1946

Clonakilty 9-8     Skibbereen 0-3

August 25^th   in Dunmanway

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      Clonakilty and Skibbereen met in the final of the South-West Cork Junior Hurling Championship at Dunmanway on Sunday evening last. “Met” is just about what the teams did do for Clonakilty won by a cricket score. Their winning margin was thirty-two points.

      While some of their goals were of the soft variety, they were as much superior to Skibbereen in speed and courage as the western side were lacking in those qualities.

      Eight or nine of the winners had played a senior football match two hours before and their win was rendered all the more meritorious on account of that fact. Training was obviously the secret of their runaway victory. They set a very fast pace and kept it up. Skibbereen tired, though that was not was caused their defeat which lay in the fact that they not only lacked determination but shied from their opponents. In a word, they suffered from inferiority complex.

     The match may be written off as a bad debt dearly paid. The amount of feeling that it caused in both camps days before, did not, in the nature of things, warrant a close-knit issue, for it is that kind of un-sportsmanlike attitude that is leading to the deterioration of both codes all over the country.

SPIRIT ALSO NEEDED

     In all fairness, however, it must be said that Skibbereen had plenty hurlers as good, if not better in many instances as their opponents. At the same time it must be stated that craft without “guts” is of little use in a game where little quarter was given or asked for.

     The game was not on ten minutes when it became obvious that Skibbereen were swamped.

      They were taken completely off their feet and as goal followed goal, it was apparent that only a team of remarkable powers of recovery could redeem the day in the second half. The score at the interval was six goals and five points to one point. That spoke for itself. At the end it was nine goals and eight points to three points. That also was rather loud-tongued. The fact that the spectators started leaving the pitch soon after the resumption of the game was also an eloquent pointer.

1. O’Regan and McGrath were Clonakilty’s most stylish players and it was they who really caused havoc among the Skibbereen men, the moral support of others more prominent on the football field tending to complete the collapse.

      All in all it was rather an awkwardly played match. Fast it undoubtedly was, but that first-time pulling on the ground and clear tapping in the air, was singularly absent. The long grass of the pitch may have been the cause of that but it could not, within reason, be responsible for what was at one time, at any rate, called “chopping.” However, it did not matter, one way or the other, as the result showed.

THE GAME

     The story of the game can be easily told. From the start Clonakilty were on the ascendant and had three goals and two points up inside ten minutes.

     O’Regan was responsible for the goals, meeting with little opposition in his thrust through, while the points came from O’Neill and Cullinane.

     A spell of attacking brought no score to Skibbereen and the forwards coming back with a beautifully centred ball by Goggin, could not finish off. J. McCarthy beat off a hot raid by Clonakilty, led by Ahern, but McGrath drove back and a seventy followed. Tadhgo Crowley pucked all the way for a point. Skibbereen sent wide and a fast move was held by Conroy, who got no support, and McGrath slapped the ball over the bar for a good point. O’Regan had a goal a minute later and Ahern followed with a similar score before Skibbereen again attacked. Sweeney made a fine effort but Duggan got the ball clear. Collins sent back only to have the backs prevail once more and following the clearance, McGrath, pulling first time, drove in for O’Regan to send to the net.

      A long drive by Goggin let the western men away, but they did not finish off and F. O’Donovan changed the site of the play when he cut off the ground to cover a considerable distance. O’Mahony broke through raiding forwards and saved a bad situation for Skibbereen and P. McCarthy, driving up to Conroy, the last mentioned opened Skibbereen’s tally with a point. Clonakilty attacked several times but J. McCarthy and O’Mahony played doggedly and would not yield. McGrath was a serious menace, he driving in fine shots that were not made full use of. The interval arrived with the scores:-

     Clonakilty  -  6 goals 5 points

     Clonakilty  -  0 goal 1 point.

     Sanguine followers of Skibbereen

        Team who expected a change in the second half, were sadly disappointed. They were first into the attack, but were repulsed, J. Donovan clearing well. P. O’Neill, Skibbereen, retired injured at this stage and was replaced by P. Carey. Clonakilty pressed, drove wide, and returned. They seemed to be striking their best form now but found tough opposition in J. McCarthy. O’Mahony and Carey. However, it was an impossible fight and O’Regan, finding an opening made by Cullinane, shot Clonakilty’s seventh goal.

     A minute later Ahern pointed and McGrath sent back, but O’Mahony cleared and Keane was moving nicely when he was fouled. Conroy attempted another break-through but his shot was not followed up and Duggan returned a long shot, a free ensuing near centre field. Tadhgo’s drive was long but was not finished off.

      Pressing once more, Clonakilty added to their score when Ahern shot a goal. McGrath pointed soon after and play continued to remain in the Skibbereen area. Skibbereen lifted the siege and P. McCarthy, sending in a forward, was fouled. Goggin made no mistake in driving over for a point. McGrath was again to the forefront, a fast shot of his being doubled by Ahern for another point. Cullinane was injured at this period and retired, his place being taken by John McCarthy.

      The pace had slackened somewhat but Clonakilty were now turning on the screw with Skibbereen being forced to defend more and more.

      Sweeney, however, tried to get through for them but was stopped and after a lot of aimless play at centre field, Clonakilty again took up the running.

ANOTHER MAJOR

       Another goal from O’Regan made ten times certain that the issue was beyond doubt.

       There were a few more attempts made by Skibbereen to score, but they resulted in nothing.

Clonakilty continued to avail of every opportunity offered without, however, succeeding in scoring again. The final score was:-

       Clonakilty  -  9 goals 8 points

       Skibbereen  - 0 goal 3 points.

Clonakilty – M. O’Driscoll, H. Duggan, T. Crowley, H. O’Neill, C. O’Neill, J. O’Donovan, D. Cullinane, L. Ahern, W. McGrath, C. O’Driscoll, F. O’Donovan, M. Nugent, P. Murphy, J. O’Regan and T. Downey. Sub, J. McCarthy.

Skibbereen – T. Ward, J. McCarthy, G. Carey, C. Conroy, C. Thornhill, J. Goggin, P. O’Neill, D. Keane, E. O’Donovan, J. Sweeney, P. McCarthy, T. Collins, C. O’Mahony, J. Coughlan and M. Lynch.

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Jubilant Scenes – (‘Clonakilty Comments’ – August 31^st, 1946))

      ‘Much jubilation was manifested in the town on Sunday when the result of the Divisional Junior Hurling final at Dunmanway became known. Twelve of the players who had figured against Fermoy earlier in the day, participated in the victory over Skibbereen, Clonakilty’s fifth successive win at the expense of the same opponents, at a like stage of the competition.’

(Great rivals Clonakilty and Fermoy qualified for the Kelleher Shield league final of 1945. It took three games to separate the sides, with the second replay being played in Clonakilty on the same day as the final of the 1946 junior hurling championship, August 25^th. Clon won the football final and six of the players turned out for the winning hurlers later that day in Dunmanway.)

Hurlers Swamped  -   (‘Seen and Heard  -  Round and about Skibbereen’ -  August 31^st , 1946)

‘The local team suffered a severe defeat at the hands of Clonakilty in the final of the South-West Cork Junior Hurling Championship at Dunmanway on Saturday evening. From start they never made a serious attempt to challenge their opponents, and the fact that they were beaten by thirty-two points suggests such over-whelming mastery that an explanation would appear unnecessary. Yet, Skibbereen had all the elements of a good hurling team except that their moral make-up was shaken almost before they went on the field.’

John “Jackeye” Regan 

The Clonakilty hurling full forward, who won seven county senior football medals,

scored a record seven goals in the 1946 SW Junior Hurling Final.

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Kelleher Shield Final (1945)

On the same day that Clonakilty beat Skibbereen in the SW junior hurling final, they earlier beat Fermoy in the replayed Kelleher Shield football final in Clonakilty.

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COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Clonakilty met East Cork champions, Castlemartyr, in the county semi-final in Douglas on October 27^th and a great first half saw them leading by 5-1 to 1-1 at half time. They had to withstand a strong Castlemartyr comeback in the second half of a rough, hard game before winning by 5-2 to 4-1. Tadhgo Crowley did a great job in marking ex-Cork player, Ted Sullivan, and the best player on the pitch was the Castlemartyr goalie, Cusack.

COUNTY FINAL

Clonakilty met Newtownshadrum in the county final on November 10^th in the UCC Grounds, a fortnight before the county senior football final against Fermoy. They were indeed glory days for the ‘Red and Green.’ It was one of the most exciting games seen in the junior championship for many a year. Newtown led by 2-2 to 1-0 at the break but a goal shortly after the break by Tim Downey, later to serve thirty years as club rúnaí, gave Clon new heart. Moll Driscoll, the county senior football goalkeeper, was having a blinder in goal as points by Tadhgo Crowley and Willie McGrath tied the scores. A hectic last quarter saw the sides swapping goals and minutes from time Liam Ahern put the Clon men in front with his second goal, amid tremendous scenes of excitement as Clon seemed set to land their first-ever county hurling title. Agonisingly, seconds from the end, Newtown broke through for an equalising goal. It finished 4-2 each and Clon then had to turn their attention to the senior football final against Fermoy. Team – Moll Driscoll, Micky Nugent, Humphrey Duggan, Neilus Driscoll, C. Hayes, Tadhgo Crowley, Seamie O’Donovan (_apt...), Nealie O’Neill, J. Houlihan, Des Cullinane, Willie McGrath, D. McCarthy, John ‘Jackeye’ O’Regan, Liam Ahern, Tim Downey.

Clonakilty v Newtownshandrum: County Junior A Hurling Final (Drawn Game) 1946

Clonakilty forwards (dark jerseys) include – (L to R) John "Jackeye" Regan, Liam Ahern, Tim Downey.

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COUNTY FINAL REPLAY

Two weeks later Clon regained the county senior football title, their fourth title in five years, when they beat Fermoy in the famous ‘Battle of the Mud,’ in the Athletic Grounds but while Clon were busy playing football, Newtown were able to concentrate totally on the hurling replay. The game was played on December 8^th in Douglas and Newtown got off to a flier, scoring 3-2 to nil in the first quarter. Clon gradually settled and confined Newtown to a single point in the second quarter, as Clon failed to raise a flag. It was 3-3 to nil at the break. Clon put in a great effort for twenty minutes of the second half and points from Tadhgo Crowley and Fachtna O’Donovan, plus a goal from Nealie O’Neill, closed the gap to five points. However, Newtown struck for a breakaway goal to halt Clon’s comeback and in the last minutes raised two more green flags. It finished 6-3 to 1-4.

A. Walsh played at corner forward for Clon and Fachtna O’Donovan, county senior footballer, came on as a sub.

Clonakilty v Newtownshandrum: County Junior A Hurling Final Replay 1946

Clonakilty backs (dark jerseys) in action include – (L to R) Seamie O’Donovan, Moll Driscoll (goalkeeper), Humphrey Duggan, Micky Nugent, Fachtna O’Donovan and Neilus Driscoll.

COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1946

Newtownshandrum 4-2,  Clonakilty 4-2, November 10^th  in UCC Grounds, Mardyke.

REPLAY – Newtownshandrum 6-3,  Clonakilty 1-4, December 8^th  in Douglas.

 Clonakilty: SW Cork Junior A Hurling Champions 1943-1946

County Finalists 1946

Back (L to R) ?, ?, ?, ?, Tadhgo Crowley, ?. Dessie Cullinane, Humphrey Duggan, Con ‘Nealie’ O’Neill, ?, Lar Shea, ?.

Middle (L to R) Humphrey O’Neill, Moll Driscoll, Seamie O’Donovan, ?, Liam Ahern, ?, Paddy Murphy.

Front (L to R) John ‘Jackeye’ O’Regan, ?, Neilus Driscoll.