County: Derry Colours: Green and white | Nickname: Vale Date founded 1933 | |
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Grounds: John McLaughlin Park(Páirc An Seán Mac Lochlainn) | ||
Saint Mary's Faughanvale GAA (Irish: CLG Naomh Muire Nuachongbháil) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Greysteel, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in the Catholic parish of Faughanvale, nine miles from Derry City. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football.
Contents
- Gaelic football
- Ladies Gaelic football
- Hurling and Camogie
- History
- Senior Football
- Minor Football
- Under 16 Football
- Under 14 Football
- Under 12 Football
- Ladies Senior Football
- References
Faughanvale have won the Derry Intermediate Football Championship five times and the Derry Junior Football Championship once. The club's catchment area includes Greysteel, Eglinton, Ballykelly, Enagh, Highlands and parts of Glack. Underage teams up to U-12's play in North Derry league and championships, from U-14 upwards teams compete in All-Derry competitions.
Gaelic football
Faughanvale fields Gaelic football teams at U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor, Reserve and Senior levels. They currently compete in the Derry Intermediate Championship. Having won Division 4 of the Derry ACFL in 2007,in 2008 they maintained their position in Division 3 in 2009.
Ladies' Gaelic football
As well as Minor and Senior Ladies' football teams, St Mary's fields U12, U14 and U16 teams.
Hurling and Camogie
The camogie and hurling teams ceased playing in 1989.
History
St. Mary's GAC Faughanvale was established in 1933. A camogie team was founded in 1946 and affiliated to the club, before folding in 1989.
The club's first major success came in 1943 when they won the North Derry Senior Football Championship, before losing to Lavey in the All-Derry Senior Championship final. In 1975 Faughanvale won the Derry Junior Football Championship. Three years later St. Mary's won the Derry Intermediate Football Championship and have won the competition a further four times since (1981, 1996, 1998, 1999). In 2014 Faughanvale were relegated from the Intermediate league. In 2015, for the first time in 40 years, they competed at Junior Level. In 2015 Faughanvale won a treble of Neil Carlin Cup, Division 3 League, and their second Derry Junior Championship. Faughanvale was awarded Irish News Rural Club of the Year 2005 by The Irish News.
The club purchased its current grounds in 1982, before this football was played at Brysons' field in the Killylane area of the Parish. When the new pitch opened in 1983 it was named after one of the founding club members and former Chairman of the Derry County Board, John McLaughlin. In May 2007 the club began a £1.2million redevelopment of their playing facilities at John McLaughlin Park and opened the new grounds in May 2009.
In 2008 the club took part in the Celebrity Bainisteoir programme and were managed by journalist Nell McCafferty.
Notable club members include Paul Bradley who won an All-Ireland minor medal with Derry in 1983, captained Derry minors to Ulster success in 1984 and who won a Sigerson medal with St Mary's, Belfast in 1989. Stephen Mulvenna won an All-Ireland senior medal with Derry in 1993. Club Members Kevin Bryson, Tony Grey, Simon Greene,and Joe Grey have all represented the Club at County level. In administration Colm O'Hara a former Chairman, Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the Club served as Chairman of the North Derry Board and a member of the County Committee while former Club Secretary Breige McGuinness served in various County Committee roles including Assistant Secretary.
Senior Football
Ulster Junior Club Football Championship
North Derry Senior Football Championship: 1
Derry Intermediate Football Championship: 5
Derry Junior Football Championship: 2
Dr. Kerlin Cup 3
Minor Football
Derry City Minor Football Championship: 1
Derry All County Minor 'B' Championship:
Under 16 Football
North Derry U-16 'B' Football Championship: 1
North Derry U-16 'B' Football League: 1
All county A U-16 Championship' 1
All county U-16 'A' Football League
Under 14 Football
North? Derry U-14 'B' Football Championship: ?
North? Derry U-14 'B' Football League: ?
Under 12 Football
Limavady Blitz 2
Drumsurn Blitz 2
Ladies Senior Football
Derry Ladies' Football Championship: 3
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.