NEW FIELD

On May 14 1933, St. Patrick's Park was opened. This was the Parochial Field as it is known, then the property of the Parish. The club at the time had extended that playing field by levelling the ditch surrounding the field in the corner at the crossroads and then cutting sods elsewhere and spreading them over the bog to make the playing area bigger. All this work was done by hand with the use of spades and shovels and wheelbarrows. The amount of work involved was enormous and gives an indication of the spirit within the club at the time. Those men were very proud of their efforts and rightly so. To appreciate how much the club meant to those men, one has only to listen them relate the stories of the work that was done. Fittingly that same ground now belongs to the present club and now there stands one of the finest GAA grounds to be found anywhere. As the players in 1933 have often said football was the only past-time they had. Now in the 21st Century, there many counter-attractions, but the present facilities will satisfy a wide range of gaelic activities and so once again that original field will be the focal point of the Parish.

The first match played on the new field, was against Killyclogher. Greencastle won comfortably and a match report states that both teams were improving. Greencastle were becoming a strong team that would be very difficult to beat the following year.

The team that played on that opening day was: J. Bradley, P. McCullagh, J. Clarke, P. McCullagh, M. Morris, P. Donnelly, P. McCrory, J. Morris, J. Fox. A. McAleer, M. Morris.

The 28th May saw a meeting between Mountfield and Greencastle. There was no score given, although Greencastle won, including team list for that match was M. Loughran, the rest of the team being as usual.

The Junior League Table in Mid-June 1933 was as follows:

On the 25th June, Greencastle travelled to Augher for a league game. Augher won by 0-11 to 0-07. Following a League match played at Greencastle on July 2nd against Omagh, which Omagh narrowly won, a dispute arose between an Omagh player and some Greencastle spectators. The incident had an airing at the West Tyrone Board Meeting, but the matter was temporarily resolved with a warning to the Greencastle supporters, but at the next Board Meeting, Greencastle had a protest against the referee who was from Omagh.

RAIN STOPS MATCH

During the middle of the 1980's, games were postponed during the summer owing to heavy rainfall. However the players of these times were not unusual in this respect. The referee called off a game played on The 30th July 1933 in Fintona ten minutes into the second-half owing to a downpour.

Greencastle defeated Sixmilecross in the league on 20th August 1933 on a score of 1 goal 9 points to 3 points. It appears that nine players contributed to that score. The scores were: G. McAleer, P.J. McCullagh P.J. McCrory, J. Morris, M. Morris, B. Morris, P. Donnelly, M. McAleer and E. McCullagh. That appears to have been the midfielders, all six forwards and the full back! Surely that must have been some sort of record.

Fivemiletown were at the time, the top team in Junior football. On the 17th September they brought an unbeaten record to Greencastle. The home team rose to the occasion and defeated the League leaders by 5 goals to 4 points and therefore gave an indication of the potential of the team. A. McAleer in goals made some outstanding saves and the scorers were: P. McCrory and Malachy McAleer. The team was: A. McAleer, Peter McCullagh. Pat McCullagh, J. Clarke, Mick Morris, F. Quinn, P. McKenna, E. McCullagh, P. Donnelly, Malachy Morris, J.F. Fox, J. Morris, M. McAleer, L. McAleer and P. McCrory.

1933 AGM

The annual Greencastle General Meeting was held in the Parochial Hall on Tuesday 26th September. The electio of officers resulted as follows:

President: Rev C. McAuley CC;
Vice-President: Rev P. McGowan PP;
Secretary: M. Rodgers;
PET Treasurer: Mr. E. McCullagh
Committee: Messr. P. Rodgers, P. McCrory, A. McAleer, P. McCullagh, P. Quinn and M. Morris. A unanimous decision was taken that a branch of the Gaelic League would be formed in the district immediately.

PROTESTS

There seems to have been many protests and counter-protests etc in these early days. A long running sequel of protests and counter-protests between Omagh and Greencastle ended with a game being refixed. The match took place in Omagh and afterwards the referees report stated that Greencastle spectators assaulted an Omagh player. The Board cautioned Greencastle about the conduct of their spectators. Greencastle then appealed the match being awarded to Omagh on the grounds that the referee, who was from Omagh, was unsuitable. Finally the game was re-fixed for the 8 October in Omagh. Propably because of the controversy a large crowd from different parts of West Tyrone turned up for the game. In this match report, Stanley McCullagh's name appears.

In a game with Mountfield, which Greencastle won by 0-11 to 0-07, J.A. McCullagh appeared in the match report.

The last game played in 1933 was against Fintona on St. Stephen's Day in Fintona. Greencastle were well on top all through and won on a score of 4-04 to 2-03.

One of the few defeats suffered in the league towards the close of the season was against Augher. Augher had been in the Senior League previously, but had been regraded. The score in that game was Augher 1-05 Greencastle 1-01. The Greencastle scores were from V. Bradley 1 goal and Stanley McCullagh 1 pt. The Augher team contained the legendary Ned McGee who played for Tyrone for many years. Augher also won the league and Greencastle ended up either runner-ups or third, which was a very creditable performance for a new team. The last league table published on the 3rd February was as follows.

This would set a pattern, which was to be repeated many times over in the years ahead.