1930

County title for Clonakilty

Dan Taylor’s Fifteen begin Clon’s golden era

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South-West Junior Football  Draws1930

 Ardfield v Bandon, Ballymurphy v Bantry, Durrus v Clonakilty, Carbery United v Drimoleague,   Dunmanway v Valley Rovers.  

 

SW Junior Football Championship 1930

Round 1  -  Clonakilty 6-6    Durrus Nil,   March 30^th  in Skibbereen

The game was played in a downpour from start to finish. County hurler, Jim Hurley, had returned to the Clon football team and was to prove an inspiration all season.  County footballer, Mick Gallagher, was good for Durrus. Clon led by 2-4 to nil at half time and gave a “convincing “ display. 

 Referee, Mr. Lohane, Skibbereen. 

 

Round 1  -  Carbery United 2-8   Drimoleague 0-1   April 13^th in Skibbereen

Carbery Utd played against the wind in the first half, in very  poor weather, and led at half time by 0-3 to 0-1.  Teams 

 

Round 1  -  Dunmanway 3-3   Valley Rovers 2-2   April 20^th in Bandon

With strong wind, Dunmanway led by 1-3 to nil at half time against Valley Rovers . Valleys cut the lead in the third quarter with a goal and a point but Dunmanway scored two goals to clinch the victory, despite late pressure from Valleys that yielded another 1-1. Referee, E. Murphy, Bandon (Teams).

Valleys objected to Dunmanway and a replay was agreed.

 

Replay – Dunmanway 0-2  Valley Rovers 0-2, July 13^th in Kilbrittain

A crossfield wind spoiled the play and it proved difficult to pick up the ball in greasy conditions. Dunmanway looked the better team for much of the game but were fortunate in the end to secure a draw.

 

Round 1  -  Bantry 2-2  Ballymurphy Nil    May 18^th  in Dunmanway.

This was the first championship game for the new Ballymurphy team (Upton).

 

Semi-final – Clonakilty 2-2   Carbery United 0-2,  July 13^th in Kilmeen

The first half was pretty good, with Carbery United playing well against the breeze. Clon were the better-balanced side but over-anxiety cost them scores. A point by Leahy and a goal by Whelan gave Clon a lead of 1-1 to nil at the break. A second Clon goal shortly after the restart decided the issue as the Clon defence safely guarded their goalmouth all through. The second half was poor in the slippery conditions, with several chances being missed on both sides.  

Jim Hurley was a stonewall full back for Clon, Donovan and Collins did well in defence; Crowley and Finnegan centred good balls, while Griffin was prominent in attack.

     For Carbery Utd, the Casey brothers were superb, while Burke, Hayes, O’Regan and McCarthy also did well.

 

Drimoleague “Scorchers” – Junior A Football 1930

Back (L to R) Mick Connor, Timmy Hourihane, Paddy Walsh, Jimmy Forbes, Paddy Lordan, Con McCarthy, Christy Grace, Paddy Connolly. 

Front (L to R) Johnny Cooney, Michael Walsh, Denis Collins, Edward Forbes, Charlie Sullivan, Harry Deane, Jackie Collins.

 

Semi-final  -  Dohenys 1-0  Bantry 1-0, September 7^th in Skibbereen

The final score indicates how poor this semi-final was with both sets of forwards in very poor form. Both sides seemed to lack practice and there were far too many frees. Bantry played with the wind and slope in the first half but it was Dohenys who dominated, missing numerous chances. Eventually, a goal from a free by McCarthy gave Bantry the lead, 1-0 to nil at half time. After much pressure in the second half, Dohenys managed a controversial equalising goal. Denis Crowley, “The Belgian,” Skibbereen, was the referee.  (Teams)

 

Semi-final Replay  -  Dohenys 1-3  Bantry 0-3,  September 14^th in Skibbereen

This was a much better game than the drawn game. Bantry were the nippier and more experienced side in front of a record crowd but the Doheny backs were a tower of strength and their forwards were more accurate than the “Blues.”  An evenly-fought first half, with Lar Shea of Clonakilty, as referee, saw Molyneux of Dohenys scoring a goal just before half time to give his side the lead, 1-1 to 0-2, at the break. In the second half, Roche scored his second point for Dohenys and even though Bantry did most of the attacking, they managed only a single point against a tough Doheny defence. Maguire closed the scoring with a Doheny point. Final score was 1-3 to 0-3. (teams)

   

     This was the start of a great rivalry between Bantry and Dohenys that was to last right through the 1930’s and into the 1940’s.

Objection

Bantry had been nominated to represent the division against the Beara winners in the county championship, provided they weren’t beaten by Dohenys. If they lost, Clonakilty would represent the division, but when Bantry subsequently objected to Dohenys, the issue of the nomination was left up in the air.

     The Bantry objection alleged that three of the Dohenys players were not registered and, as was the usual outcome to objections at that time, a replay was suggested but Dohenys refused to accept that decision. No objection had actually been heard all season, so a three-man committee was set up to investigate the objection. They found that Dohenys had no case to answer as the Bantry objection was not in order according to the rules. The decision was carried by nine votes to six at the open Board meeting.

     Clonakilty were then nominated to represent the division against Beara.

 

Bantry Junior A Football Team 1930

Back (L to R) Jer Regan, Sonny Connor, Con Harrington, Ralph Keyes, Jim Fitzgerald, Pat Murphy

Middle (L to R)  ?, ?, Cecil Keyes, Tim Harrington, Mick Vaughan, Michael McCarthy.

Front Row (L to R) Jack Keane, Donal Clarke, Dan McCarthy, Neilus Clifford, Tim Cotter.

 

County Championship

Clonakilty met the Beara junior selected in Bantry on October 19^th. The Clonakilty forward division was described as the best seen in West Cork that season and they had a large support, brought to Bantry by Rapid Bus Service. Beara contained some fine individuals but lacked combination.

     Clon had the first point from Griffin, but Beara were setting a cracking pace and led by 0-3 to 0-1 at half time. Fitter Clonakilty took control in the second half and “a low flying punt” by Griffin gave them their first goal. Their second goal came a few minutes later when the ball rebounded from the upright and was finished to the Beara net. Jim Hurley pointed a “50” with the wet, heavy ball before the finish as Clon ran out winners by 2-3 to 0-4.

 

SW Final

       Clonakilty were again nominated to represent the division in the county semi-final on November 9th and the SW final was fixed for November 2nd. However, Dohenys looked for a postponement because of the funeral of Mrs. Bernard, Railway Hotel, wife of the secretary of the club. Most SW Board meetings were held in the hotel. However, Clonakilty did not agree to the postponement as it meant they would again have to play in the county without winning the SW final. If they subsequently lost the final to Dohenys, they would feel they were unworthy representatives of the division. The final was eventually postponed to November 16^th.

     Dohenys had not fielded any team in 1929 but had got their players back from various clubs to field in 1930.

 

Carbery United Junior A Football Team 1930

Back (L to R) ?,  Jack Collins (Burgatia), Dan Donovan (Barley Hill), Dan Collins (Shepperton), Dan Burke (Union Hall), Sgt. Flynn (Leap)(capt..), John Joe Hayes (Ardagh), Dan Regan (Douneen), John McCarty N.T. (Rosscarbery).     

Middle (L to R) Paddy Daly (Tullig), Paddy Fortune (Union Hall), Jimmy Shanahan,  ?  , Paddy Shhehan (Douneen).  

 Front (L to R) Jerh Dempsey (Droumgunna), Paddy Casey (Rosscarbery), ?  , Connie Hurley (Union Hall),

 

County Championship

      Clonakilty met Kinsale in the county semi-final  in Bandon on November 9^th and proved far superior to the South-East champions. But for some wild shooting by the Clon forwards, one kicking five wides in the first quarter, the final gap would have been much more than eight points. Hurley was again outstanding in the Clon defence and Finnegan was the best forward on the pitch. Playing with the breeze in the first half  Jimmy Sullivan scored Clon’s first goal and they added five points from Griffin, 3, and dan Hurley “Grey” added points as they led by 1-5 to 1-0 at half time. In a one-sided second half the Kinsale goalie emerged as a real hero but Finnegan added a second goal for Clon. It finished 2-8 to 2-1 in Clon’s favour.

     So, for the third year in a row, the SW champions were through to the county final.

 

SOUTH-WEST JUNIOR A FOOTBALL FINAL  1930

November 16^th     in   Clonakilty

Clonakilty 2-5    Dohenys 0-2

     On the previous Sunday Dohenys had played the county senior champions, Macroom, running them to three goals, so their form was good as they travelled to Clonakilty to take on the county finalists, Clonakilty. A crowd of over 1.000 attended on a bitterly cold day with the St. Patrick’s Band, Clonakilty, attending. While the pace of the game was ferocious for the first quarter, it died away subsequently  and much of the play was substandard.

    Dohenys pressed a lot in the opening stages but found the Clon defence, in which Big Jim Hurley, Con “Sam” Collins and captain, Dan “Taylor” O’Donovan, were outstanding, a tough nut to crack. Sullivan kicked the first point for Clon. Greene at midfield was doing great work for Clon, as was Young for Dohenys. Maguire, Murphy, Roche and Lynch all impressed in the Doheny attack and T.J. Lynch kicked the equaliser. Griffin shoved Clon back in front before Sullivan kicked a vital goal for the Red and Green. Big Jim Hurley was a tower of strength at full back as Clon repulsed numerous Doheny attacks and it was 1-2 to 0-1 at half time.

      The second half began with a pointed free from Jim Hurley and the more the half wore on, the more Clon got on top.  Maguire had Dohenys’ only score of the half before Leahy pointed for Clon. It was backs and forwards towards the end and the pressure eventually told when Griffin broke through for a Clon goal. Final score was 2-5 to 0-2.

     Referee: Dan Burke, Carbery United.

     Clonakilty: John Harte, Dan “Taylor” O’Donovan (capt..), Big Jim Hurley, Cha “Dempsey” McCarthy, Tim McCarthy, Con “Sam” Collins, Mick Lillis, Matt Greene, Jer “Gull” Leahy, Dan Hurley “Grey”, Jack Finnegan, Seán Griffin, Jimmy O’Sullivan, John Crowley, Paddy Whelan.

     Dohenys:  Jack Lynch (capt..), Connie Whelton (goal), Eddie Dullea, Jim Molyneux, Mick Lohan, Morgan Murphy, John Dullea, Ned Young, Willie O’Mahony, Willie Farr, T. J. Lynch, Paddy Foley, Joe Maguire, Paddy Roche, Willie Kingston.

                      

  

County Final

Clonakilty’s opponents in the county final were Ballincollig and the game was fixed for November 30^th in Kinsale but it was postponed for a fortnight to December 14^th because Jim Hurley was playing Sigerson Cup with UCC.

    

COUNTY JUNIOR A FOOTBALL FINAL  1930

December 14^th    in   Kinsale

Clonakilty  2-3   Ballincollig 0-0

      Once again a fleet of buses conveyed the large Clonakilty support to the final, played in very adverse conditions, and they were accompanied by St. Patrick’s Brass Band. Just as in all games during the season, it was the Clonakilty defence which proved the heroes in this final. Against the strong wind in the first half there was no penetrating that defence after Clon got off to a great start with a goal from Paddy Whelan. It was 1-1 to nil at half time, the point coming from sharpshooter, Sean Griffin. It was all Clon after the break as young John Crowley added another goal, just one of many vital goals he scored during a long career with Clon, and Griffin kicked another two points. Final score was 2-3 to nil and that Clon team, which won their first county title since 1913, has gone down in Clon’s history as “Dan ‘Taylor’s Fifteen.”

     Clonakilty: J. Harte, D. O’Donovan (capt..), J. Hurley, C. Collins, M. Lillis, O. Mason, M. Greene, J. Leahy, J. Finnegan, S. Griffin (0-3), J. Crowley (1-0), T. O’Donovan, J. O’Sullivan, P. Whelan (1-0), M. Bateman.

 

     This win by Clonakilty meant that the new Carbery Division had produced the county junior football champions for the third year in a row.

 

Carbery Team

For the first time ever Carbery fielded a divisional team in the county senior football championship but were beaten by the reigning champions, Macroom, in the first round by 1-8 to 0-4 in Dunmanway. Strangely, none of the Clon team played in that game and only three from Dohenys, J. J. Walsh, Ned Young and John Dullea. Most of the Carbery team came from Bantry, Carbery United and Bandon.

DAN ‘TAYLOR’S’ FIFTEEN

Dan ‘Taylor’ O’Donovan: A young ‘veteran’ of the War of Independence, he was a prominent player and official during the 1920’s, including terms as treasurer of the old West Cork Committee and the new SW Board. Also an outstanding hurler, he captained Clon in four county senior football finals, 1932 to 1935.

Johnny Harte (goalkeeper): Played outfield during the 1920s and was converted into outstanding goalkeeper. Played for Carbery footballers in the county final in 1931.  

Big Jim Hurley: The Clonakilty native was a legendary hurler of Cork and Blackrock fame, winning  four All-Ireland   medals, five Munster and two national leagues. A dual player, he also won a Munster senior medal with Cork footballers. Having played with UCC, he returned to play football with Clon in 1930 and was the inspiration behing the county title wins in 1930 and 1931. He later served as a selector with the Cork football team that won the All-Ireland football title in 1945, powered by Clonakilty players, and also on the 1956 and 1957 teams that were unlucky not to win ultimate honours. As a young man he was a hero of the local West Cork IRA in the War of Independence.

Cha ‘Dempsey’ McCarthy: A great servant of the club during the lean times of the 1920s.

Tim O’Donovan: A UCC student from Leap, first year on the team.

Con ‘Sam’ Collins: Sometimes called ‘Sonny,’ he had played since the early 1920s and was an outstanding club man. Played for Carbery footballers in the county final in 1931. A star hurler all through the 1920s, he died tragically young.

Mick Lillis: A Darrara College student from Clare.

Jer ‘Gull’ Leahy: A talented footballer, played right through to the senior title win in 1939. Great character and highly popular with supporters. A topclass hurler, he won an All-Ireland junior hurling medal with Cork in 1929.

Matt Greene:

Dan Hurley ‘Gray’: A fiery football and veteran of the 1920s.

Jack Finnegan: An engineer from Galway, the fastest player on the team. One of the best forwards in West Cork, played on the Carbery team in the 1931 county final.

Seán Griffin: A native of Tralee, he taught in Ardfield school. Top scorer on the team, outstanding forward, played right through the frustrating Thirties and won a county senior medal in 1939.

Jimmy O’Sullivan: Went on to play a lot of senior football in the 1930s.

John ‘Shutter’ Crowley: His amazing career lasted right up to 1952, winning seven senior county medals, one intermediate and one junior. Despite having sight in only one eye, he was a topclass full forward, scoring many crucial goals. Older brother of the great Tadhgo Crowley.

Paddy Whelan: A cute corner forward and a fine hurler.

Oliver Mason: A Darrara student from Castlemaine in Kerry.

Mick Hussey: A Kerry native, his father was an R.I.C. man. Versatile footballer, played with Carbery in the 1931 county football final.

Mick Bateman: A Darrara student from Kerry, he later became a Brother.

Paddy McCarthy: A brother of Cha ‘Dempsey.’ He played a lot of football and hurling in the 1930s.

Tadhg Deasy: Always available to play, no matter what the game.

Nat Sutton: A son of club founder member, Tom, played a lot during the 1920s.

Pat ‘Pakie’ Nyhan. Teacher, native of Ballinacarriga. Outstanding athlete. Great long kick. Captained the senior team when they won the first county title in 1939.

Jack O’Connor: Darrara student from Kerry.

 

Dan Taylor’s Fifteen

         Proudly the note of the Brass Band is sounding,

              Loudly the war cries arise of the Gael;

            Fleetly the cars Innishannon are rounding,

       To join the huge gathering in ancient Kinsale.

 

          On every car and bus, on with a mighty fuss

         Rush neath the standard of scarlet and green:

         Many a pretty lass, wave as along you pass,

          Onward to glory, Dan Taylor’s Fifteen.

 

       Ballincollig, our foe, to the fight are advancing

             In many a lorry and motor car, too;

   A thousand sweet notes on the breeze come entrancing

        And varied their chorus, both ancient and new.

 

       On every Clon boy then, play the old game again,

           Rush neath the standard of scarlet and green;

     Make the proud foemen reel, sons of Clonakilty leal,

               Onward to glory Dan Taylor’s Fifteen.

      

Mighty the cause for today that we’re striving,

The Cork County laurels for ages long past;

   Ballincollig alone of the foe are surviving,

    The bright sun is lifting the dark veil at last.

 

 On every forward fleet, pile up the scoring sheet,

 Rush neath the standard of scarlet and green;

   Come every stalwart back, join in each fierce attack,

  Onward to glory Dan Taylor’s Fifteen.

 

Wildly in Clon the greyhounds are howling,

 Chained every one of the long swing tail

The hares through the streets of the lone town are prowling,

   All who would course them are gone to Kinsale.

 

  On every centre tall, grip every falling ball,

     Rush neath the standard of scarlet and green;

      On for the cause so dear, never a thought of fear,

Onward to glory Dan Taylor’s Fifteen.

 

    Wild are the cheers as the end fast is nearing,

      The Clon boys in front and the game is now o’er;

       The bright star of victory though slow in appearing,

           Now shines with a lustre ne’er equalled before.

 

                                        By  Frank Doran.

 

 

SW Convention 1930

The SW Convention was held in the Railway Hotel, Dunmanway, on December 21^st. In his report, rúnaí, Michael Minihane, Barryroe, reported –

“In junior football ten teams entered – Ardfield, Ballymurphy, Bandon, Bantry, Carbery United, Clonakilty, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Durrus, Valley Rovers. Eleven matches were played. Football standard is not as good as hurling and in a few contests some very indifferent displays were given. One first-round game between Dunmanway and Valley Rovers had to be played three times before Dunmanway secured victory. One semi-final between Dunmanway and Bantry had also to be played twice before Dunmanway emerged victors. In the final contest divisional honours went to Clonakilty. It is regrettable that our football championship was not completed until the end of November. This was unsatisfactory from every point of view. I had also occasion to call your attention to this matter in my 1929 report. The remedy lies in an early start and a rigid adherence to fixtures once made. Even though allowance has to be made for senior and intermediate games, still improvement can be achieved.”(Southern Star, December 27^th, 1930)

 

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County Junior Football Final 1930

Clonakilty 2-3  Ballincollig 0-0,  December 13th  in Kinsale

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Clonakilty: South-West Cork and County Junior A Football Champions 1930

(“Dan Taylor’s Fifteen”)

Back (L to R) Tom Collins (treasurer), John “Shutter” Crowley, Cha “Dempsey” McCarthy, Pat “Pakie” Nyhan, Mick Lillis, Paddy McCarthy, Mick Hussey, Matt Greene, Tadhg Deasy, Mick Ahern.

Middle (L to R) Mik e Murphy (rúnaí), Jack Finnegan, Con “Sam” Collins, Fr. O’Sullivan, Dan “Taylor” O’Donovan (capt..), James Cahalane (chairman), Mick Bateman, “Big” Jim Hurley, Joe Flynn (president).

Front (L to R) Natt Sutton, Jack O’Connor, Jimmy O’Sullivan, Johnny Harte, Jer “Gull” Leahy. (Missing from photo are Seán Griffin, Oliver Mason, Tim O’Donovan, Dan Hurley “Grey ”).