Derry's St. Finbarr's - A blueprint for the future!
Hurling is now central to the lives of families across mid-Derry
While Willie Maher and the newly formed Hurling Development Committee (HDC) have been tasked with the seemingly impossible job of growing the game nationwide, one need only look right here in Derry for proof that it can be done.
Thanks to hard work, vision, and a devoted community, St. Finbarr’s GAA club stands as a shining example of how hurling can blossom far beyond its traditional heartlands.
Sharing their name with the mighty Barr’s of Cork, the Derrymen were founded just eight years ago and have seen a remarkable rise since, defying the odds and reshaping perceptions about where hurling can thrive.
Derry hurling manager Johnny McGarvey recently heaped praise on the example that they have set, pointing to them as a model for others to follow.
Nursery and P1s St. Finbarr's team which took part in the James O’Kane Festival of Hurling, hosted by Kevin Lynches in Dungiven at the weekend.
In a county dominated by Gaelic football, St. Finbarr’s has grown from a handful of determined volunteers to a full-scale operation fielding teams from U-7 all the way to senior level.
Their rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Just over a year since they first formed a senior team, St. Finbarr’s captured the Ulster Junior Hurling League title with a spirited win over Four Masters of Donegal. Then, days later, their U-16s added to the club’s growing trophy cabinet with victory in the Táin Óg League divisional final.
For Ronan McCann, a club stalwart involved at every level - coach, registrar, organiser - the sense of pride is immense.
The club's senior hurlers who claimed the Ulster Junior League title for a second year running, in just their second season of competitive senior hurling.
Founded from scratch in areas with little or no hurling tradition - places like Ballinderry, Magherafelt, The Loup, Drummullan, and Moneymore - St. Finbarr’s has slowly built a community around the game. The key has been relentless grassroots work, with strong links to eight local primary schools and a nursery program helping to foster the next generation.
One of the biggest hurdles for new hurling clubs outside of traditional areas is creating a full player pathway—getting those youngsters up through the age grades and eventually fielding a senior side. St. Finbarr’s made that leap in May 2023 when 13 players turned up for their first-ever senior training session.
“We have a good mix,” explains McCann. “Some lads had played before, but for others, that first training session was the first time they ever lifted a hurl. Now we’ve got younger fellas coming off the conveyor belt and pushing into the senior squad.”
“It’s great for them to see a proper senior setup now. It gives them something to aim for. That was always the plan—to build a structure where there’s a pathway all the way up.”
The club’s impact goes far beyond the pitch. Hurling is now central to the lives of families across mid-Derry, creating a vibrant social scene and new friendships that stretch across generations.
“Kids love it when they’re given the chance,” says McCann. “Even the parents—many of them say they wish they’d had this opportunity when they were young. Now they see their own kids picking up a hurley at age five or six, and it’s just brilliant. We even have dads playing in our social hurling matches. It’s a real family club.”
Their rapid ascent hasn’t gone unnoticed. GAA President Jarlath Burns’ recent commitment to sparking a hurling boom across the so-called “developing counties” is already gaining momentum.
The U18 team which made the journey to Dublin recently to take part in the Táin Óg blitz at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.
“The hurling clubs that do exist in Derry are strong,” says McCann, “but we’re quite bullish about where we can go. The kids now are growing up with a hurley in their hand, which is something we never had. That gives us a great foundation.”
Most impressively, St. Finbarr’s aren’t putting a ceiling on their ambitions.
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“We haven't set any limits on what we can achieve,” McCann insists. “The momentum is there, the numbers are good, and we’re not going anywhere. The sky’s the limit now.”