1957

Courcey Rovers 6-5   Kilbrittain 3-3

August 4th  in Bandon

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       For the fifth year in succession Courcey Rovers annexed the South-West Junior Hurling Championship when they defeated Kilbrittain by three goals and two points in the final at the new grounds at Bandon on Sunday.

      There was a big attendance of spectators, one of the largest yet to witness a divisional final in the area.

       Both sides included a number of Dunmanway players.

       Kilbrittain opened the scoring with a point from O’Regan, but Keogh quickly replied with a goal for Courcey Rovers and Corcoran followed with a brace of points. After Hayes had reduced the deficit with a goal for Kilbrittain, Courcey Rovers went further ahead with two more majors. However, before the interval, Kilbrittain put on a goal and two points, to leave the position at that stage:

      Courcey Rovers  -  3 goals 2 points.

      Kilbrittain  -  2 goals 3 points.

SECOND HALF

     On resuming, Bowen quickly increased Courcey Rovers’ lead with a goal.

     A point to Kilbrittain from O’Regan followed, but Keogh added a brace of points to Rovers’ total and Corcoran supplemented with a goal.

      Despite a Kilbrittain rally during which Cowhig registered a goal, Courcey Rovers had matters well in hand and they closed the scoring with a goal from Keogh and a point from Corcoran. Result:

      Courcey Rovers  -  6 goals 5 points.

      Kilbrittain  -  3 goals 3 points.

      Mr. C. O’Brien, Clonakilty H.C. and F.C. was the referee and the teams wee:

      Courcey Rovers – C. Corcoran (captain), D. Keohane, D. O’Sullivan, T. Fitzgerald, Z. O’Donovan, C. O’Regan, C. Coakley, T. O’Donovan, L. Keogh, M. Nolan, J. Hales, P. Bowen, J. Nyhan, D. Griffin and D. Collins.

       Kilbrittain – J. Collins, J. O’Sullivan, M. Cowhig, J. Madden, M. Hayes, D. Aherne, P. Aherne, M. Aherne, J. Young, E. Young, D. Kingston, P. Cronin, T. C. Coffey, S. Crowley and M. O’Regan.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Courcey Rovers met Duhallow champions, Banteer, in the county semi-final in Macroom on October 6^th and proved well superior on the day. They led by only two points at half time, 0-6 to 1-1, despite dominating midfield but the forwards improved in the second half and goals by G. O’Donovan and J. Nyhan led to a comprehensive 3-7 to 1-4 victory.

COUNTY FINAL

South-East Champions, Tracton, were the opponents in the county final in Kinsale on November 17^th, in front of 1,500 spectators.  The game was the proverbial two halves, going right down to the wire. A strong wind dominated the game and, with the elements, Courceys led at the break by 3-4 to 0-2, the goals coming from Corcoran, Nyhan and Keogh. The point scorers were Bowen, Corcoran and Coakley.  Unfortunately, the second half told a different story as Tracton laid siege to the Courceys’ goal but with veteran, Mick Nolan, in magnificent form, Courceys defended courageously.

      Eventually the pressure told but it was not until four minutes from the end that Tracton managed to draw level. In the closing minutes the tiring Courcey men conceded a further point and then a goal to lose by 4-5 to 3-4. Courceys failed to score in the second half. It was yet more heartbreak for the Ballinspittle side in the county championship.

     While Mick Nolan was the Courceys’ hero, they also had outstanding displays from goalkeeper, Tommy Donovan, defenders Jer Keohane, Con Coakley and Seán Hales; Con O’Regan at midfield and forwards Chris Corcoran and Liam Keogh.

     The outstanding player on the pitch was Tracton midfielder, Tom Brady.

      Courcey Rovers – T. Donovan, D. P. Griffin, J. Keohane, D. Sullivan, C. Coakley, M. Nolan, S. Hales, C. O’Regan, J. Nyhan, G. Donovan, T. Fitzgerald, L. Keogh, J. O’Regan, P. Bowen, C. Corcoran.

RECORD SCORE?

When champions, Courcey Rovers, met Clonakilty in the junior hurling league, the eventual result was a single-point win for Courceys, in a remarkably low-scoring encounter 1-2 to 1-1. However, when the sides met in the championship semi-final, Courceys more than made up for that low score as they beat a very young Clon side by 11-3 to 1-5. It must surely have been a record number of goals for a SW junior championship game. Hero of the hour was P.  Bowen at full forward with five goals.

SOUTH-WEST  JUNIOR HURLING DRAWS

The draws for the 1957 SW Junior A hurling championship were – Kilbrittain v O’Donovan Rossa, Courcey Rovers v Barryroe, Bantry v Clonakilty, Bandon a bye.

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COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1957

Tracton 4-5,  Courcey Rovers 3-4, November 17^th   in Kinsale. 

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Jim Kelleher

"Ye Gaels of Ireland, scattered wide

Through fields at home and o'er the tide -

Weep, weep, your one-time prince and pride

Jim Kelleher is dead!

A man apart, above the crowd,

Acclaimed by countless thousands loud;

The boldest and the best were proud

To follow where he led.

His hurling skill and style and tone

Were something science ne'er had known;

A system 'twas and all his own,

All artless and innate.

His peerless wondrous feats unique,

The wizardry of his technique -

In vain did every rival seek

To match or emulate.

Whilst e'er our treasured pastime grand

Holds rightful place throughout the land,

As long as by one single hand

A hurley shall be caught,

While honoured ever is the claim

Of one of Ireland's sons to fame - 

Jim Kelleher's illustrious name

Will never be forgot!"

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