The draw has been made for the Jim Devlin Cup, a historic club competition revived in Tyrone to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of one of the county’s greats.
The one-off series will commemorate the deaths of Jim Devlin and his wife Gertie, who were murdered by loyalist gunmen as they returned to their home near Coalisland on May 7, 1974.
The competition, last staged almost 20 years ago, will feature all 16 of Tyrone’s senior clubs in a straight knock-out format, beginning in April, with the final scheduled for May 8.
Among the stand-out first round ties will be Errigal Ciaran’s clash with Killyclogher and a derby meeting of Dungannon and Donaghmore, while county champions Trillick will face Ardboe.
An open draw will be made for the quarter-finals.
Coalisland, which will host the final, meet Dromore in a fixture which carries some poignancy. Jim Devlin’s first Tyrone Championship medal was won in 1946, when he helped the Fianna beat Dromore in the decider.
Jim Devlin was a key member of the Tyrone team which won the county’s first Ulster SFC title in 1956.
At the time of his death, he was the last Coalisland Fianna captain to lift the O’Neill Cup – in 1955. Jim lined out at full-back on those first Tyrone teams to win the Ulster senior championship, captained by his clubmates Jody O’Neill (’56) and his brother Eddie (’57), who passed away last year.
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.
He went on to referee club games and also had a passion for drama, taking part in many local productions while his wife Gertie was a keen indoor bowler. The double murder shocked not only the local and wider Tyrone community but also the whole of Ireland.
The Jim Devlin Cup was presented by members of the Tyrone County team of 1956- 1957, and is currently on display at the county’s GAA centre in Garvaghey.
Jim Devlin Cup first round
Carrickmore v Galbally
Dungannon v Donaghmore
Coalisland v Dromore
Pomeroy v Eglish
Killyclogher v Errigal Ciaran
Ardboe v Trillick
Clonoe v Edendork
Loughmacrory v Omagh
