1939

Clonakilty 8-1       Kilbrittain 2-1

August 27^th    in Bandon

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Clonakilty left no doubt as to their superiority when they relieved Kilbrittain of the South-West Cork Junior hurling title at Bandon on Sunday.

      It was a very one-sided final, with ‘Clon’ racing away from the start to win easily on the score of 8 goals and 1 point to 2 goals and 1 point.

From start to finish, Kilbrittain, who were nothing more than the antithesis of last year’s dashing championship side, were fighting a losing battle and the result was never in doubt. The ex-champions seemed to strike a complete ‘off-day,’ and their opponents had little difficulty in annexing this year’s hurling honours.

AFTER FIFTEEN YEARS

    In stating that Kilbrittain were completely off colour it is not intended to detract from the merit of Clonakilty’s smashing win, or give it as the reason for the holders’ defeat. Had they been playing up to their usual form, they would have given ‘Clon’ a much better game on Sunday, but it is very doubtful they could have prevented them winning.

      The new champions had been waiting for a hurling win for the past fifteen years and from the manner in which they went about their work one got the impression that they had definitely decided that fifteen years was a darned long enough wait.

      They gave a first-class display of hurling and at all phases of the play had a pull over their opponents. There was not a weak link in the team, whose display was in marked contrast with that of the losers.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER

     Barron was the outstanding hurler on the field. Playing at centrefield for the winners, he was the bulwark of the team and his hurling won rounds of applause from the spectators.

      With long and accurate drives he gave the forward division a splendid service of the ball and Regan and his fellow forwards made full use of their chances.

      Behind Barron was a back division whose defensive work left nothing to be desired. Driscoll gave a grand display in goal and Crowley also made many fine clearances when it looked as if Kilbrittain had got through. C. Moloney was the most prominent players on the losing side.

     Play was at its best in the first quarter when Kilbrittain did make some effort to retain their title. However, they lost three good chances which would have helped them to keep on more equal terms with the winners and from that on the gap kept widening. The game was for the greater part played in a friendly spirit, though the incident which occurred just before half time resulted in a player from each side being sent to the touchline.

      The game was witnessed by a very large attendance, despite the weather conditions, which were anything but favourable.

 

THE PLAY

     A slight cross wind was of little or no advantage to the teams and the game opened with Clonakilty playing from the western end of the field. Kilbrittain were the first to press and were unlucky not to score a point off a long drive from the right touchline. Clonakilty retaliated and, though checked at centrefield, a free a moment later enabled D. Cullinane to send the ball down to the forwards.

      The Kilbrittain backs saved, however.

      Another movement saw ‘Clon’ coming along the left flank and the scoring opened when Leahy sent in a stinging shot which gave Desmond no chance.

      Kilbrittain then lost good opportunities when they sent wide twice at the other end, and some nice overhead play followed in which neither side could claim an advantage. Two ‘seventies’ awarded to Kilbrittain failed to produce a score and when Clonakilty got going ahead, they went right up to the goalmouth but the ball rebounded off the upright. They continued to attack, however, and Regan went through the defence for their second goal.

NICE POINT

     Another Clonakilty offensive resulted in a wide and following the puck out, Kilbrittain got a footing in their opponents’ territory. The ball was transferred to Cowhig, who reduced the arrears with a neat point. Kilbrittain attacked again but they were pulling badly and lost possession before they could get within striking distance of the goal.

      A free to the attacking team was sent wide and then Clonakilty initiated another clever movement on the left wing which led up to Ahern finding the net when he took a nice in-pass from Leahy.

      A couple of minutes later Regan scored the fourth goal and Kilbrittain’s fate was as good as sealed. Poor finishing by the Kilbrittain forwards cost them another good opportunity, following which Clonakilty failed to gain any advantage from a brace of ‘seventies.’ The next attack saw the Kilbrittain defenders being caught out of position badly and Murphy had little difficulty in otcing the fifth goal. Alf time scores: -

Clonakilty  -  5 goals.

Kilbrittain  -  1 point.

 

SECOND HALF

      Finn put Kilbrittain attacking on the resumption but Barron saved and for the next few minutes play was of a very even character with neither side looking like scoring. Finn took a free for Kilbrittain only to find Crowley clearing and then Clonakilty had a wide at the other end. Barrett was doing great work at centrefield; otherwise the game was becoming rather dull and lifeless as the pace had slowed up considerably by now. Clonakilty attacked again and Murphy transferred nicelyto D. Cullinane, who found the net.

     Another free to Kilbrittain was again cleared by Crowley and Leahy, the veteran of the Clonakilty team, getting possession, sent over for a point.

      Kilbrittain  then made a raid at the other end but after the forwards had made some desperate efforts to score, the ball eventually went over. The ‘Clon’ backs relieved the pressure and when Barron put the forwards on the move once more, Regan banged the leather into the net for the seventh goal Kilbrittain attacked from the puckout ad after a forward scramble at the other end, Roche netted from Jer Holland’s pass.

CLOSING STAGES

    Kilbrittain were now showing an improvement in their play. Their rally, however, came far too late as the game had been more than won long since.

     Before full time Ahern had a major for Clonakilty and Roche scored his second goal for Kilbrittain.

     The latter were attacking when the final whistle sounded. Full time scores: -

                            Clonakilty – 8 goals 1 point.

                            Kilbrittain – 2 goals 1 point.

      The teams were –

      Clonakilty – C. Kiely, J. Crowley, M. Driscoll, E. Walsh, H. Duggan, D. Cullinane, Jerh. Cullinane, T. Crowley, .P,  Barron, S. O’Donovan, J. Leahy, F. O’Donovan, E. Murphy, J. O’Regan and L. Ahern.

      Kilbrittain – James O’Regan, J. Walsh, J. O’Sullivan, J. Deasy, J. J. O’Sullivan, J. Cahalane, J. Cowhig, J. Roche, J. Moloney, T. Holland, J. Holland, C. Moloney, M. Finn, D. Roche, and D. Desmond.

      Referee – Mr. A. O’Neill, Bandon.

 

OUTSTANDING BARRON

The outstanding player on the pitch in the SW final was Clonakilty midfielder, Paddy Barron. Known to all as “Knacky” Barron, he was a Carlow native, a fine footballer and hurler who went to live in, and play with, Bantry. His son was the legendary Bantry and Cork footballer, Declan Barron.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

    Clon’s opponents in the county championship were East Cork champions, Cloyne, who included a young corner forward named Christy Ring. The game was played on September 17^th as a curtain-raiser to the Carrigtwohill v Blackrock senior semi-final, won by Blackrock, in the Athletic Grounds and the Clon hurlers had the distinction of playing in front of 10,000 people on the day. With a huge crowd from East Cork behind them, Cloyne proved superior, their “snappier” style being much more effective then Clon’s “leisurely” style. In “a fine game from start to finish”  the scores were level entering the last quarter but Cloyne finished on top to win by ten points, 4-7 to 1-6.They went on to win the county final against Mayfield by eleven points.

       Clonakilty won their first-ever county senior football title the following November, against Beara in Skibbereen.

 

ANNUAL CONVENTION

The annual convention of the SW Junior Board was held in Bernard’s Hotel, Dunmanway, on Sunday, January 21^st, 1940. In his address the chairman, M. O’Regan, N.T., Kilbrittain, commented – “The year proved a record one for Clonakilty. In senior football their team captured the county honours as well as the coveted gold medals of the Enniskean tournament. To their junior and minor clubs went three of the four trophies in the divisional competitions. To each and all he desired to tender the Board’s heartiest congratulations and a wish for the continuance of their good luck for the coming year.”

       As regards the junior hurling championship of 1939, rúnaí Gus Keohane, Enniskean, reported -

“Eight teams took part in the junior hurling championship – Bandon, Bantry, Ballydehob, Clonakilty, Dohenys, Kilbrittain, Skibbereen and Timoleague. All matches were played in a fine spirit and the standard of hurling was well maintained. The final, which rested between Kilbrittain and Clonakilty, drew a record crowd, and Clonakilty secured the divisional honours. In the inter-divisional championship, Clonakilty were beaten by Cloyne.”

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COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1939

Cloyne 6-5,  Mayfield 3-3,  November 12^th   in Midleton.

 

Clonakilty: County Senior Football and SW Junior Hurling Champions 1939

Back (L to R) John ‘Shutter’ Crowley, Johnny O’Sullivan, Tadhgo Crowley, Mick Finn, Chris Kiely, Jack Cahalane, Humphrey Duggan.  Middle (L to R) Denis McCarthy, Seán Griffin, Pat Nyhan, Liam Ahern, John ‘Jackeye’ O’Regan, Jerry Cullinane.  Front (L to R) Seamie O’Donovan and Dessie Cullinane. Inset – Tom O’Reilly.