Organised GAA, as we know it today, started with the formation of the club on the 19th of February 1936. The following Officers were elected:-
Chairman: Johnny Guerin ,. Vice Chairman: Thomas Creighton; Secretary: Tomas DeRoiste; Assist. Sec. Maurice Moroney; Treasurer: Tommy Cooke; Assist. Treasurer: Nicholas Cooke. Membership for the year was fixed at sixty(60) pence.

The first major honour for the club was in 1940 when Tommy Cooke won an All Ireland medal with Limerick. 

Three hundred ash trees were purchased from the forestry and planted on various farms throughout the parish. The cost of the trees to the club was one pound. 

The first South Title was won in 1941, the panel of players was as follows:

 - Tommy Cooke, Pat Daly, Charlie Hayes, Paddy Ryan, Ned Whelan, Mick Whelan, Jimmy Hastings, Willie Whelan, Denis Carroll, Jim Carroll, GedBarron, Tom Hennessy, Jackie Walsh, Jim Wallace, John O Wallace, Willie Meade, Mick Daly, John Crowe, Timmy Dineen, and Jackie O 'Kane.

The next big achievement by the club was winning the South minor championship in 1951 and getting into the County Final but were beaten by Treaty Sarsfields on the scoreline :- 2-4 to 3-0.

The team to win the South were:- Paul Carmody, Paddy Doherty, Michael O 'Brien, Tony O 'Connell, John Halpin, John F.Ryan, Robert Rice, Johnny Cunningham, Robert Ryan, Jimmy Halpin, P.J.Neville, Sean Leo, Jerry McCarthy, Paddy Whelan, Moss O 'Kane; Subs. Paddy Keane,John Halpin, and J.J. Ryan.

FIRST COUNTY 1953

 1953 was a milestone in the history of the Club. After retaining the South J.H. championship, they went on to take their first county title at the expense of a fancied South Liberties fifteen. On a mucky November afternoon, they recorded a shock 5-4 to 1-4 win over the Easterners.

The history making line out was - Paddy Quinlan, Tommy Daly, Joe Daly, Michael O'Brien, Jerry McGrath, Ned McGrath, John 'Halpin, Thomas Ryan, Robert Ryan, Michael O'Callaghan, John Cunningham, Denis O'Brien, Dave Barry, John Francis Ryan. Substitutes used in the County final were Jimmy O'Mahony and Tony O'Connell. The team captain, Micael Carmody did not play in the final. Barry Riordan and Jim Fitzgerald were also among the substitutes.

In the South final, they scored a 5-6 to 5-2 win over Bruff, to qualify for the County semi-final against Mental Hospital. The first meeting had to be abandoned owing to torrential rain, the second ended in a draw, but the third clash resulted in a merited win for die "All Blacks" on the scoreline of 4-6 to 4-2.

On 'November, 22, Knockainey faced Liberties at Limerick Gaelic Grounds. Playing with the wind Dave Barry had their opening point and added a goal at the end of the first quarter. Carmody had another Knockainey goal, but the opposition struck back and only two points separated the sides at half time. Barry had a quick goal for Knockainey after the re-start and from here on there was no stopping the South Champions. Paul Carmody who played in goal and Paddy Quinlan, who played in the attack through the greater part of the campaign exchanged places in the semi-final and both played major roles in the winning of the honours. Making the presentation, Rev. Fr. O'Meara said that for the third successive year it was his privileged duty to present trophies to a team from the parish which had proved its worth during the year. In 1951, he said, our team was successful in the Divisional Minor Championship; in 1952 they carried off the Divisional Junior Championship, and in the year just passed they achieved their greatest success to date when they brought home the County Junior Championship - an achievement never before accomplished by a team from the parish. Having paid a glowing tribute to the way the members of the team played all their matches, and the storming finish that earn ed them to victory on each occasion, Fr. O'Meara attributed the success of the team to their co-operation, team spirit and the earnestness they showed in their practice. "No words Of mine,' he said, "can adequately convey to the players the gratitude I feel to diem for the way they prepared for their task, and more especially for, the manliness and sporting spirit they showed on the field of play. While speaking on this aspect of the game, I Would not like to let the opportunity pass without reminding all players of their obligation to play the game cleanly without having recourse to any unseemly conduct, which is only too prevalent on the playing field even to-day. You may be tired of hearing me making this plea year after year, but it is my opinion that any player who has proved to himself that he cannot control his temper on the playing field, then the playing field is no place for him." Continuing, Rev. Fr. O'Meara expressed thanks to the Selection Committee, the Officers of the Club and the supporters of the Club for their help and assistance during the year. The 'selectors in '53 were Tim Dineen, Tom O'Halloran, Michael Carmody, Ned Enright.

For. the first time since the close of the last century, Knockainey, competed in the County Senior hurling championship. They were obliged to do so in 1954, after taking the junior crown the previous year.

The following officers and committee were elected for 1954: Chairman, Rev. Denis O'Meara, C.C. Vice-Chairman, Mr. Timothy Dinneen; Treasurer, Mr Michael O'Callaghan; Secretary, Mr. James J. O'COnnell; Assistant Secretary, Mr. William Lonergan; Captain of S.H. team, Mr. Thomas Ryan; Vice-Captain do., Mr. Patrick Quinlan; Captain Jnv team, Mr. James Mahoney; Vice-Captain, Mr. James Halpin. Selection Committee - Rev. D. O'Meara, Messrs. Thomas Ryan, Timothy Dineen, Ed. Enright, T. O'Halloran and Ml. Russell, N.T. Minor and Juvenile Club: Chairman, Mr. T. O'Connell; Treasurer, Mr. T. Keane; Secretary, Mr. P. Quinlan; Captain of M.H. team, Mr. Joseph Leo; Vice-Captain, do., Mr. P. Rice; Captain Juv. H. team, Joseph Hoare; Vice-Captain do., Pat Murnane; Captain M.F. team, Mr. Rd. Donworth; Vice-Captain, Mr. Denis O'Brien.

Selection committee - Rev. D. O'Meara, C.C.; Mr. Ml. Russell, N.T. Mi. Paul Carmody, Mr. Ml. O'Brien, Mr. T. O'Connell, Mr. P. Quinlan.

1960 -1990

In 1961 and 1967 two more South Championships were won by beating Banogue in '61 on the scoreline:- 5-7 to 5-2, and in '67 by beating Bruff on the scoreline:- 6-1 to 5-3. In 1951 the minor team won the South with a good win over Kilmallock , 7 -3 to 5-6. 2.

In 1982 another County Championship was won for the parish. This time it was the turn of the footballers. The panel of players which achieved this is :- Christy Cooke, Ollie Hartigan, Eamonn Russsel/, Stephen Fitzgera/d, John Lonergan, Charlie Hayes R.I.P. , Gerard Whelan, Derry O'Meara, Malachy Hayes, Pat O 'Grady, Joe Quinlan, Haulie Walsh, Donnacha Cleary, John Byrnes, Donie O'Mahony, John O 'Grady, Liam Sheehan, Ger Barron, Liam Cooke, and Mickie Cahill. Senior Football honours were brought to the club again in 1984 when they won the South Title.

In 1977 The U-21 Hurling team won the South when they beat Dromin Athlacca , 4-10 to 2-4. In 1980 the U-21 Hurlers captured the South Championship beating Effin in a replay, 2-7 to 2-5. We come then to 1989 to a very good year for the hurlers when they won the U-21 (B) South, the South Shield, and the South Championship. In 1991 Knockainey and Garryspillane minor clubs joined and won the South Football Championship, beating Effin in a replay 2-7 to 2-5.

1990's

In 1991 Knockainey won the County Junior Hurling Final in a replay against Ballybricken which was played at Kilmallock. The following is the team line out:- Fintan Leahy, Martin Cleary, Mike O 'Brien, Seamus O 'Brien, Tommy Burke, Anthony Kirby, Timmy O 'Connell, Ger Cunningham, Paudie Davern, Mike Burke(Capt.) John Byrnes, Ger Barron, Anthony Cunningham, Eamon Russel/, John Lonergan. Subs: Liam Sheehan, John Fitzgerald, James Bagnell, John Leo, Mike Hurley, Pat O Connell, John O Connell, Finbar O Riordan, William Cooke, Pat Bourke, David McNeill, Paudie Crowe, Eamon Crowe, Jimmy Whelan.The team was trained by John O 'Grady and Albert Madden.

In 1998 the U-21 hurlers won the County Final by beating Adare at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. This was perhaps the greatest achievement by the Club as this was premier grade hurling and on the way to the final we beat an excellent Croom side which contained many accomplished players. The following is the panel of players:- Kieran Madden, Dan O 'Brien, Donnacha O 'Brien, Tom Mitchell, Mike Bagnell, Willie O 'Brien, Paudie Madden, Eugene Mulcahy, Kevin Madden, P.J.Mulcahy, Pierce Davem, Gerard O 'Shea, Eamon Cronin, Mike Ryan, Mark Cosgrave, Diarmuid O 'Dea, George Finch, Paddy Noonan, John Paul Kinnane,Brian O'Shea, Martin Hickey, Shane Smith. The Manager of the team was Paudie Davem. The selectors were Martin Cleary & Pakie Rice. The team was trained by Davy Clarke,Limerick Inter-County Hurler. 

In 1999 the Intermediate Hurlers reached the County Final and were beaten by Murroe-Boher in a never to be forgotten game.

The following is the panel of players used on the day:- Kieran Madden, Anthony Kirby,Mike O 'Brien, Paudie Davem, Mike Bagnell, Willie O 'Brien,Shane Mulcahy, Mike Burke, Kevin Madden, Eugene Mulcahy, Paudie Madden, GerardO 'Shea, Pierce Davem, Eamon Cronin, Donnacha O 'Brien, Mike Ryan, Timmy O 'Connell.

The Manager of the team was Haulie Walsh and his co-selectors were Gerard Barron and George Finch. The team trainer was former Limerick Inter-County Hurler, Mike Lonergan of Cappamore.

2000's

The first success in the 2000's was the winning of the County Junior B Hurling championship. This team also won the South League and County league and also the County League. In the County final of the Championship we beat Newcastle west on the scoreline of 2-5 to 0-6. The team on the day and scorers were:

Knockainey : Michael Quinlan, Kevin Mulcahy, Dan O'Brien (Capt), Diarmuid O'Dea, Tommy Burke, Shane Mulcahy, Timmy O'Connell (0-1 free), John Leo 0-1, Stephen McNeal, Owen Cahill, James Bagnell, Daithi McNeal, Martin Hickey 1-1, Gerard Barron 0-1, John Byrne 1-1.  Subs: Gerry Cunningham, George Finch, Donal Sheehan, Tomas Moloney, Paddy Noonan, Niall Smyth. The manager was Vincent McMahon, with selectors Paddy Keane, and Mike Cahill.

2001 was a great year for Knockainey as we won the intermediate championship for the first time by beating Mungret. The score line on the day was Knockainey 2-13 Mungret 1-9: The scorers on this historic day and also the team were

Knockainey scorers: D. O'Brien 0-7, B. O'Shea 1-2, G. O'Shea 1-0, P. Kirby 0-4.

Knockainey: Kieran Madden, Paudie Davern, Mike O'Brien, John Leo, Paddy McNamara, Anthony Kirby, Kevin Madden, Michael Burke, Eugene Mulcahy, Ger O'Shea, Pierce Davern, Paudie Madden, Brian O'Shea, Donncha O'Brien, Patrick Kirby. Subs. Michael Quinlan, Timmy O'Connell, Thomas Moloney, Shane Mulcahy, Pierce Davern, Pat Ryan, Stephen McNeill, Diarmuid O' Dea, Ger Barron, Kevin Mulcahy. The manager was Fintan Leahy, Selector Donie O'Mahony, Coach, Val Murnane, and trainer Seanie Daly.

Knockainey shock champions 2004

Monday, September 06, 2004

Knockainey 4-10 Patrickswell 1-12

CHAMPIONS Patrickswell were sensationally knocked out of the Limerick SHC by Knockainey in a thrilling quarter-final on Saturday evening at Bruff. Promoted to senior ranks three years ago, Knockainey enjoyed the perfect start with a goal from Pat Kirby inside two minutes. Though they trailed by three points (0-8 to 1-2) at the interval, they quickly drew level thanks to a Michael Ryan goal. They went on to open a two points gap, but when Eoin Foley rifled a 42nd minute penalty to the net for the ’Well, it seemed that the champions would progress. All changed again in 47 minutes after Tom Moloney set up John Leo for goal number three, and with Brian O’Shea and Anthony Kirby keeping their opponents to just one point from play, Knockainey were clearly not in the mood to buckle. Kirby assured victory with a stunning fourth goal near the end of a hectic battle. Scorers: Knockainey: P. Kirby 2-1, J. Leo 1-2, D. O’Brien 0-5, M. Ryan 1-0, B. O’Shea, E. Mulcahy 0-1 each.Patrickswell: B. Murray 0-6, E. Foley 1-0, P. O'Grady 0-3, B. Geoghegan 0-2, B. Mann 0-1. KNOCKAINEY: Kieran Madden; K. Mulcahy, W. O’Brien, G. O’Shea, B. O’Shea, A. Kirby, P. Davoren; Kevin Madden, E. Mulcahy; D. O’Brien, P. McNamara, M. Cleary, M. Ryan, J. Leo, P. Kirby. Sub. T. Moloney for M. Cleary.