County: Galway Grounds: Maloney Park | Colours: Blue and White Date founded 1958 | |
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Killannin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA. The club is one of 20 teams competing in the Senior Championship in Galway. Their best result in the competition came in 2000, where they reached the final, losing out narrowly to Corofin.
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Main rivals
Killannin's main rivals come from the two neighbouring parishes of Moycullen and Oughterard. There have been many top-class encounters with these teams over the years but the rivalry with Oughterard seems to be waning somewhat, because that parish team has not come out of "Intermediate" while Killannin are "Senior" since 1992. The Club has twice won the County Under 21 'A' Championship: in 1996 when they defeated Corofin; and in 2001, when they beat Tuam Stars.
Notable players
Notable players to have played for the club include Kevin Walsh, Gary Fahey and Richie Fahey. All 3 were members of Galways 1998 and 2001 All-Ireland victories. Kevin Walsh won an All-Star award for his efforts in 2003 and was also the inter-county manager of Sligo. Gary Fahey was the captain of the 2001 All-Ireland winning Galway team.
Walsh from Killanin first caught the eye winning an All-Ireland minor medal in 1986.
Galway senior football was struggling but come the big breakthrough under John O'Mahony in 1998 it was players like midfielder Walsh who were the foundation stones.
He was one of several high achievers in Gaelic football and midfielders in particular, who could trace their success to a background in basketball and how it enhanced their GAA skills.
Injuries mounted against him but Walsh came off the bench to play a key role in Galway drawing the classic 2000 final with Kerry before injury forced him off early on in the replay and Galway missed his influence and lost by four points.
But Walsh was patched up and back in 2001 when Galway availed of the rule change and became the first team to come through the back door to win the All-Ireland. It was the excellence of Walsh that enabled them to survive the eight game marathon to the title and he was a brilliant midfield general.
Current squad
Shane Sheridan; PJ Gorham, David Walsh, Edwin Murray; Johnny Heaney, Peter O'Halloran, Ronan Caldwell; James Walsh, Eamonn McDonagh; Marvin Lee, Cathal Sweeney, Ruairí Greene; Stephen Kavanagh, Patrick Sweeney, Niall Walsh; Kieran Caldwell, Niall Acton, Ferdia O'Halloran, Kevin Walsh, Darragh Kinnevey, Enda Kelly, David O'Connor, Ian Thornton, Christy Lydon, Robert Lee, Enda Fahey, Peirce Faherty Cathal Walsh, Robert Ryan, Gary Heffernan