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Over the years many dedicated people have worked hard with Bord na n-Og in Monagea. William Delee, Phil Sexton, Pat Mulcahy, Richard Barry, Seamus Flanagan, Pat Sugrue and John O'Sullivan have all devoted much time and energy to the youth of the parish. More recently Noel McCarthy, Jim Moore, Gerry Phillips, Breda Breen and Liam Heirlihy have taken up the challenge. The clubs most successful under age period however was in the late 1980's. Around that time John McGrath and Tom Mulcahy both of who had won County senior hurling medals with Killeedy took over the running of the under age teams. Even with a good panel of players success did not come easily, particularly in hurling
However in football a subtle but noticeable change was taking place. Monagea were now winning matches against more exalted opposition which they could and probably should have lost. This was due to more discipline on the field, some extraordinary and outstanding displays by the likes of Maurice Flavin and William Keane and perhaps crucially the ability of William Murphy to carve out match winning scores. The self-belief gained by those players at that time would be of immense benefit to them in the years ahead.
The 1980's were notable for another reason. Until then generations of Monagea athletes had sharpened their skills on the theatre like setting of Lissurland. In this respect the generosity of the Magner family to Monagea G.A.A over the years is much appreciated.
In centenary year of the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association, 1984, a four acre site near Monagea parish church and close to the National School was purchased from Sean Riordan. A special fields committee was set up with the following as officers, President Rev Fr Patrick Howard, chairman John O'Sullivan, Secretary Noel McCarthy with Tom Brouder and Pat Harnett as joint treasurers, there was a further twelve people on the committee. Eight years later after much hard work and fundraising, locally, as well as generous national lottery grants, on May 31st 1992 a dream had come true for Monagea G.A.A club when, Pairc na nGeal Monagea was officially opened by Gearoid O'Beineid then Cathoirleach Contae Luimni.
It was a great and proud occasion for the club and the people of Monagea. While there was disappointment that none of the big three - Cork, Tipperary or Kilkenny could provide opposition to Limerick on that auspicious occasion. Ironically many of the Offaly team that graced the green sod of Monagea on that May evening were instrumental in Limerick's downfall on that ill fated day in Croke Park two years later. On the occasion of the opening of the new pitch a comprehensive history of the club was compiled and written by Pat Sugrue and John O'Sullivan, for which we are very grateful.
In 1994 Monagea won the West Junior hurling league, in 1998 the West junior football league but success in the championship eluded us. In the spring of 1997 however David Hough asked Jack O'Dwyer the legendary Pallasgreen Centre back, to train Monagea. It was to prove a long arduous but in the end a memorable year, culminating when on an November evening in Kilmallock captain Eddie Hogan held aloft for the first time in the clubs history, the county Junior A hurling trophy, after Pat Heirlihy had recorded the winning scores. It was one hundred years since Larry Sheehan had brought the first All Ireland medal to the parish. The reception the teams received on their arrival in the local village of Strand will live for many a year in the memories of those who were present. Old Gaels were seen to shed tears of joy at the homecoming. .
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