The Kerryman report from the mid-1960s

THE long deceased Hannah Rayel of Chapeltown (Caol), affectionately referred to locally as ‘Nana Curran’, was always in the good habit of cutting out and pasting in her scrapbook snippets from newspapers referring to various happening in Valentia Island life. The following is an extract from The Kerryman Valentia notes of the mid sixties:

NOT since the year 1921 when Valentia played Portmagee at Chapeltown was there such a crowd in the village as on Sunday last when three visiting teams and their supporters helped swell the big local following who came to witness two South Kerry league games at O’Connor Park.

The opening game saw Skellig Rangers (Ballinskelligs-Portmagee) gain a narrow but well earned victory over Filemore. Both clubs were making a comeback to senior grade and the form displayed on Sunday suggests that they will be a force in this year’s South Kerry championship. The final score was Skellig-Ballinselligs 1-3, Filemore 0-4.

Outstanding for the winners were Jim Sugrue, Michael Brennan, M O’Shea, the Harty brothers, Michael and Paddy Casey, Jimmy O’Connell and Seanie Rordan.Filemore had great triers in John O’Sullivan, Jack O’Donoghue and J. Shanley

Mr. Mick Cahill, Valentia, refereed.Before the the throw-in both teams were paraded around the pitch by the Valentia Pipe band, under Pipe Major Sonny Curran.

Despite the one sided appearance on the scoreboard (Valentia, 4-11, Waterville, 2-4), the second game was a thriller all the way and kept the crowd on its toes from start to finish. On this form Valentia are on their way back to the top in South Kerry football. Waterville, however, although missing several of their best players, fought doggedly to the final whistle and at one stage in the second half it looked as if Kevin Donnelly and Mícheál Courtney would pull the game out of the fire. But a sound defence held firm and the brilliance of Ted McCarthy, who scored 3 goals and 5 points, ensured victory for the island.

Valentia’s midfield pairing hit top form, especially in the closing stages, when Georgie Curran came into his own. Others to impress for the winners were, PJ Cooper, John ‘Dasher’ O’Connor, Paddy Riordan, Owen McCrohan, Nealie Murphy, Tim Murphy and Raphael Greene.

Outstanding for Waterville were Mícheál. Courtney, Kevin Donnelly, Mike Sheehan, Ciarán Casey, Jimmy Keating, Dan O’Connell, Willie O’Shea, Maurice Quinlan and Paddy Harte.

Referee: MJ Brennan (An Gleann).