This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2023) |
Stewartstown Harps is a Gaelic Athletic Association club which was founded in 1912 and based in the village of Stewartstown in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The club plays its games in Mullaghmoyle park.
| An Chraobh na Cláirseacha | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Founded: | 1912 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County: | Tyrone | ||||||||
| Nickname: | The Harps | ||||||||
| Colours: | White and Red | ||||||||
| Grounds: | Mullaghmoyle Park | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 54°33′58.01″N 6°41′21.60″W / 54.5661139°N 6.6893333°W | ||||||||
| Playing kits | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||
| |||||||||
History
editStewartstown Harps was founded in 1912 and won their first Tyrone Senior Football Championship in 1924. The Harps also won the league the same year. They then went out of existence in the 1940’s but would reform in again in 1956.
The Harps made a dramatic entrance to competitive Gaelic football within a few years of reforming when they captured the top prize in Tyrone Gaelic Football - the O'Neill Cup- for a second time thanks to victory over Derrylaughan Kevin Barrys in September 1962. Another major honour was secured in 1971, with the winning of the All-County League Division One.
Along with the senior championship, an intermediate league was won in 1964 along with senior league titles in 1971, 1973, & 1975 and a senior championship final appearance to Ardboe coming in between in 1972.
A Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship triumph in 1980 would be the last championship title for the Harps until 2004 when they won the Tyrone Junior Football Championship.
Stewartstown also won the Ulster Junior Club Football Championship in 2004, beating Cremartin in the final.[1] The Harps went on to qualify for the All-Ireland final, but were outclassed by Finuge.[2]
In 2006, the Harps regained promotion to Senior Football after a period of 26 years by winning their 2nd intermediate championship. In Ulster, the Harps would be victorious in the quarter-final beating St Brigid's GAC in Healy Park before moving on to the semi-final against Ballymacnab Round Towers GAC. The Harps would be defeated in Breffni Park after a replay.
In 2009 they were again relegated to Junior, but the team went on a successful run in the league in 2010, only beaten once. In the championship Stewartstown made it to the final against local rivals Killyman St Mary's GAC. The Harps lost the final by one point.
In 2016, the Harps won the Tyrone U-21 G1 Championship for the first time defeating Coalisland Fianna in the final played at O’Neill Park, Dungannon. The Harps would then go on to play in the Ulster U-21 tournament. After winning against Donaghmoyne in the quarter-final, they would bow out in the semi-final stage to Crossmaglen Rangers.
Winning the Junior league title in 2022 would be the seniors next major honour going undefeated in the process. That would then be followed up by winning the Tyrone Junior Football Championship defeating Aghaloo by 2–12 to 0–12 in the final.[3] Following wins against Teconnaught And Letterkenny Gaels, the Harps would play Drumlane in the Ulster Junior final.[4] Stewartstown came out on top after a penalty shoot-out to win their second title.[5] In January 2023, Stewartstown beat Clifden in the All-Ireland semi-final to set up a final date with Fossa.[6] The All-Ireland took place on 15 January 2023. Fossa won the match by 0–19 to 1–13 in a bad-tempered game which featured six red cards, including four for Stewartstown.[7]
Honours
edit- Tyrone Senior Football Championship: (2)
- 1924, 1962
- Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship: (2)
- 1980, 2006
- Tyrone Junior Football Championship: (2)
- 2004, 2022[8]
- Ulster Junior Club Football Championship: (2)
- 2004, 2022[9]
- Tyrone All-County League Division 1A (Senior): (1)
- 1971
- Tyrone All-County League Division 1B (Senior): (1)
- 1973
- Tyrone All-County League Division 2 (Senior): (1)
- 1975
- Tyrone All-County League Division 3 (Junior): (3)
- 1989, 2010, 2022
- All-Ireland Junior Football 7's: (1)
- 2005
- East Tyrone Intermediate League: (1)
- 1964
- Tyrone U-21 Grade 1 Championship (1)
- 2016
- Tyrone Minor Grade 1 League (1)
- 2013
- Tyrone U-16 Grade 1 League (1)
- 2012
- Ulster U-15 Grade 1 Óg Sport (1)
- 2011
- Tyrone U-15 Grade 1 Óg Sport (1)
- 2011
Facilities
editMullaghmoyle Park
Since the Clubs reformation in 1957, the Harps based its facilities in the townland of Mullaghmoyle just outside the village of Stewartstown.
In 2005. A new pavilion was built to replace the existing one which was built in 1974.
In 2011, the 2nd phase of the Harps redevelopment plan was completed when a second floodlit pitch was officially opened by the GAA President Christy Cooney.
In 2022, the 3rd phase of redevelopment got underway with the addition of a new playing field parallel to the current field. This new development would also include new turnstiles, fencing, play park and gym to complete the redevelopment of Mullaghmoyle.
References
edit- ^ "Stewartstown fight back to take title". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Galvin goal powers Finuge to deserved All-Ireland glory". Irish Examiner. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Harps Annex Championship to Complete Double". TeamTalkMag. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Stewartstown's finishing proves too much for Letterkenny in Ulster JFC semi-final". The Irish News. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Stewartstown are just the ticket after lottery of penalty hands them Ulster junior title". The Irish News. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Stewartstown Harps pull clear of Clifden in extra-time to set up All-Ireland JFC final date with Fossa". Irish Independent. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Fogarty, John (15 January 2023). "David Clifford leads Fossa to All-Ireland club glory in ill-tempered final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Harps Annex Championship to Complete Double". TeamTalkMag. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Stewartstown are just the ticket after lottery of penalty hands them Ulster junior title". The Irish News. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.