Gaelic Football History

While the lack of strength of Leitrim football is an ever present reality the schools here in Ballinamore has always punched above their weight in football.  In Vocational Schools competitions during the sixties and seventies Ballinamore were if anything an oppressively dominant force in Leitrim with Ballinamore players dominating the Schools Championship under trainers Christy Gallogly and Jackie Gallagher and the Leitrim Vocational Schools teams throughout this era.  St. Felims, from their entry into Connacht Colleges competitions under manager and teacher Peter Duignan in the early sixties have played in all grades from D to B.

Apart from innumerable Connacht title wins the most outstanding achievements were a narrow defeat to Newry CBS in the All Ireland Senior B semi final in 1975 under Fred Gallagher and victory in the inaugural All Ireland C Championship over St. Decklans Kiltmacthomas (Waterford) under Padraig Leyden in 2000.  Our most recent Connacht title was a Connacht First Year D Championship and League Double last year (2009-2010) under trainer Ronnie Duignan.

All Ireland Final Winners 2000
All Ireland Final Winners 2000

In Ladies Football interest and standards have increased steadily over the last 20 years initially under trainer Claire Casey and more recently Seamus Mullen. Connacht titles at all levels have been won with a heart breaking Junior All Ireland Final defeat in 2007 at the hands of St. Catherines Armagh.  Our most success was an U-14 Connacht Division 2 title in 2008-2009 over St. Brigids Tuam.  In 2007 we had the distinction of having two current students of the school Claire Plunkett and Catherine Holohan play on the Leitrim All Ireland Intermediate Championship winning team.  Former students Maeve Quinn, Sarah McLoughlin & Sinead Quinn were also part of the successful team.  Our current team trainers are Seamus Mullen (Ladies), Kevin Nolan(Senior), Diarmuid McCaffrey (Juvenile) and Ronnie Duignan (First Year).

As well as team training all Junior students are welcome to participate in general fitness training and GAA coaching by Games Promotion Officer James Holohan.  This takes place in our first class pitch facilities at St. Felims on Wednesday afternoons on a timetabled rota.