Ballymaguigan GAC

Saint Trea's Ballymaguigan GFC () 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.

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  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
Eamonn Coleman - former Derry manager and footballer.
Gary Coleman – All Star winning Derry footballer. Son of Eamonn Coleman.
Jim McKeever – 1958 Footballer of the Year.
Paddy Crozier – former Derry manager.

Honours

Senior
Derry Senior Football Championship: 1
1962
Derry Senior Football League: 1
1962
South Derry Senior Football Championship: 1
1957
South Derry Senior Football League: 1
1949
Derry Intermediate Football Championship: 5
1971, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2009
Derry Intermediate Football League: 3
1993, 1998, 2006
Derry Junior Football Championship: 2
1951, 1970
Derry Junior Football League: 1
1951
South Derry Junior Football Championship: 2
1969, 1970
Seán Larkin Cup: 2
1958, 1959
Graham Cup: 2
1970, 1971
McGlinchey Cup: 1
2011

Reserves
Derry Intermediate Reserve Football Championship: 2
2003, 2004

Minor
Tommy O'Neill Cup: 2
1997, 2003
South Derry Minor 'B' Football Championship: 2
1997, 2003
South Derry Minor 'B' Football League: 2
1997, 2003

Under-16
 Derry Under-16 11 a Side Shield
 2008
South Derry Under-16 'C' Football League: 1
1998

Under-14
 South Derry Under-14 'B' Football Championship: 1
 1999
 South Derry Under-14 'B' Football League: 1
 1999
 Derry Under-14 'C' Football League: 1
 2009

Ladies' football
 Senior Ladies Derry Intermediate League: 1
 2006
Under-16 Ladies 'B' Championship 1
Under-16 Ladies ‘A’ Championship 5 
Under-16 Ladies League 5 
 2004
Under-14 Ladies Féile na nÓg
 2004 2013 2014 2015 2016 
 Under-14 South Derry League: 5
 2003
Under-14 Derry Championship: 5
 2003
Under-13 'B' Derry Championship: 1
 2011

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

See also
Derry Senior Football Championship
List of Gaelic games clubs in Derry

References

External links
St. Trea's GFC website

Category:Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in County Londonderry
Category:Gaelic football clubs in County Londonderry