Ardmore GAC

Infobox GAA club
club gaa = St. Mary's GAC Ardmore
irish = CLG Naomh Mhuire Ard Mór
crest = Ardmore crest.jpg
county = Derry
province = Ulster
colours = Yellow and Black
founded = 1938
nickname =
grounds =

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leftarm=FFC125 |body=FFC125 |rightarm=FFC125 |shorts=000000 |socks=000000
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St. Mary's GAC Ardmore ( _ga. CLG Naomh Mhuire Ard Mór) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ardmore on the outskirts of Derry City. They play in the Derry league and championships and currently cater to Gaelic football, camogie and ladies Gaelic football.

Ardmore fields Gaelic football teams at the Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Minor, Reserve and Senior levels. Underage teams up to U-12's play in the North Derry league and championships, and from U-14 and above, teams compete in All-Derry competitions.

History

St. Mary's GAC was formed in 1938. [cite web |url=http://www.ardmoreclg.net/ |title=Ardmore GAC homepage |accessdate=2008-04-13|format= |work=Official Ardmore GAC website ] In 1987, the club was awarded the North Derry Club of the Year award, an accolade they also claimed in 1993 and 2002.cite web |url=http://www.derrygaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=611&Itemid=70 |title=Club Focus - St Mary's GAC Ardmore |accessdate=2008-04-12 |format= |work=Official Derry GAA website ] Ardmore is currently in the process of purchasing land and hope to develop a floodlit playing field and training area with associated changing and meeting rooms. In 2006, Kyle Gallagher was the first Ardmore man to play in an ulster final (Under-21). While Derry was on the eventual losing side, he did himself and the Club proud.

Ardmore does have some Ulster Colleges winners in the club and have had players represent the Derry Vocational school teams of the past couple of years, for instance, current senior players Jason Quinn and Barry Gavin. Club players who hold Ulster Colleges medals are Michael Friel and Kyle Gallagher (Herald cup winners). In 2002, Kyle Gallagher won a McLaron cup medal and an Ulster Colleges Allstar. In 2006 there were 2 players in the Loch an Luir (under 14) final in Casement Park but, unfortunately, St Columbs of Derry were on the losing side; Christopher Gormley and Eoghan Dooher were on the field. In 2007, Eoghan went back as he still had a year left at this grade and helped win the final for St Columbs.

Since the turn of the decade, Ardmore has had notable successes at the underage and senior levels. Most notably, in 2000, Ardmore was crowned Junior Champions of Derry. Since then Ardmore has won the Derry Junior League in 2005, gaining promotion in the intermediate ranks. Those successful sides were backboned by the minor teams of 1993 and 1997 that won championships: in 1998 the Minor 'B' league, and in 1993 a double for Ardmore in the Under-16 championship, which they won. Since then, Ardmore continues to have sporadic success with underage, and in 2003 won the Under-16 'B' league. In 2007, Ardmore's Under 14 side achieved great successes, competing in the final of every competition they played in but, unfortunately, losing the league due to a last-minute goal. They, however, came back from the defeat and won the corresponding 'C' Championship.

In 2008, being without a minor team and indeed an Under-16 team for much of the season due to lack of numbers, Ardmore ran into difficultly at all levels. However, the Derry county board set up an 11-a-side league which enables small clubs to play competitive football. Ardmore appears to be doing well in that league, with numbers increasing every match.

Honours

enior

*Derry Junior Football Championship: 2
**1980, 2000

*Derry Junior Football League: 1
**2005

*Neil Carlin Cup: 2
**1980,2005

Minor

*North Derry Minor 'B' Football Championship: 1
**1997

*North Derry Minor 'B' Football League: 1
**1998

*Tommy O'Neill Cup Runners up (All county B Championship):1
**1997

U-16

*North Derry U-16 'B' Football League: 1
**2003

*Derry U-16 11 a Side Sheild Winners : 1
**2008

*North Derry U-16 'B' Football Championship :1
**1993

U-14

*Derry 'C' Féile na nÓg: 1
**2007

*Derry U-14 'C' Football Championship: 1
**2007

* Derry U-14 'C' League Runners up
**2007

Club

*North Derry Club of the Year: 3
** 1987, 1993, 2002

ee also

*Derry Intermediate Football Championship
*List of Gaelic Athletic Association clubs

External links

* [http://www.ardmoreclg.net/index.html Ardmore GAC website]
* [http://www.derrygaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=611&Itemid=70 Club focus on St. Mary's GAC on the Official Derry GAA website]
* [http://www.derrygaa.ie Official Derry GAA website]
* [http://www.clubgaa.ie/derry/index.htm Derry Club GAA]

References