CLUB HISTORY

Centenary year, 1984, was a fresh start for Craigbane with Peter Gormley as new Chairman and Paul Dixon as new trainer. The highlight of the year was reaching our first ever Dr Kerlin Cup Final. After a great performance we unfortunately lost by three points to Banagher. There was a struggle for the team once again in 1985 when we only avoided relegation by one point. The one bright spot of the year was the Reserve Championship victory. With John McLaughlin as team manager, captain and two-goal hero, we beat Claudy 2-10 to 1-5. This was our first ever Championship win.

For the 1986 season, John McLaughlin was put in charge of the Senior Team in what proved to be a memorable year. With just two defeats in the entire season of 23 games, Craigbane ended the season with three trophies. First the Intermediate Championship was won at Dungiven when Loup were defeated 0-11 to 1-3. Two weeks later at Claudy the first ever Dr Kerlin Cup was won when Faughanvale were beaten 1-8 to 0-8. With only two league defeats, the 2nd Division was won by eight points.

The following year Craigbane became the first ever Derry club to retain the Intermediate Championship when they beat Claudy after a replay. The first game ended 2-5 to 1-8 after a thrilling hours football. Craigbane emerged victorious in the replay 0-11 to 0-9. Both teams finished joint top of Division 2 and were promoted to senior football. For the next four seasons Craigbane played Senior football before being relegated at the end of the 1991 season. During this time, work was in progress on our new pitch, Pairc Gheraroid Ui Chrosain. The club had played on a field of John Kerlins in Stranagalwilly since 1973 before moving to Kilgort to the farm of Terry O'Kane in 1987. Now with one of the finest pitches and club house in the County, the years of ticket selling and hard work had finally paid off. The pitch was opened by G.A.A. President, Peter Quinn and blessed by Most Reverend Bishop Daly on 13th May 1990.