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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Steelstown GAC
Steelstown Brian Óg's GAC (Irish: CLG Bhriain Óig Baile Stíl) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football.

The club's catchment area includes Steelstown and the wider Shantallow area at the edge of the city. Steelstown are one of the most successful Gaelic teams in the Cityside of Derry, with most of the county's footballers coming from rural areas. Underage teams up to U-12's play in North Derry GAA league and championships; from U-14 upwards teams compete in All-Derry competitions. The club play their home games at Páirc Bríd.

Gaelic football

Steelstown fields Gaelic football teams at U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor, Reserve, and Senior levels. They currently compete in the Derry Senior Championship and Division 1 of the Derry ACFL having won promotion for the first time in their short history in 2011.

Ladies' Gaelic football

The Ladies teams at the club were founded by Peter and Margaret Crabtree in June 2002. Since then a number of coaches have been involved in the development of the LGFA within the club.

Steelstown field Ladies' football teams from U8 through Senior. The senior ladies won county Junior B title in 2012. The minor ladies also won their county championship in 2012.

As of November 2023, the Senior Ladies were the 2023 Derry Senior League Winners, 2023 Derry Senior Champions, for the 4th year in a row, and 2023 Ulster Intermediate Champions. Caoimhe O’Kane was awarded Player of the Match in the Ulster final. Aoife McGough, Daire McKeever and Orla McGeough were awarded Ulster Club all Stars for their performances in this successful season.

History

Established in 1987, Steelstown GAC is one of the youngest clubs in the county. The founding members were mostly people from rural areas of the county who had moved to the city. They included twice All Star Anthony McGurk from Lavey, his wife Mary, Philip and Marion Devlin from Drumsurn and Mickey Doherty from Claudy. The first team was an U-12 team and they were actually called Steelstown/Pennyburn, because they drew players from the two schools, and played at Templemore Sports Complex. The club gained access to the North Derry Board in 1996 and a Senior team was formed for the first time. With the recent explosion of popularity of Gaelic games in Derry City, the club has gained a lot of members since the mid-1990s and Steelstown is probably making the best upwards strides of any club in the city. In recent years Steelstown have had numerous players represent Derry at Senior, U21 and Minor level.

Paul O'Hea and Marty Dunne were part of Derry's 2002 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship winning side, and in 2007, O'Hea became the first Steelstown player to play for Derry in the All-Ireland Championship when he came on as a sub against Mayo in Celtic Park. 15 Steelstown players were part of the St Columb's team that won the McLarnon Cup in 2002. Stephen Cleary, Neil Forrester, Mickey McKinney all from the club were part of Derry's 2007 All-Ireland Minor Championship runners-up team. Martin Dunne was part of Damien Cassidy's 2010 intercounty squad and made a number of appearances in the NFL.

In 2003, the club's new home pitch was opened on the Ballyarnet Road. A new £600,000 development of club rooms and changing facilities was completed at Páirc Brid, and was opened in March 2007. Pairc Brid is the home of Steelstown Brian Óg's GAC. It is named after former chairperson, the late Brid Kelly-McElroy who taught in Pennburn Primary school and was hugely influential in the formative years of Steelstown in the 1990s. Opened in 2003, Pairc Bhird is a "Prunty Pitch", with clubhouse facilities including 4 changing rooms, meeting room and sports hall. by then GAA president, Sean Kelly. The facilities have helped continue the growth of the club at all age levels. In 2005 Steelstown lost out to Glen Thirds in the final of the Derry Junior Football Championship, however the Seniors achieved promotion to Intermediate Football. Around this time the club also started a ladies' team. In 2008, Steelstown claimed their first ever senior title by defeating Limavady in the Dr Kerlin Cup final in Claudy with unsung hero Conán Doherty leaping to fame with a heroic left footed effort to the back of the net. In 2008 young Steelstown star Brian Óg Mckeever was diagnosed with cancer, later died of it. Brian Óg represented Derry under 15's and under 16's and was called into the minor team before having to pull out due to illness. He captained the Steelstown teams up to minor level. Brian Óg had a huge influence upon every one who knew him. Steelstown decided to rename the club in honour of the committed footballer to Steelstown Brian Óg's GAC. Steelstown also retired the number 5 jersey in his honour.

In 2010, Steelstown were runners up to Castledawson in the Intermediate Championship final, losing out by a late point on the scoreline of 0–10 to 0–11.

Having finished top of Division 2, Steelstown lost to Craigbane in the 2011 league final by 3 points. With one final chance against Division 1 relegation candidates, Newbridge, Steelstown booked their place in Derry's top flight as the first city side to do so in over 30 years. An injury time wonder goal, courtesy of Stephen Cleary's left boot, was the eventual margin as Brian Óg's secured senior status for the first time.

Honours

Senior

Senior Reserves

  • Intermediate Football Championship Winners 3
    • 2016, 2018, 2020
  • Intermediate Football League 1
    • 2011

Ladies

  • Derry Senior Football Championship 5
    • 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • Ulster Ladies Intermediate Football Championship 1
    • 2023
  • Derry Intermediate Football Championship 1
    • 2016
  • Ulster Junior Championship 1
    • 2016
  • Junior B Championship 1
    • 2012
  • Minor County championship 1
    • 2012
  • Minor League title 1
    • 2012
  • Under 16 county shield 1
    • 2011

Minor

  • Tommy O'Neill Cup (Derry Minor 'A' Football Championship) 1
    • 2005
  • North Derry Minor 'A' Football Championship: 1
    • 2005

Under-16

  • North Derry Under-16 Football Championship: 1
    • 2005
  • North Derry Under-16 'B' Football Championship: 2
    • 2003, 2014

Under-14

  • North Derry Under-14 Football Championship: 1
    • 2003
  • County Derry Under-14 Football A League: 1
    • 2014

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

See also

References

  1. ^ "History of Steelstown GAC". Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  2. ^ "Steelstown Clubhouse Ready for Throw In". Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Second half goals see Steelstown crowned All-Ireland champions". Irish Examiner. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Derry city's men of Steel edge out Moortown". The Irish News. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
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