1929 - The Report of the Junior A Hurling Final
October 18, 2024
1929 Match Report – North Cork Final as reported in the Kerryman Newspaper, on Saturday, the 9th of November 1929
On Sunday, 3rd of November in the well-equipped enclosure at Deerpark, Charleville, before' a large and enthusiastic crowd, Churchtown met Killavullen in the final for the North Cork Junior Hurling Championship. The struggle for supremacy was worthy of the best traditions of North Cork hurling, and but for some weak passages in the opening stages it was a pretty fast and exciting _contest. Churchtown were the more efficient wielders of the ash, and were really dangerous when the ball came anywhere near their opponents' goal posts, and as a matter of fact all their scores were obtained, not so much by rushing tactics as by the much more effective ones of clever crossings and short jabbing near the goal posts until the opportune moment for a score presented itself. Nevertheless the result was almost in doubt at times, and were it not for the superb goalkeeping of the Churchtown custodian, who was equal to the heaviest demands made upon him, the tide of victory might have gone the other way. He was well supported too by a good back line, who were in opposition to an indifferent forward group, who time and again failed to take advantage of the long shots sent in by the mid-field men. Another feature of the game vas the extraordinary number of wides which were piled up at both sides, and it is noteworthy that no score resulted from a 70 or frees, this being mainly due to the fact that the strikers aimed at getting a major in the rush through and lost the probable point that might result from a full length stroke. Both sides numbered among their men some very fast runners, and the tackling was deadly earnest, of the intensity of the spirit displayed by each player. The pitch, which is now one of the finest in Munster, was like a billiard table, and was ideal for the player who is fast on a running ball, affording great opportunities for snapping a hop and long distance striking. Good weather favoured the meeting, and the large crowd were orderly, if at times effusive, but it might he said here that orderliness was insisted upon by a number of stewards, who policed the line, making it impossible for the most enthusiastic supporters to invade the pitch. This was particularly noticeable at half time when the usual rush in the field was about to be made, but was promptly checked, with the happy result that operations were started for the second turn with the utmost despatch. The Committee in charge of the arrangements certainly left nothing undone to facilitate the players and public. It is a pity that the public do not hear more from the Charleville brass and reed band, which played the teams on to the pitch. One missed some of the old time familiar laces, and it is to be regretted that spasmodic effort now takes the place of what was once a regular Sunday feature in the town. Mr. E. Casey, Buttevant, refereed in the most capable manner.
FIRST HALF.
Killavullen broke away, but were brought up with a jerk 40 yards from goal, and a great high stroke relieved for, Churchtown sending into the opposing goal, from whence play was transferred to the side line. Here the only depressing period of the hour took place, when quite an extraordinary number of " misses " took place. Neither side had a monopoly of the poor play in which this occurred, and play was for a brief duration of an indifferent character at both sides. Then a change and gradually, but perceptibly the ball and men were taken more eagerly and confidently until both sides were keyed up to the highest pitch, and a nicely organised forward drive by Churchtown gave Keeffe his opportunity to find the net. The puck out, although a long one, only brought play to mid-field, but Killavullen were now beginning to find their feet, and although no scores resulted from their attack it gave some indication of what was corning later on. Churchtown conceded a 70, which was dropped to the posts, but the custodian cleared in rare style, and some exchanges at mid-field were the order until Killavullen were again called upon to defend, and Frank O'Brien shot in a major rather easily. The Killavullen boys had a run of hard luck, which possibly might have been averted if their forwards were quicker to stop the flying balls from midfield from going wide, a most regrettable feature of the play at that side. They took another 70 without result, and a moment later Paddy Keeffe registered a minor. Killavullen attacked repeatedly, but something always went wrong. One time it was an " over," next it missed the posts for another " over," and another time the goalie got clear without being tackled, but eventually a well-earned major was secured, and at halftime the score stood:—
Churchtown—3 goals 1 point.
Killavullen—1 goal 1 point.
SECOND HALF. Killavullen started vigorously, and soon the ash rattled merrily in Churchtown quarters, where attack and defence were equally well matched. Indeed so long did play remain near the posts before a clearance was made that a score seemed certain. The danger was averted and again renewed, and in the quality of the hurling it would be very difficult to choose the better of the two. On the Killavullen gap, where danger hovered near, the custodian made a remarkably clever save, and the ball went out to the wing and travelled along to Churchtown quarters, where a man to man struggle took place, the ball crossing the posts again and again until finally it passed through, amid tense excitement. There was now but a goal between the rivals when Churchtown were again called on to defend, and the ball went wide. Back again to the delivery, a 70 to the Killavullen side went beside the posts. Another attack followed, and it looked as if the score would be a drawn game, but the unlucky wide intervened every time. Churchtown attacked again, and annexed another major. _Killavullen worked hard, but the discipline, training and experience of their opponents withstood the attack for a space but with about seven minutes to go, Kilavullen got in their third goal. Excitement now became intense, and a drawn game was freely predicted, when the struggle waged round the Churchtown posts, and the breakaway was hailed by their cheering supporters as a sure sign that they could ward off to the end, which they did, and going better added their fifth goal, and were on the defence at fulltime, when the whistle went leaving the full time score:
Churchtown—5 goals 1 point.
Killavullen—3 goals 1 point,
Two weeks later, both clubs came together to play a benefit match, in Buttevant for a Churchtown player, W Hedigan, who broke a leg in the Freemount Tournament. Both clubs were given an opportunity to bolster their teams with invited outside players from the division. Such benefit matches / tournaments were a regular feature of the time.