Omagh Welcomes New Club President

Tuesday 03.02.2026

Club

One of Omagh St Enda’s most decorated footballers has now become President of the Tyrone club. Hugh Crawford who had a remarkable footballing career accepted the President’s role on Friday night when he took over from another footballing legend at the club Paddy Mc Mahon.

It’s apt that Hugh replaces Paddy as the duo enjoyed so much success on several Tyrone and club teams together including an Ulster U-21 football title, a national league and Ulster senior title. From the Crawford family of Gortmore Park Hugh began playing Gaelic Football courtesy of the famous Park Leagues organised by St Enda’s.

Having played his football at Omagh CBS Primary school Hugh went on to win club football and hurling County titles, the Herald Cup with Omagh CBS in 1970 with Eugene Mc Mahon, Jimmy Mc Daid and Oliver O’Neill with Roddy Tierney the Manager. The same year he helped Omagh to the Tyrone championship while  still 17.

In 1971 Hugh lined out with the Tyrone minors winning an Ulster league and championship following that with the 1972 Tyrone minor title again. That same year Hugh won an Ulster U21 title with  Paddy Mc Mahon. He scored the winning point in the National League Division Two  final against Down alongside club  and was joined on that team by Paddy Mc Mahon and Liam Turbett. He was replaced in the Ulster senior final by Frank Mc Guigan who had earlier captained the minors to the Ulster title.

In 1973 Hugh and Oliver O’Neill won Ulster U-21 titles and Hugh was part of the senior squad that won the Ulster senior championship.

His county career petered out after that but at Club level Hugh won a Tyrone  Division 2 title in 1973, an intermediate title in 1977, a Tyrone division one title in 1980 , the first of three Jim Devlin Cups while he missed out on a Tyrone senior title when Omagh lost their only game of 1980, the County final replay. Hugh was still a member of the St Enda’s squad that lost the 1984 county final.

Hugh remained involved in sport around the town. He turned his interests to soccer and as a player/manager he made a great career in with Omagh Town and Shelbourne where he continued to collect silverware. Once a winner always a winner. Hugh enjoys playing the occasional round of golf these days while keeping a close eye on the fortunes of his beloved St Enda’s.