The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Glenflesk’s men of the Millennium will never be forgotten
When the Millennium Cup got underway people didn’t really know what to expect. It was new all new. Of course, people would have anticipated or expected the cream to rise to the surface, football being what football is: the ultimate meritocracy.
The Millennium Cup was a different sor t of a beast, though, to what people had come to expect. As Seán Walsh describes it elsewhere on these pages, it was closer to the FA Cup. Everybody in together. The magic of the Cup with shocks and giant-slaying and all that comes with it.
Would Glenflesk have been the name on everybody’s lips at the star t of the competition as likely winners? Perhaps not, but with the quality of footballer they had at their disposal their ultimate success was not altogether that much of a surprise.
In their ranks they had one of the all-time great Kerry footballers in Seamus Moynihan. Moynihan powered the side from centre-field and then at the tip of the spear was John Crowley, then operating at the peak of his not inconsiderable powers.
An Ghaeltacht, their opponents in the final, would go on to lift the Bishop Moynihan Cup a year later and, yet, in this newspaper Eamon Horan had Glenflesk installed as favourites to win the title, which speaks to the esteem in which they were held.
The likely battle of Seamus Moynihan and another all-time Kerry great, Darragh Ó Sé, at midfield was hotly anticipated and thought key to the outcome. In the end Horan came down on the side of Glenflesk as “Seamus Moynihan is simply irrepressible at this moment in time”.
A week later Glenflesk proved him right and fulfilled their promise with a 1-8 to 0-10 victory. It was a seriously hard-fought affair though, right down to the very last. A first half goal for Crowley looked to have gone a long way towards establishing Glenflesk’s position, but an Aodhan Mac Gearailt point on fifty nine minutes levelled it up.
“The expected shrill blow on the whistle was not for thcoming from referee Aidan Mangan and, as the match moved into injury time, Glenflesk mounted a final offensive,” Horan wrote.
“The indomitable Seamus Moynihan it was who essayed a beautifully judged kick in the path of inter-county team-mate John
Crowley; the full-forward fetched it and headed goalwards. It looked asifhe must find the net, but hewas upended just on the fringe of the parallelogram and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a free.
“It was a mere formality as sharp-shooter Paud O’Donoghue duly tapped the free-kick over the bar for what proved to be the winning point. The final whistle was blown, with the stopwatch showing a minute of injury time played and there was to be no reprieve for the hapless Gaeltacht men.”
Immor tality – and a ticket to the Munster championship was Glenflesk’s.
“A couple of weeks ago, Kilcummin beat us in the East Kerry championship and we thought we’d never be back here so soon,” John Crowley said after the match.
“I thought there was more time left for Gaeltacht to come back. There was tremendous commitment from everyone of the lads. It’s a great way to finish up the competition, all the more fitting in view of Seamus Moynihan bringing home the Sam Maguire Cup.
“To try and get to Croke Park for the club championship is a long way off. Moyle Rovers have been a around a long while and they’ve represented their county a few years. Next Sunday will be another day out for our club.”
Glenflesk went on to win that game with the Tipperary kingpins on a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-8 in Ardfinnan to set up a Munster senior club final showdown with the fearsome Nemo Rangers. Unfor tunately that was the end of the line for Glenflesk as they lost out by four points (0-11 to 0-7) in the Gaelic Grounds.
Disappointing for sure, but Glenflesk had lived the dream. Their men of the Millennium will never be forgotten.
GLENFLESK: Eamon Bowler; Paul Favier, Michael O’Donoghue, John O’Sullivan; Timmy O’Sullivan, Kieran O’Sullivan, Ollie Favier; Seamus Moynihan, Dermot Kelly; Paud O’Donoghue (0-5f), Davy O’Donoghue (Capt.), Eric O’Donoghue; Shane Dennehy, John Crowley (1-3), Pat O’Donoghue Subs: Eugene Bowler for E O’Donoghue, 50, Damien McCarthy for P O’Donoghue,
55
AN GHAELTACHT: Pol Ruiseal; Mici Ó Conchúir, Seán MacSithigh, Marc Ó Sé;. Tomás Ó Sé (0-1), Caoimhin Breathnach, Feargal Ó Se; Darragh Ó Se, Pól Ó Cuinn; Roibeard MacGearailt, JJ Corduff (0-1), Aodan MacGearailt (0-2); Tomás Ó Conchuir (0-1), Dara Ó Cinnéide (065, 4f), Cathal Ó Dubhda Subs: Seán Ó Beaglaoi for S MacSithigh, 34, Conal Ó Cruadhlaoich for C Ó Dubhda, 44, Eoin Ó Cruadhlaoich for T Ó Conchuir, 53
REFEREE: Aidan Mangan (Austin Stacks)