Argideen Rangers is a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Timoleague in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club plays in the Carbery GAA (South West Cork) division of Cork competitions.

Argideen Rangers
Raonaithe Airgidín
County:Cork
Colours:Maroon and White
Grounds:Timoleague
Coordinates:51°38′19.14″N 8°46′28.41″W / 51.6386500°N 8.7745583°W / 51.6386500; -8.7745583
Playing kits
Standard colours

History

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In 1892, a club in the area known as St Molaga's contested the West Cork football final (one of only three clubs that participated in the championship).[1] The club was strong in the early years of the association primarily due to the establishment of the railway network in the area and the work of John Burke, a railway employee based in Timoleague.

After a period of decline, the club re-emerged in the 1930s, reaching the West Cork Junior 'B' hurling final in 1933. They went one better the following year, defeating Bandon to win the 'A' title. The club took a back seat again until success came with the Argideen Rovers minor footballers winning back-to-back West-Cork titles in 1964 and '65. In 1967, they won the Junior 2 football title along with a league trophy.

In 1979, the underage club was re-organised and the modern era of Timoleague G.A.A. took root. Starting at under 14, they won all competitions at under 14 and under 16 in both hurling and football in West-Cork, along with contesting two county finals in hurling. 1985 was a breakthrough year for the adult level with success in Junior '2' Hurling. Two years later, they won West-Cork titles in under 21 hurling and Junior '2' football.

In 1993, the club won the Flyer Nyhan Cup as well as the West-Cork and County Titles in Junior '2'.[2] In 1994, Argideen and Barryroe met in both finals with Barryroe winning the Hurling,[3] and Argideen scoring their first success in the football decider. 1996 saw the County Junior 'A' hurling title coming to the village for the first time with a victory over Fr. O'Neill’s.

Intermediate hurling followed for the next five years with occasional success when the scalps of Éire Óg, Glen Rovers, Blarney, Aghada and Milford were taken. The club re-graded to Junior in 2002, but bounced back with a West-Cork title in 2003. After two great games with Grenagh, Argideen reached the county final but lost out to Dromina.[4] After being promoted to intermediate grade, the club won the 2005 Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship by beating Nemo Rangers,[5] consequently earning promotion to Premier Intermediate status.

In 2012, a lack of numbers at underage level necessitated an amalgamation with neighbours Barryroe to form Ibane Gaels.[6]

In 2021, Argideen were beaten by Glen Rovers in the Intermediate A Hurling Championship relegation play-off at Brinny.[7] As a result, the club dropped down to the lower Intermediate grade.

Honours

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In 2003, the club was promoted to compete in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship even though it had not won the county Junior Hurling Competition.

  • Cork Junior B Football Championship: Winners (4) 1993, 2001, 2008, 2017[8]
  • Cork Under-21 B Football Championship(1): 2016 (as Ibane gaels)
  • West Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship Winners (2) 1987, 2007
  • Cork Minor B Hurling Championship (0): (Runners-Up 2022) (as Ibane gaels)
  • Cork Minor B Football Championship: Runners Up 1992
  • Cork Minor C Hurling Championship: Runners Up 2006

Notable players

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Barry Harte (current manager of the Argideen Rangers Hurling team), captained Carbery to their first ever County Senior Hurling title. The Timoleague club also provided Tony Crowley, Mark Foley and selector Edward McSweeney to his team.

Timoleague ladies who represented Cork at adult level in Camogie include: Hannah Dinneen, Niamh O' Mahony, Valerie O’ Keeffe and Marion Murphy, while Máiread Whooley played ladies football.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "1892". Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  2. ^ "1993 Team Honoured". Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Barryroe GAA". www.barryroegaa.ie. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Historic first for Domina". Hogan Stand. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Intermediate 'A' Hurling Roll of Honour – Cork GAA". Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Nine Barryroe underage players ask to transfer out of their home club". The Southern Star. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  7. ^ Murphy, Kevin (4 July 2021). "Argideen Rangers relegated by Glen Rovers' late surge". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Argideen join junior A ranks". The Southern Star. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Club History". Retrieved 7 March 2024.
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