1949

Bandon 3-7    Clonakilty 1-4    

August 14^th   in Clonakilty

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Clonakilty, who, on the previous Sunday had won divisional junior football honours by defeating Dohenys, failed in a great effort to secure the double when they lost to Bandon in the final of the hurling championship at the home venue on Sunday.

      Glancing at the winning margin one might get the idea that Bandon had an easy passage. The reverse was the case, however.

      For a full twenty minutes in the second half Bandon were holding on desperately to a single-point lead and with the homesters on the offensive anything could have happened.

      Apart from high grass here and there on the pitch, conditions generally were ideal. As a result,  standard of play s high enough to credit a senior g. The pace was terrific and was kept up right to the end. The g crowd present were kept on their feet throughout so great was the excitement that prevailed.

      Bandon combined better and showed much more craft than did their opponents. Lighter and more youthful than Clonakilty, they were usually faster on the ball and stood the pace better.

BETTER COMBINATION

     Clonakilty, as a team, had not the same polish as their opponents and it was sheer tenacity on their part that kept Bandon from opening out the play. In the closing stages, however, youth told and it was all over.

      Certainly, the better team won but the vanquished can take pride in a very gallant showing.

      Bandon broke away from the throw-in and D. O’Driscoll from well out sent in a rasping ball. McGrath in the Clon goal pulled it down but it curled on his stick and dribbled over the line. A goal up in the first half-minute gave Bandon renewed life. Moloney, Crowley and Dineen fought gallantly in the back line to keep the attackers at bay and finally raised the siege. At the other end the homesters got going but the shooting ability was nil and the few stray balls that looked dangerous were safely dealt with.

      Back again swung the play and a close-in free was sent over the bar by Riordan and in a matter of seconds, Driscoll from well out added another minor.

      Tadhg Crowley’s delivery brought relief and in a fierce melee, G. Hurley smashed to the net. D. Cullinane, from a free, had a point and with Clonakilty going all-out excitement was high. Badon el out valiantly. Play eventually moved up-field where Riordan notched a point and, just on half-time, Hurley replied in kind for Clonakilty to leave the score:-

      Clonakilty  -  1 goal 2 points.

      Bandon  -  1 goal 3 points.

      Bandon were the first to press after the interval but Clonakilty had learned from experience and the marksmen were closely watched. Tadhgo Crowley’s deliveries constantly sent play to the other end where the Bandon backs sent it back again.

DEFENCE ON TOP

       Bandon had now the better of exchanges everywhere except in the forward lines where a strengthened Clon defence was on top. The pace was still hot with neither side showing signs of tiring. Coming to the last quarter, Clonakilty seemed to rally, but all their efforts came to nought before the visitors’ defence. Bandon now rallied and a goal by Riordan paved the way to the end. Clonakilty seemed to tire and Bandon, seizing their chance, smashed in a second goal.

      With the defence cracking, they pressed harder and a point from Riordan, followed by two from N. Driscoll, put the issue beyond doubt. In the lost time period Walley pointed but Driscoll replied with a similar score for Bandon. O’Neill added Clonakilty’s fourth point in the last few minutes and time ran out, leaving the score:-

     Bandon  -  3 goals 7 points.

     Clonakilty  -  1 goal 4 points.

      The Tadg O’Donovan Asna Perpetual Challenge Cup was then presented to P. O’Neill, the winning team’s captain.

      Mr. Gus Keohane was the referee and the teams were:-

      Bandon – P. O’Neill, P. O’Riordan, S. Donovan, T. Croke, P. Quinlan, E. O’Driscoll, D. O’Driscoll, S. Mahony, G. O’Driscoll, M. O’Mahony, S. Crowley, S. Walsh, D. Collins and M. Mahony.

    Clonakilty – W. McGrath, K. Moloney, T. Crowley, M. Dineen, P. Donovan, D. Carroll, S. Donovan, C. O’Neill (captain), J. McCarthy, D. Cullinane, J. Donovan, S, O’Connor, G. Hurley, M. Finn and T. Downey. Sub, F. Walley.

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Paddy O'Neill, Bandon Captain 1949

BANDON NOTES

“Train to Matches – A special train from Bandon took a large crowd to Clonakilty on last Sunday to witness the final of the West Cork Junior Hurling Championship between Clonakilty and Bandon, and also the minor hurling game between O’Donovan Rossa (Skibbereen) and St. Brogan’s (Bandon). Bandon F.C.A Pipers’ Band accompanied the excursionists. Bandon won both games and scenes of great enthusiasm were witnessed when the train arrived back that evening. The Band, headed by the Flag Bearer, having taken up its position at the head of the crowd, struck up a rousing tune and Mr. P. O’Neill, captain of the junior team, carrying two silver cups, was borne shoulder-high through the town.”

CLONAKILTY COMMENTS

“The ill luck which always seems to dog Clonakilty when playing at home was at work again on Sunday when the junior hurlers were defeated by Bandon. It was certainly one of the team’s off-days as several of the ‘stars’ never struck form. Bandon proved themselves to be clever and speedy and with a little luck should make a good shot at annexing the county championship.”

SW CHAMPIONSHIP

Reigning junior A hurling champions, Courcey Rovers, were beaten in the semi-final by Bandon, 3-9 to 2-2, in ‘The Bogs’ in Bandon, with Gus Keohane as referee. Bandon led by 2-6 to 1-0 at halftime and increased the lead by a goal shortly after the break.

       In the second semi-final Clonakilty beat Skibbereen by 7-3 to 1-5. Clon had won the SW junior A football final for the second year in a row and were going for the double when they met Bandon in the hurling final.   

NEW CUPS

Three new cups were presented to the SW Board in 1949. They included the ‘Tadg O’Donovan   Asna’ Cup for junior A hurling (won by Bandon); the ‘Little Norah’ Cup for junior A football (won by Clonakilty) and the ‘Cliona’ Cup for minor football (won by O’Donovan Rossa).

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Bandon met neighbours, Valley Rovers, in the county championship in Ballinhassig on September 25^th minus the services of Jack Mahony, gone to England, and Denis O’Donovan, hospitalized, and during the hour lost captain, Paddy O’Neill, Pat Reardon and Séamus O’Donovan through injury. However, they proved well superior to the Innishannon men, who had county hurler and future president of the GAA, Con Murphy in their ranks. Goals by P. Quinn, T. Crotty and J. Murphy saw Bandon in front at half time by 3-4 to 0-2 at half time  and they held on in the second half to win by 3-7 to 2-2.

     Semi-final opponents were Blackrock’s second team in Innishannon on October 9^th and there was no holding the Bandon men who swept to a 6-2 to 0-1 victory, having led at the break by 3-0 to 0-1. Pat Reardon , who captained the side instead of the injured Paddy O’Neill, was the stand-out player, while Tom Crotty and Dan Driscoll were also prominent.

Bandon forwards on the attack in the county final against Kanturk

COUNTY FINAL

       Bandon met Kanturk in the county final in the Cork Athletic Grounds on October 23^rd  and a special excursion train carried over 800 supporters to Cork. Many supporters cycled on the day.

       A grassy, heavy pitch didn’t help ground hurling and Bandon, facing the wind and sun, were slow to settle. But for the brilliant play of Mattie Mahony in goal and Seán Crowley at corner back, they would have trailed by a lot more then 1-1 to 0-1 at half time. A quick goal by Séamus Donovan after the restart, followed by a spectacular doubled point from the puckout by Pat Reardon, put Bandon in front and there was no holding them after that. Collins and Dan Driscoll dominated midfield as goals by Tom Crotty, Ned Driscoll, Jack Mahony (2) and Séamus O’Donovan (2) sealed a tremendous 7-3 to 1-2 victory. Unfortunately, Pat Readon, who had been knocked out earlier in the game, collapsed in the second half and had to be removed to hospital, where he recovered.

      The team got a tremendous reception when they returned to Bandon that night.  It was Bandon’s first time winning the title in twenty years, 1929, and they had just regraded from intermediate in 1949.

      Bandon -  P. O’Neill (captain), M. O’Mahony, Seán Donovan, Seán Crowley, P. O’Driscoll, D. O’Driscoll, E. O’Driscoll, G. O’Driscoll, Michael O’Mahony, J. O’Mahony, J. Collins, P. Quinlan, T. Crotty, Séamus O’Donovan, P. Reardon. Subs used, E. Crotty, J. Murphy.

A week later a depleted Bandon minor hurling team surprised Kilbrittain in the SW final, to add that title to the SW junior title, the county junior title and the Seán Ó Coileán Cup.

SOUTH-WEST CONVENTION

The unusual date for the SW convention in Hodnett’s Hall, Rosscarbery, was New Year’s Day, 1950. The rúnaí’s report (Gus Keohane) included – “In particular he wanted to express the warm congratulations of the Division to Bandon on bringing the county junior hurling championship honours to West Cork, after a lapse of twenty years. Their victory had been impressive and clear cut and demonstrated to all that hurling in the Division was a force to be reckoned with.”

COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1949

Bandon 7-3,  Kanturk 1-2  in Cork Athletic Grounds.

Bandon:  South-West Cork and County Junior Hurling Champions 1949

Back (L to R) Jerry Collins, Tom Crotty, Don O’Driscoll, John Joe McCarthy, Denis O’Donovan, John Joe O’Neill. 

3^rd Row (L to R) Colman Hickey, Seanie O’Donovan, Séamus O’Donovan, Fr. O’Regan, Gerard O’Driscoll, Eric Crotty, Jackie Walsh. 

2^nd Row (L to R) Michael O’Mahony, Jimmy Murphy, Paddy Quinlan, Paddy O’Neill (capt..), Seán Crowley, Mattie O’Mahony, Ted O’Driscoll. 

Front Row (L to R) Ted O’Driscoll,  (Joe Crowley) Pat O’Reardon.