Ballinderry Shamrocks GAC () is a

Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sports, amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional Irish sports o ...

club based in Ballinderry, County Londonderry,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

. The club is a member of the

Derry GAA The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) () or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland (the GAA refers to the county as ...

and caters for

gaelic football Gaelic football (; short name '')'', commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA, or football, is an Irish team sport. A form of football, it is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score ...

and

camogie Camogie ( ; ) is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities. A variant of the game "hurling" (which is played by men only), it is organised ...

. The club's biggest success was winning the 2002

All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament which began in season 1970–71. It is the top-tier competition for the senior football clubs of Ireland and London. The current champions are Cuala of D ...

. They have won the

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament organised by Ulster GAA. It is played between the Senior championship winners from each of the nine counties of Ulster. The competition was first held in 1968 an ...

three times and won the

Derry Senior Football Championship The Derry Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by the top sixteen Derry GAA clubs. The winners receive the John McLaughlin Cup and qualify to represent Derry in the Ulster Senior Club Football Champio ...

on 11 occasions.

History

Gaelic football

Records show that by 1896 Gaelic football and the

Gaelic League (; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it eme ...

were organised in Ballinderry. In 1915 Ballinderry competed in what was then known as the Killybearn League. Other teams competing were

Moneymore Moneymore () is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,897 in the 2011 census. It is situated within Mid-Ulster District. It is an example of a plantation village in Mid-Ulster built by the Dr ...

, Mullinahoe (part of

Ardboe Ardboe () is a large parish civil parish in east County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It borders the western shore of Lough Neagh and lies within the Mid Ulster District Council area. It is also the name of the local civil parish, which incorporate ...

), Drumaney (part of Ardboe), Drummullan, Killybearn and Stewartstown. Up to 1919 Bellagherty (), a townland of Ballinderry had their own team. 1924 witnessed a revival of Gaelic football in South Londonderry through the efforts of Father Downey C.C., who was assisted by Master Wallace (Ballinderry), Master O’Brien (Magherafelt), Hugh A. Mullan and J.J. McNally. Other teams in South Londonderry at the time included Lissan, Magherafelt, Newbridge, Gulladuff and Glenullin (now a North Derry club). By 1926 Ballinderry officially formed as one team representing all the townlands of Ballinderry. The club was named Ballinderry Shamrocks GAC (). A year later the side claimed their first Derry Championship, after a final victory over Drumsurn. In the late 1920s and early 1930s Ballinderry competed in the Tyrone league and

Championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...

. Gaelic football was once again revived in South Londonderry in 1933 and Ballinderry returned to compete in Derry competitions. From 1933 to 1936 Ballylifford (), another townland of Ballinderry competed as a separate team. When Ballylifford and Ballinderry met this meant brother against brother in some cases. In 1938 a parish league was formed (between five Ballinderry teams): Bellagherty, St. John's, Ballinderry, Derrychrin and Mullan Fianna. Mullan were the eventual winners, the prize being a trip to the All-Ireland Final. Mullan Fianna competed as Ballinderry's sole team for a few years, but the Ballinderry Shamrocks side restarted in the early 1940s. The club moved to their current ground (Shamrock Park) in 1971. It was officially opened in 1979 with an Ulster U-21 Football Championship semi-final between Derry and Down. After a gap of 47 years, 1974 saw Ballinderry win their second Derry Senior Championship, defeating

Banagher Banagher ( or ) is a town in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, located in the midlands, on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The town had a population of 3,000 at the height of its ...

in the final. The early 1980s were a glory period for the club and became only the second side after

Bellaghy Bellaghy () is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies north west of Lough Neagh and about 5 miles north east of Magherafelt. In the centre of the village (known locally as The Diamond) three main roads lead to Magherafelt, ...

to win the Derry Championship three consecutive seasons (1980 to 1982). The club beat Burren of Down to claim the 1981

, before losing by a point to Garrymore ( Mayo) in the All-Ireland Club Championship semi-final. The club won another county championship in 1995, defeating rivals

at Watty Graham Park,

Maghera Maghera ( ; ) is a small town at the foot of the Glenshane Pass in Northern Ireland. Its population was 4,235 in the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. Formerly in the Barony (Ireland), barony of Loughinsholin within the historic County ...

. The Shamrocks met Bellaghy in the Derry final in 1999, 2000 and 2001; the Shamrocks won in the final year and went on to victory over

Mayobridge Mayobridge () is a village within County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the small river Clanrye, which divides the townlands of Mayo and Bavan, east of Newry. It had a population of 1,069 as at 2011. Administratively, it is within the Newry a ...

in the

decider. Ballinderry went on to reach the 2001/02

, which they won defeating

Tír Chonaill Gaels Tír Chonaill Gaels Gaelic Football Club are a Gaelic football club based in Greenford, London. The club was formed in London in 1962, making it one of the oldest clubs outside Ireland. The club is one of the most successful in the London GAA, ...

(

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

) in the quarter-final, Rathnew (

Wicklow Wicklow ( ; , meaning 'church of the toothless one'; ) is the county town of County Wicklow in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located on the east of Ireland, south of Dublin. According to the 2022 census of Ireland, 2022 census, it had ...

) in the semi-final and

Nemo Rangers Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Ballinlough, Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated to the Seandún Board and fields teams in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. History Nemo Rangers Hurling & ...

(

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

) in the final on a scoreline of 2-10 (16 points) to 0-9 (9 points). The club were awarded Derry Club of the Year in 2001 under the AIB GAA Club of the Year Awards scheme. Club Chairman Michael Donnelly was presented the award by GAA President

Seán McCague Seán McCague ( – 24 November 2022) was an Irish Gaelic games administrator, footballer, referee and manager who served as the 33rd president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (2000–2003). He became the first Monaghan man to hold that office ...

. Ballinderry also won Club of the Year at the 2002 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards. The club defended the Derry Championship in 2002, with victory over An Lúb in the final, but lost to Errigal Ciarán in the Ulster semi-final. Ballinderry won their ninth Derry Championship in 2006 after a gap of four years and reached the Ulster Club final. Derry played St. Mary's University College at Shamrock Park in the 2008 Dr. McKenna Cup, believed to be the first inter-county competition game played at the venue. The Shamrocks regained the Derry Championship in 2008 - the club's tenth title.

Camogie

In 2003 the under-age teams won the Under 14, 16 and 18 county championships. In 2004 the club was awarded the Irish News Ulster Club award for commitment to under-age teams and coaching. In 2022, the team won their first national title.

Football titles

Senior

: 1 **2002 *All-Ireland

Kilmacud Crokes Kilmacud Crokes () is a large Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Stillorgan, Dublin, Ireland. Background Kilmacud GAA club was formed in 1959 following a public meeting in Saint Laurence's Hall, where Stillorgan shopping centre no ...

Sevens Championship: 1 **1998. *

: 3 **1981, 2001, 2013 *

Ulster Senior Club Football League The Ulster Senior Club Football League is an annual Gaelic football tournament played in Ulster GAA between clubs who choose to enter. It starts with a group stage, with the group winners (and for 2008 the best group runner-up) advancing to the k ...

: 3 **2008, 2010, 2011 *

: 12 **1927, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 *Derry Senior Football League: 11 **1974, 1975, 1980, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007 *

Derry Junior Football Championship The Derry Junior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Premier Electrics Derry Junior Football Championship) is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by lower-tier Derry clubs. The competition receives coverage in ...

: 1 **1993 (won by Ballinderry Thirds team) *Larkin Cup ?* **2006, 2007, 2008, 2017 *McGlinchey Cup ?* **2004. *Bishops Cup ?* **1989.

Reserves

*Derry Reserve Football Championship: 9 **1976, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2017 *Derry Reserve Football League: 9 **1976, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2018, 2024 *Graham Cup 3* **1976, 1977, 2006. 2009

Under-21

*Derry Under-21 Football Championship: 1 **1999.

Minor

Ulster Minor Club Football Championship The Ulster Minor Club Football Championship (), often referred to as the St. Paul's Tournament, an annual Gaelic football tournament organised and hosted by the St Paul's club in Belfast. It is played between the Minor championship winners from ea ...

: 4 **1996, 1997, 2001, 2008. *Derry Minor Football Championship: 7 **1989, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008. *Derry Minor Football League: 7* **1952, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008

Notable players

* Declan Bateson - Member of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning panel. * Coilin Devlin *

Conleith Gilligan Conleith "Deets" Gilligan (born 17 December 1979) is a Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team, with whom he won two National League titles. Gilligan plays his club football for Ballinderry Shamrocks. He was instrumental in hel ...

Enda Muldoon Enda Muldoon (born 11 September 1977) is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team and has won an Ulster Senior Football Championship and two National League titles with the county, as well as Ulster Minor, Ulster Under ...

All Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...

winning

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...

footballer. * Gareth McKinless -

winning

footballer. Journalist and former Derry player

Joe Brolly Joe Brolly (born Padraig Joseph Brolly; 25 June 1969) is an Irish Gaelic football analyst, coach, selector, former player and barrister who played at senior level for the Derry county team. He is from Dungiven. Brolly played for Derry in the ...

described Ballinderry as "one of the great communities of Ireland".

References

Official Ballinderry website article on History
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballinderry Shamrocks Gac Gaelic football clubs in County Londonderry Gaelic games clubs in County Londonderry