Intermediate and Junior Successes By Johnny Clifford The Senior team in any dub commands pride of place!because it is the goal ~hat any aspiring hurler sets out to achieve, the honour and gl:ory of representing hi's clujb at senior championship level but our dub has been more than fortunate in numbering amongst our most worthy members those who spent their playing days on the intermediate and junior teams. Glen Rovers h as had a junior team since 1916 and t~he club's first major success in this grade was achieved in 1924. The team proved much too strong for Dohenys in the county final and the fouowing were the players who figured in that success : Dan Crowle y; Tom Dwyer ('capt.), Charles F. Dorg,an, Michael J. Dorgan, Jack Dorgan, Jack Cahill, John Foley, Paddy O'Connell, John Burke, Jim Tobin, Ned Sheehan, Paddy Collins, Ned Cotter, Jack Goggin, Leo Hyde, Paddy Leahy, Connie Neenan, Ned Hickey. The dub had to wait until 1950 for the next county c'hampionshi'p victory in this grade. The city divisional ohampionship was won on numerous occasions but outright victol'\y was denied by some very strong county teams. The COUNTY INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS, 1954 Front row (1. tor.) : Dave McCarthy, Mick Quane, Connie Moynihan (Capt.), Bernie Hackett, Sean Kennefick. Middle row : Paddy Murphy, Theo Lynch, Ge.rald Mulcahy, Bana 6 Tuama, Frank Daly, Jim Dalton, Sean Hanley, Ke.vin Hanley, Tom O'Reilly: Back row : F.inbarr Oor.coran, Jackie Daly, Con Cronin, Plunkett O'Callag han, Liam 6 Tuama, Noel Lynam, Frank Looney. lnssts : Tom Logue, Francie O'Regan, Mick Murphy, Frank Mullane, Tadhg O'Leary. - 121-
1950 final was a very special day fnr the drub as the senior, minor and juvenile championships had already been annexed and it was up to the juniors to complete the grand slam of au hurling titles. This they did after a most exciting and tense stru.grg le with Ballyhea on the score 4-6 to 3-0. The victodous.ream was : Liam 0 Tuama; Stephen 0 Shaughnessy, Paddy Hartnett, Sean French, Sean Hanley, Tom Logue, Dinny Carw ll; Kieran Young, Mick Murphy COU NTY JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONS, 1950 Front row (I. to r.) : Kevin Hanley, Mick Cullinane, Paddy Hartnett, Mick Murphy (Capt.), Steve Shaughnessy, Johnny Clifford, Gerald Mulcahy, Mick McCarthy, Dick Holly. Back row : Jim Lyons, Dinny Carwll, Donal O'Sullivan, Mick Mclnerney, Tom Loogue, Kieran Young, Liam 6 Tuama, Con Moynihan, Sean Hanley, Padraig 6 Tuama, Joe McAuliffe, Tadhg 6 Tuama, Sean French, John O'Sullivan, Mick O'Brien. JUNIOR HURLING TEAM, 1923/ 24 Front row (I. to r.) : Con O'Keeffe, Michael Ryan, Jim Egan, Eddie S h~::ehan, Jack Eg an. Middle row : John Foley, Paddy Leahy, Paddy O'Connell, Connie Ne ~nan. John Burke, Jim Tobin. Back row: John Hyde, Michael J. Dorgan, Jack Dorgan, Paddy Condon, Charl ie F. Dorgan, Jack Cah ill, Bob Barry. - 122 -
COUNTY INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS, 1956- SEMI-FINAL TEAM Front row (1. to r.) : Dick Shea, Bill Carroll, Sean Fre nch, Bernie Hackett, Tom Murphy, Dave McCarthy, Eamonn Goulding (Capt), Sean O'Brien. Back row : Dave Buckley (Trainer), Gerald Mulcahy, Jim Dalton, Don al O'Sull,ivan, Barra 6 Tuama, Jack Corkery, Noel Lynam, Liam 6 Tuama, Jimmy Lynam, Donie O'Brien. COU NTY INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS, 1961 Front row (I. to r.) : Tadhg O'Leary, John Buckley, Be.rn ie Hac~ett (Capt.), Finbarr Healy, George Harrington, Pat Healy, Leo Young. Back row : Vinci e Twomey, Con O'Driscoll, Maurice Twomey, Mi-ck Lane, Noel Orowley, Deni s O'Driscol l, Bill Carroll, Eamonn Buckley. - 123 -
CORK CITY DIVISION JUNIOR CHAMPIONS, 1934 Front row (1. to r.) : Paddy O'Donovan, Dan Johnson, Wm. O'Connor, Bob Mulcahy, Rev. Fr. Barrett, Jack Buckley, Willie Hickey. Middle row: Tom O'Reilly, Donie Cremin, Paddy J. Riordan, Arthur Mulcahy, Bob Culhane, John Foley, Paddy Murphy. Back row : Bill Hyland, Dan Moylan, Jack Leahy, Tom Searles, Dan Cronin, Paddy Barry, Con O'Keeffe, Paddy Collins. CORK CITY DIVISION JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONS,.1958 Front row (I. to r.) : George Harrington, Tony McCarthy, John Young, Den is Cull inane (Capt.), Pa~ Healy, Derry Foley, Finbarr Healy. Back row : Tom O'Neill, Dick O'Shea, Leo O'Donoghue, Tom S heehan, Willie Good, Sean O'Donovan, Tadgh O'Brien, Patsy Harte, 124 -
COUNTY INrTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS, 1957 Front row (I. tor.) : Liam 6 Tuama, Dave McCar t hy, Mick Quane, Dronal O'Sullivan (Capt.), Tadhg O'Leary, Frank Daly, John Buckley. Back row : Dave Bu.ckley (Trainer), Donie O'Donovan, Sean French, Noel Lynam, Jim Dalton, Fergie O'Donovan, Barra 6 Tuama, Jim O'Donoghue, John Martin. COUNTY INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS, 1965 Front row (I. to r.) : Bernie Hackett, Donal Muloahy, Paudie McCarthy, Tom O'Re illy, Sean O'Riordan (Capt.), Michael K-enneally, Stephen O'SuiHvan, Denis O'Neill. Middle row : Jerry Mulcahy, George Mu rphy, Sean O'Donovan, Don Lynch, Jim Casey, Paddy O'Br.ien, Leo O'Donoghue, Eamonn Buckley, Denis O'Driscoll, Mick McCarthy, Liam 6 Tuama. Back r ow : Dan O'Brien, Tom Gorbett, Paddy Murrp hy, Michael O'Halloran, Seamus O'Brien, Bill Carrell, Sean McAIIen, John O'Callagrhan, Frank Looney. Inserts : Bob O'Gonnell, Denis O'Brien. - 125-
(capt.), Gerald Mukahy; Jim O'Reilly, Johnny Clifford, Mick Cullinane, Connie Moynihan, Kevin Hanley; sub., Sean 0 Sullivan for Connie Moynihan. The intermediate 1team has had a much more successful run especiauy since 1950. The club entered this grade in 1925 and won the county championslhip at the first at'tempt. This victory proved a great boost for the dub morale and those at -the helm had no hesitation in stepping into senior ranks ip. 1926. The final was played at Barllincollig and the opponents were Inniscarra who put up a stern battle but the Glen won out on the score 7-2 to 2-3. The team thait day was: Paddy Col:l!ins (capt.), Paddy O'Connell, Denis Daly, Ned Sheehan, John Foley, Jack Egan, Jack Cah:ill, Charlie Dorgan, Jack Dorgan, Mick Ryan, JQlhn Burke, Michael Dorgan., Denis P. Murphy, Danny M. Dorgan, Denis Murphy. An intermediate team was not entered again until 1951 and this was rhe most successful era of the team. We were defeated in the county finals of 1952 by Bandon and 1953 by Newtown Shandr.um but 1954 brought a welcome change of tuok and Baillymartle were beaten in the final on the score 4-7 to 4-2. The game was played at Carrigaline and the team had to withstand a grandstand finish by t1he South-East men before victory was achieved. The team thalt year was: Liam 0 Tuama; Sean Hanley, Gera.Jd Mukahy, Tom Logue, Sean Kenefick, Connie M?Ynihan {'capt.), Noel Lynam, Francis 0 Regan, Mi ck Munphy, Barra 0 T.uama, Mick Quane Jackie Daly, Bernie Hackett, Frank Daly, Dav~ McCarthy; sub., Finbarr Corcoran for Dave McCarthy. The title was lost in 1955 but regained in 1956. It was Carrigaline who were our opponents and victory was ours on the score 1-11 lto 1-3. This game was a tough, rugged struggle played at a furious pace which kept a huge crowd on tenterhooks from start to.finish and was regarded as one of the best intermediate finals ever played. The team lined out as fohows: Liam 0 Tuama; Tom Murphy, Gerald Mulcahy, Sean 0 Brien, Tadhg 0 Leary, Noel Lynam, Bernie Hackett, Ean10nn Goulding (capt.), Fergtie 0 Dono;van, J:im Dalton, Jimmy Lynam, Bill Carroll, Barra 0 Tuama, Donie 0 Sullivan, Ned Kearney. The count-y championship was retained in 1957 and we defeated a star-studded "Baorrs;' team who were firm favourites to take the title. However.the Blac!qJool fifteen excelled them. selves and ran out easy winners scoring 6-8 to St. Finbarrs 2-6. -126- Team: Liam 0 Tuama, Sean French, Jim 0 Donoghue, Tadhg O'Leary, Donie 0 Don'Ovan, Noel Lynam, Dave McCarthy; Ferg~e 0 Donovan, John Maritin, Jim Dalton, Mick Quane, John Buckley, Barra 0 Tuama, Frank Daly, DonJe O'SuHivan (capt.); sub., D. Oullinane for Da ve McCarthy. T!he club completed rhe three in a row m 1958, an achievement never recorded by any ot'her club, this time it was Rathluirc who were the opponents and they were defeated by 5-9 to 3-6. Both teams sel'ved up a sparkling hour's hurling but in 1the end the Glen were worthy winners. Team : Liam 0 Tuama, Jim 0.Donogihue, Leo Young, Tadhg 0 Leary (capt.), Donie O'Donovan, Connie MoynihanJ Sean 0 Riordan, John Bucklery, Francie 0 Regan; Johnny Clifford, Mick Cullinane, Mick O'Mahoney. Barra 6 Tuama, Tom Munphy, Donie 0 Sulilivan. Victory eluded us in the years 1959 and 1960 but in 1961 the team once again resumed the victory train, now it was Castletownroche, the North Cork standard-1bearers who conte ~ted the final witth us. The final ended in a draw but in the replay the Blao!qJool team with a typically spirited finish came out on top over a very sporting and talented Cast.Ietow.nroche team. Team: Hnbarr Healy, George Harrington, Leo Young, Tadhg 0 Leary, Maurice Twomey, Vincie T womey, Bernie Haokett (capt.), John Buckley, Mick Lane, Noel Crowley, Bill Carroll, Denis 0 Driscoll, Pat Healy, Con 0 Dr.iscoll, Eamonn Buclcley; Sean McAHen who broke his finger in the drawn game was an absentee. The club had to wait until 1965 for its next dhampionship victory and Eire Og were the fina1ists. The Glen emerged winners of a fiercely contested encounter in which quarter was not asked for nor given. Our players deserve commendation, each man stood up to rthis severe test and never fl1inched in the heat o.f this battle for honours. Team: Jim Casey; Sean 0 Donovan, Leo 0 Donoghue, Eamon Buckley; Sean McAllen Sean 6 Riordan ('capt.), Paudie MoOarthy; To~ Cor1bett, Mick 0 Halloran; Bob 0 Connell, Bill Carroll, P.addy Munphy, Denis 0 Driscoll, Denis 0. Brien, Mick Kenneally. Success has not come our way since 1965 but the future of our club depends on the loyalty of the players of our intermediate and junior teams, their readiness to be available when requ~red as seniors. It can be said that the dub has always!been proud of the part played by these teams in the higtory-making story of Glen Rovers.