Glenmore Senior Football
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Glenmore GAA: May 1924
According to the local newspapers the weather in May 1924 was poor. The black clouds also appear to have plagued Glenmore payers that month. Glenmore won the Kilkenny senior football championship in 1922, 1923, and 1924, but the Glenmore players who made up the Kilkenny Senior Football Team struggled in May 1924 in the Leinster Championships. In terms of hurling, in 1923, Glenmore won the Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship against Dicksboro. These two teams met in the championship replay in May 1924 with devastating consequences for one Glenmore player.
Glenmore Attends Rain or Shine
The Annual Convention of the Kilkenny GAA had to be postponed because of “severe inclement weather.” From the south of the county only Glenmore had delegates that attended. Due to the small number of delegates present it was agreed to postpone the convention until the 29th of May (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 3 May 1924, p. 6).
Glenmore Football
Glenmore vs. Wexford
At New Ross on Sunday the 4th, Glenmore, “who were short several of their best men, engaged the Wexford County team in a challenge match which, after a great contest, went in favour of Wexford on the score of 3-4 to 2-5. For Glenmore, the brothers Cody, Irish, Fitzgerald, Hartley and Murphy were seen to good advantage for great work” (Munster Express, Sat. 10 May 1924, p. 3).
Leinster Championship
The Leinster championships were advanced another stage on Sunday the 11th, when three games were decided at Croke Park. In senior football Louth scored a rather easy victory over Kilkenny, who had to rely practically on the Glenmore team. It is to be regretted that Co. Kilkenny, which has such splendid material at its disposal; should be rendered an impotent factor by internal dissension (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5).
Louth Defeats Kilkenny—Munster Express, Sat. 17 May 1924. p. 3.
“At Croke Park on Sunday last Louth defeated Kilkenny in their tie in the Leinster Football Championship. It was a stubborn struggle. Louth, fresh from their engagements in the inner-county League with their neighbours from Cavan, Monaghan, and Meath, showed good form. Their forwards were quick to avail of scoring opportunities, while their backs were at all times reliable. Owing to internal differences Kilkenny were not at full strength, their team being in the main drawn from Glenmore.”
THE PLAY
“The Kilkenny custodian brought off a couple of good saves early, and lively, well-contested play was the order. After a hot duel with the Louth backs Fitzgerald opened the scoring with a point for Kilkenny. Louth pressing forced a “50,” which was placed to advantage by Garland for Burke to fist into the net or the first goal. Working back from the kick-out, Reynolds added a goal for Louth. A Kilkenny attack was well held by the back, of whom Mohan was prominent. Louth again attacked and Garland sent wide from a free close in.
At this stage Louth were doing best, and after Burke had centred nearly, Reynolds boxed a goal. Burke followed up with a point. Kilkenny forced a “50” which went for nought. The Kilkenny custodian cleared a trying shot, but Louth returned, and Reynolds notched a point . Louth continued on the aggressive, and Byrne sent over from far out. Kilkenny sprang away, and from a free in good ground the “Louth sticks had a narrow escape.”
Dashing off, Louth forced a “50,” to find the Kilkenny backs on the alert. Hot pressure by Kilkenny was checked by a reliable Louth Defence. Kilkenny were attacking at the interval when the scores were: Louth, 3-2; Kilkenny, 0-1.
On resuming the pace was fast, and some fine football was witnessed. Louth backs beat down the opposition, but Kilkenny were quick to return. Mohan saved repeatedly for Louth, whose defence was being hotly tested. Kilkenny persisted in the attack, and after an exciting and stubborn duel the Louth end was crossed. Kilkenny worked back from the kick out, and a free well placed by P. Cody was received and sent over for a point by P. McKenna. Tuite replied with a like score for Louth.
From a “50” to Louth Mohan’s kick was well judged, but the Kilkenny backs were not to be beaten, and a lively bout of play ended in an over. Louth failed on a second “50” shortly after. Kilkenny showing fine form., engaged in a determined attack, but the Louth backs continued to give a capital display. Sarsfield (Louth) went off injured, and was replaced by P. Garland. A feature of the game was close tackling. Kilkenny, still fighting hard, met with ill luck, a stinging shot striking the upright. Tuite put on a point for Louth, who held the upper hand, and tested the Kilkenny custodian with a few rasping shots near the close.”
Mr. F. Donnelly refereed.
The Kilkenny Team
M. Cody (Captain); P. Cody; W. Irish; W. Hartley; J. Fitzgerald; L. Murphy, J. McKenna; M. Brennan; P. Murphy; J. Shiels; J. Murphy; J. Hanrahan; J. Nunan and T. Brennan.
Glenmore Hurling
A replay of the County Hurling Final between Glenmore and Dicksboro took place on Sunday the 24th of May at St. James’ Park. The match “had scarcely progressed 20 minutes, when one of the spectators, said to be a brother of a player, rushed on to the playing pitch and assaulted a Glenmore player, with the result that the members of both teams came into conflict.”
“A melee ensured in which blows were exchanged. A few players were injured before the intervention of officials and clergy brought about peace. The match was abandoned.”
One of the Glenmore players, named Irish, was severely injured during the melee. He is one of the most promising players that the county has produced for some years (Munster Express, Sat. 31 May 1924, p. 3).
In the “Echoes from South Kilkenny” column in the same edition it was noted that Bill Irish was able to leave the Infirmary on Tuesday the 27th. “He was one of the Kilkenny men selected to represent Leinster in the forthcoming Tailteann trials.” The newspaper described him as “one of the outstanding Gaels of the county either on the hurling or football field…”
See, our post of 6 February 2012 regarding Bill Irish (1899-1976) and Glenmore’s fight to receive its medals.
For further Glenmore GAA records see the Kilkenny GAA Bible (2018).
The players in the featured team photo above: (the football has 1925 printed on it)
Back Row: James Vereker (Davidstown), Jim Murphy, William Irish, Pat Hartley, Andy Heffernan, Richard Hanrahan.
Next Row: Mick Heffernan, John Fitzgerald, John Doherty, Paul Fitzgerald, Michael Connolly, Peter Kirwan, Paddy Cody, James Dunphy.
Next Row: Stephen Heffernan, James Fitzgerald, Martin Cody (Captain), Fr. Richard Vereker, John Phelan, Bill Hartley (Busherstown).
Front Row: Jim Hanrahan, John Mullins, Mick Cody, Paddy Murphy.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Roaring Twenties: Glenmore’s Championship 1922 Senior Football Final
As highlighted in previous articles Glenmore won the 1920 Kilkenny Senior Football Final in February 1922 against their old rivals Cloneen. (Please see our blog post of 20 February 2022 for further details regarding the 1920 final played in February 1922). On the 5th of November 1922, nine of the Glenmore 1920 championship team members played for Kilkenny in the Leinster Final. See our blog post of 4 December 2022 for details regarding the 1922 Leinster Final. This Kilkenny team also contained three players from Cloneen. Seven days after the Leinster Final, Glenmore played Cloneen for the Kilkenny 1922 Senior Football Final. The County Final was played in St. James’s Park, Kilkenny City. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the 1922 Kilkenny Senior Football Final was that it was played actually in 1922. It also was described as a “… clean game entirely devoid of shady tactics, and the referee had an easy task” (Kilkenny People, Sat. 18 Nov. 1922, p. 4). Most of the following description of the County championship final was gleaned from the Kilkenny People (Sat. 18 Nov. 1922, p. 4).
Kilkenny Senior Football Championship Final 1922
A moderate crowd gathered at St. James’s Park on Sunday the 12th of November 1922 to watch the contest between the old rivals—Glenmore and Cloneen—in the county championship for 1922. “The evening was admirable for the game, the weather being beautifully soft and calm and the pitch in splendid form. Glenmore fielded their championship team, but were without the services of their clever inter-county wing forward—Jimmy Hanrahan.” The Glenmore team included eight of the team which battled for Leinster honours earlier in November. The Glenmore team members “were in splendid form and gave a powerful display of strong and effective football.” Cloneen on the other hand was labelled, disorganised and without training. The newspaper reported that Cloneen had great difficulty and delay in fielding a full team. Notwithstanding these difficulties the Cloneen team members that showed up played in a “spirited manner in which they contested the issue to the final whistle.” The newspaper reported that this “reflects the highest credit on the good spirit of the once famous North Kilkenny team.”
The First Half
“The game, late in starting, was fought at a fairly fast pace both ends being visited in quick succession at the outset, but once settled down Glenmore took the upper hand and fielding in faultless fashion and delivering powerfully and judiciously they stormed their opponents citadel. The Cloneen backs defended in fine style, but despite their best efforts the clever combination of Connolly, Fitzgerald and Cody, ably supported by Doherty, had accounted for a big score at the interval when Glenmore led by 2 goals, 3 points to nil. [9 to 0] A goal had been disallowed Glenmore in this half for an infringement of the “parallelogram” rule, and a second goal was lost as the whistle had just gone for a foul. The efforts of Tommy Brennan, Hughes, Shield and Andy Brennan [Cloneen] were certainly worth a couple of scores in this half but being without their old forwards the chances went abegging.“
The Second Half
“Cloneen made some spirited dashes in the second half and play was of a fairly up and down character, but the rock-like defence of Irish, Cody, the Heffernans and Hartleys was unbeatable, though Cloneen notched a very fine goal and were certainly unlucky to lose a couple of chances. Cloneen are to be congratulated on their fine defece under almost constant pressure, but they had to yield to the inevitable and the Glenmore forwards, who were deadly accurate in their shooting further increased their lead and the final whistle left the score—Glenmore—3 goals, 5 points; Cloneen—1 goal.” [For our international readers a goal is worth 3 points, thus the final score was 14 to 3].
Commentary About the Game
The sports writer for the Kilkenny People (Sat. 18 Nov. 1922, p. 4) opined that Glenmore “gave a splendid exhibition their fielding being superb. Their fine and accurate deliveries played havoc” with Cloneen. Although it was a “very much one sided game” it was stated that it was nevertheless an interesting game with some fine passages of play. The Cloneen players, the Brennans and Hughes, all made a “great effort to save a lost cause, but their work was not sufficiently supported.” “All the Glenmore players lived up to their reputations—the Coadys, Irish, Connolly, Doherty, the Fitzgeralds, Heffernans and Hartleys contributing to the success of the team.” The coverage in the Muster Express (Sat. 18 Nov. 1922, p. 3) consisted of two sentences. “Glenmore defeated Cloneen in the final round of the Kilkenny Football Championships at Kilkenny on Sunday last. CLoneen made a very bad stand, and Glenmore ran out easy winners with a very large score to their credit.”
The sports writer for the Kilkenny People (Sat. 18 Nov. 1922, p. 4) concluded that Glenmore, “as an individual team it can be truly said that they have no equal in the province, not even among the best Dublin teams. Connolly again showed his aptitude for his position as a centre forward, some of his goals being marvellous.” The article then noted that “Many spectators were most anxious to know why Doherty was not given a place on the team which played in the Leinster Final. The selection committee only too well knew his worth and pressed him to take a place on the team, but he was adamant and more’s the pity.” Notwithstanding that the Civil War was still raging it was reported that “the members of the County Committee present were delighted that such a large number of National troops and officers patronised the fixture. It was encouraging to see our own army support our national pastime in such good numbers.”
The players of the 1922 Kilkenny Senior Football Final were:
Glenmore—J. Murphy; Martin Cody (Capt.); Paddy Cody; Andy Heffernan, of Aylwardstown; Stephen Heffernan, of Aylwardstown; J. Doherty; John Fitzgerald; P. Fitzgerald; J. Whelan; W. (Bill) Hartley, of Busherstown; J. Fitzgerald; Pat Hartley, of Busherstown; W. (Bill) Irish of Aylwardstown; Mick Connolly, of Rochestown, and Jimmy Roche, of Rathinure. [First names and townlands have been added to the newspaper list, so please send on corrections.]
Cloneen—M. Healy; T. Brennan (Capt.); P. Hughes; A. Brennan; A. McEvoy; P. Hughs; T. Brennan; J. Brennan; F. O’Grady; M. Langton; J. Shiel; J. Connors; R. Holohan; J. Phillips; P. Kavanagh.
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above was taken in 1925 of the Glenmore Senior Football Team and is part of the Poole Collection (POOL_WP_2720a, POOL_K_4144 & POOL_WP_3651) and the photo is Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Players in the Leinster Senior Football Final 1922
In the 1920 County Kilkenny Senior Football Championship, finished in February 1922, Glenmore played Cloneen (Castlecomer), thus a team from the south of the county played a team from the north. In November 1922 when the County Kilkenny team was being selected for the Leinster Senior Football Final nine members of the 1920 Glenmore County Champion team were selected and five members of Cloneen. It is not known which Kilkenny club the 15th player belonged. It was reported in the Kilkenny People concerning the Leinster Final that the historic struggles that ensued from the 1920 County Championship battle between Glenmore and Cloneen were still fresh in the memory of all Kilkenny Gaels (Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1). For details concerning the final game of the 1920 Kilkenny Senior Football Championship, played in February 1922, see our post of 20 February 2022.
Two attempts in 1922 to schedule the Leinster Senior Football Final were cancelled due to the persistent Great Southern railway strikes. After consulting with the officials in Kilkenny it was decided “to refix in Croke Park, irrespective of the rail situation.” A Dublin newspaper declared this to be a sensible course to “get rid of arrears of work as quickly as possible,” although it was conceded that it would prove difficult for the Kilkenny followers to attend the match in Dublin without the train services. It was reported that the ready acquiescence of the Kilkenny Gaels heralded a “refreshing confidence in their capacity to make a bold bid for three provincial honours…against the accomplished and formidable Dublin champions (Sport, Sat. 4 Nov. 1922, p. 4) which is at odds with the fact that the Kilkenny People noted that the battle between Glenmore and Cloneen was still fresh.
The Kilkenny team that played at the Leinster Final was reported as follows: J. Hanrahan, M. Connolly, J. Fitzgerald, P. Hughes, J. Coady, A. Brennan, M. Coady, A. Heffernan, P. Hartley, J. McKenna, W. Irish, Jas. Phelan, T. Brennan, W. Landy, P. Dalton (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1). The GAA Bible, on the other hand, lists the team as: Martin Cody (Capt.), Andy Heffernan, Paddy Hanley, I. Phelan, Bill Irish, P. Cody, Jimmy Hanrahan, Mick Connolly, John Fitzgerald, Paddy Dalton, Andy Brennan, Paddy Hughes, Tom Brennan, Jack McKenna, and Watt Landy. (Gerry O’Neil, Kilkenny GAA Bible 2018, p. 134). It is not known why the two lists differ slightly, but it appears that the first nine players in the GAA Bible list were the Glenmore players.
The Leinster Final Game
The travel difficulties did impact on attendance and “a couple of the chosen [Kilkenny] team were held up en route” to the match (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 7). It was estimated that only about 10,000 people were present in Croke Park on Sunday the 5th of November 1922 for the Senior Leinster Football Championship. However, it was stated in press reports that the attendance figure was not official (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1). What was agreed in all press reports was the fact that the weather was poor. It was a dull evening, with sharp showers (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 7). In the second half a “great change came over the weather … A strong wind swept up the field and sleets of rain made matters worse. Dublin had the advantage of the wind, but Kilkenny fought gamely to the end,” (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1).
Most of the following account of the Leinster Final was reported in the Kilkenny Moderator (Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 7) with additional details gleaned from other newspapers.
“Kilkenny were first away, and had a fine point by Connolly in the first five minutes. The Synotts, Carey and M’Donnell sent Dublin into Kilkenny ground soon after, but the Kilkenny defence, led by Irish, held out, and Dalton in goal, when called upon, proved reliable, as he did all through the game.”
“Fluctuation of fortune were fast and vigorous, but Kilkenny were giving a flattering display. The Dublin lot were entertaining, however, and in a sharp attack. P. M’Donnell equalised with a minor. Very interesting play followed, in which every sector participated, and no further scoring ensued for a long time, till Fitzgerald sent over a flying point for Kilkenny. The game continued an excellent one, Kilkenny being very good and M’Kenna was very prominent in initiating dangerous assaults which the Dublin backs found it hard to cope with. There was no decided superiority on either side, and at the interval Kilkenny led with 2 points to 1 for Dublin.”
“The resumption soon saw the Metropolitans exerting their clever tactics, and despite a vigorous Kilkenny struggle the champions settled down into Kilkenny ground. Scores were not easily got, however, and any opportune chances were ably frustrated, till Reilly sent down for P. M’Donnel to secure and equalise with a point.”
“With only the goalman to beat on two occasions in the second half, Connolly was disgracefully pulled down by one of the Dublin backs.” The Kilkenny correspondent opined, “A simple free kick is certainly not sufficient punishment for such a mean foul”(Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1).
“The Kilkenny defence, including the goal man, a veteran of 1911, was good throughout, and frustrated the wiliest of Dublin attack, which, however, could not altogether be denied.” Kilkenny’s power of penetration was almost completely curbed during the second half.”
“The Dublin half line were invulnerable, and Kilkenny were constantly defending; but some of the Dublin finishes were very wild. A lead was a long time coming, however, but Dublin at length got ahead when M’Donnell shot a nice minor. Play was still in Kilkenny ground, and Shanahan added a point, which M’Donnell supplemented very soon after.”
“It was hard luck when Connolly (who played a great game) with the Dublin goalie beaten, struck the base of the post on the inside with a great shot. Dublin’s goal a few minutes later had a charmed escape when Kilkenny stormed and the ball was swept in… Kilkenny’s goalman had several great ovations for his brilliant saves. He was not to blame for the only goal that entered his net—it was a soft shot, and came through several players, and Dalton was completely unsighted”(Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1).
“Robbins contributed a point before the final whistle, and Dublin had won well on the score: Dublin—1 goal, 7 points; Kilkenny—2 points.”
The Kilkenny People summed up that it was a thrilling game in the first half, when weather and ground were favourable and Kilkenny simply “snowed” Dublin. However, Kilkenny missed some scoring opportunities in the first half where three frees should have yielded points in the opening stages of the match, and missed two frees in the closing stages of the match (Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 1) The Kilkenny Moderator similarly concluded that, “It was not a great final by any means. The opening half, in which Kilkenny played a fine, dashing game, and held Dublin at all points, was up to a good standard, but in the end the field craft and combination of Dublin prevailed. The second half was altogether in Dublin’s favour, and they dominated the game in an unmistakable fashion” (Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 7).
Perhaps the most interesting Dublin newspaper article concerning the final is found in Sport, which also recognised the impact of the railway strikes on the Kilkenny team being able to practice. “Kilkenny gave a wonderfully virile and effective display, and held their experienced opponents well. They adopted admirable tactics for a team short of collective practice, played a fast, loose, bustling game, and maintained it splendidly to the interval…The scorer for Kilkenny in the first half was Connolly (a smart and opportune forward), but Cody and Fitzgerald gave fine assistance, both showing great forward qualities. For a team however, which has been so hampered in practice, without regular matches, and deprived at the last moment of selected players, Kilkenny did grandly. With the exception of one veteran—the goalman, Dalton—who saved his posts in extremis repeatedly, they are all a young team with limitless possibilities when trained in the proper manner” (Sport, Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 14).
Although the Kilkenny team did not win the Leinster Senior Football Final in November 1922, it is a remarkable feat that 9 of the 15 members of the Kilkenny team were Glenmore players, and with little opportunity for collective practice with their rivals Cloneen, this team of rivals showed great promise.
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured drawing above of the Leinster flag drawn by Setana Saki, based on the 1651 Arms of Leinster and the work is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Leinster.svg with use permitted under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh