The year the famine ended as Freemount come of age in ’88
SOME great teams had to endure lean times and agony before reaching the pinnacle and that can be said of Freemount before they made the Duhallow hurling breakthrough in 1988.
A productive season for Freemount, reaching four hurling and football divisional finals and though winning just one, the Junior A Hurling championship mattered most.
Team captain John O’Flynn acceptance speech is still remembered by Freemount folk, he recalls, it was inspired by Tipperary captain Richard Stakelum, the previous year when the Premier county overcame Cork in a classic Munster Final Replay in Killarney.
“From that 1987 season, Cork were involved over four consecutive weekends in Munster Finals and replays in both football and hurling. From the hurling replay in Fitzgerald Stadium, Nickey English was at his brilliant best to force the game into extra-time before Tipp hit a goal blitz to allow a bloodied captain Richie Stakelum proclaim that the Famine was over,” he said.
Tipp were Munster champions for the first time in 16 years, ‘the Freemount famine’ much longer, more than a century to a club that had its origins dating back to 1887. There were periods where there was no GAA in the area, the club revived in addition to existing under different disguises.
Freemount moved from the Duhallow division to Avondhu in 1944 and returned to Duhallow in 1974 following an official invitation by Board Secretary John Joe Brosnan.
Success had been thin on the ground, a lone title surfaced in 1964, Allow Rovers bettered Grange to claim the North Cork Novice Hurling championship. 1974 marked a significant milestone, not only had Freemount returned to Duhallow division but the club officially opened its grounds by President Erskine Childers and a large attendance enjoyed the clash of Midleton and Kilmallock in a senior hurling tournament.
Apart from contesting a league final in 1975 and a loss to Meelin, the club laboured on the field, a noted change saw the club colours altered to maroon and white.
So in ’88 we’ll celebrate ’cause the famine is gone,
I’m sorry to delay you of this ould song,
But we’re on a high, the reason why it was our very first,
And now that we’ve won the bloody thing, we got an awful thirst
“1979 went down as one of the bleakest years for Freemount club as it struggled to field a Junior team with a number of players retiring or leaving the parish. However the club continued with an under 21 team and a promising minor team from 1980/81 that contested two divisional finals lay the foundation for brighter days ahead,” said John O’Flynn.
“Some progress, in 1986, reaching league and championship semi finals but from heavy defeats by Meelin, there was a view, Freemount were a long way short of what was required to win a championship. And there was talk of a possible amalgamation with Tullylease to improve performances,” he said.
Fortunes began to turn during 1987, not the best of league campaigns yet Freemount improved considerably to overcome Banteer in the opening round to the championship. The arrival of trainer John Jones from Broadford placed clear emphasis on ground hurling and what transpired were two classic semi final clashes with Lismire.
A Damien Keane goal from a last ditch free earned Freemount a deserved draw. That set up a remarkable replay and extra time, Freemount put 22 players out on the field during the course of a marathon only to lose by three points in a 10 goal classic.
“While there was disappointment, there was also a realisation that the team had made great strides, for the first time since their return to Duhallow, Freemount had made a significant impact on the Junior Hurling championship,” said O’Flynn.
That allowed for plenty of optimism for the following season, the fruits of promising minor teams from earlier in the decade began to surface. Remarkably, three Freemount players feature in the third level and prestigious Fitzgibbon Cup Final when Damien Keane’s UCC overcame UCG that included his brother Frank and Liam Noonan.
Back at domestic level, Freemount fared well in the league, defeating Newmarket in a semi
final only to be defeated in the decider by a strong Kanturk.
“That display suggested the team was short of winning a championship but our manager John Barrett brought in Neil Ronan from Ballyhea for guidance. That added a significant contribution to the campaign, bringing discipline and motivational skills to the team, Neil progressing to become a successful coach to so many other clubs,” said the team captain.
A win over Banteer earned Freemount progress to the championship semi final for the third consecutive season. League winners Kanturk provided the opposition and the formbook looked to be going accordingly, Kanturk jumping into a seven point lead.
In fairness, Freemount held their composure, a massive improvement influenced by the input of a commanding half back line featuring the O’Flynn brothers and Pat O’Callaghan. A productive flourish either side of the day helped whittle the deficit before a Jim Casey goal gave Freemount gain a narrow lead.
The closing 10 minutes were laced with tension and excitement, a second Freemount goal disallowed for a square infringement while at the opposition, Kanturk passed up on a plethora of chances thanks to the intervention of ‘keeper Pat Keane and defenders Paddy Larkin and John O’Connor.
“At the full time whistle, Freemount had hung on by a single point to reach a final for the first time in 46 years. It set up a novel decider against Kilbrin at Kanturk, the interest and excitement helped generate a record gate at the time,” said team skipper O’Flynn.
Kilbrin had just one title to their credit, ten years previously, overcoming Tullylease. And with appearances in three subsequent finals only to be defeated by Meelin and Lismire, Kilbrin possessed both experience and desire in their efforts to revive former glory days to a side that included father and son, Jer and Brian Aherne.
Indeed, Kilbrin’s craft surfaced before the interval, John Sheahan blasted home a lead goal. However Freemount upped the ante impressively on the restart, a tackle on Frank Keane won a semi penalty that his brother Damien converted for a green flag.
That score allowed Freemount turn the screw and they looked to be in a strong position to savour delight. Refusing to throw in the towel, Kilbrin hauled themselves back from the brink to make the most of possession for equality at 1-11 apiece.
“That scoreline certainly brought smiles to the faces of the Duhallow Board officers who contemplated an even bigger attendance for the replay. The replay came two weeks later and our hopes were boosted by Paddy Larkin’s decision to cancel his intended USA holiday,” said captain O’Flynn.
Not the best of weather conditions for the sequel, Freemount favoured by the elements took a lengthy time to settle. Still points to Pat O’Callaghan and Damien Keane gave Freemount encouragement before Kilbrin received a timely boost from team leader Sheahan on goaling to leave the minimum between the sides 0-8 to 1-4 at the break.
“It looked as if we were struggling having played with a near gale, torrential rain fell at half time and early in the second half changed the conditions and the wind dropped,” said O’Flynn.
For a spell, Freemount were operating second best in key areas only to summon fresh resources of energy. Crucially, Frank Keane’s pace troubled the Kilbrin rearguard, one of his forays resulted on a timely goal from corner forward Martin Enright.
That score proved a real turning moment as it allowed Freemount demonstrate their class to ride out of a late Kilbrin storm of pressure before a point from an acute angle, Michael John O’Regan’s effort from almost the endline sailed between the uprights proved the insurance score for a 1-11 to 1-7 truimph.
“Of course, there were great scenes of victory, for myself, it was a great highlight to captain the side. Up to 1988, I had worked in Dublin, at times, it was awkward for training and games but moving to Cork City, it was much more accessible,” reflects John O’Flynn.
“Many had predicted that a light Freemount would find heavy conditions difficult to cope yet this was not so. Included on the team were 42 year olds Mick O’Sullivan who also figured on the 1964 team and Jim Casey from the Haggart Bar,” he said.
From a side captained by John Flynn, the historic line out was Pat Keane, Mick O’Sullivan, John O’Connor, Paddy Larkin, Pat O’Callaghan, John O’Flynn, Liam O’Flynn, Damien Keane, Mossie O’Callaghan,
Tim O’Mullane, Liam Noonan, Frank Keane, Martin Enright, Jim Casey,Timmy Coleman. Subs. Michael John O’Regan, Larry Browne, Padraig Goulding. Selectors John Barrett, Paddy Collins, Pat Hayes. Coach: Neil Ronan.
After a long week of celebrations, Freemount entered the county against Aghabullogue, Freemount lost little caste in a five point defeat that many subscribed to their best display all season. Following the game, all involved dwelled on a marvellous season for Freemount, selector Paddy Collins captured the breakthrough in a 19 verse song that included fitting lines
So in ’88, we’ll celebrate ’cause the famine is gone,
I’m sorry to delay you of this ould song,
But we’re on a high, the reason why it was our very first,
And now that we’ve won the bloody thing, we got an awful thirst.