1952

Clonakilty 2-7     Bantry 2-5

September 14^th in Skibbereen

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       While the standard of hurling was nothing to enthuse about, scoring was of such an even nature that interest was maintained throughout in the final of the South-West Cork Junior Hurling championship between Bantry and Clonakilty, played at The Marsh, Skibbereen, on Sunday. A large crowd watched the game.

       There was little between the teams in the way of skill, but towards the end the Clonakilty half back line proved so superior in air play that they frustrated attempt after attempt by the Bantry forwards to score. Rather lucky in their first goal, the Clonakilty men made more use of their opportunities and finished off better.

       Play was not long in progress when the eastern side were a goal up, and Cullinane and Driscoll had points. Then Bantry reduced the lead to a point.

       Long clearances by Walsh, the Bantry full back, kept the opposing forwards out and McCarthy and Butler tried to put their side on terms but were prevented by Crowley.

      At half-time Clonakilty led by two points, the score being:-

       Clonakilty 2 goals 3 points.

       Bantry  -  2 goals 1 point.

SECOND HALF

       Play was not long resumed when Bantry had two points and then another minor, which gave them the lead for the first time. Clonakilty came back strongly and Cullinane again pointed, and in a few minutes the lead had again changed. With two points to the good, Clonakilty stubbornly resisted all the efforts of the Bantry forwards, who were not accurate enough at times.

      At this period Walsh’s long pucking was a feature of the match, and several times he landed the ball near the Clonakilty goal, but the attacks never developed.

      A last-minute attempt by McCarthy to pull the game out of the fire failed and Clonakilty won by a two-point margin.

      The final score was:-

      Clonakilty  -  2 goals 7 points.

     Bantry  -  2 goals 5 points.

      Mr. J. Crowley, Skibbereen, was the referee.

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TEAMS

No teams are listed in the report of the final but the Clonakilty photograph taken on the day includes the following players –

J. Murphy, Vin Collins, John McCarthy, Fr. Paddy Leader, Connie O’Brien, Seamie O’Donovan, : Driscoll, Neilus Driscoll, Miah Hayes, Tim Downey (captain), James O’Brien, John Lyons.

YEAR OF DRAWS

In the first round of the junior A hurling championship, eventual champions, Clonakilty, had to play Kilbrittain three times before advancing. Clonakilty also won the county senior football championship in 1952 and, amazingly, drew every single round, bar the quarter final, before beating Collins in a replayed final. To complete a year of draws, the Clonakilty minor footballers played Canovee three times in the county semi-final, losing the third game by a goal.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Clonakilty got a bye into the semi-final of the county championship and met Ballymartle in Bandon on November 2^nd. On a dreadful day and on a greasy pitch, Clon proved no match for the South-East men, losing by 3-2 to 0-1. Ballymartle went on to win the county final.

SOUTH-WEST HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS

The championship draws for the 1952 Junior A Hurling championship were as follows – St. Mary’s (Enniskean) v Clonakilty, Kilbrittain v Carbery Rangers, Ballineen v Bandon, Courcey Rovers v Ballinascarthy, Bantry v Ballydehob, O’Donovan Rossa v Barryroe.

     Despite the draws it seems that some team withdrew from the championship as eventual champions, Clonakilty, actually met Kilbrittain in the first round. It took three games to produce a winner. The first game ended all square, 3-4 each, and Clon won the replay by 4-3 to 4-0. However, the referee later reported that he had played under time and the SW Board ordered another replay. This time there was no doubting the winner, Clonakilty by 4-6 to 1-6.

     Clon met reigning champions, Courcey Rovers, in the semi-final and in a teak-tough battle no quarter was asked or given. Courceys trailed by only two points at half time, 0-3 to 0-1, and looked certain winners until Clon pounced for two goals in the third quarter and held on doggedly in the closing stages to win by a single point, 3-3 to 2-5.

SOUTH-WEST CONVENTION

The SW Convention was held in Bantry on January 11^th , 1953, and rúnaí, Gus Keohane, reported on the 1952 Junior A hurling championship – “Twelve teams entered the junior hurling championship – Clonakilty, St. Mary’s, Kilbrittain, Carbery Rangers, Ballineen, Bandon, Courcey Rovers, Ballinascarthy, Bantry, Ballydehob, O’Donovan Rossa and Barryroe.  Twelve matches were played, Clonakilty beating Bantry in the final.

     “For the junior hurling competition for teams beaten in the first round, the entrants were: Carbery Rangers, Ballineen, Ballinascarthy, Ballydehob and O’Donovan Rossa, two matches being played and Ballineen winning from Ballydehob in the final.”

COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1952

Ballymartle 3-6,  Lough Rovers 4-3  in Carrigaline.

REPLAY – Ballymartle 2-10,  Lough Rovers 3-5  in Carrigaline.

Clonakilty: South-West Cork Junior A Hurling Champions 1952

Back (L to R) -, J. Murphy, Vin Collins, John McCarthy, Fr. Paddy Leader, Connie O’Brien, Seamie O’Donovan, John ‘Jackeye’ O’Regan, Paddy Murphy, Finbarr Stanton, Tadhgo Crowley, Lar Shea.          

Front (L to R) Johnny Walsh, Pato Lyons, Dan Driscoll, Neilus Driscoll, Miah Hayes, Tim Downey (capt..), James O’Brien, John Lyons.