Stewartstown Harps GAC

Stewartstown Harps is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Stewartstown in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

Stewartstown Harps
An Chraobh na Cláirseacha
Founded:1912
County:Tyrone
Nickname:The Harps
Colours:White and Red
Grounds:Mullaghmoyle
Coordinates:54°33′58.01″N 6°41′21.60″W
Playing kits
Standard

History

Harps Gaelic Football Club was founded in 1912 and played in the East Tyrone league until 1918. The Harps reformed in 1923 to play in the Stewartstown District (East Tyrone) league and it then won the first of its two Tyrone Senior Football Championships a year later. On our way to championship victory in 1924 the club defeated Beragh Red Knights by 3–5 to 2–3 in the semi-finals and then Omagh Coleman's in the final by 0–18 to 0–4. The Harps were also East Tyrone Senior League Winners as well that year.

Unfortunately the Harps went out of existence at the end of the decade and it wasn't until 1957 that the club was reformed again. This reformation was down to the hard working Samuel Park and the club based its facilities in the townland of Mullaghmoyle. Since this reformation the Harps have been playing continuously ever since in the Tyrone leagues with a reasonable amount of success, most notably winning the O'Neill Cup in 1962. In the 1962 Tyrone Senior championship the Harps defeated teams such as Coalisland, Pomeroy and Urney on the path to the final. In the final the Harps met local rivals Derrylaughan Kevin Barry's and emerged victors on a 3-3 to 0-3 scoreline. There were jubilant scenes when team captain Paddy McNally received the O'Neill Cup from Paddy Cullen of the Tyrone County Board.

The Sixties and Seventies was undoubtedly the most celebrated era in the history of the club. Along with the Senior Championship in 1962, an Intermediate League was won in 1964 as well as Senior league titles in 1971, 1973 and 1975. The Harps also reached the Senior championship final in 1972 but a Frank McGuigan inspired Ardboe proved too strong. Apart from an Intermediate Championship triumph against Augher in 1980 the Eighties and Nineties were not as successful. Relegation to Junior football for the first time since the club was reformed occurred in 1988. However the Harps fought back and won promotion immediately the following year in 1989 by winning Division 3. Stewartstown have had much success over the past years with the u i5s winning the og sport. Also the U-14s having a great squad

In 1990 the Harps reached the Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship final but a severely weakened team proved no match for an Ardboe side who were Senior champions three years previously. Despite a good league showing that year as well, the Harps spent the next six years languishing in the lower regions of Intermediate football before being relegated to Junior football again in 1997. The Harps second spell in Junior Football only lasted two seasons as Intermediate status was regained for the year 2000 as a result of league restructuring. Three seasons of Intermediate football followed for the Harps before relegation back to Junior football again in 2002. Even though the Senior team was struggling there was still hope for the Harps as a strong youth policy was beginning to come to fruition. The U-16's won the league and championship double in 2001 while Minor leagues were won in 2002 and 2003. The majority of these players are now part of the Harps senior squad and they have now transferred this youth success onto the senior stage by winning Tyrone and Ulster Junior Club Football Championships in 2004 and in 2005 reaching an All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship Final. 2005 was also a big year off the field for the Harps as a new pavilion was built at Mullaghmoyle to replace the existing pavilion which had been built in 1974. 2006 was the year when the Harps finally gained promotion back to Senior Championship Football after a period of 26 years, and it was fitting that the Harps were back in senior ranks in 2007, 50 years after the present Harps club was reformed. After being relegated in 2009 to junior the Harps went on a fabulous run in the league in 2010 only being beat once. In the championship Stewartstown made it to the final against local rivals killyman. The Harps lost the final by just 1 point. The league that year is the last thing the senior team has one to date but various youth groups such as the minors and even the women has gone on to win silverware.

Achievements

Notable players

Fergal Logan - all Ireland finalist Gareth Devlin - all Ireland minor winner Mickey Mulgrew Ryan Devlin - all Ireland minor winner Conor Quinn - all Ireland minor finalist These players have all gone on to represent their county which is Tyrone.

References
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