1949

"Little Norah" Cup

A new era began for the South-West Junior A Football Championship in 1949 when the "Little Norah Perpetual Cup" was presented for the first time. It had been presented to the SW Board at the close of 1948 by the Beamish and Crawford Company of Bandon as part of their advertising campaign for "Little Norah" soft drinks. The cup remained in use for the following 49 years, until 1997, and was to become the most sought-after trophy in the Board's proud history. 

The first winners of the new cup in 1949 were Clonakilty's junior team, who were retaining the SW junior title. They beat Dohenys in the final in Enniskean by 3-4 to 1-3. The new "Little Norah Cup" was presented to winning captain, Neilus O'Driscoll, by cathaoirleach of the SW Board. Seán Lomasney of Dunmanway.

The story of the "Little Norah" Cup, 1949 to 1997, is told in the book, "The Quest for Little Norah,"    by   Tom Lyons.

"Little Norah" Cup