Work for a new Boherbue chapter
against a star studded side, reigning champions Ballydesmond who had put a new name on the roll of honour twelve months previously on clipping the wings of Dromtariffe and they were seeking back to back titles. However the challengers didn’t buy into the prediction of carrying the outsiders tag for Boherbue were a rapidly improving side with a supply of skilful players.
“Boherbue were desperately seeking the breakthrough after 37 years in isolation yet many considered Boher as underdogs in the final. That really didn’t bother us, team captain Jerome Ryan put us through our paces in Feehan’s Field’s and we stood a great chance of success,” said O’Keeffe.
The opening half made for an engaging spectacle , the best of football on parade, Boherbue’s opening points bettered by a Ballydesmond goal from Thade Healy. However Boherbue’s fortunes received a lift, Donie Buckley got possession from a centre by Cork Junior Brendan Dennehy who made no mistake with a terrific drive to the net.
Ballydesmond were back in business when Andy O’Connor collected a long delivery to slam home a goal. The closing five minutes proved productive for a breeze assisted Boherbue, Buckley pointed on the double prior to Jerry “Haebor” Daly hitting a goal that helped Boherbue enjoy a 2-7 to 2-2 advantage.
Apart from a trio of points quickly upon the restart, the second half lacked the fluidity of the opening spell, Bohebue winning possession but failed to obtain the necessary precision into their play yet they did enough to land a deserved victory.
“Our defence as a whole played very well, marking so closely in the second half that the Ballydesmond forwards were put right off their game,” said O’Keeffe.
“There were some scary moments during the latter stages, Ballydesmond searched for a goal but once referee John Joe Kavanagh blew the full time whistle, there was a huge sigh of relief. Our supporters had their hands in the mouths, mass hysteria for them after enduring so many days of disappointment,” he said.
Rightly, a party atmosphere continued into a packed Boherbue Square, the occasion might well had been a blur for supporters in the frenzy of excitement and celebrations yet the majority of the players were unfazed by the breakthrough.
“iT was wonderful to be aboard Barty Andy’s truck with the silverware, in fairness, many of the players didn’t get too carried away, I myself was back at work, the following morning and there was a return to training on the following Friday night,” said Billy O’Keeffe.
And a solid start to the county earned Boherbue a four point victory over Glenville to set up a date with Bantry Blues yet a significant delay pushed the game into early December.
“Training was disrupted, no lights compared to nowadays, we relied on the outdoor lights of the national school and handball ally to prepare for a county semi final. We knew Bantry would be a major obstacle, fielding the likes of Donal Hunt and Declan Barron in addition to Kerry player Tim Sheehan who had previously been stationed as a guard in Boherbue but remained playing with his native Kilcummin,” said O’Keeffe.
This was new territory for Boherbue, calling on the services of Millstreet player Brendan Burke to secure Macroom hostelry T P Cotters as a base for the Duhallow champions. Over the years, the well known pub allowed Millstreet and Duhallow sides tog off before teams jogged up Main Street and the Town Square to the Castle Grounds.
Boherbue didn’t go down without a fight, a brave effort highlighted by a terrific duel between Hunt and Fr. Danny O’Connor. Elsewhere Barron showed his pedigree, probably the name of Bantry was on the county trophy after the West Cork semi final against Bandon, his team trailing by two points, Barron netted from a 21 yard free with the last kick of the game.
“We had every right to hold our heads high, when Fr. Danny took off his collar, he gave it everything on the field. Bantry were an exceptional team, going on to overcome Adrigole in the final and within a short time frame, they overcame Naomh Abán in the intermediate final to secure senior status,” said Bill.
Driven on by desire and pride of their own place, Boherbue’s burning desire for success at divisional level gained reward, the perspiration from the men of 1972 put the club on a new pedestal that it can be rightly proud of and clearly evident almost 50 years on.
On and off the field , its fair to say the excursions from 1972 shaped the future of Boherbue club under Club officers; Chairman, Mick Aherne; Secretary, Phil O’Sullivan and Treasurer, Denis J McCarthy with Tadghie Shine, Mick Aherne and Michael Lenihan as selectors.
Boherbue hit new heights not previously visited since 1938 to land a divisional title and the finalists on duty in the 1972 decider were
BOHERBUE: Bill O’Keeffe; Charlie Breen, John Moynihan, Frank Lenihan; Jeremiah Breen, Jerome Ryan, Pat Joe Ryan; Pat Moynihan, Bob O’Riordan 0-1; Frank O’Sullivan, Brendan Dennehy, Jerry ‘Haebor’ Daly 1-0, Donie Buckley 1-6, Corney Vaughan 0-1, Tom Courtney. Subs: Billy McAulliffe, Joe Walsh, Patsy McAulliffe, Tom Punch, Mick Daly, Fr. Danny O’Connor, Pat Sheehan, Phil O’Sullivan.
BALLYDESMOND: Tom Fleming; Jeremiah Healy, Con O’Connor, Tim Murphy; Noel O’Connor, Ted Dennehy, Brendan Scollard; Seán Kelly, Danno Dennehy 0-2; Tom Murphy 0-1, Thade Healy 1-1, Dan O’Connor 0-1, Joe Murphy, Andy O’Connor 1-0, Tom O’Leary. Subs: Tim Joe O’Connell, John Walsh.
REFEREE: John Joe Kavanagh (Glenlara)