1972
JANUARY 16, 1972
Drumragh Sarsfields GAC are formed in 1972, after the amalgamation of Tattysallagh St Eugene’s and Tattyreagh St Patrick’s. St Eugene’s, founded in the late 1890s, was one of the oldest clubs locally, and won the County Junior Championship in 1942.
Drumragh Sarsfields GAC officially came into being on Sunday, January 16, 1972, following the amalgamation of Tattysallagh St Eugene’s and Tattyreagh St Patrick’s. The merger was brought about after a meeting between representatives from both clubs at St Eugene’s Hall.
A press cutting from the time of the merger
MARCH 26, 1972
Drumragh juniors (reserves) play their first ever competitive game, away to Pomeroy. They win 5-2 to 1-3.
A match report from Drumragh’s first ever junior (reserve) game against Pomeroy
APRIL 9, 1972
Drumragh senior men play their first ever competitive fixture, drawing 1-5 to 2-2 in the West Tyrone Intermediate League with Wolfe Tones, a combination of Drumquin and Dregish.
APRIL 16, 1972
Drumragh play their first ever senior home game against Eskra at Bradley’s Holm in the West Tyrone Intermediate League. They win 1-11 to 3-1.
A plaque at Bradley’s Holm acknowledging Drumragh’s first ever competitive home game
JUNE 11, 1972
Drumragh play their first ever senior championship game, taking on Fintona in Trillick. And they record the club’s first ever senior championship victory with a 2-12 to 1-5 win.
A press cutting including some details on Drumragh’s first ever championship win
1973
In 1973, Drumragh fielded teams at Under 16 and Minor level for the very first time. The McDermott Cup was also played for for the first time. The competition included teams from Downpatrick, Trillick, Scotstown, Beragh, Lavey, Letterkenny, Clann na Gael and Bundoran.
MARCH 17, 1973
Stephen Cassidy represents the club in the MacRory Cup final as Omagh CBS lose 1-10 to 0-10 to St Michael’s Enniskillen in Dungannon.
AUGUST 15, 1973
Drumragh U16s are beaten in the West Tyrone Championship final by Fintona. They lose by two points in a game that was held in Trillick. Drumragh had reached the final by beating Omagh in the semi-final.
A West Tyrone U16 team, managed by Pat McGlone, featuring Drumragh’s Anthony McGurk, Gerard Lynn, PJ Mullan and Eamon McCann
1974
MARCH 23, 1974
Drumragh’s Jim McGread and Paddy Gallagher line out at midfield as Tyrone Vocational Schools win the Ulster title by beating Derry in the final at Ballinacreen.
MAY 12, 1974
Tyrone Vocational Schools beat Wicklow to win the All-Ireland Championship, helped on their way by Drumragh’s Paddy Gallagher and Jim McGread.
The Ulster Herald included pen pics ahead of the final and said the following about the two Drumragh players: “Jim McGread has been one of the discoveries in this competition and has solved a major midfield problem. He is also a capable defender and player as such against Donegal in the Minor League.”
“Paddy Gallagher, the second Sarsfields player on the team is yet another product of St Pat’s School, Omagh. His midfield displays in the Ulster Final and All-Ireland Semi-Final were first class.”
Jim McGread and Paddy Gallagher won Ulster and All-Ireland titles with Tyrone Vocationals in 1974
1975
JULY 27, 1975
Tyrone minors win the Ulster Championship, beating Cavan 0-10 to 0-7 in the final at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones. Drumragh’s Eamon ‘Smokey’ McCann lined out at right half-forward.
SEPTEMBER 28, 1975
Drumragh’s Eamon ‘Smokey’ McCann is part of the Tyrone side that are beaten 1-10 to 0-4 in the All-Ireland championship final by Kerry at Croke Park.
A pen pic in the Ulster Herald prior to the final described Eamon as “one of the top young forwards in Tyrone”. “Eamon has been on and off the side in several games. Is a great player to send in when things aren’t going too well and his ability to take on a defence makes him a valuable asset to have in the background.”
The Kerry team that day included players who would go on to become GAA legends such as Charlie Nelligan, Sean Walsh and Jack O’Shea.
Tyrone Minors, including Drumragh’s Eamon ‘Smoky’ McCann, pictured before the All-Ireland final against Kerry at Croke Park.
1976
1976 saw Fred Breen line out for Tyrone in goals.
SEPTEMBER 5, 1976
Drumragh win their first senior title winning the Tyrone Division 4 league. A 4-9 to 0-4 win over Aghaloo at St Patrick’s Park secures the league.
The Drumragh team that won the 1976 Division 4 league
OCTOBER 26, 1976
Drumragh wins its first ever Scór title. The quiz team of Jacinta Gallagher, Brian Murray and Marie McCrory win the Scor na nOg title in Carrickmore.
1977
1977- A particular highlight for the Senior Team from this year was the Double win over the newly demoted Omagh St. Enda’s.
1977- The Under 21 Team reached the County Final. The path to the final included wins over Cappagh and Sean McDermotts. The final took place on Sunday 8th January against Clan Eireann, a merge of Derrylaughlin, Clonoe, Mountjoy & Derrytresk.
1977- In Scor na nOg, the Club added to its trophy cabinet with two County titles in the Ballad and Quiz.
1978- The Club suffered a great loss when Paddy Starrs snr. died. Paddy had been Chairman of the Club since it’s formation and has been elected President earlier in the year.
1979- Louise George guided the Club to another Scor na nOg title in Recitation. Also work began on changing room’s at St. Pat’s Park.
1983- The Minor’s reached the Grade II County Final which was played against Glenelly. The first Minor County Title was won on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-4.
1983- The Reserve Team also had similar success, completing the Double and winning both the League & Championship titles. The Reserves overcame Loughmacrory in the Championship Final and Derrytresk in the League Final.
1983- The fourth County Title of the year came from the Senior Team. The win over Strabane in the penultimate match of the season confirmed that Drumragh would once again be playing Division 2 football.
1984- The Under 14 Team claimed the Club’s first County Title at this age. Drumragh beat Dungannon at Cookstown with a final score of 4-11 to 0-1.
1985- Under the management of Paddy Mullan, the Reserves repeated their success of 1983 by winning the League & Championship. The Team was beaten only twice in the League and beat Urney at Healy Park in the Championship with a scoreline of 3-4 to 1-2.
1986- The Under 16’s won the League and brought back the Club’s first title at Juvenile level. The Team beat Carrickmore in the Final after coming through the group unbeaten. The final took place in Beragh with a final score of 2-7 to 1-6.
1987- One of the Club’s greatest success’ came when they won the Junior Championship on Sunday 27th September 1987. The Team met Urney at Pomeroy after beating Dregish, Strabane & Greencastle to reach the final. The young team went on to win 1-9 to 0-3 with Captain Enda Mullan lifting the trophy.
1989- The Under 12 Team won their League after recording seven victories from seven games. This represented the Club’s first title at this age grade.
1989- The Reserve Team, fuelled by a particularly strong Minor Team, once again picked up the Championship Title after beating Urney with a score of 1-8 to 0-5.
1994- The Club kickstarted it’s winning ways with a Scor Title in Ceile Dancing.
1999- The Club won it’s most prestigious title yet when the Senior Team beat Stewartstown to win the Junior Championship for the second time in it’s history.
2002- The Reserve Team added yet another County Title at this level.
2004- Drumragh once again moved into Division 2 after winning the League in 2004. Under the management of Seamus Woods, the Senior Team came through the season in strong form.
More To Come…
We’ll be posting our last 20 Year’s of History soon
