1996–2026

In 2026, St Ergnat’s GAC Moneyglass celebrates 30 years of ladies football – three decades that have taken the club from a small group of players getting a team together in the mid-1990s to the highest level of club ladies football in Ireland.

It is a story of steady growth, plenty of hard work and, in more recent years, a remarkable level of success.

Where it all began

The origins of ladies football in Moneyglass can be traced back to 1995, when Pauline McCoy and three college friends set about establishing ladies football in Antrim. At the time, Antrim was one of only two counties in Ireland without organised ladies football. With no social media to advertise the new venture, notices were simply placed in local shop windows to attract players.

Moneyglass was one of the clubs formed as a result.

In 1996, the first organised Antrim league and championship competitions were established, with Moneyglass among the participating clubs. The following year, under manager Eddie McKeever, assisted by Aidan Marron, Moneyglass won the Antrim Ladies Championship, defeating reigning champions Glenravel in the final, only in their second season of existence.

That early team established a tradition that would continue for the next three decades.

Back-to-back Junior Championship titles followed in 1998 and 1999, while the club continued to compete near the top of Antrim football. In 2003, Moneyglass won the Ulster Junior Club Championship, following defeat in the final in 2002. A significant achievement for a small rural club. The club then won its first Antrim Intermediate Championship in 2006, adding another Intermediate title in 2011.

The foundations had been laid.

Building from the underage

While senior success was important, one of the defining features of Moneyglass’ development has been the emphasis placed on underage football.

By the 20-year anniversary in 2017, the club had grown from approximately 40 registered ladies to around 150 girls playing from U6 through to senior level.

That investment in younger players would ultimately become the driving force behind the club’s next period of success.

The progress became particularly evident in the early 2020s, when Moneyglass began producing successful teams across several age groups. In 2022, the club achieved something unprecedented by winning the U14, U16, Minor and Senior Championships in the same year, as well as reaching the Ulster Senior Club final, only to be beaten narrowly by Donaghmoyne, Co. Monaghan.

That remarkable season was made even more significant by the U15 girls winning the All-Ireland Féile title, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.  This was the third All Ireland Féile title since 2016, including 2 All Ireland U14 7s titles.

The success was no longer confined to one generation or one team. There was evidence of a genuine pathway developing through the club.

From success in Antrim to the Ulster stage

The senior team continued to establish itself as the leading force in Antrim ladies football.

After winning the Intermediate Championship in 2020, Moneyglass began a remarkable run at senior level. By 2025, the club had won five consecutive Antrim Senior Championships, with the latest coming against St Paul’s in October 2025.

But 2025 would prove to be a year unlike any other in the club’s history.

Having previously come close at provincial level, Moneyglass finally broke through to win its first Ulster Senior Club Championship, defeating Tyrone champions Errigal Ciarán 3-10 to 0-6 in the final.

It was not only a first Ulster title for Moneyglass; it was the first Ulster Senior Club Championship won by an Antrim club.

The team then went one step further.

In the All-Ireland semi-final, Moneyglass defeated Dublin and Leinster champions Kilmacud Crokes 1-12 to 1-10, becoming the first Antrim club to reach an All-Ireland Senior Club Championship final.

The final against five-time reigning champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne ultimately ended in defeat, but reaching Croke Park represented the biggest achievement in the history of St Ergnat’s ladies football and placed the club firmly on the national stage.

The significance of that achievement was recognised beyond the club, with Moneyglass subsequently receiving the Ulster LGFA Club of the Year award following its landmark 2025 season.

It is the players who started out in the 1990s and helped establish the team. It is the parents who brought girls to training and matches. It is the coaches and volunteers who gave up evenings and weekends. It is the families who have had several generations involved, and the supporters who have followed the team through every season.

And perhaps that is what makes the last 30 years particularly special. St Ergnat’s is a small club in a small community, but the support for the ladies has always been anything but small. From underage football to senior, there has been a real sense of people getting behind the girls, celebrating their achievements and helping make sure the next generation has the same opportunities.  There have been plenty of memories made along the way, on and off the pitch, with the hope being that there are many more to come.

To mark 30 years of St Ergnat’s ladies football, we have also launched a special commemorative jersey, featuring the names of 100 people who have been part of the journey over the years.

For £100, you can have a name of your choice included on the jersey and will receive one of the commemorative jerseys. We’d love to see a real mix of names from across the 30 years – players, coaches, families, supporters and those who helped get the ladies club off the ground in the early days.

It’s a small way of recognising the many people who have played a part in making the club what it is today, and something that will hopefully become a nice reminder of the first 30 years of St Ergnat’s ladies football. 

Here’s to the next 30 years — and to plenty more memories, friendships and good days along the way.