County: Derry Grounds: The Field | Colours: Green, White and Gold Date founded 1944 | |
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Saint Trea's Ballymaguigan GFC (Irish: Naomh Trea Baile Mhic Uiginn CLG) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ballymaguigan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It plays in Derry league and championships. It currently caters for both Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football.
Contents
The club was founded in 1944 and has won the Derry Senior Football Championship once. Ballymaguigan fields Gaelic football teams at U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, Minor, Reserve and Senior levels. Teams up to U-12 level compete in South Derry league and championships and U-14 level teams and upwards compete in All-Derry competitions.
History
Gaelic games had been organised on the western shores of Lough Neagh for over 50 years before St Trea's GFC was formed. Before 1944 one team (Newbridge GAC) catered for the Ballymaguigan and Newbridge areas. Both areas are part of Ardtrea North parish. The American Army built Toome airfield during World War II. This effectively split the parish in two, making it very difficult for the Ballymaguigan-based players to travel to the pitch.
Paddy Bateson suggested a ball be bought so the Ballymaguigan players could train among themselves. Soon friendlies were arranged against established clubs. The first of these was against Castledawson. The first home fixture was against Greenlough. St Trea's GFC was soon formed on 23 April 1944. The name was in honour of Saint Trea who has many traditional associations with the area. The first chairman was John McCartney, with Paddy Bateson as Vice-Chairman.
Ballymaguigan is a very small rural community, consisting approximately of 1-square-mile (2.6 km2) in area. Establishing a Gaelic Football Club in such a small area was quite an achievement.
In 1950 the club built a small meeting hall. The erection of "the hut" was never seen as anything other than a temporary measure and plans proceeded for more permanent premises. In December 1954 Miss Susan Hinfey's farm came on the market and the club committee decided to purchase. Billy McKee was delegated to do the bidding. The farm of approximately eight acres was acquired for £1,230. The task of converting this property into a playing area began immediately. Apart from hiring a bulldozer to level the ground, this work was carried out completely by voluntary labour.
The all-enclosed pitch, considered to be one of the best in the county, was officially opened in 1957 by the then GAA President Séamus McFerran. Thus St Trea's were back playing on the grounds where the club had its beginnings in 1944.
In 1967 steel was purchased for building a hall and during the July holidays the foundations were laid. The hall was completed, again by voluntary labour, in 1969 and hall was officially opened at a variety concert, by GAA past President Alf Murray.
Three playing members of St Trea's, John Bateson (aged 19), James Sheridan (20) and Martin Lee (18), all members of the South Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) died when the bomb they were carrying exploded prematurely in Magherafelt on 18 December 1971. The trophy for the Derry Intermediate Football Championship is named after the three.
Well known players
Senior
Reserves
Minor
U-16
U-16 11 a Side Shield 2008
U-14
Ladies' football
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.