The parish curate at the time, Rev. Fr. John Conlon, was disillusioned that there was no football teams in the parish for the year 1956. He invited the coming together of both Drumraney and Tang (which incidentally are both in the same Parish) to form a new club, which would keep the flag flying for the new found community.
The Late Rev. Fr. Coyle P.P. at the time was the man who gave this club its title. Both churches in the parish were dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and Fr. Coyle said that it was ‘The land of the Marys’ and so the club was called Maryland.
During the first year of the clubs existence, the club won the U.15 championship. In the junior ranks Maryland were beaten in championship semi-finals from 1959 – 1962 and in 1963 they won the Junior Championship at the expense of The Downs on a scoreline of Maryland 0-9 and the Downs 0-2.
There was no intermediate championship during these years and Maryland were promoted from Junior to Senior. In 1966 they won the Senior Football League and in the same year got through to the Senior Football Championship final against Shamrocks. Unfortunately, Maryland lost this final.
From 1966 to 1971, the club went from senior to intermediate and finally junior. The amalgamation between Tang and Drumraney was dissolved in 1971 and following this break the Drumraney stalwarts of football at that time decided to retain the name of Maryland as the name that would represent the Drumraney end of the Parish in football. After this break, Maryland had two players of the fifteen that played in the senior final of 1966.
The following years were very lean with no victories for the club until 1974 when they won the Junior Football League. In 1977, they won the Junior Championship against Shandonagh on a scoreline of 2-6 to 0-3.
In 1979, Maryland lost to Tubberclair in the Intermediate Championship final. The following year, 1980, they once again contested the final, this time emerging victorious with a 1-point win over Tang. The score on this day was Maryland 2-8, Tang 0-13. Maryland will remember this game as maybe the most significant in their history because it once again propelled them into Senior ranks, a feat they had not achieved since 1966. The score most remembered from this final was the Tommy McCormack goal which rebounded from the Umpires leg!
Since the 1980 Intermediate Championship win, Maryland's
only success of note came in 1991 when they won the Intermediate League. They did, however, contest the 1987 Intermediate Championship Final where they lost on a scoreline of Ballynacargy 0-4, Marland 0-3. Maryland were also beaten finalist in the 1993 Intermediate Championship after a replay. That game finished Tang 0-10, Maryland 1-6. Most recently, they were again beaten finalists in the 1999 championship after a double replay.
Maryland's club colours are blue and white although initially, for a short period after the club was formed in 1957, they played with the old Drumraney colours, which were Green and White hooped jerseys.
Maryland's present pitch is situated on the Ballymore-Athlone road in Drumraney. The pitch was purchased in the early sixties from the Land commission. Ted Casey and Fr John Brady R.I.P who was P.P in the parish in 1963 were the chief instigators of this acquisition. This pitch has been used as the club grounds since 1969 and prior to this, Maryland played their football in Dillon's field, Waldersown, Groake's field, Kilcormack and Fox's field in Tang.
In 1982 Marylands new dressingrooms were opened and blessed. The Park is dedicated to Fr. Brady and is now called the Fr. Brady Memorial Park. In the period 90-93 the grounds and clubhouse were completely refurbished and we now have a pitch equal to the best.
On 5 June 1993, a plaque was unveiled and blessed in memory of Stephen Behan, R.I.P., who tragically lost his life in a road accident in December 1991. Stephen was 17 years of age at this time and was regarded by all as the best prospect the club ever had.Hurling
Drumraney won their first hurling championship in 1913 when they won the junior championship. They went on to win two senior titles in 1918 and 1921. The medals they got for winning those senior titles were solid gold medals even though they were troubled times. In the 1930 to 1940 era, a Walderstown team won several junior championships as well as other competitions. The late Sean Reynolds and the late Johnny Moran were members of that team. Also Jimmy Egan and Ted Casey (R.I.P).
When Maryland were formed in 1957 they had a football and a hurling team. Nearly half the hurling team were outsiders from Athlone. They won the junior league in 1957. That team broke up a few years after that. It was thought that it was too costly to run even though the outsiders said they were willing to contribute to the funds. In the late 1960's a Walderstown team was formed and they joined up with Southern Gales in 1970.