Duhallow’s great crusade recalls back to back county titles

BACK to back triumphs in the County senior football championship in 1990/91 remain iconic for all associated with Duhallow GAA and recalled at a special get together in Kilbrin.

The years roll on yet the sense of achievement delivered by Duhallow added a number of glorious chapters to a proud gaelic games barony. On doing so, Duhallow left an indelible mark in a great era for games within the county with Duhallow, Nemo Rangers and Castlehaven chasing the hotly competitive silverware in a great era for gaelic football in the county.

Strength in depth and consistency became the hallmarks of a great team, confirmed on a terrific run from 1988 to 1998, Duhallow reached nine out of eleven semi finals, won two outright titles and incurred losses in two other deciders. From 56 games played, Duhallow’s record read 44 wins, three draws and nine losses with Kanturk lionhearted dual player Jerome Walsh figuring on all 56 games.

Having lost to Nemo Rangers in the 1988 final who later progressed to land Munster and All Ireland Club titles, Duhallow remained an emerging force. And though bettered in a replay by new Cork champions Castlehaven in 1989, Duhallow underlined their utter determination to succeed on claiming the outright from 1990/91 under the captaincy of Danny Culloty,

At the special get together, memorabilia and great memories abounded against a backdrop of articles, photographs, a souvenir programme and a video of Duhallow’s glory path that won over admirers of a proud division far and wide.

All those glorious days for Duhallow came flooding back and fittingly acknowledged by the current Duhallow Junior Board.

It had been a roller coaster journey for one of the most exciting teams in the championship, Duhallow involved in some titanic battles against the ‘Haven and Nemo in the late 1980s only to come up short.

From the 1988 final, two goals from Denny Allen paved the way for Nemo to see off a gallant Duhallow. Floods deferred the staging to the last Sunday in October before Nemo’s more incisive play made all the difference.

That said, Duhallow went down fighting with their pride and reputation intact. Again Duhallow made an impression in 1989, involved in two terrific games in a pulsating semi-final before Castlehaven won a replay en-route to landing a first time title.

However Duhallow were putting together serious strides in a bid to regain a hold of a county title not won since 1936. And it came right in 1990 under the guidance of a team management of John Fintan Daly, Gerard O’Sullivan and Joe Murphy to defeat St. Finbarrs in the decider.

As defending champions, an extra burden was placed on Duhallow for 1991. Interestingly, Duhallow’s opponents were all city based and their cause was helped by the involvement of Rockchapel players who had regraded from a season in senior ranks with St. Finbarrs again at the receiving end in the final.

The triumphant Duhallow panel comprised of Jerry Pat O’Leary (Millstreet), Maurice Angland (Kiskeam), Seán Culloty (Newmarket), Niall Kelleher (Millstreet), Liam Dennehy (do), Denny O’Connor (Knocknagree), Brendan O’Connor (do), Danny Culloty (Newmarket), Jerome Walsh (Kanturk), Jimmy Dennehy (Kiskeam), Richard Dennehy (do, Tim Healy (Kanturk). Donal O’ Connor (Knocknagree), Niall O’Connor (do), Anthony Barry (Millstreet), Noel Moynhan (Ballydesmond), Matthew Dennehy (Millstreet), Cormac Linehan (Boherbue), Pat O’Connor (Knocknagree), John O’Keeffe (Ballydesmond), Donie Fitzgerald (Knocknagree), Seamus Hickey (Dromtariffe), Diarmuid O’Driscoll (Millstreet), Seamus O’Sullivan (Boherbue), Liam O’Connor (Glenlara), John Twomey (Millstreet), Gerard O’Connor (Knocknagree), Patrick O’Mahoney (Knocknagree), John Murphy (Dromtariffe), Jerry Casey (Rockchapel), Paul Murphy (Rockchapel), Kieran Lenihan (Boherbue), Seán Murphy (Rockchapel), John Christy Sheehan (Boherbue), Denis Sheahan (Glenlara), Joe Collins (Rockchapel).