Sperrin Óg Ladies GFC was formed on 3 December 1991 when a number
of girls came together to form the Club in response to an invitation
in the local paper. The interest on this occasion was sparked off from
the fact that ladies football at last was being properly structured
within Tyrone and affiliated to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association
- Cumann Peile Gael na mBan. This was mainly due to the efforts of Rosemary
Carson from Omagh who sought out the contacts within the association
with a fair degree of difficulty.
Sperrin
Óg LGFC is based in the small village of Mountfield in rural
Tyrone at the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains (thus deriving its
name). The Club takes in the surrounding districts of Greencastle, Gortin
and Loughmacrory. The first committee of Sperrin Óg elected on
3 December 1991 was:
Chairperson:
- Mary Donaghy
Secretary: - Margaret Carland
Asst Secretary: - Anne Carland
Treasurer: - Bernie McFadden
Asst Treasurer: - Sharon Devlin
Committee Members: Bernie Donaghy, Jackie McElhatton, Anne Gallagher,
Marietta Meenan, Teresa McGinchey, Maura McGlinchey and Lorraine McCarney.
In 1992
Sperrin Óg competed in the League and Championship with Sean
Carland as trainer and Margaret Carland and Jackie McElhatton, captain
and vice-captain. Though not very successful in the first year, it was
an achievement being established and creating further interest in the
game locally. With the help of sponsers and a few fund raising events
the team was able to field in a new black and amber strip. Sperrin Óg
played against Charrig Mor, Oonagh Celts, Errigal Ciaran, Omagh St Endas,
St Macartans and Aghaloo. Though the wins were few and far between the
girls enjoyed each and every game and losing did not deter them.
The club
was represented at county level by Martina McGurren, Margaret Carland
and Bernie Tuohey. John Hackett from Eskra and Paddy O'Brien from Loughmacrory,
both GAA referees, refereed on the club's behalf. The team played their
home matches on Gorman's Field and had use of the facilities of Mountfield
Community Centre for changing.
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE :: 'Sperrin Óg Ladies GFC which took part in this years
league and championship'
This
year saw a new look to the football scene - the formation of a ladies
league and championship in Tyrone. With this in mind a decision was
made to arrange a ladies team taking part in the Mountfield, Greencastle
and Loughmacrory areas. With different areas involved the team was named
Sperrin Óg.
A lot of hard work was put into getting the team off the ground and
the club is most grateful to those who helped in any way. A special
word of thanks to Sean Carland our trainer and also to the following
without whose help the team would not have been a success:
The Tile It Store, TC Autos, Finlays, Mountfield; Sixmilecross Hardware
Store, Gallaghers Bar, Meenaghs Shop and Bar, McFadden Plant Ltd, Aiden
Meenan, Raymond Tracey, Carmel and Bernard McDermott, Francie McCarville,
Dermot McCullagh, Pat McElhatton, J & M Insurance, Mountfield Community
Association. ::
Football
in the area goes back further than 1991. It was common practice for
a team to be literally 'gathered up' for a once off sports day match
either at home or in neighbouring villages. It was an occasion like
this in 1974 when a group of girls came together and stayed together
for the summer season training weekly and playing in the region of ten
games. Bernard McDermott trained and managed this team known as Mountfield.
It was a time when the local men's team also Mountfield had recently
formed and football mania had gripped the area. The girls wore the men's
purple and yellow football strip for games. The youngest member of the
panel was twelve and the oldest in her early twenties. The team finished
the season unbeaten. The team photograph was taken at Beragh before
Mountfield played the local side. Two of the girls on the team, Alice
Treacy now Alice Walsh and Mary Donaghy are presently playing for Sperrin
Óg.
From '74
to '88 football was played occasionally but not with the same consistency.
It was never difficult however to form a team when the need arose. But
'88 saw the return to a more organised season. Margaret Meenan wanted
a team for a forthcoming tournament and the training commenced twice
a week. Mountfield played their first challenge match against Glencull
at Greencastle wearing the borrowed strip from Loughmacrory. The year
brought mixed fortune. From the newspaper clipping one can read the
interest and determination the girls possessed in reaching the final
of this tournament.
Mountfield
met Carrickmore again in the final in 1989 in the same tournament but
again were narrowly defeated. By this time the team had enlisted Sean
Gallagher as trainer. The team continued playing the various challenge
games and was pleased to be the winners of the Glencull Ladies Tournament.
In October, Mountfield played Oonagh Celts in the first round with the
result being a scoreless draw, rather unusual for gaelic football. However,
scores came in the replay with Oonagh Celts going through to the final.
The local community association sponsored the trophies for the competition.
Playing
continued in 1990 with Perry McCrory training the team. Fewer games
were played during this season though the training would have been more
strenuous and varied as Perry put the team through its paces. The last
game 'Mountfield' played was in Kildress Tournament where they were
defeated by the home side. Football had a one year break until Sperrin
Óg was formed.
With a
new list of officers elected for 1993, Sperrin Óg look back and
thank the people who started and kept the ladies football alive in the
area from '74 when the seed was planted to'93 - the trainers who gave
up their time selflessly and to everyone who have helped and supported
the cause of ladies football.
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE - 'Nail-biting finish to Ladies Football Competition'
Carrickmore won the first Martin Hurson Memorial Cup, Ladies Football
competition as a result of their narrow win over keen rivals, Mountfield,
at Galbally last Thursday evening, August 18th.
Carrickmore
had reached the final of the competition by defeating Altamuskin while
Mountfield overcame host club Galbally to reach the final stage. So,
the scene was set for a match which drew widespread local interest.
The game
was indeed a great advertisement for women's football, lacking absolutely
nothing in tension and sheer entertainment value. It took a frantic
last gasp offensive for Carrickmore to score three points without reply
in the second period of extra-time to scrape home.
For
their part, Mountfield showed great character and determination. In
Mary Donaghy, Martina Carland and their goal specialist, Alice Treacy,
they had players of top quality who could hold their own in any grade.
It was their team's uncanny ability to cancel out Carrickmore's point-taking
after patient build-up with goals that kept Mountfield in touch throughout,
and they almost stole it before Teresa Kelly scored a last minute overhead
kick in normal time. At the end of the forty minutes the score was Carrickmore
0-6, Mountfield 2-0.
Extra time
brought heavy rain, but the players ignored this, and to their credit
put in full-blooded effort all round. Each demonstrated tremendous grit
and will to win but retained a sense of sportwomanship to the very end.
For the
winners, Finola McKernan played a captain's part, while the strong running
of Annette Donaghy and Nuala McCrory posed Mountfield endless problems.
Celine McNally and Teresa Kelly held their heads to find their range
in a nail-biting finish. In defense, Pauline Grugan and Seraphine Hughes
were in top form. But all players on show had boosted the cause of women's
football in Tyrone and many bemoaned the fact that no formal league
structure exists in the county to allow them to continue their playing
careers.
Final score,
Carrickmore 1-9, Mountfield 3-1.
One point
of interest was the participation of young Diane Hurson, Carrickmore's
vice-captain. Martin Hurson the late hunger striker was her uncle, of
course, and it was to commemorate Martin that the tournament was organised.
Carrickmore
lined out: Anne Marie Hughes, Breige Grugan, Pauline Grugan, Margaret
McElroy, Finola McKernan, Seraphine Hughes, Celine McNally, Nuala McCrory,
Annette Donaghy, Regina Donaghy, Teresa Kelly, Noelle McKernan, Alice
Gormley, Anne Maguire, Diane Hurson, Brenda McElduff, Paula McCallan,
Cathy Coyle, Martina O'Connor, Christina McElduff and Nuala McElduff.
Mountfield:
Mary Daly, Orla McAleer, Martina Carland, Marie McNulty, Anne Devlin,
Clare-Ann McNulty, Geraldine Ferrity, Anne Gallagher, Veronica Donaghy,
Martina Meenan, Alice Treacy, Theresa Meenan, Jackie McElhatton, Mary
Donaghy (capt), Helen Kelly, Sharon Devlin, Tanya Donnelly, Carmel Gallagher,
Manager Maggie Meenan, Trainers Kate McCullagh and Bernie Donaghy. ::
::
.:
HISTORY
.:
1974 - 1993