St Mary's G.A.C., Ahoghill is a rural Gaelic Club situated in the heart of South-West Antrim. The club fields teams in Senior and Reserve Football, Senior and Juvenile Hurling (playing as Clooney Gaels), Camogie and Juvenile football (playing as Sean Stinsons - a team combined with Roger Casements GAC, Portglenone). The club was formed in 1943 in the height of the war years and in a very small parish this was a remarkable achievement. The man who started it all was the parish priest at that time Rev. Fr. Henry McGuigan who called a meeting to consider the possibility of introducing Gaelic games to the area. The men who became the founding fathers were present and Fr McGuigan also invited Sean Stinson, County Secretary and P.B. Laverty, South-West Chairman.
The idea of setting up a club was discussed and a committee formed. The men elected were:
- President: Fr Henry McGuigan.
- Chairman: Patrick McGarry Snr.
- Secretary: John Logan.
- Treasurer: Samuel P Haveron.
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The club started with
a set of sky-blue jerseys donated by Ballymena United Football Club. Then in
1947 after contact with the County Board, Patrick McGarry Snr. bid £300 for an
area of ground and Ahoghill became the first club in Antrim to purchase their
own ground and vest in the G.A.A.
The club played in South-West Antrim for a number of years where
they eventually won every trophy available.
During the mid to late 1950s the club had probably its most
successful period winning many tournaments in Antrim and Derry and many
"sevens" competitions. Then in 1957 the minor team were narrowly
beaten by Pearses in the County final.
In 1964 Ahoghill achieved a significant breakthrough when
they won their first major trophy beating Dwyers in the Junior Championship
Final at Casement Park.
The next important event in our history was the official
opening of Fr McGuigan Park after a major contract carried out by Jack Wilson.
This took place on 4th June 1972 and a full day of entertainment followed. The
naming of the park showed that the people of Ahoghill would never forget Fr
McGuigan.
Arguably the 1973 team was the best ever to represent the
club. They reached the semi-final of the Senior Championship where they lost to
a Pat Armstrong-inspired Rossa. On the way they defeated Cargin who went on to
win the Senior Championship in 1974.
Camogie has played a vital role in our club from the outset.
In 1948 the Camogs won the County Championship and in 1969 went one step
further to win Ulster. They were narrowly beaten by Ahane of Limerick in the
All-Ireland semi- final. Still, this was a remarkable achievement. After some
lean years the club recently went from Division Four to Division One in five
seasons.
Hurling in the South-West has long been neglected although a
few clubs strive to keep it alive. In 1974 a hurling committee was set up and
juvenile and adult teams formed. The biggest success to date of the hurling
team was winning the Junior Championship against Ballymena in 1989 at
Cushendall. The team are currently playing in Division Three of the All-County
Leagues.
Ahoghill fielded under-age teams with little success until
1978 when they amalgamated with Portglenone to form a juvenile club which was
named after a man who gave a lifetime of service to the G.A.A. - Sean Stinson.
After a few lean years success followed and this culminated
in the winning of four County Minor Football titles in a row starting in 1995.
The U-16 hurlers have won two Division Two North Antrim League titles in recent
years and there is a lot of work being put into under-age hurling.
The Senior football team made another breakthrough in 1992
when, after defeating St Paul's and Ardoyne, they met their arch rivals,
Portglenone, in the final of the Junior Championship at Rasharkin. They
eventually broke down the Portglenone resistance to win 0 - 9 to 0 - 5 and
great celebrations followed. The team are currently playing in Division Two of
the All-County Leagues.
2003 has been the biggest in the club's history as we
officially opened our new £200k changing-room complex, along with ground
improvements (new fence and catch-nets). We are also developing a second pitch
and have recently obtained charitable status which will bring us many benefits.
I know of no other club in Ireland to have attained this status. The future of
St Mary's G.A.C., Ahoghill looks very secure.
