The inter-county hurling player Joe Deane, who played for Cork as a left full forward, was born in Killeagh. Mark Landers, who captained Cork to an All Ireland title in 1999, was also part of the Killeagh team that won the County Intermediate title in 2001.
History
and Gaelic football was played in the parish of Killeagh before the foundation of the GAA in 1884. The first game that Jamesy Kelleher of Dungourney played was in 1892 in Dangan field in the parish of Killeagh. At that time Killeagh did not have a team of their own, so those who did hurl played with the Dungourney team of the early years of the 20th century. In the early years of the 20th century, football was more popular than hurling, and the club affiliated to the newly formed East Cork board in 1925. Killeagh had to wait until 1948 before it contested its first East Cork final which was in the B Grade. Nine years later Killeagh contested the East Cork Junior A hurling title for the first time but lost to a St. Catherines combination. Ten years later, in 1967, the club's wait was over when rivals Castlemartyr were defeated in the East Cork final after a replay. Further hurling titles followed in 1970 and 1971. Killeagh won its first county title in 1981 by defeating Bandon in the final at Caherlag. During the 1980s, county titles were won at every grade from U12 to minor. Killeagh won the Jamesy Kelleher Cup in 1988 and after enduring final defeats in 1993 and 1994 won the title again in 1995 - the year when the county was also won by defeating Ballinhassig in the final. They won the All Ireland Junior 7's title in 1996. In 1999 Killeagh clubman Mark Landers captained Cork to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup and had as his team mates Joe Deane and subkeeper Bernard Rochford. Killeagh were crowned Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship winners when defeating Mallow in a replayed final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the autumn of 2001.
Camogie
Killeagh camogie club won the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship in 1980. They won further Munster club championships, five in all, in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1988 and five Cork senior titles. The club was formed in 1973 by Tony O’Neill, Sheila Spillane and Eamonn Lenihan. They won Féile na nGaelDivision 1 in 1977 Mary O'Connor is Ireland’s most decorated GAA player. The dual star, from Killeagh, won 12 All-Ireland finals. In football she holds five senior All-Ireland titles, seven Munster championships, four National Leagues, three senior All-Ireland club medals and one at intermediate, seven Munster clubs and 13 county titles. In camogie she holds seven senior All-Ireland medals, 10 Munsters, nine National Leagues, two All-Ireland club medals and four Munster clubs.
