1938

Kilbrittain 4-7     Dohenys 2-4    

September 18^th in Enniskeane

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        The final of the West Cork junior hurling championship was played at Enniskean on Sunday when a large attendance saw Kilbrittain defeat Dohenys by 4 goals 7 points to 2 goals 4 points after a fast and exciting game.

      Before the game, Kilbrittain were regarded as warm favourites and the feeling became more pronounced when it became known that the Dohenys would be handicapped in having to take the field with substitutes for three of the original selection. The latter, nevertheless, put up stiff resistance to the Kilbrittain challenge and the winners had to fight every inch of the way before they could assert their superiority in the closing stages.

      It was a hard-earned and merited victory for Kilbrittain over the western team, who proved themselves the gamest of losers.

      The winners had nothing over the Dohenys as far as back and centre-field play was concerned but a very pronounced forward superiority decided the issue in their favour. The losers’ forwards lacked the cleverness of the opposition, and had they been better served in this department, the game might have had a different outcome.

     Kilbrittain took some time to settle down in the first half during which period the Doheny forwards were provided with numerous opportunities which, if turned to proper account, would have given them a substantial lead.

      In the second half, also, the westerners had a lengthy spell of attack, but movement after movement petered out when the ball was sent down to the forward line. It was obvious from the early stages of the game that they were not capable of beating a defence that was skilfully controlled by Foley, Desmond and Roche.

WELL-BALANCED SIDE

      The Kilbrittain team, on the other hand, was sound and reliable at all phases of the game, and employing constructive and resourceful tactics they ran out winners by a margin of 2 goals and 3 points. At the interval, there was only a difference of a goal and a point between the teams, and at one period of the second moiety, a similar margin separated them.

      This made the contest most interesting and exciting and, with the hurling reaching a high  standard, the spectators got full value for their admission money.

      They saw Kilbrittain score a deserved win and the Dohenys go down with colours flying. Despite keen and hard tackling in which no quarter was asked or given, the match was played in a true sportsmanlike spirit and both teams are to be congratulated on the display given at Enniskean on Sunday. As a matter of fact, a quarter of an hour had spent itself before the referee had to blow his whistle for an infringement of the rules.

       J. Cowhig was the star performer on the winning side, and every time he got possession of the ball, danger threatened the Doheny net or points posts. His shooting was faultless and during the game he proved himself a most prolific scorer. Deasy also played a great game for the winners and J. McCarthy and Holland, with the others already mentioned for their defensive work, caught the eye repeatedly.

      The Dohenys were best served by Michael O’Mahony, who was the outstanding player on the field, Buttimer, Murray, Sheehy, J. McCarthy and Grainger.

THE PLAY

       Kilbrittain won the toss and playing with the advantage of a slight breeze were the first to attack. The advance was checked and after each side had sent wide in turn, Dohenys made an onslaught on the Kilbrittain goal, only to find Desmond saving his net, while Foley cleared in a further invasion.

     Dohenys kept up the pressure but the forward weakness began to show itself and the defence held good. Kilbrittain then took up the running and Cowhig scored a neat point from long range, following which their next movement resulted in a wide. O’Mahony put Dohenys on the offensive again and when the ball went down to the forwards F. McCarthy pointed after Farr had made several unsuccessful efforts to find the net. Kilbrittain replied with two wides and Dohenys came back again, Roche saving a stinging shot. 

      The first free was awarded after fifteen minutes’ play and J. McCarthy landed a great point for Dunmanway with a drive from midfield.

       The second free was awarded to Kilbrittain and this also resulted in a score, Deasy pointing from a difficult angle. A moment later Cowhig banged in a goal and after Dohenys had tried in vain for a score at the other end, the same player raised the green flag for the second time. J. Nyhan reduced the arrears with a point but Foley (Kilbrittain) nullified this when he also scored a minor from a free, well inside his own half. All the scores were being obtained off long-range shots and the crowd warmly applauded the efforts of the marksmen.

      Just before half time, Grainger found the net for Dohenys when the Kilbrittain custodian ran out to save. Half-time score –

      Kilbrittain – 2 goals 4 points.

      Dohenys – 1 goal 3 points.

SECOND HALF

      On resuming, Dohenys made some desperate attempts to get on level terms without result, however, as the forward weakness was all the time present. For more than ten minutes the losers had all the territorial advantage but failed to penetrate the defence. Time and again they were sent back by Foley and Roche and eventually Kilbrittain found their feet at the other end, where a concentrated forward rush resulted in the green flag being raised.

      At the same time Dohenys were not daunted and in the next few movements were unlucky not to scores points from two frees and a ’70,’ which was the first awarded since the game started.

       Michael O’Mahony was playing like a Trojan for the losers, but very poor use was being made of his deliveries.

       Dohenys forced another ‘70’ and when E. Sheehy placed nicely, Grainger scored a goal following a scramble in front of the goal-posts.

       The game had now entered on the last quarter, and the Dohenys’ challenge began to fade. Kilbrittain applied steady pressure and, after Cowhig scored a goal, points were added by Walsh and Holland. In their last attack on the Kilbrittain goal Dohenys scored a goal per J. McCarthy. However, before full-time Holland had another minor for the winners. Full-time score –       Kilbrittain – 4 goals 7 points.

          Dohenys -  2 goals 4 points.

Kilbrittain – J. O’Sullivan, P. Holland, D. Desmond, J. Roche M. Foley, C. Moloney, W. O’Mahony, J. Holland, D. Roche, J. Walsh, J. Cowhig, J. O’Regan, M. Foley, J. McCarthy, J. Deasy (capt..).

 Dohenys – D. McCarthy, T. Murray, J. O’Leary, R. Buttimer (capt..), S. O’Leary, M. O’Mahony, J. McCarthy, F. McCarthy, J. Nyhan, J. Sheehy, L. Farr, L. Grainger, D. O’Neill, P. Hayes, P. O’Sullivan.

      Referee: Mr. A. O’Neill (Bandon).

COUNTY CAMPIONSHIP

Kilbrittain met Brian Dillons of Cork in the county semi-final in Bandon on October 2^nd and looked to be on the road to a good win when, having played against the wind, they trailed by only a single point, 0-3 to 0-2, after 29 minutes. A goal by Dillons on the stroke of half time and a second within a minute of the restart put a whole new complexion on the game and it was all Dillons after that. Final result was a disappointing 5-6 to 2-3 defeat for the SW champions.

HURLING DRAW 1938

The draw for the SW Junior A hurling championship in 1938 was – Dohenys v Barryroe; Clonakilty v Bandon; Bantry v Kilbrittain; Enniskean a bye. Notable absentees were Skibbereen, champions in 1931, 1932 and 1933.

      A depleted Bandon, despite losing their three games in the SE league, beat Clonakilty by 3-0 to 2-2.  There was a glut of goals in Enniskean as Kilbrittain beat Bantry by 9-3 to 4-1.

      Kilbrittain, aided by some Timoleague men, beat reigning champions, Bandon, 7-3 to 1-1, in the semi-final.

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COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1938

Brian Dillons 5-2,  Cloughduv 2-3,  December 4^th   in Coachford.

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Christy Ring

Come gather round me boys tonight and raise your glasses high!

Come Rockies, Barrs and Rovers stars, let welcome hit the sky!

Let bonfires blaze in hero praise, let Shandon echoes fling,

For homeward bound with hurling crown comes gallant Christy Ring!

How oft I've watched him from the Hill move here and there in grace,

In Cork, Killarney, Thurles town or by the Shannon's race;

'Now Cork is bet, the hay is saved'! the thousands wildly sing - 

They speak too soon, my sweet garsún, for here comes Christy Ring."

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