a serious impression in the senior championship with the exception of a quarter final appearance in 1999, where they pushed the eventual county champions, Edenderry to within five points. 

2002 was to prove yet again a disappointing year on the championship front when Croghan failed to qualify from its group.  However the year did end on a high note when St. Brigid’s won the Division 2 Millennium Cup. Having defeated the recently crowned senior champions, Edenderry, in the semi final, they then went on to defeat Ferbane in the final on a score line of St. Brigid’s 0-17, Ferbane 0-9. 
 
 
 

St. Brigid’s Minor Team – 1955 In agreement with Rhode it was decided St. Brigid’s would take over the minor team for 1955. It proved to be a very promising team and an interesting year. Having beaten Edenderry in the first round, then St. Mary’s, St. Mary’s objected that St. Brigid’s had fielded an illegal player (Patsy Murphy), on the grounds that he had played earlier in the year with Ballinabrackey. St. Mary’s objection was heard in Tullamore and St. Brigid’s were represented by Patrick Bulfin, Mick Kelly and Michael Fennessey. After hearing St. Mary’s objection, the board recommended a replay but the St. Brigid’s representatives had discovered that St. Mary’s had not been registered and on revealing this were granted the game. St. Brigid’s went on to beat Clara in the semi-final and Tullamore were to provide the opposition for the final. Following a great game of football, Tullamore claimed the minor title by a single point. The St. Brigid’s Minor Team of 1955 Minor Final  J. Hannon,  M. Galvin, T. Killmurry, J. Gavigan,  S. Meleady, S. Murphy, P. Killmurry,  J. Foy, P. Murphy,  S. McGrath, P. McCormack, M. Hoey, E. McCabe, O. Malone P. Troy  (Trainer – Peter Leavy)

The above is a very brief history of St. Brigid’s.  If we have made any errors or omissions, please feel free to contact.  We wish to gather as much information as possible about our club.  Also if you have any photographs, please let us know.  We can copy them and get them back to you immediately.
 
 

For a more detailed history of football in Croghan as reported by the papers  click on  What the Papers Said