Coonagh United's greatest ever moment was on Sunday 27 February 1994 when they faced Derry City in the last 16 of the FAI Youth Cup. Below is an article from the Limerick Leader Newspaper published on Saturday 26th February 1994 :

HISTORY MAKING COONAGH HOST DERRY CITY IN FAI CUP

They are current leaders in the youth division two league and so impressive have they been in recent outings that one felt they would have been an ideal asset to the premier division. Certainly, they have seen off the callenge of two premier league outfits in the shape of Mungret Regional and latterly Caherdavin just before Christmas. That victory over their arch-rivals and near neighbours was one to savour. For many years youngsters in the parish used play for etheir Caherdavin or Ballynanty but five years ago Coonagh, who were finding it hard to attract new blood to their ailing junior team, decided at last to enter a team in the youth grade. They haven't looked back since. True, they weren't over successful but they got a number of young exciting players coming through on what has been a very busy conveyor belt.

They also entered several young teams in the schoolboy leagues with the knock-effect meaning that Coonagh is now one of the wealthiest clubs, player-wise in the region and it won't be long before the juniors reap the benefits. For many years the club existed as a winter sport to keep the GAA players happy and fit but that has now changed with the club enjoying phenomenal success at all levels. Their schoolboys are doing very nicely, thank you very much, while the youths currently top the second division league with Kilmallock whom they beat only a few weeks ago. It should not go unnoticed that the joint leaders of division two are Limerick's standardbearers in the national and provincial competitions respectively. Coonagh manager Fred O'Connor, no stranger himself to the winners rostrum having skippered Prospect to Lawson Cup glory back in the 60s. Not one to take and run, Fred decided that with his playing days well and truly over it was time to put something back into the game. He has been with Coonagh now for some time building a highly succesful framework from which to launch a serious challenge for honours. Even now Fred's priority is to win the league and anything else will be treated as a most welcome bonus.

He is looking forward to the visit of a team of Derry's calibre. "We could make them play at Clondrinagh," he said but wants only the best for his team as well so they approached Pike Rovers who were only too delighted to lend them their magnificant facilities at Crossagalla. Fred has no fear of Derry. He knows his youngsters will relish the superb playing surface at Crossagalla and will be hoping that the likes of Niall will be hoping that the likes of Niall McNamara and Brian Masterson will add to their growing reputations. Both have twentey goals apiece scored out of a tally of 77 for the club so given half a chance will make life difficult for their more vaunted opponentes.. I watched them against Caherdavin on a bitterly cold day in December and must admit to being very impressed with their determination and never-say-die attitude. They battled hard in dreadful conditions but at the end of the day they were deserving winners.

Graham Minogue, one of several players who learned his trade under Mikey Cronin & Co. as an 8 year old with the club is the current skipper of the side and a defender par excellence though he will be the first to admit that he has a marvellous defence around him including a top-class net-minder in the shape of Ian Costello. Nigel McElligot, Jason Mullane and Brian McNamara are teak tough defenders and if Derry are going to win this one then they must first get past this hard-tackkling quartet. In the middle of the park Barry Dwane, Paul King, Aengus O'Keeffe and Brian Drennan are fast, talented youngsters that will have to win the midfield battle if frontrunners McNamara and Masterson are to have a chance of putting one over on the Northerners. They say the strenght of a team can be gauged by the quaility of players on the bench and in that regard O'Connor and his assistant Tom Bowler are well endowed. Conor Horan, Ultan Quinn, Adrian Looney, Michael Graham and Thomas Cronin are all good enough to take over should the need arise.

In all, Coonagh have played five FAI matches beating two premier teams, Mungret and Caherdavin on the way as well as Shelbourne, Star Rovers and Shannon Town.

In all, as I said, they have scored no fewer than 77 goals in all competitions this year and wouldn't it do their hearts good ... it would certainly be a much needed boost for the game at this level locally were they to win. It won't be easy but not impossible.

They won't want for support, either, as Coonagh will be a deserted village come Sunday afternoon. All that remains is to wish Fred and the boys the best of luck and hope they are included in the draw for the quarter-final proper.