1940

Kilbrittain 2-7        Bandon 3-4

August 25th  in Clonakilty

============================================  

 

  Not for many years past has there been such a thrilling West Cork final as the game which was intended to bring the current season’s junior hurling championship to a close at Clonakilty on Sunday. Without being brilliant, it was a keen hard-fought struggle between the teams, and when the final whistle found Bandon and Kilbrittain on level terms the supporters of either side could not complain at the result. The final score was: Bandon, 3 goals and 4 points; Kilbrittain, 2 goals and 7 points.

      Certainly, either fifteen would have been unlucky to lose, although both had their chance of winning, and it was well that they lived to fight another day.

      Bandon held a slight advantage for the greater part of the hour, being invariably from one to three points in front of their opponents, but in a whirlwind finish Kilbrittain virtually took command of the game and Mick Foley scored the equalising point just on time.

 

HOUR OF THRILLS

      At no stage did the hurling reach a high standard, but the hour was crammed with thrills for those who had a partisan interest in the game, and they comprised the bulk of the very large attendance. As expected, there was very little between the teams and both fought valiantly for the coveted title, the excitement being provided by the close and even nature of the scoring.

       The play in the second half was a big improvement on that of the first moiety, and excitement ran high as each team attacked alternately and both goals were kept under steady pressure. The last quarter saw the teams make a desperate bid for the honour of being 1940 champions, with Bandon going all out to cling to a slender lead and Kilbrittain sending their supporters into an ecstasy of delight as they overhauled the leaders and eventually drew level with only a second or two to spare. The excitement reached its crescendo as these breath-taking exchanges followed in rapid succession and play switched from end to end of the field.

     ‘Red’ Crowley and the brothers, Eddie and Denis Smith, hurled back the Kilbrittain attacks with grim determination and at the other end Mick Foley made fine clearances which were quickly converted into offensive movements by Mick Finn.

       John O’Mahony, Calnan and Crowley were also prominent in the Bandon defence in the closing stages, while Lane and the forwards strove hard to improve the position on the scoring board. Kilbrittain were very well served by Holland, Cowhig, Deasy, Moloney and Roche, who were outstanding throughout the game. Both goalkeepers rendered a good account of themselves, winning rounds of applause for their frequent brilliant saves.

THE  PLAY

     Kilbrittain attacked during a rather dull opening and, after the ball was sent to the sideline several times, ‘Red’ Crowley eased the pressure on the Bandon goal. Bandon then attacked but were repulsed by Finn before Lane, the Bandon skipper, got possession and sent down to Gabriel. The forward quickly transferred to Lordan who banged home the ball for a smart goal. . Bandon’s lead, however, was short-lived, as Kilbrittain attacked on the puckout and J. Roche sent down to D. Roche, who equalised the scoring.

       Kilbrittain’s forwards drove wide following a nicely-placed free taken by Foley and Bandon returned to the attack, only to lose several good scoring opportunities due to faulty and erratic shooting. A spirited Kilbrittain offensive failed to break the Bandon defence, but a free far out saw |Finn send over for a grand point and Kilbrittain went further ahead when J. Holland had a similar score.

     Lane got possession when the ball was returned to play and he found his forwards nicely, Gabriel reducing the arrears by tipping over his head for a point. Bandon had a few more wides but they eventually raised the green flag per Lane, after a terrific onslaught on their opponents’ goal. Kilbrittain forwards sent over at the other end but Finn made no mistake when he gathered far out and scored another grand point from an awkward angle.

     Both sides then attacked in turn, but without reward, and when the short whistle was blown, Bandon were leading by the narrowest of margins. The half-time scores were:-

     Bandon – 2 goals 1 point.

     Kilbrittain – 1 goal 3 goals.

     Bandon were the first to settle on the change-over, but drove to the touch line and a wide followed a free which was sent down by J. O’Mahony. Two more overs, one to each side, marked the subsequent play before Moloney levelled the scoring with a nice point for Kilbrittain. A moment later, however, Bandon again went into the lead when Collins sent down to Cummins, who found the net.

IMMEDIATE REPLY

      Kilbrittain replied immediately with a point per J. Holland, and Collins cleared the next drive. The game had now livened up considerably as far as the hurling was concerned, and rapid up-and-down movements saw both defences frequently placed in awkward positions. Lordan found the net for Bandon, but the score was disallowed. Less than a minute later, Jones sent them further ahead with a nice point. Kilbrittain pressed on the puck-out but the pressure on the Bandon goal was eased by D. Smith, supported by Lane and O’Brien.

      The attackers were not to be denied, however, and clever play by Cowhig eventually led to Kilbrittain narrowing the gap to a two-point margin.

       A further spell of attack by Kilbrittain produced no result and the excitement was now running high as the hour drew to a close. It looked well for Bandon when C. O’Brien sent over for another point, but their opponents were undaunted and a couple of minutes later the forwards equalised with a goal scored from a collective movement, which the Bandon defenders could not beat off.

EXCITING FINISH

      Back again went Bandon into the lead with a point per Cummins but in a tremendously thrilling finish Foley got the equaliser for Kilbrittain, with a great long-distance drive, a fitting climax to a hard-fought game.

      The final scores were:-

      Bandon  -  3 goals 4 points.

      Kilbrittain  -  2 goals  7 points.

     

      Bandon – J. Lane, J. O’Mahony, M. O’Mahony, J. Jones, R. Crowley, J. Calnan, E. Smith, D. Smith, E. Gabriel, S. Crowley, J. Lordan, P. J. Murray, J. Collins, T. Cummins, C. J. O’Brien.

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

Referee: Rev. J. McCarthy, Manager, Baltimore Fishery School, was the referee.

   

 

=================================================================================     

Replay 1940

Kilbrittain 5-0      Bandon 1-1

October 13^th   in Clonakilty

 

The meeting of Kilbrittain and Bandon in the replay of the West Cork Junior hurling championship final at Clonakilty on Sunday last, must have provided one of the best, if not the best match of the year in this division, were it not for the shocking weather prevailing. The game was spoiled to a great extent by torrential rain which fell steadily throughout the hour, making the pitch heavy and difficult for the players.

      The final could scarcely have been played under worse conditions and yet the play reached a high standard, considering all the adverse circumstances.

      Under more favourable auspices the match must have fulfilled the promise of the drawn game, played some six weeks ago.

      Kilbrittain were deserving winners of the title and the score of five goals to one goal and a point for their opponents. Right from the start they appeared to have a grip on what was a lively match throughout and although Bandon were within striking distance of the leaders for the greater part of the journey, they failed to come up to their opponents’ level. Kilbrittain, who were also the heavier side, were better able to adapt themselves to the aquatic conditions and this gave them a definite pull over the Bandon team.

CONSTRUCTIVE ABILITY

      Both sides rendered a good account of themselves but Kilbrittain’s fine constructive play on such a surface was the feature of the proceedings. There was a punch and finish to their work which was lacking on the other side, since the Bandon forwards lost a number of scoring opportunities due to their inability to keep their foothold on the greasy pitch.

     Thrills in plenty were provided, the scoring being close while, during the early stages of the game both goals were subject to stiff pressure.

      Kilbrittain were only two points in front at the end of a level first moiety but clenched the issue in the second half by making the most of their opportunities.

      In contrast, Bandon left their chances go a-begging. There was a fine attendance at the match considering the weather, large contingents being present from the parishes of the competing teams. Wind-driven rain lashed the players and spectators all through the hour without damping their spirits and excitement ran high. It was not until after the game that the spectators became disgruntled, when, thoroughly rain-soaked, they were asked to leave the pitch via the two turnstiles, a procedure which would have taken up a good deal of time. The Industrial Hall and the eastern end of the field, including the main entrance, are now occupied by military, and the gate was declared ‘out of bounds’ to civilians. The soldiers, however, yielded to a concentrated rush by the spectators and the gate was opened after some time.

     Foley was the outstanding player on the winning team and he was ably assisted by Roche, Finn, Cahalane and Moloney. Bandon were best served by ‘Red’ Crowley, E. Smith, Lane, Calnan and S. Crowley.

THE  PLAY

      Bandon were first to attack but were repulsed and Kilbrittain took play to the other end, where Roche opened the scoring with a goal less than two minutes after start of play. A spirited tussle at midfield followed before Bandon forced a ‘70’ which resulted in a wide and a moment later the forwards lost another good chance through faulty shooting. They had a third wide before Kilbrittain took up the offensive again and narrowly failed to score. So far Kilbrittain were the more impressive and the more dangerous. Bandon attacked from a side-line puck without improving their position.

       They were unlucky not to score when ‘Red’ Crowley sent down a long drive, which was only just wide of the upright.

       Kilbrittain then had two overs, following which O’Mahony sent in a stinging shot for a goal but the Kilbrittain custodian saved in grand style by driving to touch under pressure. A free to Bandon in a favourable position saw Lane land a neat point, but the score only urged Kilbrittain on to greater effort. They stormed the Bandon goal and, following a ’70,’ the forwards raised the green flag in a collective movement.

      Roche then saved for Kilbrittain before the Bandon forwards drove wide on two occasions. A ‘70’ to the attacking team also shared a similar fate. However, Bandon kept up the offensive and Foley was prominent in getting his side out of some awkward positions The game then switched to centrefield, where the exchanges were evenly divided for a few minutes. Then Bandon came back again and Lane further reduced the arrears with a goal.

      In the closing stages of the first half Kilbrittain tried hard to increase the lead, but without success, and they drove wide just before the short whistle was blown. Half-time score was:-

      Kilbrittain -  2 goals.

      Bandon  -  1 goal 1 point.

 

SECOND  HALF

      Kilbrittain made a raid on the Bandon goal immediately after the resumption but Smith saved well and sent down a long ball which was transferred to the forwards. They fumbled, however, on the greasy surface after beating the defence and a grand chance of scoring a goal was lost. The same thing happened a moment later. At the other end, Kilbrittain made no mistake when they got through for Cowhig to register their third major. Bandon attacked again until Foley relieved.

      The next Bandon movement resulted in a wide following which the forwards lost still another opportunity by failing to follow up when the goalkeeper found himself in difficulties with the ball in a pool of water.

      A free to Bandon was stopped by Foley and when Kilbrittain pressed at the other end, the defending backs made several fine clearances. The forwards, however, eventually got through and the green flag was raised once more. The winners continued to apply steady pressure on their opponents’ goal and had two wides, one from a free before the opposing backs relieved the situation.

      Bandon then lost one of their prominent players when ‘Red’ Crowley retired injured, though the winners appeared to have the game well in hand at this stage. Another free to Kilbrittain also resulted in a wide. Bandon tried hard to overtake the leaders in an eleventh hour rally but were unable to penetrate a sound defence and Kilbrittain, putting in a strong finish to a game that was played in a fine sporting spirit, scored their fifth goal per Roche. Full time score:-

      Kilbrittain  -  5 goals.

      Bandon  -  1 goal 1 point.

      The teams were:-

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

        Bandon – J. Lane (capt..), J. O’Mahony, M. O’Mahony, J. Jones, R. Crowley, L. Cummins, S. Calnan, D. Smith, E. Smith, J. Lordan, P. Quinlan, P. J. Murray, S. Crowley, C. O’Brien and J. Donovan.

      Rev. Fr. McCarthy, B.D., Baltimore Industrial School

 

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

On a pick from a hat, Kilbrittain were nominated to represent the division in the county championship before the replay of the SW final. They met Cloughduv at High Road, Upton, on October 6^th and a good start saw them leading by a goal and two points. However, Cloughduv then gained control to lead by three goals ay half time.  They continued to dominate in the second half, winning by 10-6 to 4-4. Deasy and C. Moloney were best for Kilbrittain.

===================================================================================== 

COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1940

Cloughdubh 10-0,  Newtownshandrum 5-1  in Fermoy.

============================================

Jimmy Smyth

"In '55 that great Cork team, with Ringy at his best,

They faced the Banner County in a famous Munster test;

The man who broke the Corkmen's hearts and foiled their every plan

Was that famed Dalcassian forward, Jimmy Smyth from famed Ruan.

The style and skill and valour, the hero of the hour,

He tantalized their backline with his craft and speed and power;

Though Cork and Tipp had mighty backs, they never had a man

To curb the hurling genius of Jim Smyth from famed Ruan."

================================================================