Derry Intermediate Football Championship Explained

Derry Intermediate Football Championship
First:1971
Firstwin:Ballymaguigan
Sponsors:M&L Contracts
Trophy:Sheridan, Bateson and Lee Cup[1]
Irish:Craobh Idirmheánach Peile Dhoire
Most:Craigbane
Mostordinal:7

The Derry Intermediate Football Championship (currently also known for sponsorship reasons as the M&L Contracts Derry Intermediate Football Championship) is an annual competition between the mid-tier Gaelic football clubs affiliated to Derry GAA.

Format

The competition traditionally took the structure of an open-draw knock-out.

In 2007 and 2008, the championship was altered to include a round robin, group structure with the 16 teams divided into four groups. Each club in a group played each other once with the top two in each group advancing to the quarter-finals. From the quarter-finals onwards the competition took the format of a knock-out.

The format was changed once again for the 2009 Championship.[2] The Derry Competitions Control Committee accepted a proposal to scrap the group stage and introduce a "backdoor" system.[2] The 16 clubs play in the first round. In the second round the eight first round winners are drawn against each other, with the four winners going into bowl A for the quarter-finals.[2] The eight first round losers are also drawn against each other and the four winners advance to the quarter-finals (in bowl B).[2] Teams in bowl A are drawn out against teams from bowl B to make up the quarter-final draw.[2] Thereafter the competition is an open-draw knock-out.[2]

Honours

The trophy awarded to the Derry IFC winning team is named after John Bateson (aged 19), James Sheridan (20) and Martin Lee (18), all members of the South Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army who died in an explosion in Magherafelt on 18 December 1971.[3] All three men came from Ballymaguigan and played for the St Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan.

The winners of the Derry Intermediate Championship qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship. It is the only team from the county to qualify for this competition. The Derry IFC winner may enter the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage. They often do well there, with Steelstown (January 2022, following 2021 Derry IFC win), Craigbane (2000 and 2011) and Eoghan Rua, Coleraine (2006) all winning Ulster titles since the turn of the century, after winning the Derry Intermediate Football Championship.[4] The winners can, in turn, go on to play in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship, at which it would enter at the semi-final stage, providing it hasn't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals. Steelstown, for instance, won the 2022 All-Ireland title, after winning the Derry Intermediate Football Championship of the previous year.[5]

List of finals

YearWinnerScoreOpponentScore
1971Ballymaguigan[6] 1-05Greenlough1-02
1972Swatragh[7] Dungiven
1973Ballinascreen III[8]
1974Glack[9] Drum
1975Kilrea[10]
1976Greenlough[11] Drum
1977Glenullin[12] Desertmartin
1978Faughanvale[13]
1979Swatragh
1980Glen[14] Drumsurn
1981Faughanvale[15]
1982Slaughtneil[16]
1983Glen[17] Drum
1984Moneymore[18] Drum
1985Foreglen[19] 1–10Desertmartin1-06
1986Craigbane[20] An Lúb
1987Craigbane[21] Claudy
1988Slaughtmanus[22]
1989Limavady[23] Faughanvale
1990Bellaghy[24]
1991Drumsurn[25]
1992Craigbane[26] Magilligan
1993 Ballymaguigan[27] 0-09Dungiven1-05
1994 An Lúb[28]
1995 Craigbane[29] 1-08Banagher1-07
1996 Faughanvale[30] Craigbane
1997 Craigbane[31] Claudy
1998 Faughanvale[32]
1999 Faughanvale[33]
2000 Craigbane[34] Newbridge
2001 Ballymaguigan[35] 1–12Moneymore0-06
2002 Newbridge[36]
2003Ballymaguigan[37] 0–13Desertmartin0–12
2004 Foreglen
2005 Claudy[39] Eoghan Rua
2006 Eoghan Rua[40] Foreglen
2007Newbridge[41] Foreglen
2008[42] Greenlough[43] 1–10Ballymaguigan0-09
2009Ballymaguigan[44] 2-08Greenlough0–12
2010Castledawson[45] 0–11Steelstown0–10
2011Craigbane0-09Swatragh0-08
2012Swatragh[46] Foreglen
2013Foreglen3-09Glen Maghera1–11
2014[47] Castledawson0-07Slaughtmanus0-06
2015[48] Greenlough2–17Craigbane0-09
2016Castledawson0–15Steelstown1–11
2017Newbridge1-09Faughanvale1-04
2018Banagher[49] 1–12Ballymaguigan1-08
2019[50] Foreglen0–15Claudy0-09
2020Greenlough1–12Steelstown1-08
2021Steelstown0-09Greenlough0-08
2022[51] [52] [53] Glenullin0–15Drumsurn1–11

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Latest Club News . 2008-10-30 . Official St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan website . 2008-10-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016220503/http://www.ballymaguigan.com/latest.html . 16 October 2008 .
  2. News: New championships format . . 49 . 6 February 2009 .
  3. Book: Corry, Eoghan . Oakboys - Derry's Football Dream Come True . Torc Books Ltd. . Dublin, Ireland . 1993 . 1-898142-10-6 . 5.
  4. News: Derry city's men of Steel edge out Moortown. 11 January 2022. The Irish News. 10 January 2022.
  5. News: Second half goals see Steelstown crowned All-Ireland champions. 6 February 2022. Irish Examiner. 6 February 2022.
  6. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1971. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  7. Web site: Michael Davitt's, Swatragh all set to celebrate their 70th birthday in style. The Irish News. 11 November 2016. 16 November 2022. The Davitt's, playing in the green-and-white hoops associated with a number of Davitt's teams around Ireland, were successful in the intermediate championship ranks in 1972 and '79 and rose to the senior ranks in the 1980s..
  8. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1973. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  9. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1974. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  10. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1975. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  11. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1976. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  12. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1977. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  13. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1978. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  14. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1980. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  15. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1981. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  16. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1982. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  17. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1983. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  18. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1984. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  19. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1985. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  20. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1986. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  21. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1987. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  22. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1988. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  23. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1989. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  24. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1990. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  25. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1991. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  26. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1992. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  27. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1993. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  28. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1994. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  29. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1995. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  30. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1996. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  31. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  32. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  33. Web site: Intermediate Championship 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  34. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  35. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  36. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  37. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  38. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  39. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  40. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  41. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  42. Web site: Greenlough bridge 32-year gap. Hogan Stand. 10 February 2009. 16 November 2022.
  43. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  44. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  45. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.
  46. Web site: Michael Davitt's, Swatragh all set to celebrate their 70th birthday in style. The Irish News. 11 November 2016. 16 November 2022. Success continued for Swatragh with another intermediate football championship in 2012....
  47. Web site: Castledawson crowned Derry Intermediate champions. "Northern Ireland World". 6 October 2014. 16 November 2022.
  48. Web site: Greenlough Derry Intermediate Champions. Highland Radio. 3 October 2015. 16 November 2022.
  49. Web site: Banagher too strong for Glenfin in Ulster Intermediate Championship. Donegal Daily. 4 November 2018. 16 November 2022. Chris. McNulty. Charlie. Collins.
  50. Web site: Foreglen aiming to build on Intermediate success. Gaelic Life. 25 July 2020. 16 November 2022. Ronan. Scott. They will be confident though after they beat Claudy to win the 2019 Intermediate Championship..
  51. Web site: Ambition meets opportunity as Paddy Bradley leads Glenullin back into Ulster competition. The Irish News. 9 November 2022. 16 November 2022. Andy. Watters.
  52. Web site: Meet the squad: Glenullin prepare for intermediate football final. Ireland Live. 19 October 2022. 16 November 2022.
  53. Web site: Glenullin win Derry Intermediate Football Championship. Highland Radio. 23 October 2022. 16 November 2022.
  54. Web site: Intermediate Championship 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217114849/http://derrygaa.ie/2011/03/511/. 17 February 2012.

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