Laveygac.ie

Tradition
Foundation
First Championship Success
Double Finally Achieved
Indifferent Fifties
An New Era
The Eighties - rejuvenated

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Tradition

Between the years 1935 and 1936 the traditional game of hurling was introduced to Lavey. Today, nearly fifty yeas further on, that tradition still exists despite the apparent apathy towards the game throughout much of the county,

Indeed we are happy to relate that rarely has the enthusiasm for the game in Lavey been greater than at present - it is not uncommon to regularly find up to forty juveniles in the pitch, practising the considerable arts and skills of the game under the watchful eye of enthusiasts like Tom Magill, Colm Henry, Paddy Dillon, Louis Regan and Hugh Martin McGurk

Foundation

Fr. James McLaughlan a young curate who came to the parish about 1934 was the man responsible for launching hurling in Lavey. Soon after his arrival he had formed a hurling club, although it is believed that they- did not participate in serious competition until 1935. The club was called shamrocks and for a period was independent of the football club, Their original colours were green jerseys with a white shamrock on the breast.

They were problems for the young Shamrock's, not least being the lack of funds for travel and Hurleys - the lack of competition within a reasonable proximity. The only Hurling teams in Derry at that time were city-based teams like St, Patrick's, Sarfields. Eire Og and Burt. Whilst Fr. McLaughlan succeeded in enticing a couple of these teams to Lavey for challenge fixtures, it was obviously impractical for the Shamrock's to operate in the same league. As a result they participated in the South West Antrim league with teams like Toome, Cargin, Creggan and Randalstown.

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First Championship Success

Although little is known about the details, the records show that the Shamrock's won the Derry championship in 1939, which was a commendable achievement in view of their brief experience in the game. Members of that era - most of them still to the fore though perhaps not so supple and agile as then include: Joe Dillon, Paddy McGahey, Johnny Flannagan, Paddy Madden, Vincent Convery (Rory), Danny McAtamney, Jim McAtamney, Brian Flatley, Paddy O'Neill

Joe, Dan, Pat and Tom Boyle, J.P. Kearney, Dan McCrystal, Eddie Brennan, Patsy Brennan, John Joe Ward, Jim Dougan, Joe Hurley, Hugh A. McGurk, Harry Lagan, Jack Convery, Henry McErlean, Rev.C. McGoldrick and Joe Paul Dillon.

The Shamrocks were fortunate to be able to call upon the services of a few southern players who were living in the area at that time. These included Master Holloway from Tipperary who taught in Ballymapeake primary school and who gave yeoman service to the club - both on and off the field. Timmy Ryan was another Tipperary man whose artistry shone like a beacon, while there was also John and Seamus Burke from Galway. Whilst contributing greatly to the playing strength of the Shamrock's team, the skills of these 'naturals' no doubt wore off on the local players.

Due mainly to the lack of a home county league and the difficult conditions of the 'hungry thirties', the hurling team ceased to participate in competitions shortly after their 1939 Championship triumph. However the club still existed, though inactive, and in 1941 an amalgamation place between the hurling and football clubs. By this time Hurling had been resurrected somewhat within the county and enough teams now functioned to allow a league as well as the County Championship.

In 1943 Lavey reached the final of the hurling championship only to be beaten by Mitchel's of Coleraine. This defeat was particularly disappointing, as the club had already won the football championship that year - so a unique football - hurling double had been denied at the final hurdle.

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Double Finally Achieved

Whilst 1943 was a very successful year, .44 will be remembered as one of the most triumphant distinguished history of the Erin's Own club. The footballers retained their county title with a final victory over Mitchels (Derry) while the hurlers fulfilled their part of the bargain by completing that elusive double, with semi-final 'revenge' over Mitchel's (Coleraine) and a win against Sarsfield's (Derry) by 4-3 to 3-3 in the final. Incidentally the hurlers encountered a similar problem to the footballers of conveying their players to Derry City for that championship final meeting with Sarsfield's. The total cost of the venture was in excess of £50 - a substantial sum of money in those days.

Lavey made something of a habit of winning the hurling championship during the forties. In 1946 they accounted for Coleraine in the semi-finals and Kevin Barry's (City) in the final. The records show that they won the title again in 1948.

Indifferent Fifties

The fifties were indifferent years, for hurling, not only in Lavey, but also in the county. Once again most of the teams faded out leaving no opportunity for an organised league to the detriment of those who did participate and the game in general. While no records of Championship winners throughout the fifties are available, Lavey did compete most years against St. Finbarrs in a kind of unofficial championship. In an effort to maintain interest and enthusiasm for hurling within the club, regular day trips were organised to venues like Cushendall, Loughgiel, Cushendun, Carnlough etc., the most famous of which were the annual Easter Sunday trips. Apart from the outing these consisted of a match against one of the traditional 'Glens' teams, with a ceili to finish off the day.
Lavey next recorded championship success was in 1962, but is no record of any further successes during the sixties.

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An New Era

The 1970's have experienced a new era in the hurling in Derry, with greater emphasis being placed upon the youth - particularly the U 12 and U 14 age groups. The U 12 (primary) league was inaugurated in 1974 with only three teams - Lavey, Dernaflaw and Dungiven competing at first. The following year witnessed the inclusion of Ballinascreen, Ballerin and Drumsurn. The popularity of the league is highlighted by the fact that no less then twelve teams now compete in a very successful and competitive league. Lavey have won the league for the past two seasons and are currently well placed to make it three in a row. In the 1978 season the Erin's Own hurlers had another notable success when their U 16 team triumphed in an Ulster League against teams from Tyrone, Armagh and Derry.

In 1976 a new trophy was donated by the board to the winners of the South Derry Senior Hurling Championship, which was an innovation that year. Lavey and Slaughtneil won through to the final and after an exciting tussle in which the standard of hurling was one of Lavey's most interested supporters that day, Fr. Packie McLaughlan, who had been recently installed as curate in the parish, was renewing an acquaintance with the team for which he himself had played some twenty years previously. Throughout his stay in Lavey Fr. McLaughlan continued to give his wholehearted support to Erin's Own teams - both hurling and football, and indeed was one of the mentors of the triumphant '77 football team. The club is indebted to his efforts and enthusiasm.

One name, which has always been synonymous with hurting in Lavey - from the foundations of the Shamrock's in 1935, is Dan McCrystal (R.I.P). Not that Dan's efforts were confined to hurling - it was that same Dan who played in goals for the very first Erin's Own football team. However, despite giving faithful service between the sticks for Lavey, Newbridge, and Cargin. Dan's first love was the game of hurling. Down the years he has strove through thick and thin to promote the game and maintain the hurling tradition within the parish. That this tradition has stood the test of time is a fitting reward to his efforts. Having handed over the reins of responsibility to younger and more energetic hands, Dan can feel justly proud of his contribution to hurling in both club and county.

With the approach of fifty years of hurling in Lavey the current outlook for the future is extremely encouraging. The necessary steps have now been taken to cater for the game where it is most vital - with the very young. The coaching schemes which are presently being embarked upon, allied to the enthusiasm and dedication of these youngsters, will ensure that hurling will not only continue to survive in Lavey, but will perhaps reach new heights in the not so distant future.

The Eighties - rejuvenated

In 1983, Lavey played in the Antrim Minor Hurling League, and won it outright. They also collected the Derry U-18 Hurling Championship in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
With all this experience behind them they made the breakthrough in the Derry Senior Hurling Championship in 1985 when they beat the Dungiven team who had set the standards in Derry since 1972.
One invaluable asset to Lavey over the last two decades has been Tom Nott, a former Cork county hurler. He is a dedicated hurling enthusiast, who has managed Cork to three Minor All Ireland Championship successes. Tom has adopted Lavey as his second home and makes numerous trips up to Lavey each year to coach and brings his own club team Na Piarsigh up for weekend games.
After making the breakthrough in Derry in 1985, Erin's Own Lavey have now captured the Derry title a further 8 times 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1997. They have so far been unsuccessful in the Ulster Series, but have appeared in four finals, 1986 v Ballycastle, 1988 v Rossa, 1994 v Dunloy and 1997 v Dunloy running the eventual winners close in every final. It can also be noted that all these Antrim clubs have gone on to make a good account of themselves in the All Ireland deciders. It can only be a matter of time before Lavey make that historic breakthrough in Ulster.

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