History
In May 1925 Johnny Mullan (Seán Ó Maoláin), the local school teacher, called a meeting with the aim of establishing a new Gaelic football club in Glenullin. [1] The club decided to name itself after Irish rebel John Mitchel and wore green and white hooped jerseys. The first ever match took place that summer against a team from Randalstown, County Antrim. The team colours have now changed to green and gold hoops.
Glenullin's original football pitch was Tinker's Park in Coolcoscreghan townland, at the junction of the Lisnascreghog and Glen roads. This field is now livestock grazing. Their original meeting hall is a green metal building with a red roof on the Glenullin Road at the junction with Lisnascreghog Road. Sadly, this piece of their history has been abandoned and allowed to fall into disrepair. Their current pitch beside the housing estate in Curraghmore was opened in 1973.
Glenullin at the time played in South Derry competitions. They were soon successful and won the 1927 Derry Senior Football League and the 1928 Derry Senior Football Championship. They were also victorious in the 1934 South Derry League. A branch of the Gaelic League was also formed in Glenullin around this time. [1]
Glenullin switched to North Derry competitions in 1938. They won back-to-back Dr. Kerlin Cups in 1938 and 1939. Glenullin won the 1939 South Derry? League final. 1940 proved a very successful year for Mitchel's; they won the Dr. Kerlin Cup, the Neal Carlin Cup and the North Derry Championship. They won their third North Derry Championship in 1944. They won the Neal Carlin Cup again in 1947.
1951 was the year John Mitchel's first wore the green and gold hoops, which they currently wear today. Glenullin, like much of rural Ireland was greatly affected by emigration in the 1950s. [1] Due to lack of numbers the club was relegated to the Junior ranks. The club won the North Derry Junior title in 1953. Glenullin re-emerged in the 1960s to become a force in Derry football once more. The side won the 1962 North Derry Minor and All-Derry Minor titles. The Seniors won the Dr. Kerlin Cup in 1964.
In 1977 Glenullin defeated Desertmartin to become Derry Intermediate Football Champions. 1985 proved a glory year for Glenullin. They won their first Derry Senior Championship in 58 years by defeating Ballinderry in the final at Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen. [1] In 2007 they defeated another South Derry "giant", Bellaghy in a replay, this giving them their first Derry Championship success in 22 years. They were managed that year by Liam Bradley, and joint captain with Brian Mullan was his son Paddy. They went on to the provincial semi-final against St Gall's, but lost in an out-of-sorts performance from their key players.
2022, Glenullin, managed by Paddy Bradley, won the Derry Intermediate Football Championship but the Ulster campaign ended in disappointment, with Galbally proving too strong. However 2023 saw them retain their county title against Banagher in a thrilling game that went to extra time.
In Ulster in 2023, Glenullin overcame Glenravel of Antrim in the quarter-final, producing a confident display. The semi-final against Ballyhaise of Cavan, however, ended in frustration. Ballyhaise went on to lose the final narrowly to eventual All-Ireland winners Cullyhanna.
2025: The County final, played at Owenbeg on Saturday 18 October 2025, matched Glenullin with Foreglen, who entered the contest in fine form. Glenullin led comfortably at half time by 2-06 to 0-07, but they were unable to maintain the same intensity in the second half. A spirited comeback from Foreglen, including two goals, brought the game level with ten minutes remaining but Glenullin prevailed.
Glenullin faced Antrim Champions, Moneyglass, in the Ulster preliminary round on Saturday 1 November and took the win on a scoreline of 2-17 to 0-06.
The quarter final pitched Glenullin against the Armagh champions Sarsfields with the game taking place in their backyard of the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Sunday 9 October 2025. Sarsfields fell to three goals in the final 10 minutes as Glenullin booked a spot in the semi-finals.
Facing both an excellent Carrickmacross team and the horrible conditions in Healy Park, the game stretched into extra-time with things remaining close but Glenullin took the win. The Senior game in the double header that day was abandoned at half time due to pitch being deemed unplayable.
December 7, 2025 in St Tiernach's Park in Clones saw an Ulster Final title bid against CLG Cuchulainns and the Patrick McCully Cup came to Glenullin after a scoreline of Glenullin 3-15, Cuchulainns 0-19.
