Offaly's celebration of 1916's golden jubilee
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 1:59 am
I wrote this last month for the Offaly v Kerry programme but it didn't make the editor's cut (which is fair enough) but I said I'd share it with ye folks. The 1966 Div 2 Final was played on 24th April of that year and Offaly commemorated the event by wearing their own tricolours and making what was a significant breakthrough. that 1966 league win begat 1969's near miss, which in turn begat the golden years. Bainigí taitneamh as.
The 1966 Offaly v Kerry NHL Division II Final
Pat Donegan takes a retrospective look at the day Offaly hurling emerged from the shadows
In several respects it was the genesis of Offaly hurling – a NHL Division 2 Final win, promotion to the top flight, a gateway opened.
After a barren decade, the 1965/66 League brought Offaly hurling cause for optimism. Kerry were overcame in an opening round 7-12 to 3-9 win here at Birr, commencing an unbeaten run, and qualifying for the final with a 6-10 to 5-4 defeat of Westmeath. Kerry had recovered from that St Brendan’s Park setback to reach the Final as Declan Lovett scored 3-5 in a semi-final win over Antrim.
The Final was played in Croke Park on 24th April, the exact date of the commencement of the Easter Rising 50 years previously. Under rule both Offaly and Kerry would ordinarily change their colours but Offaly requested they retain their tricoloured jerseys, owing to the jubilee of the 1916 rising, and Kerry acceded to the request.
In a pendulum of a first-half, Paddy Spellman quickly goaled and Offaly led 1-2 to 0-1. Pat Finnegan fired home a goal, then added three points in as many minutes, and Kerry led 1-5 to 1-3. Paudge Mulhare was introduced after 20 minutes and the Cloghan forward quickly stormed in to goal. Éamon O’Sullivan instantly replied with a Kerry goal and on the stroke of half-time Lovett goaled a close range free to give Kerry a 3-6 to 2-4 half time lead.
Backed by the elements, Offaly improved after the restart. John Joe Healion and Basil Johnson dominated midfield, Paudge Mulhare and Paddy Molloy were the best of the forwards while Paddy Spellman was busy at centre half-forward. Mulhare scored his second goal ten minutes after the restart to draw level, Tony Dooley added Offaly’s fourth goal, and points by Spellman (free), Gorman (2) and Molloy closed it out for a 4-11 to 3-9 win. Johnny Culloty’s superb goalkeeping kept Kerry in the hunt.
Before the year was out, Offaly had beaten both Waterford and Tipperary in the NHL. Three years later they dethroned All-Ireland champions Wexford, before going down narrowly to Kilkenny in 1969’s Leinster Final. That team broke up soon after but the seeds were sown that would see Offaly claim the MacCarthy Cup 15 years on from that 1966 breakthrough.
The teams who lined out in that Division II Final 50 years ago next month were: -
Offaly: Andy Gallagher; Peter O’Meara, Joe Murphy, Jackie Dooley; Gerry Kirwan, Mick Kirwan, Joe Hernon; John Joe Healion, Basil Johnson; Éamonn Fox (0-1), Willie Gorman (0-3), Tom Feighery; Paddy Molloy (0-5, 0-4 frees), Paddy Spellman (1-2), Tony Dooley (1-0). Sub: Paudge Mulhare (2-0) for T Feighery.
Kerry: Johnny Culloty; Nicholas Quill, Niall Sheehy, Mick Joe Quinlan; Willie McGuire, Richie McElligott, Tom Kirby; Tom Bawn McCarthy, Pat Finnegan (1-5); Declan Lovett (1-3, frees), Tom Kenny (0-1), Jim McGrath; Éamon Diggins, Éamon O’Sullivan (1-0), John Barry. Subs: Tom Nolan for TB McCarthy, T O’Sullivan for J McGrath.
Referee: Pat Edwards, Dublin.
The 1966 Offaly v Kerry NHL Division II Final
Pat Donegan takes a retrospective look at the day Offaly hurling emerged from the shadows
In several respects it was the genesis of Offaly hurling – a NHL Division 2 Final win, promotion to the top flight, a gateway opened.
After a barren decade, the 1965/66 League brought Offaly hurling cause for optimism. Kerry were overcame in an opening round 7-12 to 3-9 win here at Birr, commencing an unbeaten run, and qualifying for the final with a 6-10 to 5-4 defeat of Westmeath. Kerry had recovered from that St Brendan’s Park setback to reach the Final as Declan Lovett scored 3-5 in a semi-final win over Antrim.
The Final was played in Croke Park on 24th April, the exact date of the commencement of the Easter Rising 50 years previously. Under rule both Offaly and Kerry would ordinarily change their colours but Offaly requested they retain their tricoloured jerseys, owing to the jubilee of the 1916 rising, and Kerry acceded to the request.
In a pendulum of a first-half, Paddy Spellman quickly goaled and Offaly led 1-2 to 0-1. Pat Finnegan fired home a goal, then added three points in as many minutes, and Kerry led 1-5 to 1-3. Paudge Mulhare was introduced after 20 minutes and the Cloghan forward quickly stormed in to goal. Éamon O’Sullivan instantly replied with a Kerry goal and on the stroke of half-time Lovett goaled a close range free to give Kerry a 3-6 to 2-4 half time lead.
Backed by the elements, Offaly improved after the restart. John Joe Healion and Basil Johnson dominated midfield, Paudge Mulhare and Paddy Molloy were the best of the forwards while Paddy Spellman was busy at centre half-forward. Mulhare scored his second goal ten minutes after the restart to draw level, Tony Dooley added Offaly’s fourth goal, and points by Spellman (free), Gorman (2) and Molloy closed it out for a 4-11 to 3-9 win. Johnny Culloty’s superb goalkeeping kept Kerry in the hunt.
Before the year was out, Offaly had beaten both Waterford and Tipperary in the NHL. Three years later they dethroned All-Ireland champions Wexford, before going down narrowly to Kilkenny in 1969’s Leinster Final. That team broke up soon after but the seeds were sown that would see Offaly claim the MacCarthy Cup 15 years on from that 1966 breakthrough.
The teams who lined out in that Division II Final 50 years ago next month were: -
Offaly: Andy Gallagher; Peter O’Meara, Joe Murphy, Jackie Dooley; Gerry Kirwan, Mick Kirwan, Joe Hernon; John Joe Healion, Basil Johnson; Éamonn Fox (0-1), Willie Gorman (0-3), Tom Feighery; Paddy Molloy (0-5, 0-4 frees), Paddy Spellman (1-2), Tony Dooley (1-0). Sub: Paudge Mulhare (2-0) for T Feighery.
Kerry: Johnny Culloty; Nicholas Quill, Niall Sheehy, Mick Joe Quinlan; Willie McGuire, Richie McElligott, Tom Kirby; Tom Bawn McCarthy, Pat Finnegan (1-5); Declan Lovett (1-3, frees), Tom Kenny (0-1), Jim McGrath; Éamon Diggins, Éamon O’Sullivan (1-0), John Barry. Subs: Tom Nolan for TB McCarthy, T O’Sullivan for J McGrath.
Referee: Pat Edwards, Dublin.