Cork Celtic F.C.
Squad
Cork Celtic F.C. was an Irish football club based in Cork, originally founded as Evergreen United F.C.
The club played in the League of Ireland from 1951 until 1979, showcasing their talent in Irish football.
In 1974, Cork Celtic F.C. won their only League of Ireland title, marking a high point in their history.
Biography
Formation
Cork Celtic F.C., originally known as Evergreen United F.C., was established in an unknown year, with its earliest recorded participation in the FAI Cup dating back to the 1936-37 season. The club quickly made a name for itself, finishing as runners-up in the League in both 1954 and 1959. Notably, in 1953, Evergreen reached an all-Cork FAI Cup final against Cork Athletic, which they lost in a replay after a dramatic 2-2 draw in the first match. The club's early years were marked by the prolific scoring of Donal Leahy, who became the league's top goalscorer in multiple seasons, and the presence of Irish international Tommy Moroney, who concluded his international career while playing for Evergreen.
Breakthrough
In 1959, the club rebranded as Cork Celtic, entering a new era characterized by fierce local rivalries, particularly with Cork Hibernians. The late 1960s saw record attendance figures, with star players like Carl Davenport drawing crowds of up to 18,000. The pinnacle of Cork Celtic's success came in the 1973-74 season when they clinched their only League of Ireland title under the management of former player Paul O'Donovan. This championship team featured notable players such as Alfie Hale and Bobby Tambling, the latter of whom had a remarkable impact in his first season, scoring seven league goals.
Legacy
Cork Celtic's legacy is marked by their competitive spirit and contributions to Irish football, with a total of one League of Ireland title and several other honors, including multiple Munster Senior Cups and a Dublin City Cup. The club's history reflects a rich tapestry of local football culture, with significant achievements that resonate in the annals of Irish sports history. Despite their eventual dissolution in 1979, Cork Celtic remains a cherished part of Cork's football heritage.
Collected from open sources (2) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Career & Clubs
Evergreen United
The club's foundation date is unknown, but its earliest appearance in the FAI Cup was in 1936–37. Evergreen finished as League runners-up in 1954 and 1959. In 1953 they also played in an all-Cork FAI Cup final against Cork Athletic, losing 2–1 in a replay after drawing the first game 2-2. During the 1956–57 season Evergreen's Donal Leahy finished as joint top goalscorer in the league with 15 goals. In the following two seasons Leahy finished top goalscorer outright with 16 and 22 goals respectively. Irish international Tommy Moroney finished his playing career with Evergreen and, on 4 October 1953 in a World Cup qualifier against France, he won the last of his 12 caps while with the club. In 1959 the club changed its name to Cork Celtic.
Cork Celtic
As Celtic in the 1960s they enjoyed a local rivalry with Cork Hibernians. Attendances reaches record highs in the late 1960s, with players such as Carl Davenport, the Dav, drawing crowds of up to 18,000. In 1974 with a team that included Alfie Hale and Bobby Tambling, Celtic won their only League of Ireland title under manager and former player Paul O'Donovan. Tambling, a former Chelsea player and England international had initially moved to Ireland to work as a Jehovah's Witness missionary. He scored 7 league goals in his first season as he helped Celtic win the title.
Best, Hurst and Seeler
In subsequent seasons Celtic attracted several other notable players. On the back of League…
- League
- League of Ireland
Legacy
League of Ireland: 1 1973–74 League of Ireland Shield: 1 1960–61 Dublin City Cup: 1 1961–62 Top Four Cup: 4 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1973–74 Munster Senior League: 2 1936–37, 1955–56 Munster Senior Cup: 6 1951–52, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1971–72, 1973–74 FAI Junior Cup Winners: 1935–36: 1 Runners Up: 1934–35: 1 FAI Youth Cup Winners: 1938–39, 1948–49: 2 Runners Up: 1961–62, 1976–77: 2 Source:
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Cork Celtic F.C., originally Evergreen United F.C., was an Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1951 and 1979 and played their home games at Turners Cross. In 1974, they were League of Ireland champions and the following season they reached the second round of the European Cup.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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