1934

Timoleague 4-5    Bandon 3-5 

August 19^th   in Clonakilty

(Bandon awarded the title on objection)

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TIMOLEAGUE MAKES HISTORY

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UNEXPECTED  VICTORY OVER BANDON IN HURLING FINAL

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EXCITING GAME AT CLONAKILTY 

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(From our Special Correspondent)

 

Historic little Timoleague regained some of its ancient glamour on Sunday at Clonakilty when it carried home in triumph the spoils of war as represented by the major trophy for junior hurling championship honours for South-West Cork.

      In its path of conquest it swept aside the last surviving challenge to its ultimate supremacy – Bandon. And in doing so, it created somewhat of a sensation in Western hurling circles.

       It was just another instance of the ‘glorious uncertainty,’ of the rank outsider coming along with a wet sail to trounce the jolly favourite. Timoleague had for some years occupied a comparatively lowly position in competitive camán-wielding and was never a serious contender for classic honours. But this season it somehow managed (to its own surprise even) to nudge its way from the rearguard to a frontal position. Its most meritorious victory was that scored over Darrara, who, in turn, had routed a strong Skibbereen combination.

       Sometimes, when backing our fancy, we are blind to the ‘book of form.’ It was so in this case. This form was just good enough to entitle Timoleague to a place in the betting market. But Bandon looked so warm a favourite ‘on form,’ that one could not conceive their being upset. Their best effort, and it was a great one, was when they defeated the then favourites for divisional honours, Clonakilty, whose representation was a sturdy one. It is five years since Bandon last won this championship, since when they lost a grip on premier form.

      This season, however, they set out with enthusiastic vigour to retrieve lost ground and they all but succeeded. It was certainly a ‘close call’ for them, and just that little bit of luck that makes all the difference in the world, they would have won. They were unlucky not to have earned a replay and they deserve a word of congratulation for their effort, as also for the consistency that has marked all their engagements since the championships were launched. With a little reserve talent to replace the obviously ‘stale ones,’ the victory would have gone the other way.

      Having said so much, I must hasten to impart a healthy clap on the back to the visitors. They are a credit to their little seaside hamlet and their triumph is all the more meritorious because of their limitations of pick-and-choose. They were a very nicely-balanced team who played a very clean game and stuck to their task with diligent workmanship at a time when they looked like being overwhelmed. Their groundwork was one of their best features and their speed was frequently a decisive factor in many a duel. Their close marking, too, was also a valuable adjunct, while their wing men were superior to their rivals. The defence line was very sound, with Mark Foley as its inspiration.

      Their shining light, however, was ‘Gull’ Leahy, to whose marksmanship must be attributed their victory. When Timoleague rallied their forces in the last twenty minutes of play, a rally that fully deserved victory, Leahy was always in a key position to climax any territorial advantage gained.

      On the losers’ side, Red Crowley, the all-round sportsman, stood out on his own, and was the cynosure of all eyes. He gave a brilliant display, being here, there and everywhere defending like a demon, hitting Trojan strokes, frequently rescuing his side in peril. It may be truthfully said that but for him, Timoleague would have decided the issue long before the end. A few of the Bandonians, who usually play a sterling game, were not seen at their best and the forwards, as a whole, did not rise to the occasion in the first half.

      Taken all in all, if one eliminates some patchy interludes, it was a match well up to championship final standard, and in the second half there were many breathless moments as the contest waxed and waned, now this way, now that. The victory of Timoleague should afford encouragement to ‘lesser lights’ in the hurling firmament of West Cork to struggle for the broader ambition.

 

FROM THE THROW-IN

       Bandon, winning the toss, played with the advantage of ground, sun and wind. The opening movement favoured Timoleague when Harrington sent wide from Murphy’s pass; and Bandon also had an ineffectual innings. R. Crowley held up a Timoleague advance and a powerful drive from him was doubled goalwards, where Kearney cleared at the expense of a ‘70’, which R. Crowley had no difficulty into conferring into the opening score, a point, after three minutes’ play. It was almost fifteen minutes later before Timoleague equalised, when Leahy finished of an exciting bout of play by sending over the bar.

      In the interval between the two scores there had been some desultory play, alternated by frequent attacks at both ends, which were, however effectively beaten off. In the course of these, red Crowley was often applauded by Bandon followers, while on the other side, the Foley brothers, Hallanan and Coomey were effective. J. Roche (Bandon) had hard luck when he doubled a long-range shot from H. O’Leary by the posts.

     Wynne next extricated the seasiders, who were standing up well against an attack that looked like developing. Kearney saved a hot shot and his posts had a narrow squeak in a further Bandon offensive which resulted in R. Crowley sending over.

      The balance of power was with the Bandonians, who registered a nippy goal after twenty minutes, following a long shot from R. Crowley, which P O’Leary first-timed into the net. Leahy on the one side and Ellis on the other were just wide with good efforts, and then H. O’Leary put Bandon further ahead with a point. Kearney was again in action and after he had cleared, he was beaten on the return of play when the ball again found the net for Bandon after a goalmouth melee, Ellis being the scorer.

     Matters looked rosy for Bandon just now and they succeeded in preventing attacks from developing at too close quarters in their own area. But Timoleague were nothing if not consistent and were of times in a retaliatory position without, however, being able to drive home their advantage. In a great burst, they fought their wat through a dogged defence and D. Roche scored a goal with a brilliant angular shot. Just on half-time Bandon again pointed per Ellis, leaving the interval score:

Bandon, 2 goals 3pts: Timoleague, 1 goal 1 point.

TIMOLEAGUE RALLY

      The game had a sensational re-opening, for Bandon had secured a further goal and a point in the space of a couple of minutes. The leather was barely in motion when Smith sent to Ellis, whose powerful stroke went all the way for a goal, the while the custodian was being bustled off his defence, Costello, having relieved for Bandon, the latter kept up the offensive and forced a ‘70’, which R. Crowley converted for a point. This was soon added to by H. O’Leary, who registered another minor. and it looked ‘all over bar the shouting’, for Bandon, with the score reading: Bandon 3-5, Timoleague 1-1.

       But the unexpected happened. Timoleague, who had been very unbalanced since the game was resumed, now began to take a grip of themselves and a comprehensive tally of their opponents. Foley sent up a long stroke, which Murphy cleared but the leather was returned and in a goalmouth rush, Timoleague raised the green flag per D. Roche. Heartened by this, they were seen to give the opposition little scope and, combining with great fire, they launched a great attack which was beaten off only after a fierce struggle in which R. Crowley came to the rescue.

      They now had established a definite superiority, yielding master-strokes and nipping in the bud the offensives of the opposition. In almost as many minutes they had they had registered three successive minors per Harrington, Leahy and Ml. Foley, to the delightful hurrahs of their supporters. Continuing to hurl with increased confidence, they soon added a goal per Harrington, whose shot deceived Downing. With only a point dividing the teams, play became very exciting, and the exchanges were of the liveliest nature, raising the spectators to the heights of enthusiasm.

     Bandon, from a fine clearance by Tobin, recovered for a brief period their old mettle and a short and sharp attack resulted in H. O’Leary sending wide. The hurling now was well worth witnessing and both sides made giant efforts to achieve the much-needed supremacy, which a solitary score would secure, with Timoleague showing up more decisively in their movements.

      R. Crowley again saved his side but Timoleague could not be denied and, after thrilling exchanges, O’Donovan transferred to Leahy, who banged in a goal, giving Timoleague the lead for the first time amidst great cheering.

       At the other end, it looked as if Bandon would re-establish supremacy when J. Roche was placed in possession close-in but he was promptly ‘bottled up’ by Mark Foley and Hallanan. The redoubtable Leahy added another point – the best score of the game, after a hectic duel with R. Crowley.

       With two minutes to go, Bandon’s hopes were raised when they were awarded a ‘70’, which R. Crowley placed unerringly in the goal area, where a terrific battle of attack versus defence was waged, until at length Timoleague cleared. The long whistle then sounded leaving the score as above.

      The winners were ‘mobbed’ by their supporters.

      The match was capably refereed by Mr. C. O’Driscoll (Enniskeane). Bandon Pipers’ Band played the teams on to the pitch prior to play and discoursed some lively musical scores at intervals.

      The teams were –

      Timoleague – J. Kearney (goal), Mark Foley, D. Hallanan, D. Wynne, Michael Foley, W. Murphy, E. O’Donovan, D. Coomey (capt..), J. Deasy, J. Walsh, J. Leahy, T. O’Donovan, D. Harrington, J. O’Driscoll, D. Roche.

      Bandon – P. Downing (goal), M. Tobin, K. Costello, P. Roche, R. Crowley, E. Smith, C. Harrington, J. Regan, D. O’Brien, C. Crowley, H. O’Leary, W. Ellis, P. O’Driscoll, T. O’Leary, J. Roche. 

 

SWARM OF BEES

Many of the Timoleague supporters travelled to Clonakilty for the final in the back of Calnan’s lorry (Ballinascarthy). Others travelled by train from Ballinascarthy. One abiding memory of the day was that during the game the supporters were attacked by a swarm of bees. After the game the Timoleague supporters were advised not to take the train back to Ballinascarthy as the Bandon supporters on board were none too pleased with the outcome of the contest. Bandon had been intermediate for the four years previously, had regraded to junior in 1934 and were hot favourites to beat Timoleague. Some of the fans failed to take the advice and the journey to Bal was not without incident.

 

OBJECTION

Worse was to come for the Timoleague camp when they learned that Bandon were objecting to the constitution of their team.

      At that time the Blueshirt movement was causing much turmoil in political circles in Ireland and, believing the GAA to be too republican, they endeavoured to set up a rival organisation. A number of athletic meetings were held and some games were played under the new organisation. GAA members were banned from taking part but Bandon asserted that one of the Timoleague team had taken part at a Blueshirt sports meeting at the Long Strand.

      A special meeting of the SW Board to consider the objection was held at the CYMS Hall in Bandon on September 6^th, and an appeal was made to both clubs to replay the game. Bandon agreed but Timoleague refused. An Objections Committee was then set up consisting of J. O’Sullivan (chairman), C. Collins (Clonakilty), M. Hennessy (Enniskeane), Lar O’Shea (Clonakilty) and S. Howe (Enniskeane). Their findings were that Timoleague were illegal and, consequently, the game was awarded to Bandon.

      Timoleague, subsequently, appealed to the County Board but they upheld the decision of the SW Board. Bandon were champions for 1934 and Timoleague had to wait another 59 years, 1993,  before winning their first SW junior A hurling title.

 

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Bandon met Liscarroll in the county championship in the UCC Grounds on October 14^th. Playing against the wind Bandon trailed by only four points at the break, 2-1 to 1-0, but conceded two further goals in the second half. Despite hitting some fine points they were beaten by 4-3 to 1-7.

     In the second game that day SW junior football champions, Enniskeane, lost to Mitchelstown,.

 

CHAMPIONS BEATEN

Reigning champions, Skibbereen, were surprised in the first round of the championship, 4-5 to 4-3, by newcomers, Darrara College, who were described in the headlines as ‘Darrara’s Daring Discoveries.’

 

SEMI-FINAL WINS

Bandon beat Clonakilty in the SW semi-final by 4-4 to 2-4 in Enniskeane. The goalscorers for the winners were P. O’Driscoll, O’Leary, Buttimer and Jack Roche.

      Timoleague beat Darrara College in the second semi-final, 3-1 to 2-1. Goalscorers for the winners were Harrington, 2, and D. Roche.

 

NO KILBRITTAIN

It was certainly one for the books when Kilbrittain were unable to field a team in the junior hurling championship and their players transferred to Timoleague, Bandon and Ballinspittle. Some of the players were actually in opposition when Timoleague met Bandon in the S.W. final. As a result of having no team, Dan O’Hea stepped down as vice-chairman of the SW Board and was replaced by C. O’Hea N.T., Enniskeane.  

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COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1934

Liscarroll 2-4,  Mayfield 0-3,  November 4^th   in Buttevant.

 

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Nicky Rackard 

"The last parade was long and slow,

The last oration spoken low,

And, as on green fields long ago,

The 'Diamond' stood beside you:

Old comrades flanked you side by side,

The tears they shed were tears of pride - 

An ash tree toppled when you died

And scattered seeds at random."

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