Pearse Óg

Infobox GAA club
club gaa =Pearse Og
crest =
irish = Na Piarsaigh Óga
county = Armagh
nickname = The Ógs'
colours = Green and Gold
grounds = Pearse Óg Park| honours =
founded = 1950
province = Ulster
f1=|f2=|f3=3|h3=

pattern_la= |pattern_b=_yellowhorizontal |pattern_ra=
leftarm=008000 |body=008000 |rightarm=008000 |shorts=FFFFFF |socks=008000
|Pearse Óg GFC ( _ga. Na Piarsaigh Óga) was formed in 1950 as a breakaway club of Armagh Harps. 'Na Piarsaigh Óga', roughly translated as the 'Young Pearse’s', proudly take their name from the Irish Republicans Padraig & Willie Pearse. "The Flaming Sword", the symbol generally associated with Padraig Pearse and the name of his newspaper, surrounded by the green and gold club colours and an outline of Armagh City make the clubs crest.

Foundation of the 'Ógs

The founder members meet in Dougan's Loft, Navan Street, they included Charlie McQuade, Felix McStravick, Sam Johnson, Gene McStravick, Eugene McKenna, Gerry Cush and the legendary Ulster footballer 'Big Jim McCullagh, who became the Pearse Ógs' inaugural chairman. The clubs name was suggested by Seamy Trainor and has been called by that name ever since. Their home ground was at the Athletic Grounds at Drumarg in the heart of the West of the City.

Senior Championship Success

Pearse Óg won their first Armagh Senior Football Championship title in 1985 defeating local rivals 'Armagh Harps' in the final. The backbone of this team was formed by players who had won the County U-21 Championship in '76 and back-to-back Minor titles from '81 to '83. Prominent members of this team were future All-star Gerard Houlahan and his county teammates Colin Harney and Brian Hughes and team captain Sean Gordon.

In 2007 Pearse Óg reached the County Final only to be beat by Holding Irish club Champions Cross. It most be noted that Cross had unfairly the home advantage.

All-Ireland Success

In 2002 the Ógs had four players on the Armagh All-Ireland winning panel, Simon Maxwell, Pauric Duffy, Kieran Hughes and Ronan Clarke. Former senior player Eamon Mackle was heavily involved in Armagh's success along with Armagh coach Paul Grimley. This year, 2007, on the Armagh team The Ógs have the addition to the panel of Andy Mallon, Ciaran McKinney and Paul Duffy. With Simon and Pauric both stepping down.

Pearse Óg Park

The club recently secured a 30-year lease on Ballycrummy complex. They have developed this area with a playing area the same size as Croke Park, training facilities, changing rooms and hope to build an indoor sports hall to the expenditure of £500k. The initial phase has been completed, comprising playing and training pitches, together with floodlighting and dressing rooms.

underage

In 2007 Pearse Og under-14 had a memorable year winning 5 tropies including the Mid-Armagh League, Championship and Feile. They narrowly lost out in the county final to Shane O'Neill's. The U-14s started the year with a narrow one point victory over local rivals Armagh Harps(0-10-0-09. A number of days later the ogs eased to victory again over the Harps to start off their league campaign. The Ogs only lost one league which was against Keady a few weeks after the u-14s edged out Keady in the championship final in Madden. In other league gamnes against Ballymacnab and the Grange respectively the Pearse ogs ran out convincing winners, in the earlier league game against Keady the ogs again beat Keday in an extremely tight contest a late Keady goal set up a nervous finale.

Notable Players

Ronan Clarke

Paul Duffy

Kieran Hughes

Pauric Duffy

Brian og hughes

Gerard Houlahan

Ciaran McKinney

Andy Mallon

Paul Grimley

Jim McCullagh

Colin Harney

Brian Hughes

Sean Gordon

References

External links

* http://www.pearseoggfc.com/