1945

Clonakilty 8-4      Skibbereen 3-1

August 19th   in Clonakilty

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Clonakilty Junior hurlers won the South-West Cork divisional hurling championship for the third successive year on Sunday last, when playing at home, they easily disposed of the challengers, Skibbereen. There was an exceptionally large attendance.

       On the whole the game was a disappointing one, though in the first half the spectators were treated to a grand, clean exhibition of fast hurling.

In the second half the homesters’ superiority was too manifest to have interest sustained and they piled up a big score without serious opposition from their opponents.

THE GAME

       On the throw-in, Skibbereen, who were aided by a light breeze, broke away but the attack was nullified before it became dangerous. Tadhgo Crowley set the Clonakilty men on the offensive, a serious situation being only saved at the expense of a ‘seventy,’ which was sent wide. Clonakilty maintained the pressure and in the tenth minute Houlihan drew first blood when he sent over the bar. The puck-out brought only momentary respite for the defenders as play quickly returned to their goal-area, and from a free at a difficult angle, McGrath scored a point.

     With both sides settling down the pace got very fast, the exchanges being equally divided.

Skibbereen forwards were trying hard to get within shooting distance but for a time every attempt was foiled.

NARROW GAP

      Eventually, however, about halfway through the period, they succeeded in raising the white flag. There being now only a point between them, excitement began to run high.

      Alternate attacks brought no results, until Con O’Neill sent a long ball into Tim Downey, who slammed home a spectacular goal.

A long puck-out enabled Skibbereen to move into the Clonakilty area and they set up a strong attack which kept the Clonakilty backs constantly engaged. Goggin tried for a goal and even though O’Donovan saved, the ball went loose, one of the Skibbereen forwards shooting into the net from a melee. Donovan’s delivery out went well downfield. The easing of pressure was, however, short-lived for Skibbereen returned to the attack. The Clonakilty backs stood firm and many promising movements were checked before at length a clearance was affected. Approaching the interval the Skibbereen backs were subjected to heavy pressure and just before the short whistle Clonakilty again scored , Con O’Neill getting a minor from a free. Half-time score:-

       Clonakilty  -  1 goal 3 points.

       Skibbereen  -  1 goal 1 point.   

SECOND HALF

     The visitors had done so well in the first half that on the resumption there was an air of expectancy among the spectators who thought that with the teams almost level the second half would be one of excitement and thrills. It was soon evident, however, that the pace in the opening moiety had been too much for Skibbereen. Clonakilty went into the attack at once and after having narrowly missed scoring several times, were awarded a ‘seventy.’ Tadhgo Crowley centred beautifully and Houlihan made no mistake, smashing the ball into the net. Another ‘seventy’ soon followed, a grand centre by Crowley being finished by Tim Downey to the net. Yet another ‘seventy’ resulted in a third goal.

      The visitors were now thoroughly disheartened and with the homesters supreme in all departments, scores came almost at will.

      Downey again got possession and passed to Neilus Driscoll, who raised the white flag, while shortly afterwards Liam Ahern had a goal. Clonakilty began to take matters easy and Skibbereen in a desperate rally forced a free from which Goggin registered a goal. Goals for Clonakilty by McGrath, from a pass from Ahern, Downey and Ahern, and one for Skibbereen by Goggin, finished the scoring. Result:-

      Clonakilty  -  8 goals 4 points.

      Skibbereen  -  3 goals 1 point.

      Sgt. J. Kelly, Clonakilty, was the referee and the teams were:-

      Clonakilty – D. Donovan, H. Duggan, J. McCarthy, J. O’Regan, D. Cullinane, T. Crowley, H. O’Neill, C. O’Neill, S. O’Donovan, J. Houlihan, W. McGrath, S. Murphy, S. Driscoll, T. Downey, L. Ahern.

       Skibbereen – J. Donovan, J. McCarthy, G. McCarthy, J. McCarthy, P. O’Mahony, C. Thornhill, T. O’Connell, C. O’Connor, P. O’Neill, F. Coghlan, T. Collins, M. Lynch, J. Collins, J. Goggin and G. Ó Gearnúcháin.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

     Having guided Cork footballers to the All-Ireland senior football title for the first time since 1911, but having lost the county senior football final to Fermoy subsequently, when going for four titles in a row, Clonakilty met city champions, Glen Rovers in the county junior hurling quarter final in Innishannon on November 11^th. Despite being reduced to fourteen men early on, Clon gave a great display to comprehensively defeat the city men.

       Clon met hot favourites, Midleton, in the county semi-final on December 2^nd in Douglas and more than matched the East Cork men for most of the game. There was little between the teams in general play but the Midleton forwards proved much sharper in front of goals. The sides were level, 1-2 each, coming up to half time, Nealie O’Neill scoring the Clon goal, but Midleton broke through for two vital goals just before the interval. They also dominated the third quarter but Clon rallied in the last quarter with goals from S. Houlihan and S. O’Connell. Final score was 5-8 to 3-2, with Midleton going on to beat Passage in the final.

COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1945

Midleton 3-6,  Passage 3-3  in Cork Athletic Grounds.

Kilbrittain Group  c1945-1946

Back (L to R) D. Roche, S. Griffin, J. Roche, M. Roche, T. Crowley, J. Roche.

Front (L to R) P. Crowley, Jack Roche, J. O’Regan.