The St. Finbarr's senior hurling team that recently won the Ulster Junior Hurling League.
By John Harrington
For proof that hurling can blossom in every part of this country given the required care and attention, look no further than St. Finbarr's hurling club in Derry.
Founded just seven years ago, they now field teams at every level from U-7.5 to senior, have strong links with eight feeder primary schools, and draw their players from football strongholds like Ballinderry, Magherafelt, The Loup, Drummullan, Moneymore, Lissan, and Ballymaguigan.
This past month has been one that will always feature prominently in the annals of the club’s history.
Exactly one year and a day after 13 men came together for the first ever club senior team training session, they won the Ulster Junior Hurling League, beating Four Masters of Donegal in the Final.
Then, last weekend, their U-16 hurlers were triumphant in their Táin Óg League divisional final and brought more silverware back to the club.
Passion goes a long way when it comes to developing hurling outside of its traditional power-base, and St. Finbarr’s are very much a passionate bunch.
Ronan McCann is typical of their membership in so far as he’s involved at every level of the club.
He coaches juvenile teams, is the club registrar, and was a driving force behind getting the senior team up and running last year.
So, when you ask him what it felt like to win that Ulster Junior League earlier this month, there’s no disguising the pride he takes in the achievement.
“Ah it was brilliant,” McCann Told GAA.ie “We're probably ahead of schedule. We entered the Ulster Junior League thinking we would get some competitive games without any idea we could possibly get some silverware at the end of it.
“Things just seemed to come together for us and obviously the chance to win some silverware was just a dream come through, it was fantastic.
“We take great pride in what we've achieved. When the final whistle went in that Ulster Junior League Final there were people quite emotional, there were tears in eyes because we do take pride in everything that we've achieved.
“That might not have meant a lot to a lot of clubs but that was our All-Ireland Final and a great vindication for what we're doing.
“It was fantastic as well to see our U-16s successful in the Táin Óg at the weekend. The good news seems to keep coming quite regularly now.
“It's been a long hard slog for us all but it's great vindication for us that we're starting to see some success now at all levels.
“I suppose whenever we look at the game of hurling country-wide and the initiatives and plans that people have for it, we do think we are a good case-study and are one of the flag-ship clubs that are leading the charge.
“We do take pride in what we've achieved and long may it continue.”
The 13 players who attended the first ever St. Finbarr's senior hurling team training session in May 2023.
The challenge for clubs like St. Finbarr’s who start off with juvenile teams is bringing them successfully up through the age-groups and then complete the player pathway by fielding at senior level.
This time last year the thought of competing in the senior grade was a daunting one, but they managed to pull enough numbers together and got a great buy-in from everyone involved.
It just shows what can be achieved if you’re willing to take that leap.
“It's definitely a mix,” says McCann. “We have guys from county Antrim, Down, Derry. There's a good mix of ages and there's a good core of the team who have maybe played competitive hurling in some shape or form before.
“Then there are guys in the squad and even starters who when we started a year ago that was the first time they ever lifted a hurl.
“We've now also got some young players coming off our juvenile conveyor belt which has brought guys through to the age where they're eligible to play for the senior team.
“The young guys who have just become eligible probably have the hardest station of all because Derry, while it could do with a few more hurling clubs, the hurling clubs that it does have are quite strong.
“To be fair a lot of those guys slogged away for years without much reward so it's really nice for them to be able to see that there's a good strong senior team to come on to and be part of with the possibility to win medals.
“I think they're benefiting the most and that was the idea from the outset, to provide a platform to have all these players we have coming through the system to have something to aim for.
“We have quite strong numbers in the club now. We're fielding at every age-group from U-7.5 to senior and we even have a nursery training programme now.
“The club is in real good health.”
The St. Finbarr's U-16 team that won their Division of the Táin Óg Hurling League last weekend.
What McCann and his fellow St. Finbarr’s club-members have discovered first-hand is that children love to play hurling and camogie if they’re given the opportunity to do so.
And it doesn’t just give them a great sporting outlet, it also fosters a vibrant social community for both children and adults alike.
“100 per cent,” says McCann. Yes, a lot of work has gone into it, but there's great enthusiasm for the game out there at the moment. People maybe like the idea of their children playing because they can see it's a fantastic skilled game.
“Even guys that we have now who have come on board and are playing senior for us, they would really rue the fact they never had a chance to play when they were younger.
“I think there are a lot of parents out there across the country who are quite enthusiastic about the children getting the opportunity to play hurling because it's such a uniquely skilled sport.
“We've teams all the way from nursery to men in their 40s and beyond playing senior for us or participating in social hurling. You cannot over-state the impact and the positive influence that we've had in the local community. I think it's just absolutely fantastic and it's wonderful to be a part of it.
“The club runs a primary school hurling tournament called the St. Finbarr's Cup which ran off last week between a number of our feeder primary schools and it was just absolutely fantastic and the kids absolutely loved it. It was great for them and and great for us to see that so many have great verve and enthusiasm for the game.
“You can just see the positive impact that the club is having in so many peoples' lives.”
A photograph of St Finbarrs first ever training session which took place almost exactly seven years ago.
The GAA’s new President, Jarlath Burns, has said one of the goals of his Presidency is to be the catalyst for an explosion of new hurling clubs in the developing counties.
The almost overnight success story of St. Finbarr’s hurling club proves this can be done.
It’ll be interesting to see where they are in another seven years, particularly as they’re not setting any limits to their ambition.
“The hurling clubs that do exist in Derry are of a high standard but we're quite positive and bullish about where we can get to,” says McCann.
“The kids in our underage system are now growing up with a hurl in their hand basically from when they're able to walk. That skill base will stand us in great stead as we go forward. And the numbers we have are very encouraging.
“We haven't set any limits on what we can achieve. The momentum that's there now gives you great comfort to know that the club is always going to be about now. We're not going anywhere and the sky is the limit really.
“We're going to just keep moving forward and see where it takes us.”
