Gneeveguilla advance to Munster Intermediate Final

November 16th, 2010
by Weeshie Fogarty

The uniqueness and greatness of the club championships was once again very evident in Gneeveguilla last Sunday when the local side hosted Newcestown in the Munster Intermediate football Championship semi-final. It was a marvelous occasion for both clubs and the icing was well and truly put on the cake when Gneeveguilla held out for an historic victory thus advancing to the Munster final. But this was not all about just playing the game and winning. Behind the hour's football was something much more important and that was the huge club effort that went into the staging of the game. It was probably the largest gather ever seen in the village and from early in the day cars from Cork and the surrounding areas were converging for the event. The stewarding and management in all aspects of the day was outstanding and once you reached the outskirts of the village you were met by a virtual army of stewards suitably clad in their distinctive yellow bibs. Everything went like clock work and Munster council chairman Sean Walsh can feel justly proud his county men handled the occasion in such admirable style. This great club has come along way since its foundation in 1960. Its facilities are superb. A bar, meeting rooms, office, kitchen, gym and superb dressing rooms. Their hall was recently extended and one thing that comes shinning through is the tremendous pride which exists, it's the quintessential GAA story "all for the pride of then parish".

It has been a long tough road for the men and women of Gneeveguilla from the foundation fifty tears ago and I have vivid memories of playing in this very same field with my own club back in the early sixties. Everything has changed and changed utterly. Back in those dim and distant days we togged out in the car, showers were when it rained, the field was under development at the time, a ditch had been removed to join up two fields. It was rough and it was tough but this was the birth of the club we know to day and which registered such a famous victory last Sunday. And let us not forget the importance of the win because it was in fact another battle not just between clubs but it was Kerry against Cork. This fact was emphasized to me when I was fortunate to have a quick chat to the secretary of the Newcestown club. Now Jimmy o Mahoney is no ordinary secretary. He has been in this position with the club for close to forty years and his dedication and pride in his parish is so evident. "We are very conscious we are representing Cork" he told me and this was evident by both sides on the field as they went at it hammer and thongs from the word go. Jimmy must be one of the longest serving GAA officials in the country and his knowledge of the game is amazing. Meeting him was for me one of the highlights of the day.  He is one of those unknown GAA men who can be justly described and rightly so as one of the foundation stones and the grass roots of the association.

The match was a cracker. Conditions were perfect. Referee Brian Tyrell had his hands full flashing ten yellow cards. However it was by no means a dirty match, but there was a lot of pulling and dragging as both sides endeavored to as they say "close down the opposition". The hour sped by as the tension and sheer endeavor of both sides had the huge crowd on their toes. Gneeveguilla are best when their backs are to the wall and the odds are stacked against them. Back in 1973 I refereed the O Donoghue Cup final as Gneeveguilla attempted to win their first East Kerry Championship. Just after half time they were trailing Spa by four points. One of the great players Tado McCarthy (six brothers all played for the club) connected beautifully with a Spa man who fell to the ground like a sack of spuds. Had to be a sending of offence. Down to fourteen the Sliabh Loucra men rose magnificently to the challenge, led from the front by the o Donovan brothers they took over the game completely. A Sean o Leary penalty and a succession of great long range points edged them in front and they were East Kerry champions for the very first time. Twenty five minutes into last Sundays game Ronan McAuliffe (his dad Richie was one of the great club players) got his marching orders and it must be said his opponent escaped an equally deserved fate. Would history repeat itself?

The Kerry men were down to fourteen and once again we saw that indomitable spirit for which they are renowned. Young D J o Connor was superb raising six white flags, all from play. A brilliant young man. Midfielders John Paul Brosnan and Don Murphy gladdened the heart with some wonderful fielding. However they will be concerned as they kicked some very bad wides in that first half. As the game drew to is conclusion and injury time loomed they led by two points. Then came the moment which finally decided the result. The Cork men were coming fordward in wave after wave of attack. A point attempt came off the post, fell into the hands of substitute Darren Heffernan. It appeared as if there was no way he would not billow the net so close was he to goal but his bullet of a shot was tipped away by corner back Michael Murphy for a fruitless forty five and Denis o Regan's men were in the Munster final. I must admit that I simply love these club championship games as they demonstrate all that is great and good in club and parish. Sean Kelly certainly did a great service to the association when he introduced these competitions during his Presidency. As Gneeveguilla prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary the Croke Park dream lives on.

Fogra: Congratulations to my own Killarney Legion who have regained their division one status. Their victory over Kilcummin combined with other results see us back up after ten years in the lower division. Is a great tribute to the work and dedication of the officers Chairman Sean o Sullivan, Secretary Geraldine Keane and all others. It's a massive boost to the wave of young players coming on stream. And of course due praise must go to the side line mentors Seanie Culloty, Justin Healy, Thomas Lyne Diarmuid o Donoghue and especially to that old "vetern" himself Johnny Culloty whose expertise, utter dedication and vast well of football knowledge was once again very evident all year in the players discipline and performances.



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