History
of Saval
Sometimes a club can be more famous
for its people off the pitch rather than those on
the pitch and some would say this is true to Saval's
case. For this small rural club has produced many
fine administrators of the G.A.A. in Down ranging
from the renowned Dan McCartan to Owen Quinn Dean
Pettit, Canon Murtagh to name but a few. On the field
Saval are dominated by the family bonds of the Digneys,
the Sands, the Murtaghs and McCarthy's to carry on
a proud tradition which began one Sunday back in July
1888.
On this day a game was played between
people from Saval and Mayobridge near St. Colman's
Church Shinn. The noise according to newspaper reports
disturbed the tranquility of the Sabbath and today
it is fact that the very same tranquility is still
disturbed thanks to the efforts of the Gaels of Saval.
The present club was founded in 1949
under the drive and initiative of Fr. J. J. Pettit
and the high point of their history has been their
reaching the 1981 County Senior Final before going
under to Burren in a replay. Saval club extends its
activities beyond the playing fields and has been
a regular competitor in Scor competitions.
In 1986 the Club History "Saval's
Gaelic Tradition" written by Gerard McCarthy was published
- an interesting informative and evocative account
which traces the club's contribution to parish life
over the years.
