Coolaney / Mullinabreena GAA Club History 

The roots of the Gaelic Athletic Association in the Coolaney/Mullinabreena area go back well into the nineteenth century. Sligo G.A.A Centenary history edited by Co Sligo Librarian Mr John McTiernan and published in 1984 recalls that two teams from Achonry Red Hugh's and Achonry Davitts were prominent in Sligo GAA from 1889 onwards. The records also show that there was an active Club in Killoran in 1890.

The Achonry Davitts reached the Sligo County Final in 1892 only to be beaten by Ballymote on a scoreline of 0:3 to 0:1 in a game played at Collooney.

The team the Davitts fielded that day was, D Gallagher (Capt), W Crosbie, M Kennedy, P Lally, M Torsney, M Connolly, B Coleman, N O'Donnell, P Murphy, J Brennan, P Doherty, P Finan, J Mullen, P Torsney, D Rutledge.

The area was not represented again in a county final until 1958 when Mullinabreena had a magnificent victory, defeating Sooey by 1:12 to 1:8 in the decider at Corran Park in Ballymote. Earlier they had defeated that the holders and local rivals Tubbercurry in the first round by 2:9 to 1:8. The final was regarded as the best of the decade.

The Mullinabreena team on duty that day included players from Coolaney and Bunninadden and was captained by the incomparable Nace O'Dowd was as follows; Liam Marren, Frank Long, Gerry McManus, Eamon McGuinness, Seamus McGuinness, Joe Gorman, Peter Gallagher, Roger McCarrick, Pat Hunt, Tom Johnston, Nace O'Dowd, Harry McGowan, Padraig Gorman, Batty McLaughlin & Padraig Gallagher. Tom Walsh, Joe Johnston, Pat McGuinness, Peadar Gorman and Jim Brett were also members of the panel.

Mullinabreena's next and most recent appearance in a county final was in 1970 when they were defeated by a Mickey Kearins inspired St Patricks on a scoreline of 1:13 to 1:5. The game was played in Kilcoyne park, Tubbercurry and the Mullinabreena team on the day was Sean Sweeney, Tom McNulty, Sean Roddy, Willie Rooney, Peter Gallagher, Padraig Gorman, Tom Roddy, James Finan, John Brennan, Francie Gallagher, Robert Lipsett, Tom Kilcoyne, Francie McCarrick and Francis Kilcoyne.

The club have never won the Senior League title but have been in the final twice. In 1961 they were beaten by Ballisodare in Corran Park and a decade later they were beaten by Tourlestrane in the final in Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry. This particular game was one that got away as we were 10 points ahead at half time.

Coolaney/Mullinabreena have won the intermediate championship on 2 occasions, in 2005 and 2011. Defeats in finals in 1992 (Drumcliffe/Rosses Point), 1996 (Ballymote) and 2004 (Calry/St Josephs) led us to 2005 when after a replay (drawn game ended Eastern Harps 0-12 Coolaney/Mullinabreena 2-6), the club captured the intermediate championship for the first time in its history by defeating Eastern Harps on a final scoreline of 1-10 to 0-7. Padraig McHugh was the proud captain to lift the Joe McMorrow Cup. Team on duty in the final was F Brennan,D Hosey,P McHugh(captain),S Marren,J McGowan,S Walsh,A Walsh,B Kivlehan,T McGuinn,P O'Dwyer,D Davey,D Doherty,D Gormalley,S O'Brien,K Finan. Subs: S Kivlehan,M Conlon,C Connolly,A Duggan,A McGowan,T Toolan,T Sexton,B Finnegan,Paul Kivlehan,O Lee,T Kilcoyne,J Lee,D Lipsett,J Davey,E McCarrick,JJ Devaney. 

Relegation from the senior ranks followed in 2006. In 2008, Coolaney/Mullinabreena contested the intermediate final again, only to be beat after a replay and extra time by St Molaise Gaels (0-8 to 1-5, replay 1-11 to 0-13). The culmination of recent underage success across the board came to fruition again in 2011 when after a replay and extra time, Coolaney/Mullinabreena beat Drumcliffe/Rosses Point to win the Intermediate Championship and regain senior championship status. The team that took to the field in the replay was as follows: F Brennan,E Kivlehan,S Gorman,S Marren,C Gorman,C O'Dowd,S Kivlehan,R Gallagher,B Coleman,D McCormack,B Kivlehan,J McGowan,E O'Dowd,K Finan,C Davey Subs: R Connolly,J Conlon, C McCormack,T Sexton,S O'Brien,C Connolly,M Conlon,D Coleman,S Barrett,M Barrett,C Marren,K Doddy,J Henry,B O'Dowd,G Lynch,A Coleman,C Gorman 

Mullinabreena have won the Junior Championship on five occasions: 1910, 1957, 1968, 1984 & 1988.In 1910 Mullinabreena beat Emlanaughton in the final. In 1957 Mullinabreena won the south divisional title in fine style and went on too beat the Northern Champions Coolera in the county Semi-final by 2:7 to 2:4. In the final Easkey were the opposition. Although Mullinabreena were six points in arrears at half time they fought back with admirable determination and eventually won by one point 2:5 to 2:4. The team on duty was Jackie Murtagh, Eamon McGuiness, Joe Dunleavy, Liam Marren, Robert Gallagher, Joe Gorman, Batty McLaughlin, Roger McCarrick, Frank Lang, Tom Johnston , Peter Gallagher, Padraig Gorman, Padraig Gallagher, Johnny Mullen & Harrry MacGowan.

In 1968 Mullinabreena regained the Junior Title with a 0:7 to 0:3 win over Knocklassa in the final at Markievicz Park. The team on the day was Sean Sweeney, Willie Rooney, John Brennan, Tom McNulty, Pat Reynolds, Padraig Gorman, Tom Roddy, James Finan, Robert Lipsett, Laurence Gilmartin, Francis Kilcoyne, Francie Gallagher, Stanley McCarrick, Sean Roddy, Francis Kilcoyne.

In the GAA Centenary year of 1984 Mullinabreena after a lapse of sixteen years captured the Junior title beating Calry in the final by 0:10 to 0:05.The team lined out as follows; Pat Coleman, Eamon Gorman, John Brennan, Tom O'Donnell, Micheal Gorman, Kevin Johnston, Frank Gilmartin, Benny Wilkinson, James McDonagh, Tom O'Brien, Gerry Connolly, Tony Moran, Francie Gallagher, Fr Tom Colleary, Gerry Mullen, subs; Michael McDonagh, M Coleman, Aidan Walsh. Mullinabreena also won the Junior League in 1984, repeating their Championship win over Calry Gaels in the final. The Clubs most recent win in the Junior Championship was in 1988 when they beat Ballymote in the final in Kilcoyne Park in Tubbercurry. The team was Kieran Gorman, Frank Gilmartin, Tom O'Donnell, Michael Gorman, Michael McDonagh, John Mullen, Francie Gallagher, Leo Coleman, Paul O'Donnell, Gerry McDonagh, Gerry Mullen , Noel Johnston, John Gorman, Subs; Bernie Finan, Padraig Coleman, John Brennan, Robert Hosey, Francie Benson, Eugene Henry, Fergal McNulty.

Coolaney contested the Junior Final in 1939 in which they were beaten by Ballisodare. Four years later Killoran were defeated in the Junior final in Templeboy.

In minor football the club have captured the minor championship on two occasions - 1957 when they completed the Minor/Junior double.The 1957 minor team ncluded players from neighbouring parishes and lined out as follows; S Kildunne , E Johnston, Liam Marren, M Durcan, T Walker, B MacLaughlin, P Gallagher, T Kilcoyne, P McGee, T Johnston, M Kilcoyne, P Gorman, M Gallagher, J O'Grady, W Brennan.

They recaptured the minor championship 53 years on from their first time in 2010 when they defeated St Farnans in the final on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-7. Team on this day was G Lynch, C Marren, C O'Dowd (captain), A Coleman, J Henry, S Barrett, C Goulden, R Connolly, D McCormack, J Henry, C Davey, C McCormack, D Coleman, C Gorman, E O'Dowd Subs: P Gorman, S Wims, E Burke, G Clarke, E McDonagh, F Gallagher, K McDonagh. In recent years the club also captured Minor B championships in 2002 and 2009.

In 1948 Achonry were defeated in the county final by Craobh Rua.

In relation to Minor football the Club is very proud its contribution it made to Sligo's successes in the Connacht Minor Championship of 1948 & 1968. Nace O'Dowd played in midfield in the 1948 team, which lost the All-Ireland semi-final against Armagh at Lurgan.

In 1968 Robert Lipsett and John Brennan played at right fullback and full-back respectively in the team which beat Mayo, Galway and Armagh on the way to the All-Ireland final meeting with Cork which they lost by the heartbreaking margin of a single point. Francis Kilcoyne was a sub on that team and Walter Kivlehan was a selector.

In U-16 football the club reached the county final in 1979 only to be beaten by Enniscrone.

In 1970 the Hurlers scored a notable success when they captured the county minor title beating Tourlestrane in the county final on a scoreline of 2:1 to 1:2. The team was F Kivlehan, P Davey, J Mullarkey, P McCarrick, N McDonagh, M McIntyre, P Coleman, M Anderson, J Kildea, F Ryan, J Egan, J McIntyre, T Clarke & J Kivlehan.

In 1992 and 1993 St Nathy's Club including players from Achonry, Mullinabreena & Coolaney captured the U-21 county title.

Two club players have played on All-Ireland Selections. Nace O'Dowd played for the Ireland team against the combined Universities exhibition games at Croke Park. Two decades later John Brennan followed in his footsteps when he played for the Carrolls Allstars at Wembley against Kerry having a memorable duel with Mick O'Dwyer.

The club played a proud and prominent part in Sligo's 1975 Connacht SFC final success of 1975 . John Brennan, Robert Lipsett and Benny Wilkinson played in the senior final replay against Mayo while Padraig Rooney & Peter Walsh were also members of that panel.

In 2007, 32 years on from that famous triumph, Sligo regained the Nestor Cup with a Connacht Final victory against Galway. Barry Kivlehan was a member of the panel on that famous day in Hyde Park, Roscommon.

Down through the years the club has depended on the generosity of local farmers for the use of fields for playing purposes. Match and training sessions have taken place at many location in the parish including Roddy's field, Armstrong's field, Johnny Mullen's, Val Brett's, Terry O'Brien, Francie Marren's, Peader Gorman's, Coleman's fields(the present park), and Pat Gormleys'. The situation was rectified by Peadar Gorman and Walter Kivlehan, club chairman and Secretary respectively who in 1977 organised the purchase of six and a half acres of the Coleman estate at Carrowclare from the land Commission. The official opening of the pitch occurred on May 8^th 1994 following a blessing of the pitch by Rev Fr Tommie Johnston. The grounds are named in honour of the clubs most famous son – Nace O’Dowd – see Club Legends for more details.