Ballina Stephenites GFC
David Brady, Liam McHale and the 2005 All Ireland winning panel
The Ballina Stephenites Club was founded on the last Saturday of August 1886 by James Wallace Melvin. (Pen-name Larry Doolan) who also penned the Club's rallying song-"Forward to the goal of victory" The first meeting was held in "Barney's Boreen" at the top of Convent Hill. The first President of the Club was Tom Courell with "Cappy" Fitzgerald as Secretary and Michael Connolly as Treasurer.
The Club won 13 consecutive Senior Football Championships from 1904 - 1916 and 2 Archbishop Croke Cups in 1908 and 1909.
In 1933 James Stephens Park was opened by P.J. Rutledge, Minister for Justice - (A Ballina man). Bord Na N'Og was founded in 1972 resulting in many juvenile successes since.
The Club has produced 4 G.A.A. Football All-Stars in - Kevin McStay, Jimmy Browne, David Clarke and Liam McHale.
In 2005 a team captained by Brian Ruane defeated Portlaoise to win the Andy Merrigan cup as All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship winners.
Many famous Mayo footballers played with the club including Ger Brady, Ger Cafferkey, David Clarke, Pat Harte, David Brady, Liam McHale, Kevin McStay, Jimmy Browne.
Senior County Titles (36)
1889, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1943, 1947, 1955, 1966, 1985, 1987, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007
