1933

Skibbereen 7-2 Kilbrittain 0-1

September 17th in Bandon

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Skibbereen - 7 goals 2 p Kilbrittain - 1 point

Skibbereen had no difficulty in repeating last year’s success and again winning the South-West junior hurling championship.

Their opponents, Kilbrittain, failed to reproduce the excellence once associated with the camán-wielders of that parish, though making a great effort to hold the western representatives. Indeed, as matters stood, they are to be congratulated on securing a’15’ to do battle at all, for they were immensely handicapped by the lack of practice (due to the calls of duty generally, and the harvest in particular) and to the scattered isolation of most of their players. Against this, Skibbereen were more favourably centralised, and demonstrated the fact that matches can be won only by training and practice.

The venue at Bandon was very well patronised, notwithstanding a bad break in the weather that morning. (A wag suggests that the only three wet Sundays we had this summer were those on which Skibbereen were engaged in important competitive matches and he suggests they should change their livery from red to magpie – black and white). For the duration of the match, however, the rain obligingly suspended operations, so we were enabled to enjoy the entertainment in comparative comfort). The teams were well handled by Mr. A. O’Neill, referee.

The ‘test’ does not call for elaborate detail in view of the marked superiority of the winners. Early in the fray, Skibbereen established an advantage territorially, tactical, directional, aggressive, which their rivals were unable to discount. Their movements were faster, their tackling more full-blooded, their striking full of energy and strength, encompassing much space; and their defence unassailable.

On the other hand, Kilbrittain, with a veteran blend that found Anno Domini a severe handicap, lacked the swiftness of movement, the vigorous hitting and the force of attack that were required. They made a good effort in the second period and were worth a couple of scores, which would have come their way but for the characteristically brilliant resource of Crowley in the Skibbereen goal, and the defence bulwarks, Vaughan, J. O’Donovan, Fitzgerald and T. Hayes. Kilbrittain, too, erred in defence in the early stages when they left the rearguard too open, at the sacrifice of a couple of goals which might have been prevented.

SKIBBEREEN’S EARLY LEAD

Vaughan cleared from Con Crowley and Burke and Barrett gained much ground to place for O’Regan, who was ‘bottled’ by Barrett and the result was an over. Barnett, who was in topping form, delivered a brilliant stroke which, however, Holland cleared and Crowley’s attempt was wide. Skibbereen went upfield and Jack McCarthy’s try was unsuccessful. A free to Kilbrittain 35 yards from the objective gave Deasy a chance, but Vaughan saved a whirlwind ball, which T. Hayes further speeded and a hectic dual between O’Regan and a defender yielded a temporary respite. Barnett, however, transferred from the wing, to find Jack McCarthy unmarked by the posts and he had no difficulty in opening the scoring with a goal, after five minutes’ play. Within a minute, this score was accompanied by another when Fitzgerald returned the delivery and M. O’Donovan completed the task.

Kilbrittain, whose ground-strokes lacked fire, had a brief innings, without, however, being dangerous, and J. Casey (who has retained all his old-time artistry despite a long absence from the game), sent a typical ‘flier’ upfield, E. O’Donovan turning it to O’Regan, who narrowly missed. Fitzgerald negatived Crowley’s essay, and D. O’Hea made a fine effort to counter-balance the attack, but Fitzgerald was again in the way, and his pass to O’Regan enabled the latter to score a third goal, the game being now ten minutes old. Two minutes later, the same player said ‘ditto’ following a long pass from Casey, which M. Donovan placed for the scorer.

With a four-goals’ lead, Skibbereen were now ‘sitting pretty.’ And they gave their opponents little scope, though there were some good individual efforts by Deasy, J. Roche and M. O’Mahony, who sent wide from a scoring stance. D. Crowley saved a stinger, but Kilbrittain massed for an exciting attack, in which, however, the opposing defence earned the honours and D. J. McCarthy relieved, the ‘finale’ being a wide from Kilbrittain. The latter registered their only score of the game after twenty minutes when O’Mahony tested Crowley severely, the leather bounding off the goalie’s hurley for a point. The next feature was a ground solo-run by Barnett, which, however, Holland marked ‘finis.’

Skibbereen went ‘nap’ after twenty-five minutes when Jack McCarthy sent a free puck all the way along the ground for another goal. D. O’Hea executed some good movements outfield, but his forwards lacked finish, though J. Roche should have scored with one fairly easy chance. The Kilbrittain custodian saved two good tries, and the western element were well masters of the situation at the interval, when the score was –

SKIBBEREEN – 5 goals.

KILBRITTAIN – 1 point.

SECOND HALF

The resumption produced more cohesive efforts on the part of Kilbrittain. T. Hayes cleared early on and, at the other end, D. Roche rushed out to stop E. O’Donovan, who was all but through, and from the clearance C. Crowley sent wide. They then had a chance from a free but Deasy’s stroke was easily intercepted. After a negative exchange of honours, Kilbrittain were hot in attack again, the result being that J. Roche forced a ‘70’ off Vaughan. D. O’Hea showed good marksmanship with the puck, but D. Crowley cleared what seemed a sure score.

Though Kilbrittain had a good deal of the play, Skibbereen were the more impressive and following up-and-down exchanges, and after twelve minutes, they secured another goal per M. O’Donovan. At the other end, E. O’Hea tested the defence, and a Kilbrittain offensive deserved a score, if only for its vigorous earnestness, but the Skibbereen goalman saved two severe tests when it seemed the net had been captured and acclamation greeted his uncanny work. The opposition custodian also responded successfully to a keen onslaught; but a point was added per E. O’Donovan, who neatly ‘doubled’ Burke’s pass. Crowley saved from Con Crowley’s try with a free.

Play now lacked vim until Barnett sent in a typical pass which O’Regan turned into the net; and the same player added a point from E. O’Donovan’s pass just before full-time, leaving the result as stated.

Teams –

Skibbereen – D. Crowley (goal), J. O’Donovan, J. Fitzgerald, T. Hayes, J. Casey, S. Vaughan, J. Dwyer, D. J. McCarthy, D. Burke, J. McCarthy, J. Barnett, G. McCarthy, E. O’Donovan, M. J. O’Donovan, T. O’Regan.

Kilbrittain – D. Burke (goal), J. Barrett, P. Roche, P. Holland, C. Harrington, D. O’Hea, D. Hallinan, J. Deasy, C. Crowley, J. O’Regan, W. O’Mahony, J. Holland, J. Roche, T. Murphy, E. O’Hea.

YOUNG PLAYER

The final result showed that the Kilbrittain had finally reached the end of the road and their only point was actually scored by their youngest player, Billy O’Mahony.

Gerald McCarthy

Star Skibbereen hurler of the 1930s

Tim Regan

Outstanding Skibbereen hurler of the 1930s

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Skibbereen met Milford in the county semi-final on October 29^th at the Mardyke in Cork, following the national league hurling game in which Kilkenny beat Cork by 5-4 to 5-2. The semi-final was a one-sided affair, with Skibb proving much too strong for the North Cork side. They led by 3-1 to 0-2 at the break and the full-time score was 7-5 to 1-3.

COUNTY FINAL

Skibb’s opponents in the county final, their third in a row, were Kinsale, who had beaten Rochestown in the South-East final by 5-1 to 1-2 and then accounted for Millstreet in the county quarter-final by an impressive 8-7 to 2-4. The county semi-final against St. Mary’s of Cork City was a real thriller, Kinsale winning by 7-2 to 7-1. Because of the display against Milford, Skibb had high hopes of landing the elusive title, third time lucky.

The final was again played in Clonakilty, on November 19^th and, unfortunately, it proved a disaster for the SW champions. The headline tells the story – “SKIBBEREEN’S INGLORIOUS DISPLAY AGAINST KINSALE - A RUNAWAY VICTORY. In our long experience of, and connection with, the games of the Gael we cannot recall ever having seen a more disappointing final than that seen at Clonakilty on Sunday last. BLUES, 5-4; REDS 0-1.”

The reporter accuses the supporters of over-confidence and the players of being swollen-headed. “Sunday’s display proved they are worse than crude, they are hopeless.” Over a thousand people attended the final and from the outset Kinsale proved by far the better hurling team and by half time they led by 3-2 to 0-1. There was no improvement in the second half from Skibb as Kinsale went on to capture the title by 5-4 to 0-1.

Skibbereen – D. Crowley (goal), J. Fitzgerald, John Donovan, P. O’Regan, P. O’Donovan, S. Vaughan, J. Barnett, D. Burke, G. McCarthy, T. Hayes, J. McCarthy, T. Regan, M. Donovan, P. Donovan, D. McCarthy.

Despite the pouring rain, many supporters travelled to the game by bicycle.

END OF AN ERA

This demoralising defeat was truly the end of an era for Skibbereen hurling as the club has failed to win another SW Junior A hurling title since 1933.