Hurling History

BALLYVARLEY SENIOR HURLING HISTORY
 
Title Winners - 13
Down Championship Winners: Senior Championship: 1910.    Junior Championship: 1975, 2006
Down League Winners 
Rathfriland and District HL: 1934.   South Down JHL: 1963.     Down SHL Div. 4 (South): 1983
Down JHL: 1974 .    Down ACHL Division 2: 2009
Down JH Feis Sevens Winners:  1978, 1983, 1987, 1999
Betsy Gray Shield Winners:        1998                                         
 
Finalists / Runners-Up - 35
Down SHL Finalists: 1916.                                         Down SHC Finalists: 1907, 1915
Down IHC Finalists   1979, 1983, 1987                       Down JHC Finalists: 1955, 1958, 2010
Down SHL Division 2 Runners-up:  1975, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2002
West Down HL Runner-up: 1948
Betsy Gray Finalists / Runners-up: 1989, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
Feis Sevens Finalists:   1963, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1994, 2001, 2004, 2010
 
 
BALLYVARLEY SENIOR HURLING CHRONOLOGY

1810-1888            Cross-country Hurling, “Camanacht”, in winter
1889                      Ballyvarley Shamrocks founded
1903-1907            Clann-Na-Banna Hurling Club
1907                      Down SH Final in Ballyvarley: Newry Faughs 3-9 Clann-Na-Banna 3-7
1908                      Re-emergence of Ballyvarley Shamrocks
1909                      Ballyvarley lose Down SF Championship Final to Newry Faughs
1910                      Ballyvarley lose Down SF Championship Final to Newry Clann Uladh
1910                      Down SH Champions: Ballyvarley Shamrocks beat Newry Faughs
1911-12                Little GAA Activity
1913                      Club Name changed to Banbridge Davitt’s
1916                      Down 1915 SH Final: Banbridge 6-1, Kilclief 6-1 (23rdJan at Castlewellan)
                              Down SH League Final v Leitrim in Newry – Game abandoned
1917-1924            Political Unrest: little hurling activity, Gaelic games suspended
1925                      Revival of Ballyvarley Shamrocks Hurling Club by Fr Mick McCartan
1934                      Rathfriland and District Hurling League Winners
1935-1945            No hurling team in Ballyvarley
1946                      29th March: Special General Meeting to form a hurling team.
                              29th Aug AGM: Club assumes title of Aghaderg GFC and Ballyvarley HC
1948                      Runners-Up in West Down H League, promotion to the All County H League
1949-1960            Club withdraws from League Competitions. Only played in the JHC
1955                      JHC Final: lost to Leitrim in Newcastle
1958                      JHC Final: lost to Leitrim 4-0 to 6-7 in Ballela
1961                      Hurling Revival in South Down. Ballyvarley re-enter League Competition
1963                      Ballyvarley win South Down Junior Hurling League
                              Ballyvarley qualify for Feis Sevens Finals in Newcastle, for the first time
                              Juvenile Hurling begins. Club enters a minor team in the championship
1966/67                Gerry Taylor’s Field’s purchased for £700 – the site of our current grounds
1969                      Work begins on developing the new football field
1971                      Wed 28th July: U16HC v Ballela played on New Field (1st unofficial fixture)
1973                      Mon 29th Jan - Incendiary bomb destroys Club’s wooden pavilion
1974                      Down JHL Champions: beat Kilkeel in play-off in Ballykinlar by 4-4 to 4-3
1975                      Down JHC Winners, beat Leitrim in Attical by 3-6 to 3-2
                              Intermediate Hurling League Runners-up
1978                      Down Junior Hurling Feis Sevens Winners
1979                      Down IHC Final: lost to Ballygalget by 2-10 to 0-3 in Kilclief
1981                      Plans passed for construction of a new hall. Foundations laid in Nov
1981-1985            Ballyvarley enter a Reserve Team in the ACHL
1983                      Down IHC Final: lost to Ballygalget by 0-3 to 7-7 in Loughinisland
                              ACHL Div 2 Runners-up; Down JH Feis Winners; SHL Div 4(South) Winners
                              Friday 29th April - Official Opening of the New Hall
1984                      April – Launch of the Club History, “The Aghaderg Story”
                              June 10th - Official Opening of the Club Grounds and Playing Facilities, by the
                              GAA President, Mr Paddy Buggy
1986                      Jimmy Stewart - All-Ireland Clubman of the Year
1987                      Down IHC Final: lost to Ballycran by 1-5 to 1-7 in Newcastle
                              SHL Div 2 – Runners-up; JH Feis Sevens Winners
1988                      SHL Div 1 – Runners-up
1989                      SHL Div 2 – Runners-up; Betsy Gray Cup – Runners-up
1994                      Betsy Gray Cup Final: lost to Shamrocks 4-1 to 2-8
                              Ballyvarley re-graded to Junior for the first time since 1975
1996                      ACHL Div 2 Runners-up
1998                      Betsy Gray Shield Winners: beat Shamrocks in Ballykinlar by 5-10 to 0-2
1999                      JH Feis Sevens Winners
2000                      SHL Div 2 Runners-up
                              Betsy Gray Shield Final: lost to Darragh Cross by 1-6 to 3-6;
2001                      Betsy Gray Shield Runners-up  
2002                      SHL Div 2 – Runners Up; Betsy Gray Shield Finalists
2005                      Betsy Gray Shield Final:lost to Darragh Cross by 1-6 to 1-12.
2006                      Down JHC Winners: beat Bredagh by 3-8 to 0-13 in Kilclief
                              Ulster JH Championship Semi-finalists
2009                      ACHL Division 2 Winners
2010                      Down JHC Final:lost to Clonduff by 1-11 to 1-13 in Ballela
2010-11                Ballyvarley compete in the Ulster Hurling League
2014                      Ballyvarley plays in both the Antrim SHL and Down SHL
2015-2016            Ballyvarley plays in Antrim SHL
 
 
 
BALLYVARLEY’S LARGEST WINNING MARGIN
1998   SHL v Warrenpoint (a)                       12-14 to 1-1 (+46)
1996   SHL v Warrenpoint (a)                       11-8 to 1-0   (+38)
2000   SHL v Newry Shamrocks(h)             10-9 to 0-5   (+34)
 
BALLYVARLEY’S LARGEST CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING MARGIN
1974   JHC Replay v Kilkeel (a)                     8-6 to 2-6     (+18)
1996   JHC v Portaferry (h)                            4-11 to 0-5   (+18)
 
BALLYVARLEY’S HEAVIEST DEFEAT
2016   ASHL v St Teresa’s (a)                        0-3 to 9-29   (-53)
2014   SHL v Ballygalget (a)                            0-5 to 10-24 (-49)
 
BALLYVARLEY’S TOP SCORERS 1971-2014
1.Paul O’Neill                     59-851 (1028)
2.Kevin O’Neill                   67-404 (605)
3.Gerard O’Neill                 86-264 (522)
4.Aidan McAvoy                 91-181 (454)
5. Martin O’Neill                 32-313 (409)
6.Sean O’Neill                   78-134 (358)
7.Terence Lennon              87-78   (339)
8.Francis McGrath              43-191 (320)
9.David McGovern             27-222 (303)
10.Anthony McGrath          43-166 (295)
11.Kieran Lennon              33-195 (294)
12.James McGrath             44-146 (278)
13.Joe McGrath                 82-30   (276)
14.Colm O’Neill                 20-175 (235)
15.Eugene Stewart            36-123 (231)
16.Conor Grew                 45-72   (207)
17.Brendan Donald           21-124 (187)
18.Dermot Stewart           48-40   (184)
19.Aidan Hegarty             45-22   (157)
20.Brendan Malone          18-100 (154)
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS SCORING RECORDS
Highest score in a season:                       Paul O’Neill   2009    12-132(168)
Highest score in a game:                         Paul O’Neill   2009     3-14(23)   v  Carryduff (h)
Ballyvarley’s Top goal-scorer:                 91       Aidan McAvoy                     
Highest total of goals in a season:           24       Joe McGrath                          
Highest total of goals in one game:           5       Gerard O’Neill, Aidan McAvoy, Joe McGrath, Francis McEvoy
The most career “Hat-tricks”:                   6       Sean O’Neill, Joe McGrath
 
 
HALL OF FAME – WINNING SENIOR HURLING TEAMS
2009 Div 2 League Winners
Cathal O’Neill, Thomas Lennon, Niall Higgins, John O’Neill, Sean Kennedy, Colm O’Neill, David Lavery(captain), Conor McClorey, James McDermott, Martin O’Neill, James McGrath, Conor Grew, David McGovern, Paul O’Neill, Eunan McConville, Stephen Daly, Ciaran Connolly, Colin O’Neill, James McConville, Niall Savage, Gavin McGreevey, Martin Connolly, Jamie Murray, Cathal McGrath, Sean O’Neill, Kieran Maguire, Stuart Cartmill, Peter McConville, Shane McAreavey and James Kennedy
 
2006 Junior Championship Winners - Final in Kilclief  beat Bredagh 3-8 to 0-13
Cathal O’Neill; Pat McGrath, James McGrath(captain), Thomas Lennon; Sean Kennedy(1-0), Colm O’Neill, David Lavery; Martin O’Neill(0-1), Conor Lavery; Eunan McConville, David McGovern(0-2), Cathal McGrath; Paul O’Neill(0-5), Conor Grew(1-0), John O’Neill, Ciaran Connolly, Sean O’Neill(1-0), Michael Cairns, Brendan Donald, Darren Mackin, Niall Savage, Niall Higgins, Conor McClorey, Christopher Higgins, Neil Monaghan, Leigh McConville

1999 Junior Feis Sevens Winners - Final beat Castlewellan 4-4 to 1-2
Brian Donald, Gerard Lennon(captain), Pat McGrath, Eugene Stewart(1-2), Anthony McGrath(1-0), Colm O’Neill(1-0), Kieran Lennon(1-2), Conor Grew, Martin O’Neill, Cathal O’Neill, John O’Neill, Dermot Stewart, David Lavery, Liam Cairns

1998 Betsy Gray Shield Winners – Final in Ballykinlar beat Newry Shamrocks 5-10 to 0-2
Martin Malone; Brian Donald, Pat McGrath, Michael Higgins; Kieran Lennon(captain)(0-2), Gerard Lennon, Cathal O’Neill; Colm O’Neill, Conor Grew; Eugene Stewart(1-0), Anthony McGrath(0-2), Martin O’Neill; Paul Stevenson(0-4), Sean O’Neill(3-1), Liam Cairns(0-1), Aidan McAvoy(1-0), Graeme Donaghy, Paul McGivern, Dermot Stewart, Gerard O’Neill , John O’Neill, Gerard Fullerton, Damien Simpson, Stephen Fitzsimmons

1987 Junior Feis Sevens Winners - final beat Ben Dearg 2-7 to 1-2
Damien Lennon; Michael Higgins, Sean O’Neill(1-2); Eugene Stewart, Martin Malone; Aidan McAvoy(capt), Gerard O’Neill(1-5), Anthony McGrath, Aidan Hegarty, Seamus Lennon

1983 Junior Feis Sevens Winners - Final beat Leitrim 4-5 to 2-0
Damien Lennon, Gerard Lennon, Aidan Hegarty, Sean O’Neill(captain)(0-2), Kevin O’Neill(0-1), Gerard O’Neill(4-1), Brendan Malone(0-1), Aidan McAvoy, Martin Malone, Seamus Lennon, Finbar Lennon

1978 Junior Feis Sevens Winners - Final beat Leitrim
Liam Ross, Michael Higgins, Brendan Lennon, Gerard O’Neill, Kevin O’Neill, Raphael Cribben, Francis McGrath, Martin Byrne, John Lennon, Brendan Malone

1975 Junior Championship Winners – Final in Attical beat Leitrim 3-6 to 3-2
Liam Ross; Adrian Lennon, Cairbre McGovern, Sean O’Neill; Seamus Lennon, Martin Byrne, Sean Cribben; Gabriel Cribben (capt), Gerard O’Neill; Brendan Lennon, Gabriel Barry (1-2), Raphael Cribben; Joe McGrath (1-0), Francis McGrath (1-4), Michael Higgins, Joe Cribben, Seamus Murnaghan, Kieran McGovern, Dermot Maguire

1974 Junior League Winners- Play-off in Ballykinlar beat Kilkeel 4-4 to 4-3
Billy Clarke; Gerard O’Neill, Sean O’Neill (capt); Eugene McGrath, Martin Byrne, Sean Cribben; Francis McGrath (0-1), Gabriel Cribben (1-0); Brendan Lennon, Gabriel Barry(1-3), Raphael Cribben (1-0); Joe McGrath (1-0), Joe Cribben, Seamus Lennon, Seamus Murnaghan, Michael Higgins, Adrian Lennon

1963 South Down League Winners
Gregory McGovern (capt), John Henry O’Neill, Eugene McGrath, Dan Lennon, Martin Lennon, Francis McEvoy, Fr Malloy, John Stewart, James Robert Lennon, Noel McGrath, Gerard McGrath, Bob Farrissey, Augustine Lennon,  Frank Lennon, Jimmy Stewart, Sean Cribben, Pat Meehan, Desmond Quinn, Sean McGrath,  Mickey McGrath, Brian Murphy,  Eddie Lennon, Mickey Keenan, Tom Barney Lennon, Aidan Flanagan, Barney McGivern

1934 Rathfriland and District League Winners
Jimmy O’Meara(Tipperary), Henry McKay, Jimmy Fullerton, Hugh Brennan, Billy McMullan, John Donnelly, Frank McGrath, Charlie McCreanor, Harry McClorey, Harry McCann, Jim Greenfield, Johnny Toner, Jimmy McShane, Gerry McDermott, Billy McDermott, Paddy McManus, John Francis Teggart, Jimmy Donnelly, Owen Leckey.

1910 Senior Hurling Champions
Players included: James Charlie Greenfield, Tommy McKiverigan, James Robert McKay, Jack McGrath, Owen McGrath, Jim McGrath, James Patrick McKiverigan, Jack Fitzpatrick, Joe Hyland, Jack Warnock, Harry Greenfield, Paddy Mulholland, Jimmy Sweeney, Mick Murphy, Jim Magee, Willie McCusker.