1944

Objection helps Bantry to title

Fists, boots and bicycle pumps

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

SW Junior A Football Championship 1944

Round 1  -  St. Mary’s 3-4   Carbery Rangers 1-7      April 16^th  in Clonakilty

A large crowd attended and even though they were slightly the better side, St. Mary’s spent three-quarters of the game on the defensive. The Rosscarbery forwards, however, lacked penetration and combination and showed a lack of training. St. Marys’ goalkeeper, Howe, brought off some splendid saves. The Enniskean forwards looked much more dangerous. Slyne opened the scoring with a grand goal for St. Mary’s but Rangers dominated and even though they missed some scores, they closed the gap with points from O’Brien and Calnan. They finished the half well with points from McCarthy, free, Hayes and lane to lead by 0-5 to 1-0 at the break.

     In the second half O’Brien pointed for St. Mary’s and a Noonan goal put them in front. McCarthy pointed for Ross and the excitement increased before O’Brien had another goal for St. Mary’s. McCarthy replied with a Ross point but three white flags in a row for St. Mary’s, from Moriarty, Slyne and O’Brien finished the game as a contest. Ross did have a goal from a penalty by Mccarthy but the Enniskean defence held on for a three-point win.

      The referee was Liam Ahern, Clonakilty. (teams)

 Round 1  -  Bantry Blues 2-6  Skibbereen 1-5          May 7^th  in Skibbereen

A Skibbereen team that looked untrained were well beaten as their play was  “cumbersome and unknit.”  While the  Skibbereen team played as individuals, Bantry, who never showed the spirit of Bantry teams of old, were more of a team and their experience was vital. The first half was dull and unexciting, Bantry leading by 2-2 to 0-3. Skibbereen played much better in the second half and a goal by Carey closed the gap to a single goal. Try as they might in the closing stages, Skibbereen just couldn’t penetrate a solid Bantry defence inspired by Joy and Harrington. The referee was Jock Collins, Drimoleague. (Teams)

Round 1  -   Clonakilty 1-5   Bandon 1-1       July 2^nd  in Enniskean

Except for a brief period in the first half, Clonakilty proved the better side in an evenly-fought game. In a robust but clean game, the sides were level at half tie, 0-4 to 1-1,  but in the second half Clon registered a goal and a point, without reply from Bandon. The referee was Gus Keohane, St. Mary’s. (teams) 

Round 1  -  Rock Rovers  v Dohenys    July 2^nd  in 

Semi-final   -   St. Mary’s 1-4     Clonakilty 2-0  July 23^rd  in Bandon

St. Mary’s were underdogs but played well in the first half to lead by 1-1 to nil at half time. They increased their lead to 1-4 to nil in the third quarter but then Clonakilty kicked two goals and, in a tough finish, St. Mary’s hung on to win by a point.

Semi-final  -  Rock Rovers, Drimoleague 1-4    Bantry Blues 0-2     July 23^rd  in Skibbereen

Described as one of the “most insipid games seen in West Cork for many a year,” this semi-final was a huge let-down, which hardly had a redeeming feature.  Drimoleague, the reigning champions, dominated for most of the game against a very poor Bantry side, but missed many chances after Bantry had opened the scoring with a point. They led at the break by 1-2 to 0-1 but could only manage two points in the second half as against a single point by Bantry. Unfortunately, the game ended in a a “disgraceful scene in which fists, boots and bicycle pumps were freely used. Garda Michael O’Connorl, Drimoleague, who intervened, was knocked and kicked and sustained a rather serious injury to his shoulder. Some players, too, received injuries which had to be medically treated.” The referee was Tommy Cottom, Skibbereen.

       Following the report in the Southern Star the Bantry club held a special meeting and the secretary, Robert McCarthy, wrote a letter to the Star. He stated that he was directed to point out “that Bantry was represented at the venue by fifteen players and the two men who drove them there so that their part in what took place may be correctly appraised.”

     Objection  -  Although no account could be found, Bantry must have successfully objected to the Drimoleague side subsequently as it was the Blues who advanced to the final against St. Mary’s.

SOUTH-WEST JUNIOR A FOOTBALL FINAL   1944

September 3^rd       in Dunmanway

Bantry 2-4     St. Mary’s 0-2

   Bantry emerged decisive winners as St. Mary’s had to field six minors instead of six regulars who failed to turn up on the day. Mary’s weren’t helped, either, by their forwards playing as individuals with little combination. Bantry were short Tommie Fitzgerald, who had fractured his arm in training the previous week. It was six years since Bantry had won a title. Though the lighter side on a wet day and a sodden pitch, the Blues were on top from the start and took firm control in the closing stages. The gate receipts were reported to be the smallest ever taken at a final.  (No Teams available)

County Championship

Bantry met the Beara champions, Urhan, in Glengarriff on November 25^th and proved   the better side on a soft pitch, following some heavy rain. Urhan were unfortunate to have to line out without some of their best players who were involved in a road accident on the way to the venue and failed to arrive. Two quick goals at the beginning of the game laid the foundation for success in a keenly-contested game, with Bantry leading by 2-2 to 0-5 at the break. Urhan got a goal in the third quarter but from there to the end it was all Bantry as they surged to a 6-4 to 1-5 victory. Best for Bantry were the Fitzgerald brothers, Davy Murphy, Paddy Barron and Willie Joy.

      In the county semi-final against Millstreet in Macroom on December 10^th , Bantry got off to a terrible start against the sun and wind and managed to score only a single point in the first half, trailing by 2-5 to 0-1. The Blues staged a remarkable recovery in the second half and three goals cut the lead to a single point. However, time ran out before they could draw level. Final score was 2-6 to 3-1.

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

County Junior Football Final 1944

26th Battalion 2-9   Millstreet 0-3,  March 9th, 1945,  in UCC Grounds 

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

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

"The main thing is, they'd eat grass to win. That's what I want. I'm not interested

in lads ringing me up saying that they can't train because they need a babysitter,

or their mother is not well, or there's someone after passing away."

Larry Tompkins, Cork Manager

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