St Kevin’s win McArdle Cup
November 1967
DOUGHTY St. Kevins (Philipstown) had sweet revenge for their defeat in the junior championship final at Knockbridge, when turning the tables in the MacArdle Cup decider played before a good attendance at ‘Bellingham on Sunday in cold but dry weather.
The win gave St. Kevins the honours in this competition for the third time running—a record—and it was their second time to beat St Brides in the final.
A dourly contested aflair, in which no quarter was asked or given, two very keen and obviousiy fit sides got stuck in from the start, and while the tackling was hard , the match cannot be said to have been rough.
Vice-chairman of the Co. Board. Mr. N. Marry (from Knockbridge himself ), presented the Cup to Dickie Kieran, goalkeeper and captain.
It takes two sides to make a good match and St. Brides, on Sunday, put up quite a battle. When right winger, B. Hanratty, with a point from a free in the 21st minute of the second half, restored their lead (0-4 to 0-3 ) , the signs then were that they would complete the elusive double. But it was St. Kevins who had the last say. The match winning score — a goal five minutes from time — came from right winger, Jimmy Cunningham, who fastened on to a ball that looked to be going wide, to send a nicely angled drive past Brides’ ‘ keeper, J. Flynn. The leading up work for this golden goal was done by P. McCabe, who had come on earlier in the second half as a sub for the injured Con Sands.
No praise is too high for the rocklike St. Kevins defence, a defence that must have created some kind of record in not, conceding one score from play for the hour to the Knockbridge XV. Occupying the pivotal berth, Benny Grogan was back to his old form, while Billy Boylan, at full back, and Peter McKenna, on his right, were other towers of strength. Rising to the occasion in style, too, was midfielder Johnny Boylan, who kept a very close watch throughout on S. Kirk. Elsewhere, the winners had great triers as well in K. Boylan, N, Mackin and C. Sands (the latter, during his time in the match). Their scores fell to J. Cunnigham (1-0) , K. Boylan (0-2. one free) and T. McArdle (0-1).
St. Brides, despite positional switches and substitutions, could never pull away from St. Kevins. The team, however, as said, battled all the way, with players such as V. Corcoran, T. Lennon, G. Kelly. D. McGuire, S. Kirk and B. Hanratty doing better than the others. The points were obtained by B. Hanratty (2 frees), D. McGuire (1 free) and S. Kirk (“50”). Teams were level 0-2 each at half time.
Mr. O. Kelly, Drogheda, refereed in place of Mr. T. Burke.
That night, there was much rejoicing out Philipstown way.