History
 
1960's

 

 

     
The 60's was the most successful decade so far for Claudy. In the first half of the 60's Claudy won the North Derry Senior League, the Neal Carlin Cup, the Mahon Cup, contested 3 Dr. Kerlin Cup finals without success and reached a County Championship Semi-Final. Having won the North Derry League on a couple of occasions Claudy were the prime movers in encouraging the formation of the All-County Leagues and in the 60's held our position in the premier division.

In the early 60's we were also represented at Juvenile and Minor grades in all competitions and took the step of entering a junior team to ensure that all our playing members had the opportunity of having a game each Sunday.

The 60's were highlighted as well by our full participation in Carnival football in the County and our record in this field will bear comparison with any clubs. Our willingness to play anywhere anytime in this decade made us fairly popular and our capacity to enjoy ourselves off the field, as well as on, was surely no bad thing.

Perhaps Claudy's biggest game of the 60's was the Senior Championship Semi-Final against Newbridge was in 1963. This was the first time that the club had made any great impact in the County Senior Championship and Claudy disposed of two great championship sides, Dungiven and Lavey, on the way to the semi-final. Newbridge have a long tradition of great championship victories and added to their never-say-die style, proved too much for Claudy that year.

The 60's were blessed with a great number of talented senior players. Some of the players that represented the County teams in that era include - John Devine, Charlie Donaghy, Frank Connolly, Michael White, Colm Grant, Vincent Mc Closkey, Sean Burke, Emmet Brolly and Danny Donaghy.
As well as the mentioned players we had players who gave long years of service to the club in the 60's including - Teddy Donaghy, Kevin Mc Dermott, Tommy White, Patsy Harkin, Liam Toland, Michael Doherty. And not to forget the men who turned out Sunday after Sunday in the junior teams to encourage and lead the young players - Hugh Kildea, Michael O'Kane, and Noel Burke.