Bridging the gap

Newbridge are Derry SFC champions for the first time in 35 years and Niall Gartland looks at other clubs who ended a long wait

Creggan Kickhams (87 years)

ANTRIM club Creggan Kickhams waited a whopping 87 years for their third Antrim Senior Championship title. For decades upon decades, 1943 and 1954 stood side-by-side as their sole senior championship successes before they finally won another in 2021, deservedly overcoming Aghagallon in the final. They had lost two of the previous three deciders so the pressure was on but they produced the goods with a dominant display that saw them come out on top on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-7.

Latton (75 years)

A FULL three-quarters of a century, this time. Monaghan club Latton reigned supreme only once in their history, all the way back in 1930, but a golden crop of players ended their drought in 2005. They had to fight tooth and nail against a resilient Carrickmacross but they were inspired to victory by Man of the Match Hugh McElroy, who scored seven points on the day. And what’s more, they repeated the trick in 2008 and 2011 against Magheracloone and Scotstown respectively.

Kilcoo (72 years)

YOU wouldn’t think it now but Kilcoo weren’t always dominant in Down. A generational team has won all before them, including a memorable All-Ireland title success in 2022, but it hasn’t always been this year. Founded in 1906, the Magpies were richly successful in the early days, but they had to wait 72 years for their 10th ever title. That was in 2009 – their first appearance in a Down SFC final in a shade over 60 years – when they surged to a 2-9 to 1-4 victory over Loughinsisland. And it’s fair to say they haven’t looked back.

Dungannon Clarkes (64 years)

DUNGANNON Clarkes are a history-soaked club whose sons include the likes of Art McRory and Iggy Jones, but they haven’t always dined at the top table of Tyrone club football. They were immensely successful in the first half of the 21st century, but they had to wait a full 64 years for their 11th ever O’Neill Cup title. It’s fair to say they did it in style – extra-time was necessitated in all four of their championship matches and they got the better of a formidable Trillick side in a county final for the ages that was eventually settled in a penalty shoot-out in the autumn of 2020.

Clann Éireann (58 years)

CLANN Éireann claimed their fourth ever Armagh SFC title in style last weekend with a brilliant victory over their Lurgan neighbours Clan na Gael. Arguably it stood to them that they’ve been here before, winning outright in 2021 in what was their first title since all the way back in 1963. They can call upon a number of the heroes of Armagh’s All-Ireland winning success and they have a superb ladies team to boot.

Ederney (52 years)

EDERNEY claimed a hugely emotional and long-awaited Fermanagh Senior Championship title when they derailed Derrygonnelly’s six in-a-row bid in 2020. Stalwarts like Martin McGrath had been knocking on the door for the previous 15 years and their commitment to the cause was rewarded with a deserved victory over the Harps. Until 2020, they had only a solitary Fermanagh SFC title to their name, that coming back in 1968.

Crosserlough (48 years)

THERE’S no questioning the talent within the ranks of the Crosserlough footballers, but county titles aren’t handed out for nothing and they had to dig deep to claim their first title in 48 years over Kingscourt Stars in 2020, eventually winning after a replay. The club had won nine previous titles in their heyday but endured something of a famine before making it back to the top of the tree. They have a really strong team and just the other week claimed their second Cavan SFC title in five years.

Gaoth Dobhair (41 years)

DONEGAL club Gaoth Dobhair were recently usurped at the top of the roll of honour list by St Eunan’s, but that alone is indicative of the fact that they have a proud and successful history. They gobbled up titles in the 1930s-1950s in particular, but they had to wait just over four decades for their 2002 success, where they overcame St Eunan’s in the final (for the record, the game itself was actually played in 2003).

Magherafelt (41 years)

DERRY club Magherafelt also ended a 41-year wait when they reigned supreme in the 2019 final, edging out Glen by a single point. They led by four points at the interval and just about withstood a second-half fightback to secure their first title since 1978. There was a somewhat controversial end to the game referee John Joe Cleary blew for full-time as Glen’s Ciaran McFaul was about to shoot. McFaul’s shot flew over the bar but Magherafelt were already celebrating their long-awaited success.