The Tyrone County Board (), or Tyrone GAA, is one of the 32
county boards of the
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 ...
(GAA) in
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
, and is responsible for the administration of
Gaelic games
Gaelic games () are a set of sports played worldwide, though they are particularly popular in Ireland, where they originated. They include Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball and rounders. Football and hurling, the most popular of the s ...
in
County Tyrone
County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. Its county town is Omagh.
Adjoined to the south-west shore of Lough Neagh, the cou ...
,
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 county board is responsible for preparing the Tyrone county teams in the various Gaelic sporting codes;
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
,
hurling
Hurling (, ') is an outdoor Team sport, team game of ancient Gaelic culture, Gaelic Irish origin, played by men and women. One of Ireland's native Gaelic games, it shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goa ...
,
camogie and
handball
Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, Olympic handball or indoor handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of thr ...
.
The
county football team was the sixth from the
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Ulster
Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
to win the
Sam Maguire Cup, leaving only Antrim, Fermanagh and Monaghan to still win the trophy and become All-Ireland champions.
According to a 2015 TUD study by Shane Mangan, Tyrone had 10,500 players.
Football
Clubs
The county's most successful football club is
Carrickmore. Carrickmore has won the
Tyrone Senior Football Championship on fifteen occasions.
Errigal Ciarán has won the Tyrone Senior Football Championship on eleven occasions and the
Ulster Senior Club Football Championship three times , in 1994,2002 & 2024.
Two Tyrone clubs have won the men's All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship:
Cookstown Fr. Rock's GAC in 2010 and 2013, and
Moy Tír Na nÓg GAC in 2018.
Greencastle GAA men won the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship in 2007. The Ladies (Sperrin Óg) won the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship in 2011.
County team
Tyrone won its first
Ulster Senior Football Championship (SFC) in
1956
Events
January
* January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan after 57 years.
* January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, E ...
, defending it successfully in
1957
Events January
* January 1 – The Saarland joins West Germany.
* January 3 – Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch.
* January 5 – South African player Russell Endean becomes the first batsman to be Dismissal (cricke ...
. The county did not win a third Ulster SFC title until
1973
Events January
* January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.
* January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
.
The Tyrone team of the mid-eighties won a fourth Ulster SFC title in
1984, and followed its fifth title in
1986 with
a first ever final of the
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) () is the premier inter-county competition in Gaelic football. County (Gaelic games), County teams compete against each other and the winner is declared All-Ireland Champions.
Organised by the ...
(SFC), where
Kerry defeated it by a scoreline of 2–15 to 1-10. Tyrone added a sixth Ulster SFC (after a replay of the final) in
1989
1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
.
However, All-Ireland SFC success eluded Tyrone and the county watched as its Ulster rivals won an unprecedented four consecutive national titles in the early 1990s (two titles for
Down bookending one title for
Donegal, as well as
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 ...
's only title).
Tyrone reached the 1994 Ulster SFC final but lost to eventual All-Ireland winners Down; however, Tyrone's forward
Peter Canavan was Ulster's top scorer, winning his first
All Star Award. The following year Tyrone were Ulster champions and, in keeping with the recent form of the winners of that competition, reached the
1995 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final (only the county's second ever).
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
emerged as victors by a scoreline of 1–10 to 0–12, Canavan scoring 11 of Tyrone's 12 points. Tyrone won another Ulster SFC in 1996.
In 2003 a new Tyrone manager,
Mickey Harte was appointed. Harte took Tyrone to another Ulster SFC title and victory in the
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) () is the premier inter-county competition in Gaelic football. County (Gaelic games), County teams compete against each other and the winner is declared All-Ireland Champions.
Organised by the ...
(SFC) in his first year. The
2003 All-Ireland SFC final was Tyrone's third and had the county pitted against
rival and neighbouring county
Armagh
Armagh ( ; , , " Macha's height") is a city and the county town of County Armagh, in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All ...
, the reigning All-Ireland SFC champions (Armagh had also beaten Tyrone to the title). It was the first All-Ireland SFC final between sides from
the same province.
Healy Park in Omagh is the home ground of Tyrone GAA
Tragedy struck the following year with the sudden death of Cormac McAnallen, at the age of 24. Tyrone, however, came back the following year to win the All-Ireland SFC for a second time. The county played a total of ten matches, including three replays, which was a record for any winning team.
[ Tyrone played five matches in the Ulster SFC, including replays against Cavan in the semi-final and against Armagh in the final, which they lost.
left, A house in showing support before 2008 All-Ireland final. Tyrone has a large support around the county.">2008 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final">2008 All-Ireland final. Tyrone has a large support around the county.
Having to contest an All-Ireland SFC qualifier as a result of that loss, Tyrone overcame ]Monaghan
Monaghan ( ; ) is the county town of County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It also provides the name of its Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish and Monaghan (barony), Monaghan barony.
The population of the town as of the 2022 cen ...
to reach an All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Dublin.[ Tyrone had yet another drawn game, a match notable for Owen Mulligan's stunning solo goal.][ In the All-Ireland SFC semi-final, the county met Armagh for a third time; two points behind with only six minutes of play left, Seán Cavanagh scored a solo point, substitute Shane Sweeney levelled the game and Peter Canavan converted an injury-time free.][ Tyrone won by a scoreline of 1–13 to 1–12. In the 2005 All-Ireland SFC final, the county defeated Kerry for the second time in three years to win the Sam Maguire Cup, sparking emotional scenes among the Tyrone team and fans, in remembrance of Cormac McAnallen.
Tyrone won its eleventh Ulster SFC title in 2007. The county lost its opening game of the 2008 Ulster SFC, a quarter-final to Down.][ Entering the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers again, the county's progress went largely unnoticed until it reached the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final, where Tyrone hammered Dublin by 12 points.][ The team advanced to the All-Ireland SFC semi-final against ]Wexford
Wexford ( ; archaic Yola dialect, Yola: ''Weiseforthe'') is the county town of County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the ...
but did not impress against the Strawberries, appearing in at that stage for the first time since 1945.[ Tyrone did enough though, but entered 2008 All-Ireland SFC final against a Kerry team intent on winning three consecutive titles.][ Kerry did not. Despite Peter Canavan's retirement, Owen Mulligan's disciplinary problems and Stephen O'Neill's on-off retirement through injury, Tyrone prevailed to win a third All-Ireland SFC title.][ Tyrone defeated Kerry by a scoreline of 1–15 to 0–14.
Tyrone reached the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final but were unable to deny Dublin a fourth consecutive All-Ireland SFC title. Dublin's six-year hold on the Sam Maguire Cup came to an end on 11 September 2021 as Tyrone defeated Mayo in the final by a scoreline of 2–14 to 0–15.
Healy Park) is the Tyrone GAA stadium, named after a GAA clubman from Omagh, Michael Healy. Apart from the Tyrone county team, Healy Park is also the home ground of Omagh St. Enda's.
County Tyrone GAA team is currently sponsored by Cookstown based construction company McAleer & Rushe, who announced they woul]
extend the main sponsorship deal until the end of 2025
Hurling
Clubs contest the Tyrone Senior Hurling Championship.
Gerry Goodwin of Tyrone won the 1982 All-Ireland Poc Fada Championship.
Damian Casey is widely regarded as the county's greatest hurler and played in every game for his county at senior level from his debut in 2012 untiil the 2022 Nicky Rackard Cup final, after which he died at the age of 29. He also scored in every game he played for Tyrone at senior level.
Mattie Lennon managed Tyrone for many years in the 2010s.
Michael McShane succeeded Mattie Lennon as Tyrone hurling manager in January 2021, combining it with his existing role as manager of Slaughtneil's hurling team. Receiving a three-year term, his backroom team included coach Stephen McGarry and strength specialist Tommy Stevenson. McShane said in 2021 he thought Tyrone should be competing at a higher level in hurling; in the 2022 season, Tyrone's hurlers secured promotions in both the league and the championship, topping Division 3A and winning the Nicky Rackard Cup.
Tyrone have the following achievements in hurling.
National
* Christy Ring Cup
** 4th place (1): 2024
* Nicky Rackard Cup
The Nicky Rackard Cup (; often referred to as the Rackard Cup) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The cup forms the fourth-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champi ...
** Winners (2): 2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
, 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
** Runners-up (1): 2021
* Lory Meagher Cup
** Winners (2): 2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
, 2012
2012 was designated as:
*International Year of Cooperatives
*International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
Events January
*January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins.
* January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...
** Runners-up (1): 2011
* All-Ireland Minor C Hurling Championship
** Winners (2): 1990, 2010
Provincial
* Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
** Second round (2): 2008, 2010
* Ulster Senior Hurling Shield
** Runners-up (1): 2017
* Ulster Junior Hurling Championship
** Winners (3): 1995, 1996, 1999
** Runners-up (2): 1951, 1993
Leagues
* National Hurling League Division 3A
** Winners (1): 2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
, 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
* National Hurling League Division 4
** Winners (1): 2011
The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
* National Hurling League Division 3B
** Winners (1): 2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
* National Hurling League Division 3 Shield
** Winners (1): 2006
Camogie
Camogie peaked in Tyrone with the run of Eglish to the 1991 All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship final. Led by the Jordan sisters, they pulled off two of the shocks of the century in defeating Loughgiel in the Ulster final by 3–7 to 2–4 and then defeating Celtic of Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final, but lost the final heavily against Mullagh from Galway.
Tyrone qualified for the All Ireland junior final of 1980 against Cork, defeating Armagh, Antrim and Louth in their path to the final. Ursula Jordan was the outstanding player of the era and in the history of camogie in the county, and was selected for Ulster's Gael Linn Cup inter-provincial team. Ann Jordan, Sheila Burke and Paula Vallely were other notable players from the 1980s. Vera Campbell refereed the All Ireland senior finals of 1939, 1940 and 1943.
Tyrone won the Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup in 2008 and the fourth division of the National Camogie League in 2010
The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
.
Under Camogie's National Development Plan 2010–2015, "Our Game, Our Passion", five new camogie clubs were established in the county in 2015.[National Development Plan 2010–2015, Our Game, Our Passion information page o]
camogie.ie
pdf download (778k) fro
Camogie.ie download site
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Ladies' football
Tyrone have the following achievements in Ladies Football.
National
All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship
*Runners Up (2010)
All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies' Football Championship
*Winners (2018)
*Runners Up (2017, 2024)
References
External links
*
Teamtalkmag.com
— th
online Tyrone news outlet
Tyrone on Hoganstand.com
National and provincial titles won by Tyrone teams
Club championship winners
{{GAA bodies
Gaelic games governing bodies in Northern Ireland
Gaelic games governing bodies in Ulster