 The
Story of The O'Donoghue Cup is a book published by the East Kerry
Board to mark the golden jubilee of the first O'Donoghue Cup final
played in 1954.
Here you can read extracts from the book to get an insight into the
competition through the minds of some of the players and characters
who have been associated with it down through the years.
The National School leagues, inaugurated in East Kerry in 1954, helped to bridge the urban-rural gap by discovering football talent and providing early match practice. About half of the Rathmore team in the 1963 final had played in those leagues. When Rathmore emerged as strong rural challengers there were also three other categories of player - experienced Rathmore seniors, such as Dan Linehan, Tim Linehan, Denis O'Connor, Diarmuid Sheehan; members of the St. Agathas team that won the 1956 and 1957 East Kerry junior championship, such as Mickey Dennehy and Connie Doherty, and players who had come to Rathmore to take up employment, such as Florry
O'Mahony, Dónal Casey and Jim Griffin.
Most of this Rathmore team had played football in conjunction with second - level education. A twelve-game unbeaten run was followed, in late 1962, by defeats at the hands of Legion and Firies. However, the message from the Rathmore correspondent in The Kerryman was: "Cheer up, boys, and look to 1963."
It was wet and windy in the Lawn on St. Patrick's Day when Dr. Crokes began the defence of the title, which had been theirs for 6 successive years. Rathmore lined out with three minors making their senior debut. Rathmore's most memorable scores were at the end of each half: Nealie Dennehy's angle point against the wind, giving his side the minimum interval lead, and John Saunders' goal which sealed the result at 2 - 4 to 0 - 5. On Easter Sunday, Rathmore, fielding a team that was remarkable in having no Moynihan in the ranks, began poorly, yet beat Listry decisively in Killarney. Wins over Glenflesk and Gneeveguilla were followed by a defeat in Kilcummin.
In early July the league table read:
P W L D Pts.
Dr. Crokes 6 5 1 0 10
Rathmore 5 4 1 0 8
Firies 5 3 2 0 6
Legion 5 3 2 0 6
Kilcummin 6 3 3 0 6
St. Finans 6 3 3 0 6
St. Agathas 5 2 3 0 4
Listry 5 1 4 0 2
O'Rahillys* 5 0 5 0 0
The table must have developed to the detriment of Firies, Legion and Kilcummin because soon Rathmore had only to win their 7th round fixture versus St. Finans to qualify for the final against Dr. Crokes. It took 2 matches to beat St. Finans in Killarney. The first had been mistakenly concluded with 3 minutes remaining when Rathmore led by a point. A Board meeting considered this and also St. Finans' claim that Rathmore exceeded the three substitutions rule. The match was re-fixed for September 8th with the same referee, Brendan Walsh (St. Agathas). The new final score was 0 - 9 to 1 - 4 instead of the earlier 0 - 7 to 1 - 3.
Cead isteach for the East Kerry M.F. and S.F. finals at Fitzgerald Stadium on October 6th was 1/-. Admission to the sideline cost 1/- extra. Rathmore's first-half achievement was far from impressive. Playing with the wind towards Lewis Road, the challengers scored only 0 - 2, both points being from frees kicked by Pat Cahill. Nevertheless Rathmore's determination was not blunted. Their preparation, under the direction of Dónal Murphy, now sustained their efforts. The defence stood firm and midfielders Dan Creedon and Larry Kelly won a lot of possession. The crucial scores in the second half were goals by Freddy Murphy and Mícheál Cahill. The final score: Rathmore, 2 - 5; Dr. Crokes, 0 - 4.
The O'Donoghue Cup was presented to Connie Doherty and was accompanied by about 30 cars on its first journey to Sliabh Luachra.
Teams; Rathmore : Tim Linehan; Florry O'Mahony, Denis O'Connor, Dan Linehan, Michael Dennehy, Connie Doherty ( captain ), Dónal Casey; Larry Kelly, Dan Creedon; Pat Cahill, Freddy Murphy, John Saunders; Paudie McCarthy, Jim Griffin, Donie Moynihan. Subs. : Diarmuid Sheehan, Mícheál Cahill.
Dr. Crokes : The attack included Tadhg Fleming, Paddy O'Shea and Jackie
Looney in the half - forward line and Michael O'Connor at full - forward.
The complete lineout is not to hand.
* In their early years, Gneeveguilla were known as O'Rahillys.
Referee: Jerry Foley (Firies).
Denis O'Connor played in the half - back line and occasionally at midfield but is best remembered as a sturdy reliable Rathmore full - back during most of the 1960's with Andrew Murphy, Dan Creedon and Frank Kennedy as his immediate successors in the number 3 jersey. Denis captained the Rathmore team, which won the East Kerry Rural League in 1959, blazing the trail for the great breakthrough in the premier competition four years later.
The 1959 team included players, such as Tim Michael O'Sullivan, who had recently been with St. Agathas and Éamon Lawlor who would soon play with the newly formed Gneeveguilla O'Rahillys.
Denis O'Connor had played in 1954 when it took three matches to sort out the Kilcummin v. Rathmore semi-final. In the 1950's most players did not own a car but O'Connor's truck provided transport that was commodious, free and conducive to camaraderie.
In 1956 -'57 Rathmore had accomplished defenders - Con Dineen, Jeremiah Moynihan, Brendan Murphy, Paschal O'Connor and Dan Scannell - who were no longer on the team in 1963 - '64 when Rathmore became East Kerry champions and kings of the carnival tournaments.
Rathmore football made tremendous progress during the playing days of Denis O'Connor. By the time he hung up his boots in 1966 Rathmore's potential and expectations had been greatly enhanced and the exploits of D.J. Crowley were about to bring the club to national attention for the first time.
John S. O’Sullivan.
1964 - EIGHT OUT OF NINE
DR CROKES 2 - 7 ST FINANS (KILLARNEY) 0 - 4
Dr Crokes won the O’Donoghue Cup for the 8th time in 9 years by beating St Finans 2-7 to 0-4 at Fitzgerald Stadium recovering quickly from the defeat to Rathmore in 1963, their only defeat in the O’Donoghue Cup since 1956 when Paddy “Bomber” O’Shea led them in to their golden era as kingpins of East Kerry, champions from 1956 to 1965.
Crokes were slow to settle down in the first half and trailed 0-4 to 0-2 at half time. On the resumption, Dr Crokes made several shrewd switches, among them the moving of Con Clifford to full forward, and they played in a more workmanlike manner. Clifford found the net after five minutes of the new half and when Fergus Moroney added another, Crokes were well on their way to victory.
Johnnie Culloty tried hard to keep St Finans in the game, adopting roving tactics, but the chances that did come his team’s way were missed. In fact St Finans failed to score in the second half.
Scorers for Dr Crokes were Con Clifford and Fergus Moroney 1-0 each, Jackie Looney 0-3, Tadhg Fleming, John McCarthy, Fergus Moroney and Connie McCarthy 0-1 each. The St Finans marksmen were Johnny Culloty 0-3 and John Kelly 0-1.
Teams: Dr Crokes; James Horan, Mick Spillane, Con O’Meara, Donal (Soc) Lynch, Gerald Cullinane, Tom Long, Willie O’Sullivan, Con Clifford, Fergus Moroney, Tadhg Fleming, Jackie Looney, Johnny Griffin, Connie McCarthy, John McCarthy, John Lyne.
St Finans; Dinny Doolan, Mick Kissane, Jim Broderick, Paddy Dennehy, Pat Casey, Mick Gleeson, Weeshie Fogarty, John Scanlon, John Cahill, Tim Kelly, John Kelly, Paddy Doyle, Tadhg O’Reilly, Johnny Culloty, Jimmy Healy.
Referee: John O’Leary (Kilcummin).
Since it was first established as a Psychiatric Hospital in 1852 there has been a great sporting tradition among the staff of St Finan’s Hospital, particularly so when it comes to the GAA. Back in the forties,St Finans were a major force in the Killarney town leagues, and in 1941 they emerged victorious with a team that was trained by former Kerry trainer, the late Dr. Eamonn O’Sullivan. That team included the likes of Dee O’Connor, Bill Landers, Paddy Moynihan, and Denny Healy.
The influx of promising young players, including Kerry senior star, Johnny Culloty, led to the formation of a senior club in 1955. Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan and Dr. Jack O’Connor, who won Sigerson Cup medals with UCD, were a motivating influence and the new club was to enliven football in the division for a decade or so.
After a reasonably successful run in the East Kerry league in 1956, ‘57 and ’58, they went on to win the Connolly Cup, ( All Ireland Hospitals championship), defeating a Castlebar side that included former Mayo star Josie Munnelly by 1 - 6 to 0 - 2 in the final. That victory proved to be a great morale booster for the club and in 1960 they annexed their first East Kerry title when they defeated Kilcummin in the rural league final on a score of 1 - 8 to 1 - 3. That victory qualified them for the semi final of the O’Donoghue Cup but they lost narrowly to a strong Dr Crokes side who went on to win the final.
St Finans also qualified for the semi finals of the O’Donoghue Cup in the following three years, losing to Kilcummin, Dr Crokes and Rathmore at the penultimate stage.
In 1964, after early round victories over Glenflesk, Listry and Kilcummin, St Finans again made it through to the semi finals. Their opponents, Rathmore, who were also the reigning champions, were odds on to make it through to the final with players of the calibre of Florry O’Mahony, Donal Casey, Connie O’Doherty, Dan Creedon and John Saunders at their disposal, and with ten minutes left to play in The Lawn, they looked set for victory.
St Finans staged a late rally however which yielded goals from Tadhg O’Reilly and John Kelly to give them a shock two points victory and the stage was set for a novel final against Dr Crokes.
While Dr Crokes were the favourites going into the final, the Hospital, with players like Johnny Culloty, Weeshie Fogarty, Paddy Doyle, John Cahill, Mick Gleeson and Pat Casey at their disposal, were expected to give a good account of themselves, and were quietly confident of causing an upset.
It was not to be however as goals from Con Clifford and Fergus Moroney saw Dr Crokes lift the O’Donoghue Cup once more.
The following year, St Finans also competed in the O’Donoghue Cup, but the reforming of the Spa club in 1966 and the retirement of many players who had served the Club with distinction since 1956, spelt the death knell for the Hospital side who were unable to affiliate in 1966.
John Kelly.
The Kerryman reported as follows: “Killarney Dr Crokes were worthy winners of the O’Donoghue Cup final at Fitzgerald Stadium when they defeated St Agatha’s, Glenflesk by 5-4 to 1-4 after a tough hour’s football. Thus Dr Crokes became winners of the football title for the ninth time in the past ten years.
There were a number of incidents throughout this match which didn’t do credit to either side and in the second half bouts of fisticuffs ensued.
Played in very trying conditions, under rain and wind, the standard of football never reached any great heights, but Dr Crokes nearly always seemed to have the edge in combination, which led to scores.
However neither side was dependable in front of goal and the Crokes tally of 9 wides in the first half shows how erratic their shooting was. Indeed the majority of the Killarney side’s scores came from Tom Long at full-forward and Donie O’Sullivan at centre field.
Glenflesk on the other hand had only 5 or 6 wides during the hour but indeed did not get too many chances to penetrate a rock like defence.
Their lone point in the first half was the first score of the game and it came from a poor Dr Crokes clearance. The ball was picked up by Donal Healy and sent neatly over the bar.
Dr Crokes first score came after 12 minutes and after 6 wides, Tadhgie Fleming breaking the stalemate with a very well taken point. This started Crokes on a scoring spree which saw them with a total of 2-4 at half time.
In the second half Dr Crokes piled on the pressure from the start and it seemed as though it would be a repetition of the one sided scoring of the first half.
A fine movement from a kick out came to Fergus Moroney, to Con Clifford to Tom Long and finished up in the net after 4 minutes. A few minutes later Donie O’Sullivan sent in a long ball which went inside the Glenflesk post for another goal.
At this point Glenflesk, taking heart where most teams would have wilted began to pile on the pressure and had Crokes worried for a long period. A point by Michael Browne was followed by a goal, scored direct from a 21 yards free by Derry Crowley, and a further point by Michael Browne. But just as Glenflesk seemed to be getting control Crokes swept downfield again and Tom Long notched another goal. This ended the Glenflesk pressure, though they did score one further point before the end.
Best for Crokes were Willie O’Sullivan, Richard Clifford, Donie O’Sullivan, Fergus Moroney, Tom Long and Tadhgie Fleming, while for Glenflesk Derry Crowley (the outstanding player on view), Dave Hegarty, Paddy Murphy, John Crowley and Donie Healy were tireless workers.”
Team and Scorers; Dr Crokes; James Horan, Mick Spillane, Con O’Meara, Willie O’Sullivan, Tom O’Donoghue, Donal (Sock) Lynch, Richard Clifford, Donie O’Sullivan (2 - 0), Fergus Moroney, Tadhgie Fleming (0 - 1), Con Clifford, Gerard Cullinane, Jackie Looney, Tom Long (3 - 3), Eamon Fitzgerald.
St Agatha’s, Glenflesk; Brendan Walsh, Paddy Murphy, Sean Healy, David Hegarty, Jerh O’Donoghue, Derry Crowley (1 - 1), Padraigh O’Donoghue, Tom Cronin, Paddy O’Donoghue, John Crowley, John O’Donoghue, Donie Healy (0 - 1), John Cahill, Michael Browne (0 - 2), Ollie Kelly.
Referee; Donal Casey (Rathmore)
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