Located at the parish of Ardkeen, about 25 miles from
Belfast, St Joseph's GAA Club, Ballycran was founded in 1939 to provide hurling for the local boys and men of the parish. Hugh Gilmore, Pat Hamilton and Frank McKenna were the driving forces of the new club in its early days. The club colours of black and amber were chosen in tribute to McKenna's long-time friend –
Lory Meagher of
Kilkenny. Ballycran had its first major success in 1949, when the club claimed their inaugural
Down SHC title. The club went on to be regular winners of the Down SHC title in the decades that followed. Ballycran also became the first Down club to win the
Ulster Club SHC title in 1974. Further provincial titles were won in 1976 and 1993. The club won its 24th Down SHC title in 2015 to overtake
Kilclief and move into first place on the all-time roll of honour. Kilclief's record had stood since 1956. Ballycran won its 27th Down SHC title in 2021, after a 2–25 to 3–20 extra-time win over
Portaferry. ==Grounds==