Derry GAA#Camogie

Within a year of the GAA's foundation in 1884, GAA clubs were established around the county in Derry, Desertmartin and Magherafelt.{{cite book

| last=Corry

| first=Eoghan

| title=Oakboys

| year=1993

| publisher=Torc Books Ltd.

| location=Dublin, Ireland

}} However, the administration of Gaelic sports in the county took some time to get properly organised. A Derry county board was established in 1888 and paid affiliation fees to the GAA Central Council. By the following year, although 14 clubs were active, the then GAA President Maurice Davin told the national Congress that the county lacked enough clubs to have its own board. South Derry and North Derry regional boards were established in the 1890s. In the early decades (up to the 1930s), the Derry GAA competitions took in a number of clubs from County Donegal and Tyrone. At various times clubs in South Derry played in the Antrim GAA or Tyrone leagues. The local Catholic Church's opposition to playing games on Sundays hampered growth in the 1890s, but there was something of a revival in the 1900s, especially in hurling. The county also competed sporadically in the Ulster Senior Football Championship (SFC) from 1904. After the disruption caused by political conflict in the 1910s and early '20s, the county board was re-established briefly in 1926, and definitively in 1929, since when it has remained in existence.

The GAA in the county is administered by a County Committee (or County Board) with a representative from each GAA club in the County, a Management Committee and a variable number of sub-committees. The county administrative headquarters and centre of excellence are located at Owenbeg, Dungiven.

Derry home games are played in the county grounds at Celtic Park. Derry and Owenbeg, Dungiven.{{cite news |first=Ronan |last=Scott |title='Screen to win back hearts of Derry fans |work=Gaelic Life |page=3 |date=13 February 2009 }} Home football games are also sometimes held in Watty Graham Park, Glen or Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen, which are regarded as secondary stadia. Hurling games are also held at Lavey or Fr McNally Park, Banagher.

The current senior football team manager is Paddy Tally, while John McEvoy is the Derry senior hurling team manager. Mickey Donnelly is in charge of the under-20 football team. The minor football manager (under-17) is Martin Boyle. The management teams for the under-20 and minor hurlers include Ryan O'Neill, Martin Birt and Kevin Kelly.

Derry has 40 affiliated clubs; 32 of which are football, two of which are hurling and six of which are dual.{{cite web |url=http://ulster.gaa.ie/county/derry/ |title=Derry profile |access-date=2008-04-01 |work=Ulster Council website |archive-date=13 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313145853/http://ulster.gaa.ie/county/derry/ |url-status=live }} Many Derry GAA followers taken a keener interest in the club scene than the inter-county scene,{{cite news |first=Ronan |last=Scott |title=Mind the gap... |work=Gaelic Life |page=12 |date=10 October 2008 }} which can adversely affect attendances at Derry senior matches.

{{further|List of Gaelic games clubs in Ireland#Derry}}

{{details|Derry club football competitions}}

Bellaghy have four Ulster Senior Club Football Championships and an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Ballinderry Shamrocks have three Ulster Senior Club Football Championships and an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Slaughneil have three Ulster Senior Club Football Championships.

{{details|Derry club football competitions}}

The Derry Senior Football Championship is an annual club competition between the top Derry clubs. It is recognised{{by whom|date=August 2020}} as one of the hardest club championships to get out of successfully in Ireland,{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} as there are a variety of teams like, Ballinderry, Bellaghy, An Lúb, Slaughtneil, Lavey and Dungiven who have previously won Ulster titles, with some winning the All-Ireland title. Attendances at matches are particularly high, with many neutrals from the neighbouring counties of Tyrone, Donegal and Antrim also going to matches, as many{{who|date=August 2020}} view it as the highest standard of club football in Ulster.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The winners of the Derry Championship qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and if they win, go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Most football league fixtures are played on Sundays so as to accommodate dual players, who have hurling league fixtures on Wednesdays.{{cite web|url=https://derrygaa.ie/derry-ccc-confirm-club-fixtures-for-2022/|title=Derry CCC confirm club fixtures for 2022|date=29 March 2022|quote=For example, if a player plays hurling on a Wednesday it is unfair to ask him to train with a football team on a Thursday in preparation for a Saturday football fixture. Historically, this is why most football league fixtures have remained on Sundays in our county.}}

{{main|Derry county football team}}

file:Derry football team vs longford 1947.jpg

The county team won its first Ulster Senior Football Championship (SFC) in 1958. The team advanced to the 1958 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final but lost to Dublin.

The county team won its sixth Ulster SFC in 1993 and advanced to the 1993 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. Between appearing in the 1958 and 1993 All-Ireland SFC finals, the county team won four other Ulster SFCs: in 1970, 1975, 1976 and 1987. Since 1993 the county team has won three additional Ulster SFCs, in 1998, 2022, and 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-12-5777281-May2022/|title=Underdogs Derry beat Donegal in extra-time to win first title in 24 years|publisher=The42.ie|date=29 May 2022}}

The team won the National Football League in 2000,2008 and 2024{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2008/0427/231061-derrykerry/|title=GAA | Latest Gaelic Games News, Results & Fixtures ||publisher=RTÉ|date=27 April 2008}} but was at one point in Division 4.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/282938|title=The shocked twitter reaction to Derry's relegation to Division 4|work=Hogan Stand|date=25 March 2018}}

{{further|List of Gaelic games clubs in Ireland#Derry}}

Derry Senior Hurling Championship

Most hurling league fixtures are played on Wednesdays so as to accommodate dual players, who have football league fixtures on Sundays.

{{main|Derry county hurling team}}

Derry was a hotbed of early hurling activity, with the city's St Patrick's club winning the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) in 1902–03; county teams mainly drawn from the city won the 1906 championship by a walkover, and the contested 1909 final. However, soon afterwards football become the dominant sport in the county, and hurling activity declined, especially in the city where association football clubs were active.{{cite book|first=Eoghan|last=Corry|author-link=Eoghan Corry|title=Oakboys: Derry's Football Dream Come True|publisher=Torc Books Ltd.|location=Dublin, Ireland|year=1993|pages=54–61|isbn=1-898142-10-6}}

It was the 1970s before Derry claimed any more major hurling honours. The county won two Ulster Junior Championship (JHC) titles in 1974 and 1975, as well as the 1975 All-Ireland Junior Championship. The county also won the Ulster Minor Hurling Championship (MHC) twice during the decade in 1973/4? and 1979, before going on to win the next four at the start of the 1980s (1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983); giving the county five consecutive Ulster Minor titles. Derry also won another Ulster Junior (1984) and All-Ireland Junior Championship (1982), with Rory Stevenson still holding a record of his own, as the youngest person ever to play in a Final in Croke Park, that year (1982), playing for Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club Under 14 All-Ireland Féile na nGael winning team.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

The 1990s started with Derry claiming back-to-back Ulster MHC titles in 1990 and 1991. The Under 21 side won two more Ulster Under 21 Championships in 1993 and 1997. Derry won the All-Ireland 'B' Senior Hurling Championship in 1996 and the Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship (IHC) the following year.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In 2000 Derry won its first Ulster SHC in 92 years, and successfully defended it the following year. The county also won the 2001 Ulster MHC. The Seniors won the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2006. Derry Under 21s claimed back-to-back Ulster Under 21 titles in 2007 and 2008.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7534550.stm|title=Derry U21s secure Ulster triumph|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=31 August 2008|date=31 July 2008|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923110453/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7534550.stm|url-status=live}}

Derry Camogie operates as a sister body of Derry GAA, but along with ladies' football, handball and the GAA county board, the Derry camogie clubs are working towards greater integration among the Gaelic games units in the county.[http://derrycamogie.ie/2012/09/ag-munlu-ar-dtimpeallachta-shaping-our-environment/ Derry Camogie] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130412225829/http://derrycamogie.ie/2012/09/ag-munlu-ar-dtimpeallachta-shaping-our-environment/ |date=2013-04-12 }} website

As early as 1934, there were ten Derry camogie clubs.{{cite book | first=Eoghan | last=Corry |author-link=Eoghan Corry | title=Oakboys: Derry's Football Dream Come True | publisher=Torc Books Ltd. | location=Dublin, Ireland | year=1993 | pages=92–93 | isbn=1-898142-10-6 }} Under Camogie's National Development Plan 2010–2015, "Our Game, Our Passion",{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/final-goal-for-camogie-2115510.html|title=Final goal for camogie|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=29 March 2010|access-date=29 March 2010|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024064510/http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/final-goal-for-camogie-2115510.html|url-status=live}} five new camogie clubs were to be established in the county by 2015.National Development Plan 2010-2015, Our Game, Our Passion information page on [http://www.camogie.ie/NationalDevelopmentPlan/tabid/71/Default.aspx camogie.ie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901210357/http://www.camogie.ie/NationalDevelopmentPlan/tabid/71/Default.aspx |date=1 September 2010 }}, pdf download (778k) from [http://www.camogie.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Development%20Plan.pdf Camogie.ie download site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916083041/http://www.camogie.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Development%20Plan.pdf |date=16 September 2011 }}

Swatragh qualified for the final of the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship in 2001. Lavey won the 2009 All Ireland junior club title.2009 Junior Lavey 1-11 Dunhill 1-11 report in [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1207/1224260241316.html Irish Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021081347/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1207/1224260241316.html |date=21 October 2012 }} [https://archive.today/20120903163128/http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/grogan-is-cashel-rock-as-tipp-girls-regain-crown-1966122.html Irish Independent], and on [https://archive.today/20120911105416/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/1206/camogie.html RTE online]

Derry drew with Antrim in the Maguire Cup in 1954, and built on this progress to beat Antrim in that year's Ulster Senior Camogie Championship final by 5–2 to 2–2 - the county's first Ulster Senior Camogie Championship title. They went on to defeat Mayo and London en route to the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final. However they were beaten by an impressive Dublin side, who had not lost a competitive match since 1947, on a scoreline of 10–4 to 4–2. Theresa Halferty, Carrie Rankin, Patsy McCloskey and Pat O'Brien from this team were chosen on the Ulster team for the inaugural Gael Linn Cup inter-provincial series, but the county's appearance in the 1954 All-Ireland decider did little to further the game in Derry. The county won the Ulster championship and contested the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final in 1954. They had previously defeated Antrim in the first round of the 1948 championship, but then surprisingly lost to Down.

Derry reached the final of the All Ireland intermediate championship in 2001, and won the All-Ireland Junior Camogie Championship four times, in 1969, 1978, 2000 and 2007. Derry dominated the new under-16 B championship after its introduction in 2006, winning the finals of 2006,2006 u16b Derry 3-3 Armagh 1-2 report on [http://www.hoganstand.com/camogie/Results.aspx Hogan Stand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714191954/http://www.hoganstand.com/Camogie/Results.aspx |date=2010-07-14 }} 20072007 u16b Derry 2-7 Waterford 3-4 Blanchardstown report on [https://web.archive.org/web/20100418144616/http://www.doirecamogie.com/Reports/County%20Reports/u18-u16-u14-team-reports/all-ireland-u16b-camogie-championship-final Derry camogie site)] replay Derry 3-14 Waterford 2-2 St Peregrines Dublin report on [https://web.archive.org/web/20100418144634/http://www.doirecamogie.com/Reports/County%20Reports/u18-u16-u14-team-reports/derry-retain-all-ireland-u16b-camogie-title Derry Camogie site] 20082008 u16b Derry 6-18 Offaly 0-6 at Ashbourne reports on [https://archive.today/20120908084519/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2008/0511/camogie.html RTE online], [http://www.doirecamogie.com/Reports/County%20Reports/u18-u16-u14-team-reports/derry-capture-historic-three-in-a-row-16b-championship-final-2008 Derry camogie site] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20100416181501/http://www.doirecamogie.com/Reports/County%20Reports/u18-u16-u14-team-reports/derry-capture-historic-three-in-a-row-16b-championship-final-2008 |date=2010-04-16 }} and 20102010 u16b Derry 3-9 Limerick 1-6 report on [http://www.camogie.ie/Home/tabid/54/mid/411/newsid412/1248/Default.aspx Camogie ie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726064258/http://www.camogie.ie/Home/tabid/54/mid/411/newsid412/1248/Default.aspx |date=26 July 2011 }} They followed up by winning the Minor B championship in 20102010 All Ireland Minor B, Derry 3-10 Antrim 0-9 report in [http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/harrington-off-barclays-pace-2316105.html Sunday Independent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024235605/http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/harrington-off-barclays-pace-2316105.html |date=24 October 2012 }} and on [http://www.camogie.ie/Home/tabid/54/mid/411/newsid412/1413/Kildare-end-20-year-famine-in-Gala-All-Ireland-junior-A-final/Default.aspx camogie.ie]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and [http://www.camogie.ie/Home/tabid/54/mid/411/newsid412/1414/-All--Ireland-championship-titles-for-Derry-and-Kildare-/Default.aspx scorers]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Derry won further Ulster Senior Camogie Championships in 1989, 1990, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.camogieulster.org/council/rollOfHonour/ulsterSeniorChampionshipWinners.html |title=Ulster Camogie Council - Ulster Senior Championship Roll of Honour |access-date=2008-10-28 |work=Ulster Camogie Council website }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The county have also won Ulster Junior Camogie Championships 1960, 1967, 1969, 1978, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.camogieulster.org/council/rollOfHonour/ulsterJuniorChampionshipWinners.html |title=Ulster Camogie Council - Ulster Junior Championship Roll of Honour |access-date=2008-10-28 |work=Ulster Camogie Council website }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The minor camogie side have won the Ulster Minor Championship on nine occasions (1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003).{{cite web |url=http://www.camogieulster.org/council/rollOfHonour/ulsterMinorChampionshipWinners.html |title=Ulster Camogie Council - Ulster Minor Championship Roll of Honour |access-date=2008-10-28 |work=Ulster Camogie Council website }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Ulster Senior: 8

::1954, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006,

• All Ireland junior 4

::1969, 1978, 2000 and 2007.

• Ulster Junior: 12

::1960, 1967, 1969, 1978, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007

• Ulster Minor: 9

::1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

• All Ireland Under-16 B: 3

::2006, 2008, 2010

• All Ireland Minor B: 2

::2010, 2012

• {{div col end}}

Notes:

The above list of honours may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.

All Star Awards for camogie were first introduced in 2004.{{cite news |first=Seamus |last=McAleenan |title=Oak Leafers receive double nomination |work=The Irish News |page=? |date=18 October 2006 |access-date=11 November 2008 |url=http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/pageacc.asp&path_info=/pageacc.asp&sid=538423&tser1=ser&par=ben }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Three years later, Ashling Diamond of Bellaghy became the first person to be picked from Derry.{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter |title=Adams in contention for award |work=The Irish News |page=53 |date=17 October 2008 |access-date=11 November 2008 |url=http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/597/5776/2008/10/17/600448_360537799705Adamsinc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220438/http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/597/5776/2008/10/17/600448_360537799705Adamsinc.html |archive-date= 3 March 2016 }} Gráinne McGoldrick was picked two years later.{{Cite web |url=http://www.camogie.ie/AboutCamogie/AllStars/tabid/104/Default.aspx |title=All-stars on camogie.ie |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203221616/http://www.camogie.ie/AboutCamogie/AllStars/tabid/104/Default.aspx |url-status=dead }} In 2010, soaring stars, intended for players not at the senior level, were introduced. It took two years for any Derry person to be picked for this award. Then two people were picked at once. They were Sinead Cassidy and Katy McAneny.

Derry has a ladies' football team.

Books published about Gaelic games in County Londonderry include Oakboys: Derry's Football Dream Come True by Eoghan Corry.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [http://www.hoganstand.com/Derry/ Derry] on Hoganstand.com

{{Derry GAA}}

{{Derry clubs}}

{{GAA bodies}}

Category:Gaelic games governing bodies in Northern Ireland

Category:Gaelic games governing bodies in Ulster

Category:Sport in County Londonderry