Making its comeback in 2024 after an absence from the calendar since 2008, Tyrone GAA marked the 50th anniversary of the murder of the Coalisland Fianna and Tyrone defender Jim Devlin and his Wife Gertrude on May 7th 1974 with the reintroduction of the Jim Devlin Cup. A year on and the competition has proved popular as a pre league competition and reaches the final stage on Thursday as Donaghmore face current holders Dromore, the St Patrick’s first Jim Devlin Cup final.
Members of the Tyrone squad from 1956 and ’57 presented the cup to the Tyrone board in memory of their teammate and it was played for every season from 1980 yearly until 2000, resurrected for the 2008 season. Jim who rose to prominence as a colleges star with St Patrick’s College Armagh during the 1940s, going on to become one of Tyrone’s most important footballers, earning his reputation as one of the country’s finest full-backs.
At college he won four MacRory Cup medals (1944-47) and in 1946 was on the St Patrick’s College team that won the inaugural Hogan Cup competition. Jim also captained Tyrone minors to win the 1946 Ulster championship, with his bother Eddie and the Fianna’s Tom Sullivan also on the team. He was forced to retire from playing, through injury in 1960. That year he was elected chairman of Tyrone GAA County Board, age just 32.
The callous murder of the couple in 1974 shocked the Country and they were laid to rest in Éadan na dTorc.
The football competition for what has been described as the “finest trophy” in Tyrone gaelic games started in 1980 as a fund raising tournament for the new Ceannaras building at Croke Park which was set to cost £800,000. Clubs who entered the inaugural competition paid a £150 entry fee. That initial competition structure remained for two years followed by a straight open draw knockout. The 2008 version was called a league cup and featured seniors and reserves.
Omagh won the first cup competition in 1980, going on to win three in a row, missing out to Eglish in their bid for four in a row in 1983, while Carrickmore have held the trophy four times, their first in 1985. Eglish, Trillick and Ardboe have each won the Jim Devlin cup twice.
The 2025 Final takes place in Coalisland on Thursday 24th April at 7.30pm.
Jim Devlin Memorial Cup
*1980 Omagh 0-8, Coalisland 1-4
*1981 Omagh 0-6, Eglish 0-3
1982 Omagh 0-10, Beragh 0-5
1983 Eglish 3-10, Omagh 1-10
1984 Eglish 1-6, Dromore 0-5
1985 Carrickmore 0-10, Gortin 0-7
1986 Ardboe 2-6, Ballygawley 1-7
1987 Carrickmore 2-6, Killeeshil 0-8
1988 Trillick 0-8, Moortown 0-6
1989 Trillick 3-7, Ardboe 1-3
1990 Gortin 3-5, Omagh 1-8
1991 Carrickmore 2-6, Omagh 1-4
1992 Carrickmore 4-8, Errigal Ciaran 0-7
1993 Edendork 0-15, Gortin 0-12 ET
1994 Glenelly 0-9, Owen Roes 0-5
1995 Ardboe 2-10, Drumquin 0-15
1996 Errigal Ciaran 3-8, Cookstown 1-5
1997 Newtownstewart 2-9, Cookstown 0-8
1998 Killeeshil 2-13, Kildress 2-12
1999 Kildress 4-9, Clonoe 2-12
2000 Galbally 0-10, Aghyaran 0-9
2001-2007 No Competition
**2008 Senior: Clonoe 2-10, Carrickmore 0-6 – Reserves: Clonoe 0-12, Carrickmore 0-5
2009-2023 No Competition
2024 Dromore 0-12, Clonoe 1-4
*Ceannaras Tournament raising funds for Croke Parks new Ceannaras building at a cost of £800,000, Clubs donating £150 each.
**League cup senior and reserve
