History of All Ireland Sevens - Hurling

In 1989 St Judes won the Dublin Junior A Hurling Championship - the clubs first ever adult hurling trophy and later that year the club sought permission from Croke Park to host a 7-a-side Junior hurling competition of All Ireland proportions.

The historic first Hurling Sevens Tournament was staged ay Tymon Park in September 1990 ironically on the eve of the Senior Football All-Ireland. It proved to be a wonderful success with senior inter-county star John Leahy leading his club Mullinahone to victory. They defeated Faythe Harriers in the final, the Wexford men having defeated a highly fancied Sean Treacy led Portumna side from Galway in the semi- final. Leahy claimed the Laoch an Lae Award but other close contenders on the day were Damian Coleman of Portumna and Ian Scallan of Faythe Harriers.

The first committee secured sponsorship from E.S.B who continued to support the competition for the next three years. Jimmy O'Dwyer, Club P.R.O Joe Clavin, Hurling Manager Martin Hayes, Committee Member Davy Mahon, Hurling Captain Colum Grogan, Sevens Chairman. Club stalwart Mick Hartnett of Tolmac Construction presented the Corn Naomh Jude Hurling Cup and Club member Liam Larkin of Gouldings Chemicals presented the Laoch an Lae (Player of the Tournament Trophy)

Over the years many famous players have graced the fields of Tymon North in this competition:
John Leahy of Mullinahone and Tipperary fame, Sean Tracey of Galway, Nicky English of Tipperary, Damien Quigley of Limerick, Joe Deane of Cork in Hurling, Darragh O'Shea and Darragh O'Cinneide of Kerry and our own clubmen Enda Sheehy of Dublin and Ciaran McGovern of Leitrim.

The competition was such a success that the following year it was decided to include a Junior Football 7's and another club member Don Lehane of Lendac presented the Corn Peil Naomh Jude to the winners.

In the inaugural Football 7's year of 1991 the St Judes Junior Side reached the final where they were beaten by Dublin neighbours St Olafs The host club then proceeded to claim the All Ireland title for the next two years and again reached the decider in 1995.

Competition Format

The ‘Sevens' were inaugurated in 1989 and since then they have become a firm and important fixture in the GAA calender. Initially the competition catered for 16 teams in hurling and 16 teams in football. Because the profile has risen considerably in recent years it has grown to 32 teams in football and 24 teams in hurling.

The event is organised and run very professionally by the St Judes Sevens Committee and takes place in St Jude's grounds in Tymon Park North, Templeogue on the Saturday of both All Ireland Final weekends.

The criteria for each competition is that county junior champions from the previous year (i.e. 2004 county junior champions will be invited to the 2005 Sevens ) qualify for selection to participate, hence the majority of competing teams will have current intermediate status.

In hurling the competition currently comprises of 20 teams drawn from the four Provinces.
In football, currently 24 teams participate from the four Provinces and Great Britain.

Each participating club can enter a panel of ten players (of non-senior status) but only seven play at any particular time. Normal GAA hurling and football rules apply.

Each competition commences at 11.00am and the final commences at 6.00pm followed by the presentations and later that night a victory banquet for the cup finalists in the clubhouse. A Shield competition also takes place on the day to facilitate early round losers.

Communication with the selected eligible Clubs commences as early as April when entry forms and competition format is forwarded to them. Each year a formal Press Launch takes place either in the club or sponsors premises to announce details of both competitions.

Today the All Ireland Sevens is proudly sponsored by Bord Gais. 

History of Previous Sponsorships

The first All Ireland Sevens started in 1990 and from then until 1992 the Competitions did not have a major sponsor. 

In 1993 & 1994 the ACC Bank provided the Sevens with major sponsorship.

In 1995 Bank of Ireland took a major sponsorship role lasting four years during which time the profile of the Sevens increased significantly and has continued to grow ever since. Apart from the direct cost, as sponsors they injected an equal amount into the promotion and merchandising of the sponsorship. This involved strong branding by way of signage, promotional kit, event programmes, posters within their branches and participating clubs. 

In 1999 EBS Building Society continued the major sponsorship role established by the Bank of Ireland up to 2001 and approached their role as sponsors in an equally professional manner.

In 2002 & 2003 McCluskey Engineering Ireland sponsored the competitions.

From 2004 to 2008 the competitions had no major sponsor.

This year (2009) Bord Gais Energy became the competitions main Sponsors of what was a very successful 7's on both hurling and football days and we hope to continue this success in partnership with Bord Gais Energy into the future.

Since 1995 the competitions have expanded numerically as well as having a much more national even international profile.  Teams from Leeds, Manchester and London have taken part in the football competition to date.

Previous participants in the Hurling Sevens competition were: Nicky English ,John Leahy and Brendan Cummins (Tipperary) Sean Treacy and Pat Malone (Galway ) Damien Quigley (Limerick) Joe Deane (Cork), Brendan Cummins (Tipperary)

Previous participants in the Football Sevens were: Darragh O'Shea and Darragh O'Cinneide (Kerry) Enda Sheehy and Enda Crennan (Dublin), Fergal Byron (Laois) and many more.

Many of the clubs that have taken part and have done well in these competitions have gone on to become major championship contenders at senior level in their own counties. Such as Mullinahone (Tipperary) Portumna (Galway) An Gaeltacht (Kerry) Kilbride (Cavan) Na Piarsiagh Limerick etc.

This years hurling Cup winners were Shannon Rovers of Tipperary who defeated Emly also of Tipperary in the final. TheS shield was won by Sean Treacy's another Tipperary club who defeated Thomas Davis's in the final.

The Football competition was won by Achill Island (Mayo) who retained the title by defeating a gallant St. MacCartans of Augher, Co. Tyrone in the final. The Shield was won by Eire Og of Cork who defeated the Arann Islands in the final.

St. Jude's Sevens Committee

• Chairman - Sean Breheny 0879033269 ..e.mail. -----  seanbreheny2@gmail.com
• Charlie Hennessey
• Marie O'Brien
• Stephen Sheerin
• Stephen Joyce
• Seamus Massey
• Gerard Kenny
• John Coman
• Joan Molamphy

It has always been club policy to encourage regular competition with teams from around the country. Thus have been born such tournaments as the McCarthy Cup, an under 14 Interprovincial Competition, the Morrin Cup for local schools football sides, the Marie Durkan Cup , a camogie blitz competition which ran for many years and the Corn An Earraigh which is an Annual Invitation Senior Hurling Competition.

Sean Breheny
7's Committee Chairman