ballerin sarsfields gac was formed in 1944 under the guidance of barney mcnicholl, paddy deighan and harry mullan. in january 1945 the club leased the land for a pitch, shamrock park irish: "páirc sheamróg") remains their pitch to this day. the club played their first ever match on 25 march 1945 in faughanvale. the club's first home match was played a month later. inside a few years, the club became a major force in derry football and won the 1947 derry minor championship. the club's first ever derry senior football championship came in 1957 when they defeated ballymaguigan in the final. the club won a second derry senior championship in 1976, this time at the expense of dungiven and went on to win that year's ulster senior club football championship, defeating clan na gael of armagh in the final. sarfields went on to reach the 1977 all-ireland senior club football championship final, but were defeated by austin stacks of kerry.