Laune Rangers – 1950

 Paddy Clifford, then with Glenbeigh, played at right fullback on the Kerry team that lost to Cork in the Munster Junior Football Championship.

The Co. Technical Schools’ League was initiated. Mossy Roche, principal Killorglin Technical School, was a member of the organising committee.

Paddy Foley was Joint Vice-Chairman of the Mid-Kerry Board.

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Co. Senior Football Championship

13 teams entered for the Co. Senior Football Championship: Shannon Rangers, St. Brendan’s, Castleisland, Austin Stacks, St. Mary’s, Mid-Kerry, Kerins O Rahilly’s, Iveragh, Killarney, Castlegregory, Kenmare, John Mitchel’s and Dingle. As decided at Co. Convention, following a motion from Dingle, the Championship was run on a league basis – the teams were divided into three groups, each team being guaranteed a minimum of three games.

 

Rd. 1 on Sun. 16th April at Cahersiveen: St. Mary’s 1-4; Mid-Kerry 1-3.

This was a hard-fought game in the presence of a large attendance at Kilmego, in a field made available by Denis Moriary (The Con Keating Park was being levelled and rolled at the time). Hard tackling and close marking adversely affected the standard of play but the even nature of the exchanges kept interest keyed up to the end. Territorially, the home side were on top, but with such wily veterans as Gerald Teahan and Brendy Kelliher in the Mid-Kerry attack, the winners could afford to take no chances and their supporters were visibly relieved when the long whistle sounded.

Gerald O Sullivan, formerly of Killarney and well-known Kerry and Munster player, was the inspiration of the South-Kerry side, not alone controlling midfield, but lending able assistance in defence and attack as the occasion demanded. He was well supported by Willie Musgrave and Paddy Murphy (Creamery), while Seamus O Connor was as steady as a rock at centre halfback. After a shaky start, Jerome O Shea, the previous year’s Kerry minor fullback, recovered well, his lengthy clearances being a feature of the second half, while Francy O Connor, Michael J. Griffin and P. Sheehan did best of the St. Mary’s forward line that frittered away many great chances. Paddy Clifford, of Kerry minor fame, was outstanding for the losers, who were also well served by Peter O Sullivan, Mick Galwey, Benny O Sullivan, Seamus Daly and Brendy Kelliher.

St. Mary’s: Michael Clifford, Jerome O Shea, James O Sullivan, Padraig O Neill, Dan Barry, Seamus O Connor, P. J. Griffin, Willie Musgrave, Paddy Murphy, Francy O Connor, Gerald O Sullivan, Michael Joe Griffin, Paddy Sheehan, Francy Neill, Bernie O Connor.

Mid-Kerry: Kevin Cremins (Laune Rangers), Seamus Daly (Firies), Tom O Leary (Laune Rangers), Benny O Sullivan (Castlemaine), Mick Galwey (Firies), Garda Albert McDonagh (Castlemaine), Peter O Sullivan (Firies), Paddy Clifford (Glenbeigh), Brendan Ladden (Castlemaine), Gerald Teahan (Keel), Jerry Mick Foley (Keel), P. Browne (Firies), Paddy Mike Foley (Laune Rangers), Brendan O Brien (Firies), Brendy Kelliher (Castlemaine).

 

Rd. 2 on Sun. 11th June at Castlemaine: Mid-Kerry 1-5; Kerins O Rahilly’s 1-7.

There was a good crowd in attendance. The game was keenly contested and the superior teamwork of the winners, who turned their scoring chances to better account, was the deciding factor. The home team, which was the heftier side, had some good individual players but there was poor combination and they showed a lack of training. Despite the fact that they outplayed their opponents for most of the second half, their forwards failed to make use of many good opportunities and some scores were lost. Denny Falvey, Bambury and Tom Raymond were scorers for O Rahilly’s, while Gerald Teahan, Brendy Kelliher, Jerry Foley and James Linehan replied for Mid-Kerry. Teahan was in rare form and was one of the outstanding players on the field. He was well supported by James Linehan (Keel) and Benny O Sullivan.

Ref: B. O Donnell.

Having lost two games, both Mid-Kerry and Iveragh were out of the championship.

 

Castleisland, captained by Tom Shanahan, won the Co. Championship by beating Killarney, after a replay, on Sun. 5th Nov.

 

Mid-Kerry Senior Championship

Five teams participated in the 1950 League/Championship – Laune Rangers, Firies, Milltown, Keel and Glenbeigh.

 

Rd. 1 on Sun. 7th May at Firies: Firies 1-2; Keel 0-3.

Glenbeigh beat Laune Rangers.

Rd. 2 Keel beat Laune Rangers.

Laune Rangers had a poor campaign, and, having been beaten twice, dropped out of contention.

The semi-finals and final were not played until the following year.

Firies were the eventual winners.

 

Challenge Games.

 

Sun. 21st May at Castlemaine: John Mitchel’s beat Mid-Kerry.

Best for Mid-Kerry were Benny O Sullivan (Castlemaine), Paddy Clifford (Glenbeigh) and Tommy Carey (Milltown).

 

Co. Minor Football Championship

 

Rd. 1 on Sun. 2nd April at Killarney: Killarney 2-4; Mid-Kerry 0-3.

Scorers for Killarney were Seamus O Doherty (2-0), Michael Looney (0-2), Denis O Leary (0-1) and Carroll (0-1). Scorers for Mid-Kerry were Mick Galwey (Currow), Sean Gill (Laune Rangers) and Sean Conway/O Connor (Milltown).

 

Schools/Colleges Football

 

On Sat. 22nd April, a meeting was held in the Courthouse, Tralee, at which it was decided to initiate a Technical Schools’ football league. Players had to be U-17 on the 1st January. Five schools entered for the league, Tralee, Listowel, Killarney, Castleisland and Killorglin. Mossy Roche, principal Killorglin Technical School, was a member of the organising committee.

 

Semi-final on Mon. 22nd May at Listowel: Listowel 5-7; Killorglin 1-0.

Best for Killorglin were Batty Foley, Denis Foley (Corbally), Patrick Heffernan (Douglas), Jeremiah Breen (Glencuttane), D. D. Keane (Castlemaine) and Sean Tiernan (Callanfersy). Also on the team were Denny O Neill (Sunhill), Jimmy O Neill (Knocklyne) and Sean O Riordan (Ballykissane). There was no official preparation for any game at that time. Mossy Roche took charge of the team on the day.

 

Munster Junior Championship

 

Sun. 4th June at Kenmare: Kerry 0-3; Cork 3-9.

Kerry, being the All-Ireland Champions in 1949, had to pick a completely new team for 1950 but were well beaten. Paddy Clifford played at right corner back.

 

Administration/Miscellany

 

Michael Kehoe, Loch Gorman, was Uachtarán CLG.

 

At the Munster Convention at Clonmel, Vincent O Donoghue, Port Láirge, was elected Chairman. Seán McCarthy, Ciarraí, was Rúnaí and Willie Hough, Luimneach was Cisteoir. It was decided that, in future provincial games, only chord-nets would be used and wire nets would not be permitted.

 

The Annual Co. Convention was held in Listowel on Sun. 29th Jan. Officers elected: president – Very Rev. Canon Lyne, Dingle; Chairman – D. J. Bailey; Hon. Secretaries – Jerry Myles and Jeremiah McCarthy; Hon. Treasurers – Con Clifford, John Moran and T. Cooper (Later in the year, Frank Sheehy was added to the number of Treasurers); Delegates to Munster Council – John Joe Sheehy and Con Brosnan; Delegate to Central Council – Mícheál Ó Ruairc; Chairman of Football Selection Committee – Joe Barrett (There were 13 selectors, one from each Co. Championship team). In his report to Co. Convention, Tom Mangan, Secretary Mid-Kerry Board, stated that the Killorglin District was in need of re-awakening and re-organisation.

 

The Annual Convention of the Mid-Kerry District Board was held in Milltown (in the home of Tom Woods) on Sun. 15th January. Delegates from Keel, Firies, Milltown, Glenbeigh and Killorglin attended. Officers elected; Chairman – Rev. Patrick O Doherty C.C. Castlemaine; Vice-Chairmen – Willie Brick, Firies, Seamus O Doherty, Glenbeigh, and Paddy Foley, Laune Rangers; Hon. Secretary – Tom Mangan, Milltown; Hon Ass. Secretary –  William O Shea, Keel; Hon. Treasurers – Martin Knightley, Castlemaine and Tom Woods, Milltown; Co. Board Delegates – Murt Kelly, Beaufort and Tom Woods, Milltown; Representative on Co. Selection Committee – Murt Kelly. Satisfactory progress was reported for 1949 but lack of punctuality in the starting of games was to be deplored and a strong effort had to be made during the coming season to eliminate the causes of such delays. Expenses had not been unduly high in 1949 and a small credit balance was in hand (£3.15). It was decided to enter senior, intermediate and minor teams in the Co. Championship. In regard to the local league, the delegates decided to have the same club teams as in 1949. Each team would play three games and then the lowest team would drop out, leaving semi-finalists. A representative of the Board would travel to each venue with the referee and collect the gate money. The Chairman proposed that the rule fining teams late on the field would be rescinded as the rule had not been observed – passed. Car hire for league games would be paid to club secretaries.

 

The minutes of two District Board meetings are available. The meeting of 22nd March was held in the CYMS Hall, Killorglin. Father O Doherty presided. Also in attendance were Martin Knightley, Tom Woods, Willie Brick, J. Sheehan, Bobby Doyle, Paddy Foley, Murt Kelly and William O Shea. The delegates were informed that, in regard to the legal proceedings that had been started for the recovery of Board funds, the solicitor, J. B. Healy, had asked that a definite amount must be stated in the claim. This was discussed fully and it was decided to send a letter to the solicitor, instructing him to take immediate legal proceedings for a) the recovery of documents and b) the recovery of funds equivalent to the cheques, issued to the secretary in question, by the Co. Board GAA plus £7 from the proceeds of the stop-watch competition. The Firies delegates, J. Sheehan and Willie Brick, stated that Mid-Kerry would lose Donal O Neill and Liam Sheehan, both Munster Colleges’ players, as they had signed on for Legion club in Killarney. Nobody at the meeting could state definitely whether Farranfore was a so-called ‘open’ district or not. It was decided to fight the matter and to refuse the transfers. Murt Kelly suggested, and all agreed, to hold a raffle in aid of Board funds – tickets to be 3d each for a 1st prize of £3, and a 2nd prize of £2. Finally, it was decided to procure a transfer for Seamus Daly from Kenmare.

At the Co. Board meeting on Sun. 23rd April, Mid-Kerry sought a definition of its area but the matter was referred to Co. Convention.

The Mid-Kerry Board meeting of 5th April at Milltown was presided over by Father O Doherty. Also in attendance were Tom Woods, J. Sheehan, S. Barry, J. Mahony, Jimmy O Doherty and E. O Sullivan. Several delegates were unable to attend through illness. The Glenbeigh delegates asked that the 1949 final would be postponed until July and this was granted. Re the hiring of cars for matches, it was decided to lay down for drivers a definite time at which they should return home. Failure to do so in the past had led to young players being kept out late at night and that was the reason why some were unwilling to play for Mid-Kerry in 1950. Finally it was decided unanimously that the Mid-Kerry Board would accept no responsibility for any accident that might occur in the transporting of a Mid-Kerry club team to a match in a lorry.

 

On Sat. 25th Feb. a special meeting of Laune Rangers Club was called to pass a vote of sympathy to Rev. J.P. Finucane P.P. and to the relations of the late Rev. Michael Casey C.C. on their recent bereavement.

 

On Sat 1st April, some local GAA enthusiasts met in the CYMS Hall, Killorglin. Amongst the attendance was Father Michael Stack C.C. The major obstacle to progress was recognised to be the absence of a playing pitch. It was agreed that until that deficiency was remedied, very little progress could be made.

 

Munster Senior Football Final at the Athletic Grounds, Cork: Kerry 2-5; Cork 1-5.

Having beaten Cork, Kerry went into training, for the All-Ireland semi-final, for the first time ever, but lost surprisingly to Louth by 1-7 to 0-8.

Kerry: Liam Fitzgerald (Ardfert), Jas Murphy, Paddy Bawn Brosnan, Donie Murphy, Mick Finucane, Jackie Lyne, Teddy O Connor, Jim Brosnan, Eddie Dowling, Teddy O Sullivan (0-1), Micksie Palmer (0-1), Pat Godley, Dan Kavanagh, Phil McCarthy (0-1), Batt Garvey (0-4). Sub: Gerald O Sullivan for P. Godley.

 

Sun. 6th Aug. – the official opening of Con Keating Park, Cahersiveen took place. Kerry beat Wexford by 1-8 to 0-7.

 

Sun. 24th Sept. All-Ireland Minor Final at Croke Park: Kerry 3-6; Wexford 1-4.

Kerry: Donie Marcus O Neill (Killarney), Mick Galway (Currow), Mick Brosnan (Moyvane) capt., John Collins (Kilmoyley), Tommy Murphy (Camp), Paddy O Donnell (Austin Stacks), Joe Kerins (Kerins O Rahillys), Sean Murphy (Camp), Paudie Sheehy (John Mitchels), Bobby Millar (Austin Stacks), Colm Kennelly (Ballylongford), Con O Riordan (Rathmore), Brendan Galvin (John Mitchels), Tom Lawlor (Ardfert), Pa Fitzgerald (Austin Stacks). Subs: Kevin Barry (do.), Dan McAuliffe (Duagh), Sean Walsh (Ballybunion), Mickey Driscoll (Castlegregory), Liam Sheehan (Farranfore). That was Kerry’s 5th title at that grade.

 

Sun. 8th Oct. Co. Minor Football Final in Tralee: North Kerry 5-4; Killarney 2-5.

Sun. 5th Nov. Co. Senior Football Final (replay) in Tralee: Castleisland 1-7; Killarney 1-4.

The gate receipts were a record £583-8-0. The captain of the winning team was Tom Shanahan.

 

Jerry Myles, John Mitchel’s, who had been Joint-Secretary of the Co. Board for fifteen years, died on Mon. 29th May.

 

Butty Sugrue came to prominence at a concert in Lyons’ Ballroom, Iveragh Road. His latest feat was of lifting three 56lbs. weights in one hand and the fourth 56lbs. weight with the disengaged hand.

 

On 18th and 19th Oct. the Annual Iveragh Cup coursing fixtures took place in Reen Park, Killorglin.

 

Mon. 29th May the blessing of the timber cross, which had been erected at the top of Carrantuohill to celebrate the Holy Year, took place. The Laune Pipers Band not only carried their instruments to the top where they played ‘Faith of our Fathers’, but stopped along the way to play a few tunes, which acted as a tonic for the other weary climbers.

 

Muiris O Suilleabhain, author of ‘Fiche Bliain ag Fás’, was found dead on the foreshore about two miles west of Galway City on Sun. 25th July. Aged about 50 years, he had been a member of An Garda Síochána in Galway. Heart failure was suspected.