Cairnes Cup and a moment in time...
A QUESTION FROM A READER ABOUT A CAIRNES CUP MEDAL FROM 1947 SENT HUBERT MURPHY ON A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY THROUGH THE FILES OF THE DROGHEDA INDEPENDENT. AND THOSE BEHIND THE MATCH WERE THE GREAT WOLFE TONES CLUB.
unlucky when he hit the upright.
Ardee seemed to rally at the beginning of. the second half and were unlucky not to have scored on a few occasions. Twelve minutes elapsed before the scoring opened with a grand goal for Tones, which was secured by F. Donagh, following a nice piece of play between Gavin and Tuite. T. Rellly added another minor for Tones, and about the 25th minute Paddy Gavin, who played a terrific game and took a lot of punishment, had to retire. He was replaced by Mulleavey and Tones went to the attack and Joe Tuite, one of the best forwards on show, sent in to Donagh, who whipped the ball Into the net. Tuite then had a grand point Just before the final whistle, and the Drogheda boys ran out easy and desorvlng winners of the title.
The victors were well served by J. Gavin (captain), A. Belton, J. Daly, P. Gavin. T. Rellly, N. Reilly. J. Tuite and F. Donagh. Ardee’s best were B. McCoy, F. Glllespie and J. Rellly.
Mr. Larry Coogan was referee.
MEATH BEST INTHE CAIRNES CUP CLASH
A heavy mist which rolled in from the sea during the second half of the minor match made the Cairnes Cup final difficult to follow ; visibility was almost nil at periods and the mist detracted from what otherwise would have been a good game.
Meath were deserving winners although Louth were unlucky not to have forced a draw In the closing minutes when they made a great comeback that atoned somewhat for their first half display. Meath were without many of their best players owing to the county’s senior final being played that day, but the Juniors who deputised, covered themselves with glory and proved that the standard of football in the Royal County is far superior, in every way. to that of Louth.
Meath had the best of the play in the first half and were unlucky not to have set up a greater lntcrval lead than 2-5 to 0-3. A switch by Louth In the second half, which resulted in Sean Boyle going back to centre-half back ; Fay moving to right-half; Doncgan going to rightfull, and Malone coming up to centre-field with Walsh, paid dividends. and, had the selectors made this change earlier in the game, the result might have been much different.
For Louth, Eddie Boyle served up his usual brilliant display and thwarted many of Meath’s firsthalf raids. J. Bell. too. was very sound. Sean Boyle was out of place in the first half but was his old self when changed to the back line. B. Nevln was excellent, as was J. Qulgley. while M. Reynolds gave a good display. The South Louth representatives had an off-day and did not auite come up to expectations, the mid-field representative being the best on show.
Meath were well served by their eight juniors, each of whom played a big role in their county’s victory. P. Donegan played a great game at full back, while K. McConnell was the star of the match. P. O’Brien and Christo Hand were always in the picture, while P. Daly shone at mldfield.
Snowe and Sherlock also gave fine service, as did Meegan nnd McDermott. Mr. Sean O’Neill. Dublin, was referee. The victory dinner in the White Horse Hotel, following the big game, brought together Gaels of Louth and Meath and was Indeed a very pleasant function. Both teams, visiting officials and representatives of other Drogheda clubs were entertained; the Cairnes Cup was filled In traditional fashion and all Joined in toasting the Wolfe Tones duo and congratulating them on their twenty-five years or sterling service to the ideals of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
The President of Wolfe Tone opened the speech-making and said tnat the game which they had witnessed that day was, in his opinion, the best ever seen in the Cairnes Cup competition and was played in a spirit that brought credit to all concerned. Owing to the Meath senior final being played that day the promoters of the competition had fears that it might not have been a success but Meath had sent a good team—Meath always sent a good team for the Cairnes Cup—and tne occasion had been a record one with a record gate of £207. He thanked the Meath County Board, the Louth County Board, the referee who had handled the game in the best manner and the stewards who had worked so hard.
Ald. L. J. Walsh, a former president of the Wolfe Tones club, presenting the cup to Mr. Tom McGuinness, congratulated the winners on their success and praised the losers for their gallant but vain display. He was glad to have been given the honour of presenting the cup to their good neighbours, the Royal County, but he hoped that next year the “Wee” County would have the honour of taking It back from their very worthy opponents.
Mr. McGuinness said that Meath were very pleased to have won the cup and medals In the tournament sponsored by the Wolfe Tones, for the older men In Meath G.A.A. circles had pleasant recollections of that club, for Its name brought back memories of great men and great games of the past. It was a fine thing to recall the names of Gaels who had gone before them because It was those names that were most dear to them in Ireland today. On behalf of Meath he extended congratulations to Wolfe Tones on the occasion of their Silver Jubilee. During those 25 years they had been up against it at times but they had always come out on top.
Mr. Jimmy Flood, who represented the Louth County Board in the absence of the Chairman and Sec, (who were attending a County Board meeting) congratulated Meath on their win. Nothing, he said, would have pleased Louth better than to have pipped Meath on the post, but failing that it pleased them to congratulate their neighbours on their victory. They in Louth were always pleased to welcome Meath. There was a great spirit between the two counties and he hoped that that spirit would remain until the craek of doom. He congratulated the Wolfe Tones on the manner in which they had organised the cbmpetltion but reminded all that it could not have been a success without the help and co-operation of Meath.
Proposing a toast to the Wolfe Tones, Ald. Walsh gave a brief resume of the history of the foundation of the club and said that they could not have selected a greater or more fitting title than that of the great patriot.
Joseph Curran, well-known Meath Gael, said that he was very pleased to be in the company of such fine Gaels. There was a tendency among the young men of to-day to forget the men and deeds of the past and he was glad that the Wolfe Tones had preserved the memory of their former members by issuing the Souvenir Programme. They had set an example that he hoped would be copied by every club, for the Gaels of to-day should never forget the men who built up the Association.
I have been asked by Mr. Tommy Kelly, hon. Sec. of the Wolfe Tones to express the club’s sincere regret to Mr. Dick Clarke of Mell for the erroneous statement in the Jubilee Souvenir Programme that he was deceased. Mr. Clarke, who composed the song, “The Gallant Wolfe Tones,” quoted In the programme, is still very much alive and the club confused him with another person of the same name who died in recent years. The Tones’ hope that Mr. Clarke will acdept their explanation and they regret any annoyance caused by the statement referred to.
ALD. WALSH GAVE THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE CLUB AND SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT HAVE SELECTED A GREATER OR MORE FITTING TITLE