Eskra Emmetts - Our History

The first mention of a football team from the Eskra Parish, competing in an official GAA competition, came in 1929. The team took part in a very small West Tyrone League with only four teams competing, Omagh, Fintona, Beragh and Eskra.

It was a very good start as Eskra went on to win the West Tyrone Championship in 1929.

The club continued until 1934 and then dissolved.

There was then a period of instability with club reforming in 1939 but again dissolving in 1942. In 1950 a short revival took place with the re-emergence of the team but it only lasted for one year.

There was not another Eskra team competing in official competition until 1971. However, during this time many players from the area did play for neighbouring clubs and with great success. For example, the victorious Clogher side of the 1950's and the Augher teams of the 1960's.

The resurrection of the club came about in 1971 through the tireless efforts of a number of individuals. The team went on to have a very good league campaign that year. Having finished top of their league section they qualified for a league play-off for the Junior League with Tattysallagh. The Emmetts ran out winners on a score line of 2-4 to 1-2 and with it promotion to the intermediate grade.

1972 saw a mid-table league finish but 1973 was less successful and lead to relegation back to Junior football for 1974. Following the disappointing season, a decision was taken at the 1974 AGM to withdraw the team from competitive football. Many of the players went to play for neighbouring teams such as Augher and Omagh.

In 1977 the interest started to grow again as players from the area started gathering together in local fields to play football during the summer. In 1977 the numbers gathering in Hackett's field in Cormore was upwards on thirty players. In the Autumn of that year a General Meeting was called, and was extremely well attended, with the aim of resurrecting the club. As a result the club, as we know it now, was reformed with Donal McLaughlin as Chairman, Gerry McCaffrey as Secretary and Joe Kelly as Treasurer. It was agreed that the team would be managed by former Tyrone player, Brian McSorley. The club was affiliated to Division 6 with Castlederg, Drumquin, Tattyreagh, Rock, Cookstown, Brackaville and Melmount.

The next aim was to develop a suitable pitch. The club was guaranteed the use of the parish owned playing field and they set about developing the pitch and this was completed in 1981 and the new pitch opened in 1982.

1982 proved to be a good year for the Emmetts on the field as well with the team reaching the Junior Championship final against Rock. Unfortunately, Rock proved to be strong opposition and ran out winners but progress was definitely being made. This was further evident in 1984 when the club won its first underage title with the Minors beating Kildress to win the Grade 2 Championship.

Some of this successful Minor team were also a part of the 1986 senior team which won the Division 3 league title and gained promotion to Division 2 with a 1-16 to 1-2 win over Windmill. Unfortunately, our stay in Division 2 lasted just one season but 1987 will also be remembered as the year that the new dressing rooms were completed.

1992 saw the official opening of our new grounds and dressing rooms with the then President of the GAA, Peter Quinn, in attendance. The opening ceremony and blessing of the grounds was then followed by a Senior football challenge game between Tyrone and Down.

Over the next few years the Senior team remained in the Junior ranks and most of the underage teams amalgamated with Augher as both clubs struggled to field teams. 1996 saw the Senior team reach the Junior Championship final for the first time since 1982 but again Eskra were on the losing side against Brackaville on a scoreline of 4-5 to 0-10.

Over the next number of years the club continued to develop and with growing numbers, began to compete successfully at underage level with a number of youth players having success at school, county level and with the Emmetts. The progression continued and after a number of near misses with gaining promotion, Eskra reached the Junior Championship final for a third time in 2002. However, it was not third time lucky and Urney proved too strong on the day and ran out winners 2-7 to 0-10. The team returned to the Junior final in 2003 and eventually the breakthrough was made when we defeated Newtownstewart, 0-8 to 0-7, to claim our first Championship title at Senior level and promotion to Intermediate football.

The success continued in 2004 as the team, in its first year in Intermediate football since 1987, reached the Intermediate Championship final but were defeated by a good Pomeroy side. A few weeks later the team played Dungannon in the league play-off for promotion to Senior football but again lost narrowly.

The club has remained in Intermediate football since 2004, the longest period at that level in the clubs history, and continues to compete well at underage level. Off the field the development work to the grounds continues, which now also includes a spectator stand.