Club History

Michael Cusack’s Sydney GAA Club was founded on 30th January 1988 by Seamus Clancy, Kevin Malone, Aidan McDermott, John Petty, David Fahy, and Noel Canavan (all hailing from the Banner County) and Eddie McGrath Maloney from Limerick.

Prior to that, Padraig Pearse’s had won the 1987 NSWGAA Football Championship with Seamus Clancy, Henry O’Leary and David Fahy playing on that winning Pearse’s side. During the 1987 off season, Aidan McDermott, John Petty, Martin Sexton and Kevin Malone all from Clare arrived in Australia. Clancy and Fahy had played football with them back in Clare and they were set to join the Pearse’s Club.

In the meantime, McDermott hooked up with some more new arrivals looking to play some ball. They included Greg O’Connor and Brothers Philip and Nico Carroll from Louth, Richie McElligott from Kerry and Tim McBride from Donegal. It soon became clear that there were enough players for two teams at Pearse’s so the group resolved to set up a new Club. Michael Cusack’s was chosen as the name after the founder of the GAA who was from Carron in North Clare with Red and White chosen as the club’s colours in a nod to Clancy’s home club – Corofin.

Initially the club consisted of just a Men’s Football team, ably captained by Seamus Clancy, and they celebrated their first season in style capturing the much coveted Central Coast Competition Trophy in Gosford that April.

On Seamus Clancy’s return to Ireland, he helped Clare beat Kerry to secure their first Munster Senior Football Championship win in 1992 – earning himself an All Star Football Honour – the first for a Clare footballer.

Following on from the success of the Men’s Football team, Michael Cusack’s Hurling was established in 1990. Ladies Gaelic Football took off in 1991, Camogie in 2006, and Men’s Junior B in 2009.

Today, we are proud to have 5 teams competing in the NSW GAA Competition with almost 200 playing members registered each season!

 

Club Honours

Michael Cusack’s have a proud history of success across all NSW GAA Competitions and pre-season tournaments, as well as a list of honors interstate!

MENS SENIOR ‘A’ FOOTBALL

Team established in 1988…

  • Michael Cusacks’ All Sydney GAA Championship winners:
    • 2015, 2021
  • Central Coast Competition winners:
    • 1988, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009
  • Cormac McAnallens Beach Competition winners:
    • 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019
  • NSW Shield/Summer Competition winners:
    • 1999, 2001, 2004
  • NSW League winners:
    • 2001, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • NSW Championship winners:
    • 1995, 1996, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2020
  • Tasmanian GAA Annual Competition winners:
    • 2008
  • Penrith Gaels Competition winners:
    • 2016
  • Cormac McAnallens 7's Competition winners:
    • 2021
MENS JUNIOR ‘B’ FOOTBALL

Team established in 2009…

  • NSW League winners:
    • 2014, 2015
  • NSW Championship winners:
    • 2010, 2011, 2019
HURLING

Team established in 1990…

  •  Michael Cusacks’ All Sydney GAA Championship winners:
    • 2016, 2017, 2020
  • Padraig Pearses Melbourne 7’s Competition winners:
    • 2016, 2018
  • Central Coast Competition winners:
    • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
  • NSW League winners:
    • 1993, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • NSW Championship winners:
    • 1990, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
  • COVID Cup winners:
    • 2020
Ladies Gaelic Football

Team established in 1991…

  • Michael Cusacks’ All Sydney GAA Championship winners:
    • 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
  • Padraig Pearses Melbourne 7’s Competition winners:
    • 2009, 2018, 2019
  • Central Coast Competition winners:
    • 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2019
  • Cormac McAnallens Beach Competition winners:
    • 2017
  • NSW Shield/Summer Competition winners:
    • 1997, 1998, 2018
  • NSW League winners:
    • 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006
  • NSW Championship winners:
    • 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2017, 2019, 2020
  • Tasmanian GAA Annual Competition winners:
    • 2008, 2014
  • Penrith Gaels Competition winners:
    • 2019
  • Young Irelands 50th Anniversary 7’s Competition winners:
    • 2019
  • Cormac McAnallens 7’s Competition winners:
    • 2021
Camogie
Team established in 2006…
  • Michael Cusacks’ All Sydney GAA Championship winners:
    • 2016, 2017
  • Padraig Pearses Melbourne 7’s Competition winners:
    • 2017
  • NSW League winners:
    • 2018
  • NSW Championship winners:
    • 2006, 2011, 2016