By: Kevin Corrigan
Gracefield, Walsh Island and Ferbane players honoured by Offaly GAA
OFFALY GAA took a trip down memory lane when the three clubs that won Leinster Club Senior Football Championship titles were honoured.
The Gracefield team that won the inaugural Leinster club championship, 1970, Walsh Island, the 1978 and 1979 champions, and the last Offaly team to win the provincial crown, Ferbane in 1986, were special guests at the recent Senior Football Championship final between Tullamore and Ferbane.
Offaly have won just four Leinster club senior football titles and their list of winners is notable for the absence of its two most successful clubs, Tullamore and Rhode from it. Walsh Island are the only Offaly club with two titles and no Offaly side has made the All-Ireland final – all four champions were beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final.
1970 Leinster Club SFC Final – Croke Park, July 25 1971
Gracefield 0-12
Newtown Blues, Louth 0-9
THE Leinster Club Senior Championships were in their infancy in the 1970-1971 season and didn’t have the profile they acquired in later years but it is a source of great pride to Offaly that they provided the inaugural winners in both codes: Gracefield in football and St Rynagh’s hurling.
The landscape at the time is reflected by the fact that no picture has been unearthed of the successful Gracefield team and reports on their final win over Newtown Blues of Louth were sparse There were only a few paragraphs with just scorers in the Midland Tribune and Offaly Independent, the same in the Irish Press – fortunately, the Dundalk Democrat gave it more detailed coverage and we should be thankful to them for that.
Gracefield were on a great in the first half of the 1970s. They won their first Offaly Senior Football Championship in 1960 and had their most sustained run of excellence at the start of the 1970s, winning the Dowling Cup in 1970 and 1972 – Ferbane denied them in the 1971 and 1974 finals and St Carthage’s beat them in th 1973 semi-final.
They embraced the first provincial championship, revelling in playing opposition from other counties and they had a great 0-12 to 0-9 win over Newtown Blues in the final at Croke Park, played in July 1971. Gracefield laid down important markers in the first half and led by 0-6 to 0-4 at half time. The best known player on that Gracefield team was a teak tough Offaly defender John Smith and the Dundalk Democrat noted that key Newtown forward Jim Judge took “quite an amount of stick” from Smith and it had such a “harrowing effect” on him that he couldn’t stamp his mark on the game.
Newtown Blues rallied powerfully in the second half and got ahead going into the last quarter but Gracefield finished brilliantly with the last four points.
Gracefield scorers: Michael Knight, Mattie Colgan, Daithi Murphy 0-3 each, Pat Keenan, Tony Keegan and Pat Keegan 0-1 each.
GRACEFIELD: Jimmy Murphy; Tadgh Bryan, John Smith, Ned Murphy; Michael Slevin, Pat Keenan, Martin Turley; Eddie Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy; Mattie Colgan, Daithi Murphy, Pat Keegan; Sean Hunt, Michael Knight, Tony Keegan.
Other players on the panel in that 1970-1972 era included: Sean McEvoy, Arthur Oakley, Anthony Slevin, Andy Donoher, Donie Hanlon, Jim lawlor, Frank Weir, Kevin Shanley, Patrick Dunne, Tommy Kennedy, Jimmy Hanlon, Charlie Keogh, Frank Gorman.
1978 Leinster Club SFC final – Croke Park, November 26 1978
Walsh Island 2-9
St Joseph’s, Laois 3-5
ONLY three Offaly clubs have won the Leinster Club Senior Football Championship, Gracefield, Walsh Island and Ferbane. The county’s two most successful football clubs, Tullamore and Rhode are notable absentees from the roll of honour while no Offaly club has reached an All-Ireland club football final and only Walsh Island have won two titles.
People privileged enough to be of age in the 1970s and 1980s will never forget the great Walsh Island team that won six in a row Offaly Senior Football Championship titles from 1978 toi 1983.
Arguably the greatest ever club side produced in the county, they certainly had some of the greatest ever footballers in Offaly. Backboned by families, they were a remarkable force of nature, were close to making an All-Ireland final and could not be beaten when they hit peak form.
In 1978, they ended a 35 year gap when winning the Offaly title and continued their form into Leinster, edging Laois opponents, St Joseph’s in the final in Croke Park.
Behind by 1-2 to 0-3 at half time and 3-5 to 1-6 going into the last quarter, Walsh Island staged a sensational snatch and grab raid. Matt Connor got the decisive goal after Eamon Mulhall tested the cross bar and 1971 All-Ireland winning hero Murt Connor got the winning point.
Walsh Island scorers: Matt Connor 1-5, Murt Connor 0-3, Mick Slattery 1-0,Tomas O’Connor 0-1.
WALSH ISLAND: John Kavanagh; Noel Comerford, Liam O’Connor, PJ Corcoran; Willie Slattery, Richie Connor, Paddy O’Shea; Tomas O’Connor, Eamon Mulhall; Pat Bryan, Matt Connor, Seamus Connor; Mick Slattery, Murt Connor, Tom Mulhall. Subs used – Willie Bryan, Willie Connor; Other subs – Willie Carroll, Joe Gallagher, Willie Mulhall, Brendan Bradley, Willie Corcoran, Willie Kelly, Frank Williamson.
1979 Leinster Club SFC final – Athy, March 23 198
Walsh Island 3-2
Portlaoise, Laois 1-6
As the scoreline suggests, Walsh Island’s 1979 final win over Portlaoise was all about digging it out. They possessed some lethal forwards, including one Matt Connor, but got more goals than points as they retained their title.
Preceded by the hurling final, the awful weather was the big factor in such a low scoring game and Walsh Island owed a debt of gratitude to their defence who withstood some fierce pressure.
Portloaise led by 1-3 to 1-2 at half time.
A classic catch and kick goal by Eamon Mulhall gave Walsh Island the initiative in the second half and sub Frank Williamson, father of referee Kevin Williamson, was their hero as he booted home the winning goal when a Matt Connor “45” was dropped.
Walsh Island scorers: Matt Connor 1-2, Eamon Mulhall and Frank Williamson 1-0 each.
WALSH ISLAND: Pat Bryan; Willie Slattery, Noel Comerford, PJ Corcoran; Willie Connor, Seamus Connor, Paddy O’Shea; Liam O’Connor, Richie Connor; Sean Connor, Eamon Mulhall, Tomas O’Connor; Mick Slattery; Matt Connor, Murt Connor. Subs – Frank Williamson for Sean Connor, Tom Mulhall for Mick Slattery, John Kavanagh, Brendan Bradley, Michael Flanagan, Willie Kelly.
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1986 Leinster Club SFC final – Newbridge, December 6 1986
Ferbane 3-5
Portlaoise, Laois 1-10
FERBANE were a fantastic presence on the Offaly club scene in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. They won their first Senior Football Championship since 1914 in 1971 and added to their collection in 1974, 1976, a famous five in a row from 1986 to 1990, 1992 and 1994.
They were also fiercely competitive in Leinster in this era, losing finals to UCD and Parnells (both Dublin) that could have been won in 1974 and 1988 but they at least got into the winners’ enclosure in 1986.
As often happens in these cases, that one was won against the heads with a then excellent Portlaoise side scoring 11 times compared to 8 from Ferbane but goals won the day – the quality of Portlaoise is reflected by their Leinster wins in 1985 and 1987.
In 1986, Ferbane were starting out on their great five in a row run and they snatched a great come from behind win in Newbridge.
Playing against the wind in the first half, Ferbane trailed by 1-3 to 0-5 at half time. They were in bother when Portlaoise led by four points heading into the final quarter but a Paul Mollen goal brought them back into it.
Portlaoise got two points in front but in a thrilling finale, Ferbane attacked with menace with two minutes left. Kieran Flynn and Brendan Lowry linked together and Paul Mollen’s shot was savd but a young Brendan Flynn came flying in to boot home the winning goal.
Ferbane scorers: Brendan Lowry 0-5 (2f), John Kelly, Paul Mollen and Brendan Flynn 1-0 each.
FERBANE: Vincent Egan; Eamon Dooley, John Keena, Kevin Brazil; Denis Kelly, Michael Kenny, Jackie Kenny; Mick Lowry, Johnny Grehan; John Kelly, Pat Doyle, Kieran Flynn; Brendan Flynn, Paul Mollen, Brendan Lowry. Subs – Cathal Ryan for Eamon Dooley, KK Kenny, David Nagle, Enda Claffey, Donal Devery, Padraig Boland, Joe Kelly, Cathal Higgins, Aidan Ryan, Pauric Egan, Pauric Mulligan, Joe McIntyre, Patrick Kelly,
By Offaly Secretary Mon 19th Oct
