Trillick St. Macartan's

Trillick St. Macartan's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Trillick in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

History

A branch of the Gaelic League was formed in Trillick on 29 December 1901, and the League pioneered the playing of gaelic games in 1902. At a Gaelic League Feis in Trillick on 15 August 1903, parish teams from Trillick, Golan, Moorfield and Liffer played the first competitive football games in Trillick. By December 1903, a parish football and hurling club, named "Lisdoo Young Irelands", had been formed, Lisdoo being one of only 5 teams taking part in the first Tyrone senior football championship in November 1904.

In 1906 the Trillick “Red Hands” football team was formed; in 1907 they reached the final of the first Cup Competition in Tyrone, the Mc Anespie Cup, presented by Trillick-born James Mc Anespie. At a Gaelic League Feis in Trillick on 15 August 1907, the “Red Hands”, Glassmullagh and Coa hurling teams, and Trillick and Knocknagor camogie teams, played at the Feis, all 5 teams from the Trillick parish. The “Mac Donaghs” team functioned in 1914/18 and 1923/28, but many prominent players were lost in “The Troubles”. The Gaelic League flourished up to 1920, Trillick P.P. Fr. Matt Maguire being President of Dáil Uladh.

Following the establishment of the West Tyrone Board on 29 October 1931, the Trillick St. Macartan’s Club was formed in 1932, continuing to this day. In 1933 the Club purchased a playing field beside the village for £110, one of the first clubs in Tyrone to do so.

In 1937 Trillick won its first senior championship, being League winners in 1937, 1938 and 1939. Beaten by the eventual champions in 1938, Trillick were awaiting the 1939 final when the Tyrone County Board declared that year’s championship void. In 1942, Trillick’s Paddy Donnelly captained Tyrone’s first ever cup-winning team, the Lagan Cup winners, on 8 November 1942. Glassmullagh hurlers (Trillick parish) were Fermanagh senior hurling champions in 1936, 1945 & 1946, amalgamating with Dromore to become Tyrone champions in 1949. In 1949, Trillick Club built a hall to serve as social centre and dressing rooms.

Trillick U-16's were Tyrone champions in 1965, being beaten finalists in 1964 and 1968, the U-18's being County champions in 1968 and 1969. Trillick were Tyrone senior champions in 1974 (reached Ulster final), 1975, 1980, 1983 and 1986 (beaten finalists in 1987), plus senior league champions in 1973, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987. Brendan Donnelly won All-Star trip in 1979, in the 1980s John Donnelly captained Fermanagh while Pat King and later Seán Donnelly captained Tyrone, while in the 1990s John Donnelly managed Tyrone and Pat King managed Fermanagh. Liam Donnelly is current Tyrone Minor manager and Dominic Mc Caughey is our County secretary. The Willie Donnelly Memorial Park, enlarged in 1970, has had a Prunty pitch and covered stand provided in 2003, new dressing rooms were built in 2000 and a second playing field adjoining St. Scire's school developed in 2001.

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