Text Box:   E-mail Address: Patrick_fin1 @btinternet.com   Club Address: Shaughan Rd Belleeks

Text Box:    Photo     Back   When Joseph McCreesh held aloft the  Junior Championship in 2001, the year before Armagh won their first ever ‘Sam’ was undoubtedly the highlight of a short history of Belleek GFC. It was an achievement that the club had aspired to since they return to the scene in 1983, although it took two final appearances to achieve it. In 1983 St Laurence O’Tooles Belleeks were reformed, although it took two meeting and new voting, to retain the name that has been synonymous with a previous team in the 1960’s In the run up to the season of 1984, ‘83 was a busy year, the forming of the committee and the transfers of players from our local neighbours Whitecross being high on the agenda, a total of around fifteen making the short journey from one end of the Parish to the other.   This wasn’t the first team in Armagh football from Belleek, in the late 1960’s they entered the league, again players moved from Whitecross [times haven’t changed since then have they] Formed in Belleek Primary School, Master Connolly’s room, the chairman elected on that night was Pete Murphy the local taxi driver. Pete reign was something like a Premiership managers job, and he last just a short while to be replaced by Gene O’Callaghan. Matches were played in Sam Edgar’s meadow at the foot of Belleek Brea. The sidelines on the pitch were cut out in the shape of a furrow. In those days the club moved around field's like a nomad, ending its day's in Bennett Meadow, where many a great game was played. Those were great days for the club, very little success came the way of the team, but it was enjoyable. But the biggest day in the club was the defeat of Whitecross in Bennett’s meadow. It was the only time that the team claimed the scalp of their old rivals, 1-2 to 0-4, but it was a mighty one at that. Whitecross were full of outstanding players, Brian Reavey [RIP] Timothy Malone, Jim Finnegan, and Jim Malone in goals to name a few. Belleeks although were no more than a rag-tag of a team in those days, but players of the calibre of Oliver Murphy, Brian McVerry, Stan Donnolly, Brian Hearty and the late Sean Boyle could hold their own in any team and did when the club folded after three years or so. The Whitecross result was an occasion for celebrations, but their was other big days and none other than when the visitors were Clan na Gael in 1968 as Junior Champions,  Belleek beating them in Bennett’s meadow  scoring four goals against them into the bargain.   There was some great personalities around in those days, John Boyle and Bob Finnegan former Drumherrif players, two great stalwarts, John actually played with his son Sean in the team. Then there was Lucy Small possibly our greatest supporter, no opponent got of treating a Belleek player badly, he heard from the late Lucy and if he didn’t heed her, there was always the umbrella. The club of that period came to an abrupt ending, expelled from the league, but came back into existence in 1983, playing their first football in 1984. It took a lot of patience to get the Club re-formed, there were many objections, the past was only a few short years ago, but hard work by certain individuals who sold the idea of club was tremendous. On October 2nd.1983 a meeting took place, with the idea of reforming the team. The first official meeting took place on 27th. October of the same year, in Belleek Primary School, a committee was then put in place, Jimmy McCreesh was elected [Chairman] Fr Christopher McMahon [Vice-Chairman] Patricia Tully [Secretary] Gerard Savage [Treasurer] Patsy Finnegan [PRO] The meeting was attended by thirty-seven persons, Finbar Murphy, John Quinn, Gerry [Rowe] McParland. Martin Smith. Pat Fearon, Sean Tully. Colm McParland. Laurence Quinn, Micheal O’Callaghan. Brenden Finnegan. Francis Smith. Emmett Murphy. Fr. Christopher Mohan, Kevin Fearon. Eugene O’Callaghan [B/F] Aidan Finnegan. Fergal Boyle. Johnny McParland. Eamon Boyle. Philip McParland. Joe McParland. Paul McCann. Micheal O’Callaghan [Belleeks] Seamus O’Callaghan. Martin Walsh. P.J.Boyle. John Boyle [Senior] Declan Finnegan. Joseph O’Callaghan. Peter Fearon. Gerald Savage. Jimmy McCreesh. Patricia Tully. Joseph O’Rourke. John O’Callaghan. Seamus McCaffrey. Patsy Finnegan. Belleeks were up and running. The club took on the name of St Laurence O’Tooles, [the past revisited] although at this meeting a previous motion of Robert Emmett’s GFC Belleeks was over-ruled in its favour. The first year 1984, was difficult, the club was nonetheless buoyant, played their first game in Forkhill, winning 4-3 to 2-3.   Brendan Finnegan was named as team captain, Gerard Murphy as team manager and Seamus McCaffrey being his assistant.   The St. Laurence O’Tooles Belleeks Line-out on that historic day Sunday February 12th 1984 were- Emmett Murphy. Laurence Quinn. Louie Smith. Gerard Savage. Joseph McParland. Gerry Murphy. Joseph O’Rourke. Brenden Finnegan. Eugene O’Callaghan [B/F] Declan Finnegan. John McParland. Fergal Boyle. John Quinn. Finbar Murphy. Paddy Cahill.  . Belleeks substitutes. Martin Smith. Mal Kelly.   Belleek’s Scorers. Martin Smith [2-0] Finbar Murphy[1-1] Fergal Boyle [1-0] Paddy Cahill. Declan Finnegan. [0-1 each] Referee Tony Gillen ‘Ballymacnab’.   Belleek's first appearance in the Junior Championship was against Clonmore in the Athletic Grounds in 1984, it only lasted one game, it was early days yet.   In the All County league Division 4, the team played twenty-four games, winning half of them [12] drawing two and losing ten. Not bad for a rag tag of a team. The Whitecross tournament the ‘Sean Boyle’ Cup, was the first silverware to come the way of the club, Sunday night September 13th 1987, Belleeks beat Granemore in the final, the score 0-11 to 0-9. Fergal Boyle younger brother of the late Sean scored nine of the eleven points. Fergal lifted the trophy from John Moley chairman of Whitecross, although the captain of the team on that night was Emmett Murphy, who give way on this occasion. 1987 was also the year when a team of Under-12 players took the field, managed by Sean Tully they travelled to Crossmaglen, although losing it was start of something special in the club. The players Sean Tully took to ‘Cross were -Catriona Toner, Christopher McKeown, Christopher McParland, Adrian McParland, Darren Toner, Brenden Collins, Paul O'Briens, Sean McDonnell, Gavin Bradley, Gary McParland, David McParland, Michael Collins, Kevin Loughran and Raymond O'Rourke.   Then in 1988 they won their first South Armagh Cup, beating Shane O’Neill’s at Killeavey, in a tight game, Gerry Murphy and Declan Finnegan scoring the goals on that historic occasion. In 1988, Belleeks joined with Whitecross under the name of Loughgilly and fielded in the Under-21 Championship, but it only lasted one game, losing to a Shane O’Neills & Carrickcruppin select [Naomh Blinne] Brenden Savage, Peter O'Briens, Seamus O'Callaghan, Seamus Savage, Sean Tully, P.J.Boyle  from Belleek figured in that team.   Sunday 30th. September 1990 was a momentous day in the club’s history, a win over Shane O’Neills 1-9 to 1-7 secure promotion to the Third Division of the All County League in Camlough, a point behind Clady and finishing above third placed Whitecross.   1990 was a magnificent year in the Belleeks annuals along with promotion; four other trophies adorned the celebrations table at the Dinner-Dance that year. Managed by the two Martin’s Smith and Walsh, the South Armagh Charity Cup was followed by the Carrickcruppin, Clady and the Whitecross Tournament for the third time. The only disappointment of that year was the first defeat in twenty games, losing to Silverbridge ‘B’ 0-8 to 1-6 in a charity final at the end of the year. It was during 1990 that Belleeks moved ground, after a period of seven years at Davitt Crossroads on the Shaughan Road, they moved to Tate Road. The pitch at Davitts Road was small, it wouldn’t be an understatement or insult to say it was no bigger than your average back garden, but it had done the club great services during those seven years there.   The first game played on the new field was on March 25th 1990, against Clonmore, winning 1-8 to 0-7. The field at Tate was high in the air and on most days it was cold, there was very few warm days on Tate. Seamus Savage in 1990 became the first player from the present era to get recognised by the County, being a member of the Under-21’s, he then went onto earn full County acknowledgement   Camogie under the leadership of Pauline Bradley and Eugene O’Callaghan [B/F] were formed in 1990, taking the name of Cailina na hEireann, starting of in Under 12 age group. Later in the decade they were to win both the Division 3 league and Junior Championship, all in the same year D Belleek play first game in Division 3.ision 3 football Belleek played their first football in Division 3 on Sunday March 3rd 1991 against Culloville winning 1-11- to 0-9, at home on Tate Road, the team on that occasion in their first league game in the 3rd Division, was Hugh Savage,  Laurence Quinn, Killian Finnegan, Eugene Murphy, Collie McVerry, Louie Smith, Mal Kelly, Eugene O'Callaghan [B/F-0-1] Seamus Savage [0-2] Paddy Cahill [0-1] Ciaran Leonard [0-2], Declan Finnegan, Sean Tully [1-0] Johnny McParland [0-4], P.J.Boyle. substitutes -Mickey Donnolly [0-1] for Declan Finnegan. The team played twenty-two games, winning eleven and losing the same amount.   In 1991 the Murray-McAvoy Cup became the first All County trophy to come the way of the club with a sensational victory over Derrynoose at the Athletic Grounds Armagh, winning 2-5 to 1-5. It was also during this year that it was decided that the club would buy its own field, a meeting was called with the Newry and Mourne Council to discuss the venture.   In 1992 more glory was achieved, promotion to the Second Division was earned and achieved on a magnificent afternoon in Portadown. The date Sunday 11th October 1992, Belleeks went visiting Tir na nOg, looking a victory to give them runners-up spot, a very difficult task was ahead of them. A Declan Finnegan goal in the second half, giving them a 1-10 to 0-11 victory and this was achieved without Mal Kelly and Louis Smith who were both harshly sent of. In the league campaign they won fifteen of their twenty-two league games played, losing just six games and drawing the other.   Scor na nOg 1992 was the first real entry to the Scor by the club, participating in the South Armagh finals, reaching the County finals. There was entry in four categories, Set Dancing, Ceili Dancing, Question time and instrumental music. Brenden Collins, Kieran Loughran and Miceal Collins, participated in Question time, Sonya McParland and Clodagh Loughran in the Instrumental music. Belleek Ceili Dancers were = Lynette Finnegan, Fiona Murphy, Sinead Fearon. Davina McKeown. Belleek set-dancers were who were the qualifiers for the Armagh County Final = Lynette Finnegan, Davina McKeown, Sinead Fearon, Fiona Murphy, Lisa O'Reilly, Sharon Markey, Lisa O'Rourke and Andrea McParland.   Sam Maguire visits Belleek. In March 1992, after Down won the All Ireland, the Sam Maguire Cup came to the area. The Belleek club, were loaned the cup by the Down County Board for two days. It was in attendance at a Guest tea, in Tully's function Room, and the next day it was decided that the Cup should be taken around the various schools in the Parish, before being returned the following evening. The schools, Carrickrovaddy, Drumilly Ballymoyer, Tullyherron, and Belleek were treated to a visit by 'Sam'.   Digging first Sod Another great day in the annals of the Belleeks was the digging of the first sod in the field on the Shaughan Road, which was owned by former club footballer from the 1960’s team Seamus McParland, who also played a game for the present team.     On Wednesday July 8th 1992, the first  physical work on the new football field started. The club would be moving  from Tate Road, where they have been for the last number of years, to the new pitch on the Shaughan Road. The first sod was removed from the ground by former Belleek legend John Boyle. On that historic occasion, a festival morning was held, pupils from the local St Laurence O'Tooles School were present, also young Camogie and footballers witnessed this great occasion. The new pitch ironically is within a quarter of a mile from the field that the club used in the early days.  School principal Ms. Elishe Murphy who helped organise her pupils to attended the digging of the first sod, and was present herself at the occasion.   The Murray McAvoy Cup was again won, the 1992 final being played in ‘93, beating Tir na nOg at Lissummon on a scoreline of 0-9 to 1-5, but it was in the league that Belleeks suffered their biggest heartache, promotion to the top division being only a whisker away. A play-off was the order of the day, but defeat against Culloville at a wintry Cullyhanna on Sunday November 28th.  1993, losing 0-14 to 1-5 ended all that. A third Murray McAvoy final appearance in 1993 was achieved, but never played.   In 1994 Belleeks were relegated, winning one game in a league of thirteen played, being relegated to the Third division. The Camogie minor team Cailina na hEireann reached the final of the Championship, losing 3-7 to 1-1 against Keady at Ballycrummy.   In this year, the club entered the Senior Scor for the first time, it took part in two categories, A Question Time team consisting of Jimmy McCreesh, Fergal Burns and Aidan Finnegan, and in the Ceili Dancing, the team were  Maura Murphy, Patricia Tully, Mary O'Callaghan, Pauline Markey, Tracey Loughran, Pauline Loughran, Roisin Feely and Lil McParland.   In 1995 Belleeks kept on free-fall, losing to Tullysaron at Abbey Park in a play-off to stay in the third Division, but a defeat by 1-5 to 1-9 seen them drop to the fourth Division, but a victory over Ballyhegan on a foggy Sunday December 10th 1995, lifted the Division 3 Cup.   1996 was to see a change of fortune, the Fourth Division title was won, promotion back to the Third Division, with the first ever All County League title. Just two defeats out of eighteen games, with one drawn. The Junior Championship journey ended against Tullysaron, but it took three attempts to decide the quarter-finals tie.   Belleeks also amalgamated with Shane O’Neill’s in the South Armagh league In 1997 Belleeks fielded at Under-14 level along with Shane O’Neill’s, under the name of Croabh Rua, but lost in the Football League final after a replay with Culloville. The minor players were amalgamated with Lissummon, Shane O’Neill and Poyntzpass under the name of Laochra O’Neills, reaching the County championship semi-finals, losing to Pearse Ogs after a replay, but went onto lift the South Armagh minor league with a victory over Killeavey at Forkhill.   It was a great year for the camogs, Cailini na hEireann, double success coming their way. A Junior Championship in August 1997, and a month later they lifted the 3rd Division title. A truly magnificent year for the girls.   Also in 1997 Jack Boothman the President of Cuman Luthchleas Gael, was a visitors to the Primary School, a great occasion for all, and a great honour to the Club   There was also great sadness in the club, John Boyle one of the club’s most fervent supporters, a legend in the  area, sadly past away in July of that year, a truly remarkable man   In 1998, the first piece of Under-age silverware came the way of Belleeks; the footballers lifted the South Armagh Under-14 League.  After a three stirring encounter with St Michael’s Newtownhamilton, Belleeks finally came out on top. The Belleek team that lifted the Under-14 League Cup - Niall McDonagh, Hugh Savage, Eugene McShane, Conor Murphy, Gareth Boyle, Ciaran Connolly, Conor Quinn, Patrick Hearty, Caolan Quinn, Cathal McDonnell.  Eamon McDonnell, Kevin Gorman. The Belleek Under-10's  reached their league final, losing to Whitecross at Killeavey. The team that reached the final were.   Tony Bradley, Brenden McShane, Kieran McDonnell, Liam Hearty, Jamie Lavelle, Ciaran Deighan, Ciaran O'Briens, Shane Crilly, Louis Boyle, Sean McCreesh, Dane Hayes, Shane Murphy, Darren McGovern, Edel Hearty, Maritan Hearty, Ciaran Gorman, Gareth Campbell and Cashel Toner. The Belleek‘B’ team reached the League final losing to Culloville, and in the last few games of the league the Senior team held onto their Third Division status.   1999 was both historic and heartbreaking, wins against Lissummon, Mullabrack and Tullysaron after two games got them to a meeting with Junior championship hoodoo side Ballymacnab. In their first ever appearance in the Armagh Junior Final, Belleek's hopes in defeat, it would take two years to get back to the same position.   The John Boyle Memorial Cup for the South Armagh ‘B’ league was lifted, beating Carrickcruppin  at Forkhill, and the Under-10 reached another Final only to lose heartbreakingly by a single point, to Forkhill 3-2 to 2-6   2000 saw the reformation of Loughgilly, Belleeks amalgamating with Whitecross, after previous joint venture with Shane O’Neills, Poyntzpass and Lissummon under Laochra O’Neills and St Vincents. For the few years they would be together, they reached finals in Under-16’s unfortunately losing to Crossmaglen in both games, their notable success was the winning of the Dromintee tournament [Lochre Campbell minor competition]   In 2001 the ultimate prize was acclaimed, under the guidance of the management of Martin Smith and Eugene O’Callaghan and coaches Marty McDonnell and Tommy Murphy, they lifted the  Junior Championship with a magnificent win over Annaghmore at the Athletic Grounds. Earlier round victories over Derrynoose, Clonmore,and Killeavey 2nds to get them to that final appearance against Annaghmore, which followed with a meeting against Drumgoon from County Cavan, at Crematin in the final of the first ever Ulster Junior Club Championship The Victorious Belleek team that lifted the Junior Championship. Niall Loughran. Ciaran Connolly. Joseph McCreesh. Patrick McElroy. Conor Quinn [0-1] Shane Quinn.  Martin Boyle. Darren Toner. Johnny McParland. Brenden Collins. [0-2] Gary McParland [0-3] Colm Quinn. [0-1] Raymond O’Rourke. [0-1] Eugene O’Callaghan.  Ciaran Leonard [0-2]. Belleeks substitutes. Padraig McCreesh, for Ciaran Connolly.  Patrick O'Callaghan [2-0] for Eugene O’Callaghan.  Other subs. Paul Hayes, Oliver Maguire, Cathal Hayes. Gavin Bradley. Noel Crilly. Gerry O’Reilly, Shane Toner. Patrick Hearty. Raymond McCreesh. Dermot Murphy. Referee Noel Martin.  ‘Ballymacnab’.  More…..   In September 2001 to celebrate their first winning of the Junior Championship, the trophy was taken round the four schools in the parish, Drumilly, Ballymoyer, Tullyherron and Belleeks with a stop of at Carrickrovaddy   2002 was an eventual year, the opening of the Field, blessed by Archbishop Sean Brady on a glorious day in November,the break up of the Loughgilly amalgamation, and a new formation of Cavanakill Gaels with St Michael’s. A new Lotto Committee was created, two Belleeks players Pearse Lennon and Shane McGeough  named on the St. Paul’s Under-14 Ulster Final team to play at Clones, Conor Quinn was selected for the Armagh County minor team. The Under-14’s reached the final of the Shield, losing narrowly to Shane O’Neills; the Clady tournament final was lost to Ballymacnab. Success was achieved in the Under-12 League Shield final against Whitecross.       The club did well at Scor. Down the years the club’s took part in Scor, struggled to keep the going but nonetheless did its part.   2003 was very successful in under-age and Juvenile football; the Under-12 lifted the South Armagh championship with a 4-8 to 0-3 win over Forkhill in July. The Under-14 beat Corrinshego 2-12 to 2-8 to lift the South Armagh Shield in August at Camlough. Cavanakill Gaels Under-16’s beat St Colman’s 6-9 to 3-4, in the   Div.3 finals and went onto  beat Killeavey in the Shield final at Dromintee. The only set-back that the youngsters underwent was defeat to Mullaghbawn in the top-two final.   With Armagh winning the All Ireland in 2002, Sam was on a tour of Armagh and in March 2003 it visited St Laurence O’Tooles Primary School Belleeks. Survival in Division 3  went down to an extra- game, a play-off with O’Hanlon’s to stay in the 3rd Division, which was achieved in style, but how long would it last.   2004 was another year of mixed fortunes; it took a play-off to hold onto their 3rd Division status, beating The Grange at Granemore in October. In July the Under-12 footballers won their Top-two final against Whitecross at Camlough.   2005 seen the senior team relegated from the 3rd Division. After almost ten years in the Division they give away. The South Armagh Shield was won against Dorsey Emmett's at the start of the year. Beat Culloville in the Under-14 South Armagh final, after a replay. Unfortunately the Under-10 lost to Killeavey in their final at Mullaghbawn.    

Official Belleeks G.F.C