Claudy GAC

John Mitchel's GAC Claudy

CLG Seán Uí Mhisteil Clóidigh
Founded:	1934
County:	Derry
Club colours:	Blue and White
Grounds:	Páirc Uí Néill
Coordinates:	54°54′32.48″N 7°08′48.04″W / 54.9090222°N 7.1466778°W / 54.9090222; -7.1466778Coordinates: 54°54′32.48″N 7°08′48.04″W / 54.9090222°N 7.1466778°W / 54.9090222; -7.1466778
Playing kits
Standard colours

John Mitchel's GAC Claudy (Irish: CLG Seán Uí Mhisteil Clóidigh) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Claudy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They are a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football. The club is named after Irish patriot and revolutionary John Mitchel.

Claudy fields Gaelic football teams at U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor, Reserve and Senior levels. Underage teams up to U-12's play in North Derry league and championships, from U-14 upwards teams compete in All-Derry competitions. The club currently competes in the Derry Intermediate Football Championship and Division 3 of the Derry ACFL.

Well known players

• Patsy Gormley - Goalkeeper on Derry's 1958 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship runners-up side.

Brothers Martin and Gavin Donaghy have represented the county at underage and senior level. Most recently Patrick Hargan and Aidan McLaughlin represented the county in an Ulster and All Ireland Minor Final in 2007. Aaron Kerrigan represented the countys u21s in 2011

History

The North Derry County Board held a meeting in St. Patrick's Hall, Claudy in 1921, but was forced to disperse after coming under gun attack from the A Specials.^[1] Many GAA members were interned without trial. This had the effect of bringing Gaelic games in the area to a standstill.

In the early 1930s Alfie Devine from the village tried to encourage the establishement of the GAA in Claudy and also tried to organise a North Derry County Board. John Mitchel's GAC was founded and the opening game was played in July 1934 against Craigbane Lamh Dhearg. The North Derry Board was formed in 1936. After being a member of the North Derry Board for a short while, the club became a member of the Derry City Board in 1935. In 1946 the club moved back to the North Derry Board.

Mitchel's first major success came in 1957 when they won the Dr. Kerlin Cup, defeating Ballerin, who won the Derry Senior Football Championship that year. The club won the North Derry Minor Football Championship two years later, before being beaten by Magherafelt in the All-Derry Minor Championship final.

The 1960s proved to be one of Claudy's most successful decades ever. In that time they won the North Derry Senior Football League a few times, Neal Carlin Cup, Mahon Cup and reached a Derry Senior Championship semi-final, where they were beaten by Newbridge.

The club's biggest success came in 2005 when they defeated Eoghan Rua in the final of the Derry Intermediate Football Championship.

Honours

Senior

• Derry Intermediate Football Championship: 1
  • 2005

• Derry Junior Football Championship: 1
  • 1983

• Dr. Kerlin Cup 5
  • 1957, 1970, 1975, 1985, 1990

Reserve

• Derry Intermediate Reserve Football Championship: 2
  • 2000, 2007

Minor

• North Derry Minor 'A' Football Championship: 1
  • 1992

• North Derry Minor 'A' Football League: 2
  • 1990, 1991

• North Derry Minor 'B' Football Championship: 2
  • 1999, 2007

• North Derry Minor 'B' Football League: 2
  • 1999, 2000

U-16

• North Derry U-16 'B' Football Championship: 1
  • 1997

Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.

U-16

North Derry U-16 'B' Football Championship: 1 1997

North Derry U-16 'B' Football league: 1 2008

External links

• John Mitchel's GAC website
• Official Derry GAA website
• Derry Club GAA

References

1. ^ "Club history - 1930s". http://www.martymccolgan.com/design/claudygaa/1930s.html. Retrieved 2007-09-13.