1920's
After a quiet spell after the formation of Rock St Patrick's GFC due to troubled times, the club rejuvenated in 1923 with the help of Mr James Hagan and Mr John Donnelly. They formed a senior team known as "Rock McDonaghs" they played in the Pomeroy district league with five other teams: Donaghmore Eire Og, Beragh Red Knights, Pomeroy Plunketts, Dungannon Clarkes and Cookstown Brian Og. The team consisted of mainly previous players but a few new names were Peter Mallon, Tommy Mullan, Malachy Cush, Pat McGuire (who was described as the greatest goalkeeper of this era), Jack Donnelly, Frank and James Jackson, WJ Gourley, Dan Mills, Peter and Paddy Mallon, John McShane, Johnny Conway and the outstanding Dan Phelan who was manager of the Rock Creamery at Drumballyhugh.
By 1925 the league structure had been changed to the East Tyrone League with 10 teams involved this included: Donaghmore Eire Og, Coalisland Fianna, Coalisland Owen Roes, Pomeroy Plunketts, Dungannon Clarkes, Ardboe Pearses, Stewartstown Harps, Killybearn St Marys, Maghery Phelim Bradys and Rock McDonaghs. But no record was kept of Rock McDonaghs progress in this competition and due to immigration and transport difficultiesthe club went into decline until 1933.
1930's
In 1933 the club was once again strong enough and rejoined Tyrone league football they were renamed to "Rock St Patrick's" and they played in the East Tyrone Junior League. This team wore Black Jersey's with a white v stripe on the front of them. the team inculded players such as John Quinn, Dan Forker, John McShane, Malachy Cush, John Conlon, George Gilroy, Ned McKernan, Joe Conlon, John Hewitt, Father Tom Quinn, Barney Quinn, Bill Brown, Joe, John and Hugh Mallon, Joe and Eddie Falls, Johnny (Bonnie) Toner, JJ Mills, Jack Campbell, John McGeough, Peter Falls, Peter McLernon, James Hagan, John O'Neill, Tom McElkearney, Jack McElkearney, Frank Falls, Charles O'Neill and the McGuire Brothers. No records of "Rock St Patrick's" progress at this period were kept but some recollections tell of excellent results in the East Tyrone Junior League.
The First Success
The season of 1937 saw Rock St Patrick's the dominant force in the East Tyrone Junior League. Playing now in a field belonging to Haydens of Moneygara known as "Sloans Garden" it soon became a feared place for opposing teams. Rock St Patrick's recorded victories over teams like Cookstown Geraldines, Kildress St Marys, Ardboe Pearses and Drumullan Wolfe Tones and at the half way stage of the league they were 8 points clear of their nearest rivals Stewartstown Harps.
Rock St Patrick's maintained a strong challenge in their remaining games and they were to be crowned East Tyrone Junior League Champions. This was the clubs first success since its formation in 1916 and they had qualified for the All County Junior Final against Tummery the West Tyrone League Champions. The final of the All County Junior Final was played in Cookstown on 6th November 1937 and a low scoring game saw Rock St Patrick's lose on a scoreline of 1-2 to 4-2. Rock team on that occasion was: Joe, John and Hugh Mallon, Johnny Conway, Peter, Joe and Eddie Falls, Jack, Paddy and Terry McElkearney, Johnny (Bonnie) Toner, Peter McLernon, Dan Mullan, Jimmy Hagan, JJ Mills, Peter Ward, P Conlon, Jack Campbell and John McGeough.
