County Championship

History of Fraher Field and Dr. Crokes progress in Munster

November 8th, 2011
by Weeshie Fogarty

 Memories of another Kerry/Waterford Munster Club Championship clash came readily to mind as I travelled the road to Fraher field Dungarvan last Sunday. The objective of my journey was to report for Radio Kerry sports on Dr. Crokes Munster Club Championship game against Waterford champions Ballinacourty. As reported elsewhere in this sports section Crokes had the expected very convincing win 

The excellent field in Dungarvan is named in honour of a great Waterford Gael, Dan Fraher. Dan was born in 1852 in the parish of Seskinane, Co Waterford. After working as a drapers apprentice for a number of years from the age of sixteen he opened his own drapery shop in Grattan Square and it was known as "The Gaelic Outfitting Store".

Dan Fraher was a huge promoter of the Irish language and in 1888 he started Irish classes in Dungarvan which were a massive attraction. He was also a collector of Irish manuscripts and a well known sportsman in the county and beyond.  In 1885 he leased land from a local gentry family which he developed into a sports ground. This was used for football, athletics and any travelling circus visiting the area would pitch their tent there. Major improvements were carried out in recent tears and in 1995 the field was re-opened as the "Dan Fraher Field". Outside of Croke Park more All Ireland hurling finals were played here than anywhere else, 1903-5-7-11. From a Kerry perspective the venue is historic because in 1937 on their way to winning the championship Kerry played Laois here in a semi-final re-play.  With just a minute left on the clock a brilliant point from Mickey Lyne a member of my own Killarney Legion club decided the result in Kerrys favour 2-2 to 1-4. Dan Fraher this loyal Waterford GAA activist died in 1929 and is buried at Knockboy situated between Clonmel and Dungarvan.   

Forty one long years ago I was in goal for the East Kerry divisional side when we visited Waterford to take on John Mitchels, who were after winning their first ever county championship defeating Kill in the final, 1-14 to 1-10. The game was played in Portlaw and we came away with a decisive win, 4-15 to 2-6. That particular day there were three Dr Crokes men in the side and all played in the forward line. Gerald Cullinane, Eamon Fitzgerald and Denis Coffey. Sadly Denis died suddenly just two months ago while playing his favourite pass time, golf. A class footballer and basketball player Denis could sell you a dummy with just a nod of his head.  That was a star studded East Kerry team including Kerry stars Donie o Sullivan, Pat Moynihan, Derry Crowley, Noel Power Mick Gleeson and Kerrys football and hurling goalkeeper Johnny Culloty who scored 2-2 that day form his corner forward position. Another member of the side Johnny o Mahony (Gneeveguilla) has also sadly passed on. The Waterford men were unfortunate to meet such a great side as we then went on to win the first All Ireland club championship beating Bryansfort Co Down in the final.

Ballinacourty knew well that they were really up against it last Sunday and indeed as the very efficient PRO of the Waterford county board Emer Barry said to me before the game "a win to day for us would recall memories of another great Waterford victory over Kerry away back in 1957 when the county footballers sensationally knocked The Kingdom out of the Munster senior championship".  Emer was spot on and I reminded her that so shocked were the Kerrymen that afternoon the renowned Kerry selector the late John Joe Sheehy is reputed to have stated in the dressing room following the defeat, "we will have to wait until darkness descends before we cross back into Kerry".

Since Dr Crokes first arrived on the national scene back in 1992 winning the All Ireland Club Championship they have been there or there about when championship honors in all competitions are been decided. Last Sunday weeks win over the Mid Kerry divisional side was richly deserved and was historic in the sense that it was the clubs first back to back victories since 1913-14 and it was the first time in their eight wins that the Kerry county championship had been won in the magnificent Fitzgerald Stadium. . Laune Rangers head the Kerry honors list with twelve championship wins.

Mention of Fitzgerald Stadium reminds me of a great Waterford club win back in 2007 when county champions then as now Ballinacourty had a historic win there over the Kerry representatives Kilcummin. Crokes manager Harry o Neill (he has two sons on the panel) was fully aware of the task that faced his side in Dungarvan and names that are well known down in Kerry like the Hurney brothers, especial the free scoring Garry, Shane Briggs, Mark Ferncombe and Stephen Enright were closely watched.

The Munster Club Championship always throws up some unusual twists since Shannon Rangers won the first title back in 1964. It's well known that two of the Crokes team lining out last Sunday, Johnny Buckley and Dahi Casey had also won Cork County Championship medals with UCC three weeks ago. So as Crokes advance and will probably meet UCC those boys have an option of two clubs to play for. Whome will they chose. No doubt their home club is my guess. Back in 1973 UCC also won the Cork Championship and there were eleven Kerry men on that side. They went on to win the Munster Club Championship and were later defeated by Clan Na Gael Armagh in the All ireland semi final. That side boasted four Dr Croke men. The Kavanagh brothers Donal and Sean, Tom Looney whose son Brian lined out at wing forward last Sunday and Niall Brosnan whose son Own was of coursed also in action last Sunday.

Finally the Munster Club Trophy commemorates a Dr Croke great. The late Michael o Connor with whome I was great friends served as treasurer and Vice Chairman of the Munster Council. He represented Kerry in minor, junior and senior football. He was secretary of his club for eleven years and acted as secretary of Fitzgerald Stadium for fifteen years. It is fitting that the winners of this competition become holders of his Cup. Just one more reason why his club will be all out to beat Munster's best.


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