Hurling – The Eighties: Rejuvenated

In 1983, Lavey played in the Antrim Minor Hurling League, and won it outright. They also collected the Derry U-18 Hurling Championship in 1983, 1984 and 1985. With all this experience behind them they made the breakthrough in the Derry Senior Hurling Championship in 1985 when they beat the Dungiven team who had set the standards in Derry since 1972.

One invaluable asset to Lavey over the last two decades has been Tom Nott, a former Cork county hurler. He is a dedicated hurling enthusiast, who has managed Cork to three Minor All Ireland Championship successes. Tom has adopted Lavey as his second home and makes numerous trips up to Lavey each year to coach and brings his own club team Na Piarsigh up for weekend games.

After making the breakthrough in Derry in 1985, Erin’s Own Lavey have now captured the Derry title a further 8 times 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1997. They have so far been unsuccessful in the Ulster Series, but have appeared in four finals, 1986 v Ballycastle, 1988 v Rossa, 1994 v Dunloy and 1997 v Dunloy running the eventual winners close in every final. It can also be noted that all these Antrim clubs have gone on to make a good account of themselves in the All Ireland deciders. It can only be a matter of time before Lavey make that historic breakthrough in Ulster.