1937

Bandon 1-5       Dohenys 2-1

September 19th  in Enniskeane

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     For the fourth year in a row Bandon has captured the West Cork Junior Hurling Championship. It is doubtful if they have ever had to fight as hard for it as they were compelled to do on Sunday at Enniskeane, where they were put to the pin of their collar to snatch a point verdict over a virile young team from Dunmanway which worthily sported the famous Dohenys’ colours and went very near to achieving an outstanding result on their maiden voyage in the hurling sphere.

      There was a large crowd present and the weather conditions were perfect, while the local club had the enclosure in tip-top order.

       If youth served the Dohenys, it was the veterans who saved the day for the Bandonians.

       It was really the assuredness and the greater experience of  men such as Red Crowley, Humphrey O’Leary, Neddie Smith, Jack McCarthy and Michael Tobin that helped the ‘Lilies’ to a hard-earned victory.

       The Dohenys showed they have splendid material that with more experience should produce excellent results. As it was, they acquitted themselves admirably and if in the later stages they were served as well about midfield as they were in the rearguard, they would have won. Their defence was brilliant under pressure, and Dempsey, Buttimer and Murray carried the honours of the day, with McCarthy (goal) close on their heels.

      Bandon’s defence was, too, its outstanding, asset with Crowley, Tobin and E. Smith as spectacular top-liners. Both sets of forwards were not sufficiently effective or penetrating and oftentimes negative good centrefield and defensive work. Of course, the excellence of the respective defences would explain, in part at least, the comparative ineffectiveness of the advance guards.

ERRATIC STRIKING

     The first half was not, by any means, productive of the brilliant play one expects in a final. Both teams were slow to settle down and the exchanges did not generally reach a high standard, the striking and marking being frequently erratic. Both goals had close calls, however, though there was only a single point scored in the first twenty two minutes. Then Dohenys secured a goal which shook up the championship holders, but, though they improved with a point, the others nullified this with a like score.

      When, after six minutes’ play in the second half, the Dohenys went further ahead with another goal, and Bandon were still unsettled, it looked as if the honours of the day would go to the western town.

     Then Bandon woke up and staged one of those second-half rallies for which they have become quite notorious. The best hurling of the hour ensued and right to the end play was a treat to watch, the spectators being kept on edge to the last second.

      In the closing fifteen minutes Bandon, amid a succession of thrills, established a decided superiority and, having narrowed the margin to three points, set about getting the equaliser. This feat was brought about eight minutes from the end and the Bandonian following became jubilant. Hurling with renewed vigour, Bandon succeeded as time was petering out, in breaking down a great defence to secured the deciding score, which they justly earned by their late rally. All honour is, however, due to the vanquished for their great display.

FIRST HALF

      O’Mahony stopped a Bandon advance but Crowley returned for Dempsey to clear. Dohenys made ground but only to meet with dour opposition and the Bandon forwards being put in possession, looked dangerous when Downing’s centre crossed the goalmouth. Gabriel failed, however, to connect and Dempsey relieved. Cummins a moment later did the needful by securing and opening the scoring for Bandon with a point after four minutes.

     A Dohenys’ advance was spoiled by an infringement and from the puck their defence effectively retaliated, a performance which was repeated by Dempsey in the next minute. Centrefield exchanges followed before H. O’Leary sent narrowly past with a grounder.

     O’Mahony had similar hard luck with a beautiful wing shot at the other end.

Both sides were effectively stopping rival attacks and Hayes was unlucky with a lovely effort from midfield while J. O’Leary skimmed the posts on the return. Bandon defences were under pressure until Crowley relieved. A long puck from J. McCarthy (Dohenys) had the Bandon defence in trouble but Tobin saved and a return shot brought a ‘70’ to the Dohenys, which Buttimer placed in the goalmouth, where Crowley was on the spot to clear, and J. O’Mahony shot wide.

     A Bandon hustle saw H. O’Leary send goalwards but the forwards were not on the mark. Dempsey saved another Bandon shot at the expense of a ‘70’, which Crowley placed in the area, where the leather was sent outside.  Dohenys then got up but a hasty effort failed. J. Gabriel stopped another Doheny’s effort to score.

MIDFIELD DUEL

     A great midfield duel was next witnessed and H. O’Leary’s pass was improved upon by J. Downing, and Gabriel secured only to see Dempsey save at the expense of a ‘70’, which Crowley again placed unerringly for Buttimer to clear in grand style. Dohenys’ defence was again tested without result, and at the other end Fitzgibbon saved between the sticks, the counter-stroke being sent outside. Bandon were again away and a hectic moment in front of the Doheny posts resulted in a fortunate clearance per Dempsey, whose return was sent wide by D. Smith, and H. O’Leary had a like ineffective effort immediately after.

      After a stoppage for injuries, play became very lively and Crowley at one end and Buttimer at the other were prominent in clearances. Dohenys beat off an attack, and then got upfield, where J. O’Mahony equalised with a neat point. Dohenys had another over.

     Shortly before the interval Dohenys took the lead with a goal per Dempsey, who had been transferred from defence to attack.

      Bandon worked up but were dispossessed and O’Mahony’s transference was parried by Tobin, whose neat clearance was first-timed by Dempsey. Fitzgibbon seemed to have the shot covered but the ball found the net. Bandon were wide in a retaliatory effort. A second attempt, however, brought a point per Downing from a melee to reduce the lead, leaving the overall score –

Dohenys 1-1; Bandon 0-2.

 

SECOND HALF

      A free to Bandon per E. Smith was stopped and after a brisk bout, Dohenys forced their way to Bandon territory, where a faulty clearance was caught by O’Donohue, who found the corner of the net with a strong cross-shot. With a lead of 7 points to 2, Dohenys were in jubilant mood.

       Bandon ‘woke up’ however, and launched an attack but Dempsey, who had returned to his former place saved brilliantly and in the next attempt, Bandon sent over. Buttimer saved from O’Leary and J. McCarthy (Bandon) narrowly missed a score.

       Dohenys were now hurling confidently and Bandon were finding it hard to hold them, though ‘key’ men like Crowley, E. Smith and J. McCarthy were doing a lion’s share of the work. A great Bandon offensive was stopped at the goalmouth and in a renewed attempt, Buttimer saved and Cummins sent wide.

       The Dohenys’ backs evoked enthusiasm for a brace of brilliant saves, Murray and Dempsey shining in the results. A free to Dohenys was saved by Crowley and in a fast bout of play, Lane finished for a point. D. smith was unlucky not to reduce arrears in the following minute. The hurling now became fast and most exciting. A Bandon attack went for nought through weak finishing and a second attack was beautifully cleared by McCarthy in goal. Crowley gained an ovation for a great solo effort, which, however, did not bring any material result as the ball was shot behind.

J. McCarthy caught the delivery, however, and notched a point to leave a bare three points between the teams.

      Bandonians went wild with delight two minutes later when the all-important equaliser came. Bandon rushed upfield and a most exciting struggle in front of the Dohenys’ posts in which the whole forward line concentrated, ended when the ball was bustled into the net.

VITAL SCORE

      Buttimer went off injured. The resumption saw no cessation of exciting play. Murray just missed securing the lead with a lovely shot and at the other end Bandon were likewise unlucky.

      However, the latter returned to the attack and Gabriel, getting the better of a great duel with a rival defender, transferred to Downing, who sent the leather over the bar for the vital point to give the Bandonians the lead.

      Dohenys worked feverishly to save the game and the Bandon goal had a narrow escape. D. Smith shot by the sticks when Bandon again went into action and the winners were on the attack when the long whistle sounded. Result: -

      Bandon – 1-5 (8 points).

      Dohenys – 2-1 (7 points).

      The teams were –

      Bandon – F. Fitzgibbon (goal), M. Tobin, R. Crowley (capt..), T. Gabriel, J. Gabriel, J. McCarthy, E. Smith, L. Cummins (vice-capt.), E. Gabriel, H. O’Leary, J. O’Donovan, D. Smith, W. Ellis, P. Downing and J. Lane.

      Dohenys – D. McCarthy (goal), T. Dempsey, R. Buttimer (capt..), T. Murphy, F. McCarthy, J. O’Leary, James McCarthy, Michael McCarthy, M. O’Donohue, M. O’Mahony, J. O’Mahony, P. Hayes, W. Keane, T. Kelleher and J. Harte.

      Mr. S. Collins, Clonakilty,  was the referee.

 

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Bandon were due to play Banteer in the county semi-final in Macroom on October 24^th but it transpired that Banteer and Newmarket, who had met earlier, were both suspended by the County Board. Bandon were awarded a bloodless victory but were then fixed to play Shanballymore instead in the semi-final.

      The game against Shanbally was fixed for Douglas on November 14th with the second semi-final between Valley Rovers and Sarsfields also due for decision there that day. Misfortune struck the Bandon side early in the game when their inspiring captain, Red Crowley, had to retire injured. They trailed by eight points at the interval but put in a battling second half before losing by 4-2 to 1-1, a scoreline that all agreed scarcely reflected the true trend of the game.

      In the second semi-final, Sarsfields beat Valleys by 4-3 to 1-2 .

 

BANDON OFFICERS

When they won their fourth SW junior hurling title in a row in 1937, the officers of the Bandon club were – president, Fr. J.V. Hurley;  vice-president, Fr. D. Neville; chairman, J. Galvin; vice-chairman, W. J. Walsh C.T.C; rúnaí, Andy O’Neill; treasurer, H. O’Leary N.T.

       On a financial front, the receipts for the year were £74 18s 1d, while expenditure was £86 0s 6d. Travel was the main expense.

 

HURLING LEAGUE

     Kilbrittain, who had been beaten by Dohenys in a first-round championship replay, won the 1936-37 SW hurling league and then applied for, and were granted, permission to play in the South-East League in 1938. Bandon also joined the SE league. Knockavilla, north of Bandon, who had been one of the strongest hurling  clubs in West Cork prior to 1920, were revived in 1938 and also played in the SE league.

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COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1937

Sarsfields 5-5,  Shanballymore 5-2,  November 28^th   in Fermoy

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Bandon in the 1940s

On the right, by the river ,are the famous "Bogs", site of so much GAA action for over fifty years.