1960

Bandon 4-9    Dohenys 1-2

September 18^th    in Clonakilty

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The final of the South West Hurling championship was a big disappointment to the large crowd at Clonakilty. The writing was on the wall for the Dohenys after the first ten minutes, and though they mounted some spirited rallies they had neither the craft nor speed to make a serious challenge to Bandon.

     The recent rain had its effect on the standard of hurling but could not excuse the surfeit of faulty striking on both sides. However, the game had its moments of dashing and forceful hurling and a few players rose above the general level of mediocrity. Bandon were more adept at getting the ball into the hand and delivering it, but when the losing side handled, their striking was smothered by the shrewder Bandon men. On the ground, too, the winners got more length in their striking but the main difference was the superior fitness of the Bandon team.

THE PLAY

     There was much up and down play before Bandon opened the scoring after five minutes with a point, followed almost immediately by another. Dohenys took up the running but poor finishing and downright bad luck robbed them of possible scores before they opened their tally with a point. At this stage it seemed as if we might yet see a memorable game but the efficient Bandon backs withstood the challenge and the Bandon forwards proceeded to tack on points almost at will and added a goal for good measure.

      Dohenys had a chance, their last, of reducing the leeway when they were awarded a 21 yard free. The shot, taken by Edda Young, obviously aimed for a goal, was fast and well-taken but skimmed over the bar for a point. The half time score was: Bandon 1-8; Dohenys 0-2.       

       Dohenys opened the second period full of purpose but were incapable of improving their score position, but just to show they had the know-how, Bandon came back for tow opportunist goals in as many minutes. Then, when another team would have wilted, Dohenys staged another of their traditional do-or-die rallies, and burst through for a goal, which, if it had come earlier would have made the game more interesting. Try as they would, they could not get through again, and in the closing stages, the winners were well on top to win by 4-9 to 1-2.

TOBIN’S STRIKING

     For the winners, half back C. Tobin was the grandest striker in the game and a point he scored from a ‘70’ was the most spectacular effort of the match. Ray O’Neill, too, was very effective, while Denis O’Donovan as corner forward used his weight to advantage in the left corner forward position and, in addition, notched two nice scores.

     Bandon’s diminutive forward, J. Keohane, was a treat to watch as he bamboozled sturdier opponents with cheeky casualness. Donie Crowley, in goal, gave a superb display, and of two balls he turned around the posts for ‘70’s,’ it could be said that most other goalkeepers in Ireland would be picking them out of the net. The rest of the Bandon team were all good triers and every sector was sound.

     For Dohenys, Cronin stopped some hard shots in goal, but was not effectively covered and could not be blamed for three of the four that beat him. Kennedy started well around the centre of the field and is a fine hurler but in the second half he was less effective. Amie O’Mahony made great efforts to stop the rot but did not get sufficient help. D.D. Lyons seemed the utility man of the team and he wandered or was switched about in bewildering fashion. He tried really hard to put Dunmanway in scoring position, and could not be faulted, even if his hurling was not brilliant. Young, as usual, hurled his heart out but he has played better games.

     The outlook for Doheny hurling is not as bleak as Sunday’s result would seem to indicate but a team could not hope to succeed in a final without being near the peak of fitness.

T. Downey (Clonakilty) was the referee.

     Bandon – D. Crowley, S. O’Donovan, F. Collins, S. Coughlan, F. O’Neill, C. Tobin (capt..), V. Collins, B. O’Neill, L. Deasy, J. O’Riordan, R. O’Neill, J. Keohane, D. O’Donovan, K. Callanan, T. Collins. Subs, M. O’Donovan for L. Deasy, L. Deasy for M. O’Donovan.

     Dohenys – M. O’Brien, J. O’Sullivan, P. Cronin, W. O’Connor, C. Courcey, E. O’Mahony, D. Lyons, B. Kennedy, E. Young, J. Buckley, N. O’Sullivan, S. Keane, M. O’Flynn, P. Collins, M. Kelleher.

(The curtain-raiser, the junior 2 hurling semi-final between Courcey Rovers and O’Donovan Rossa (Skibbereen), was more or less all one-way traffic for a lively and promising Skibbereen team. The score of 9-13 to 1-0 about represents their supremacy.)

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COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

        Bandon played Duhallow champions, Castlemagner, in Macroom on October 23^rd and, taking their scores better, they led by 4-2 to 0-4 at the break. Castlemagner more than held their own in the second half but a solid Bandon defence kept them at bay. Final score was 6-5 to 2-8 in Bandon’s favour with Con Tobin, Vincie Collins, Liam Deasy and Denis O’Donovan prominent.

     A depleted Bandon side, minus outstanding goalie, Donie Crowley, among others, met Castletownroche in the county semi-final in Coachford on October 30^th. The terrible conditions suited the heavier North Cork men, who were also better hurlers, but good outfield work by Bandon was nullified by poor finishing. The heavy conditions did not suit the fast Bandon players. Final score was 3-8 to 1-5 for Castletownroche, for whom Richie Brown scored 3-6. Bandon scorers were Vince Collins 1-1, Con Tobin 0-1, Denis O’Donovan 0-1, Liam Deasy 0-1.

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COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING FINAL 1960

Castletownroche 3-6,  Cloyne 4-2  in Cork Athletic Grounds.

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Bandon  -  SW Junior Hurling Champions 1960