There's been some amount of clubs in Down who have dabbled in the small ball over the years at one point or another. Some of them got on very well with it, too.
For one reason or another, a lot of them have disappeared.
If anyone is able to add to the list, please do.
- Kilcoo
- Ardglass
- Rostrevor
- Darragh Cross
- Banbridge
- Saval
- Mayobridge
- Glenn
- Annsborough (Aughlisnafin)
- An RÃocht
- Downpatrick
- Saul
- Clann na Boirce (Bryansford)
To the best of my knowledge St Paul's, Holywood had underage hurling in the not so distant past- but it never took off at senior level.
Out of these former Down hurling clubs, a number have reintroduced hurling at underage in recent years.
From what I know, there was something of a drive in the late 70s/80s to encourage and promote hurling in 'football clubs.'
If anybody knows of any other clubs that used to put out hurling teams, has memories of any defunct hurling teams, or knows anything about them, it would be very interesting to hear.
Drumaness and Killyleagh
St John's played up to the early 90s as far as I know
I don't remember reading anything about hurling in Banbridge - when was that?
A long time ago, late 70s or 80s I think.
There was something of a drive from the county board around that time to promote hurling in non-hurling clubs, with competitions being 11-a-side.
Banbridge was one of those clubs which took part.
I don't know a great deal more about it than that, unfortunately.
Is Ballyvarley and Banbridge not one and the same thing?
Quote from: johnnycool on December 24, 2025, 11:15:10 AMIs Ballyvarley and Banbridge not one and the same thing?
Ballyvarley and Aghaderg are one and the same.
Tullycarnon
Quote from: johnnycool on December 24, 2025, 11:15:10 AMIs Ballyvarley and Banbridge not one and the same thing?
Ballyvarley and Aghaderg are one and the same. It was explained to me before the reasoning for the two names. It's a bit of a convoluted explanation in my opinion when you consider the camogs in the parish go by Aghaderg- although I'm sure those involved could justify it and explain it well enough for me to understand.
Clann na Banna are the team in the town of Banbridge- only a mile or two away on the same stretch of road.
To the best of my knowledge Ballyvarley/Aghaderg more-so encompasses the village of Loughbrickland and the surrounding parish/countryside, as opposed to the town of Banbridge.
Quote from: Be even better on December 25, 2025, 02:46:18 PMTullycarnon
Where exactly is Tullycarnon?
A quick search online shows there are two townlands in Down with the name- one in and around Portaferry, the other about Ardglass.
Quote from: johnnycool on December 24, 2025, 11:15:10 AMIs Ballyvarley and Banbridge not one and the same thing?
Wash your mouth out. ;D
I never recall playing Banbridge at any age group in the 80s.
We would've had a few from Banbridge playing for Ballyvarley as the only club along with Ballela in the area that had hurling.
Quote from: Splash on January 02, 2026, 11:26:43 PMQuote from: Be even better on December 25, 2025, 02:46:18 PMTullycarnon
Where exactly is Tullycarnon?
A quick search online shows there are two townlands in Down with the name- one in and around Portaferry, the other about Ardglass.
Bottom of the peninsula. Think they were a junior club in the 40s and 50s.
Quote from: Be even better on January 03, 2026, 05:52:43 PMQuote from: Splash on January 02, 2026, 11:26:43 PMQuote from: Be even better on December 25, 2025, 02:46:18 PMTullycarnon
Where exactly is Tullycarnon?
A quick search online shows there are two townlands in Down with the name- one in and around Portaferry, the other about Ardglass.
Bottom of the peninsula. Think they were a junior club in the 40s and 50s.
Tullycarnon is a townland outside Portaferry.
They and Carrig Uladh were the two teams who merged to become St Patricks, Portaferry as they are now known.
The parish priest at the time insisted on the name having religious connotations as the pitch was on parish ground.
Bryansford won a Down Special Junior Hurling Championship in the early to mid 80's. Obviously a defunct competition now, but I'm guessing it was a Junior B Championship type arrangement?