Club history
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Early Years of the club from 1885
In 1885 Tubber first registered a club with Clare County Board. In November of that year, the club took part in a tournament at Ardrahan
which thousands attended. Hurling soon went into a sharp decline with emigration and evictions rampant at the time and many clubs being disbanded. As hurling faded, football went from strength to strength even in traditional hurling areas. The Clare Journal at the time reported a football match in May 1887, played under Gaelic rules at Tubber between Kilkeedy and Beagh. Soon Tubber had a first-class football team.
In October 1888 they reached what seems to have been the final of the football championship of Clare. Their opponents were Clouna. The 21-aside match was played at Ruan with Clouna lifting the cup. There followed a very bleak period for the club due to poverty and civil unrest. For the next thirty-five years or so the club was there in name only and merely played the occasional challenge match and tournaments against
neighbouring teams. Gradually conditions improved and hurling made a comeback in the parish. Football was abandoned and from 1923 onwards Tubber played in the county hurling championship only.
In spring of 1923, Tubber reached the county final in junior hurling against Feakle. Tubber won the game easily, however following an objection by Feakle that two illegal players from Galway played on the Tubber team, the cup was awarded to Feakle. Tubber again reached the junior final in 1935 this time losing out to Broadford. In 1936 they beat Ennis Rovers, Barefield, Kilnamona and Sixmilebridge to reach the final against Scariff, but tasted defeat in the final.
The club was graded Intermediate for the 1937 championship. They beat Dysart and Ennis Rovers on the way to the final against Newmarket. Tubber won the final by 2 goals. Sadly, the club could not build on this victory as several of the team left in search of work. The club nevertheless competed in every championship until 1945. In that year, they reached the county final only to be beaten by Ardnacrusha in Tulla. Tubber did not field teams in 1946 or 1947 and lapsed for several years after.
Club Revival in 1952
Tubber GAA club became active again in 1952. At this stage, the club fielded juvenile, minor, and junior teams. The junior championship was won in 1962. The club played senior for the next 3-4 years and contested the Clare Cup final of 1964, losing an exciting contest to Feakle. The next success for the club were the winning of the Intermediate championships of 1972 and 1976. The u21 ‘B’ title was also won in 1976. The club continued to play senior from 1976 until relegation in 2015 making it one of the longest running senior teams in the county at the time.
In 1977 Tubber contested the u21’A’ final but lost in a replay to Eire Og. Tubber reached the Clare Cup finals in 1980 and 1981 to no avail. They also contested the 1981 county championship final losing out to the experienced Newmarket team. The Senior team again reached the Clare Cup final in 1983 but lost out to Clarecastle which involved two replays. The team got consolation in 1984 winning the Centenary Cup competition by defeating Ruan in the final after again 2 replays. In a very successful year in 1985 the club won the Clare Cup title, the Senior ‘B’ title, and the U-21’B’ championship. The senior team won the senior B championship in 1992 and a junior ‘B’ league in 1995. At juvenile level the club won its first competition in 1980 winning the u-16 ‘B’ final. In 1987 the club won the u-16 and minor ‘C’ titles. It was in the mid 1990’s when Tubber enjoyed its most successful underage period. Firstly, winning a Mid Clare u16’B’ championship in 1993. Winning the u-14 ‘C’ title three years in a row from 1995 to 1997. Capturing the u-15 ‘B’ title in both 1996 and 1998 and winning the u-16’B’ titles in both years also. The club contested three minor finals between 1999 and 2001 and were unfortunate not win any.
In 2000 the club won its first u12 championship. Success followed in 2002 when Tubber won the u15’B’ championship and winning the u21’B’ title defeating Ballyea in the final. The pairing met again in the 2003 Senior ‘B’ final with Tubber coming out on top and lifting the title. Tubber won another Senior ‘B’ final in 2012 defeating O’Callaghans Mills and remarkably on the same weekend lifted the Junior ‘B’ title defeating neighbours Crusheen. The club won our second Junior ‘B’ championship in 2017 defeating Newmarket-on-Fergus. On the same weekend Tubber contested the County Intermediate final losing out to Kilmaley. We also contested the intermediate final of 2018 against Feakle and 2020 against Scariff, unfortunately losing both. The club has a rich history going back to 1885.
Off the field, the facilities at the club have been ever improving since the purchase of the field in Attlyslaney. The juvenile success in the 1990s is immediately attributable to the accessibility of the new playing pitch at the time and the excellent coaching carried out in the schools during this period. This underage success paved the way for success at adult level. Focus must return to underage coaching to provide a strong future for hurling in Tubber.
The onus is on future administrators and members to provide adequate coaching, playing and clubhouse facilities for all our community within the catchment. We live in a changing society and a positive strategic plan can be a force of good for the community and its environs.
Club honours
