1934

The 1934 League began on March 18 with a game at Mountfield. This match was duly won by 2-02 to 0-01. From a total of 9 teams in the Junior League in 1933, there were now 7 teams in 1934. Augher had gone back to Senior football and Fivemiletown had joined them.

On Sunday 25 March, Kildress opened a new park at Drumshambo. To mark the occasion a challenge game was arranged between Greencastle and Kildress. The score was Greencastle 0-17 Kildress 0-07. The team which played that game was as follows: P. McCrory, A. McAleer, P.J. Donnelly, J. Bradley, P.J. McCullagh, M. McAleer, P. McCullagh, P. Keenan, F. Quinn, G. McAleer, J.F. Fox, J. McCullagh, G. Rodgers, E. McCullagh (Capt.) and M. Morris.

At that time Fr. P. Dillion CC was appointed Curate in the place of Fr. J. McAuley CC. This was a significant point for the club as Fr. Dillon was a very enthusiastic club member. Indeed many of the players of that time recall that the club was in some debt and that it was Fr. Dillon was paid off the debt out of his own pocket. We are also told that he may not have been all that popular with some of the parents of the district as it was not unknown for him to travel around the Parish on his bicycle and request the footballers to leave the fields and turf banks where they were working and go with him to football practice on the long evenings. Fr. Dillon also proved himself to be a fine player and a very useful addition to the team over the next few years.

The second league match in 1934 was against Tattyreagh at home and once again this game was easily won on a score of 3-06 to 0-01 for Tattyreagh. In the Herald Cup, Greencastle defeated Fintona after a replay. The growing strength of the team was recognised by the selection of P.J. McCullagh to play at left-half back for Tyrone Junior team to play Derry at Coalisland on the 20th May. Therefore P.J. McCullagh who was a name synonynomous with football in Greencastle became the first player from the club to wear the county jersey.

On 27th May another league victory was secured when Eskra were defeated by 3-06 0-05 pts. The first defeat appears to have been against Omagh II on the 24th June on a score of 0-05 to 0-02.

A very interesting feature was that of Sports, which were helf on Friday the 29th June. This was a very well supported occasion. The footballers proved themselves to be fine athletes also. The 220 yards was won by P. McCullagh who also won the shot with P. Donnelly 2nd. The High Jump was won by goalkeeper A. McAleer with a height of 5ft 1inches, followed by M. McAleer at 5ft. The same two contestants occupied the same positions in the long jump. The league game against Fintona was also won. The Sports were held on a field lent by Mr. Michael Deery.

The result of the Greencastle/Omagh match was the subject of a protest by Greencastle. After many adjournments, the matter appears to have dropped. In the Junior Championship, Greencastle defeated Omagh in the semi-final. The final score ws Greencastle 2-07 Omagh 4-00. This match was the subject of a protest by Omagh, however this protest was ruled out of order and so continued the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.

Sunday 1st July saw an interesting game in the semi-final of the "Herald Cup" when Greencastle met Dromore who were senior, at Killyclogher. After a very close hard-fought match, Dromore were victorious on a score of 1-05 to 0-03.

By September 1st, the Junior League table was as follows:

Legal teams were not always fielded. Fintona defeated Greencastle in a League game, but a protest revealed that 6 of their players were senior players and accordingly the match was awarded to Greencastle.

In the final of the West Tyrone Championship, Greencastle and Eskra drew on a score of 2 goals 2 pts each. The Greencastle team was A. McAleer, Pat and Peter McCullagh, J. Clarke, F. Quinn, M. McAleer, P. Keenan, Ed McCullagh (Capt.), J. Bradley, Gerard Rodgers, Tom Clarke, P. McCrory, J. Fox, P. Donnelly, M. McAleer. Eskra then withdrew from the Championship leaving Greencastle West Tyrone Champions. On the 13th January 1935 Greencastle met Clady in the North-West Junior Final of 1934 and in very bad weather conditions with a water-logged pitch, Clady won on a score, Clady 3-00 Greencastle 0-02.

Eventually Greencastle was declared winners of the Junior League for 1934 and a presentation was held in St. Patrick's Hall on the 6th January 1936. Fr. McGeown PP President of the club at the request of Mr. Malachy McAleer PET presented the medals. Fr. McGeown said he was pleased to be able to present the medals and that the parish was proud of the team. He also hoped that the night's function would help the club in every way. Pledging his own support to the club, he asked the people of the district to help the club as far as possible to ensure its continued success.

Mr. E. McCullagh captain of the team thanked Fr. McGeown for presenting the medals and for his support for the club.

There was an attendance of close on 300 people. Miss Susan McSwiggan, Glenroan, Messrs W. Donnelly, Cookstown, M. McElduff, Carrickmore, M. McAleer, Glenhull and Mr. John Donnelly supplied by a local orchestra and during intervals songs were rendered music, Glenhull danced a hornpipe. Misse McCullagh and M. McDermott carried out the catering arrangements. Mr. P. Loughran was MC.