COUNTY FINAL GOES TO REPLAY
Bermingham and John B Roche.
Grange lost out in the JAFL semi-final in 1962 to Abbey Rovers by 2-7 to 1-7.
Paul Barry was called to his eternal reward in a tournament football game versus Kilshannig in Shanballymore on June 12, 1962. Paul, a founder member who was playing at wing forward, had scored a goal near the end of the game and then tragically died. It was a devastating blow to the club and his family. As well as being a great sportsman, Paul was a top class livestock breeder at the time, having won many trophies at shows all over Munster.
U21 GLORY IN 1963
In 1963, Grange beat Kilshannig in the first round JAFC by 2-7 to 1-6 in Castletownroche, played in early June. The Grange side followed up with a win over Mitchelstown (6-12 to 1-5), however lost to Glanworth in the final in Mitchelstown by 1-4 to 0-6 in August.
1963 was remarkable in that the club took the U21 A FC title. Leading up to the final Grange beat Fermoy in the first round 2-7 to 0-1. The competition was delayed until the following year, when they beat Mitchelstown in the semi-final 4-5 to 2-2 and followed up with a final victory over Glanworth by 1-6 to 0-3. Jas Cummins, who moved to Grange in 1962 from Glanworth, captained Grange to that U21 A victory, while his brother Patsy was the captain of the Glanworth side.
JAFC & FITZGERALD CUP
GLORY IN 1964
In 1964 Grange won the Fitzgerald Cup. In the final at Mallow they deprived Kilshannig of 3-in-a-row with a 2-4 to 0-3 win.
In the junior A football championship the same year, Grange won their first title. In the final they beat Kilshannig 1-8 to 1-3, as Willie Hanrahan led the team as captain. The Grange side contested the county JAFC semi-final, having defeated Ballincollig 1-6 to 0-4 in Glantane in the quarter-final. In the county semi-final, however, Crosshaven emerged winners by 2-8 to 0-11.
FITZGERALD CUP
RETAINED
In 1965, Grange defeated Kilworth in the opening round of the JAFC. They had a good championship season reaching the final, however they lost out to Kilshannig by 2 points.
That year, Grange retained the Fitzgerald Cup, while the U21 footballers lost to Glanworth in the championship semi-final.
1966 was one of the club’s most successful years for the club. The junior A footballers won the championship, reached the county final and also reached the North Cork U21 A FC final.
In the Junior A FC, the club had wins over Kilshannig and Kilworth, before beating Glanworth in the final, with a side captained by Billy Clifford.
The junior A side had a very large following and they travelled to Kanturk on October 30 where they met Knocknagree in the county quarter-final. In a close contest Grange emerged winners by 0-9 to 1-4. The county semi-final followed a week late with Grange meeting Ballincollig and after a hectic struggle, Grange emerged victorious by 1-8 to 1-3. Grange goalkeeper Colie Maher saved 2 penalties in the game.
Three weeks later, 27 November, Grange and Doheny’s met in the county final at the Athletic Grounds in Cork. The game finished level 1-4 apiece. In the replay two weeks later, Doheny’s emerged winners by 3-8 to 1-6. The county final was refereed by Paddy Cronin of St Finbarrs.
In the Fitzgerald Cup final that year, Grange had a 1-11 to 0-11 win over Kilshannig.
The U21 footballers lost the North Cork final in 1966 by 2-11 to 2-4 to Mitchelstown.
With some players retiring after ‘66, it marked the end of an era for a number of the side. The selectors of the football side during the era from 1959-66 were Walter Bermingham, John Roche and Paul Barry. Many of the ‘59 side were still playing in 1966.
The players involved in this 7 year period included: Paul Barry, Willie Hanrahan, Bernie Dempsey, Pat Gowen, Michael Gowen,
Jackie Gowen, Thady Barry, William Browne, Seamus Browne, Peter Reynolds, Jerry Clifford, Billy Clifford, Jack Mulcahy, Bob Burke, Michael Roche, Tom Butler, Mossie Walsh, Denis Fanning, Peadar Collins, Tom Egan, Ned Creamer, John McAuliffe, Peter Dempsey, Tom Long, Tom McCarthy, Paul Dahill, Michael Hanrahan, Tom Bermingham, Maurice Bermingham, Daithi Bermingham, Jas Cummins, Kevin O’Connor, John O’Connor, Colie Maher, Christy Roche, Peter McCarthy, Seamus Roche, Sean Roche, PJ Kirby, Liam Bermingham, Jimmy Fitzsimmons, Donie Condon, Chris Corcoran, John O’Keeffe, Pakie O’Keeffe, Eddie O’Sullivan, Paddy Fraher, Paddy Power, Dan Clancy, Finbarr
Grindel, John O’Hara, James Hanrahan, John Walsh, Ned Kirby and Larry Sheehan.
ST FINIANS
Grange also fielded a hurling side in these years, known as St Finians. In 1966 the hurlers reached the novice championship final losing to Allow Rovers (Freemount) following a replay.
INTER-COUNTY REPRESENTATION
Willie and ‘Haulie’ Hanrahan of the Grange side played minor football for Cork in 1958 and 1959. In 1966 Tom Bermingham won a Munster junior football championship with Cork and PJ and Ned Kirby won Munster minor football championships with the county. Of course, Ned later went on to play a significant part in Cork bridging a 28 year gap to win the
All-Ireland senior crown in 1973, bringing Sam Maguire home.
Other players of that era to figure at inter-county level were Michael Hanrahan (Cork minor 1962), Jerry Clifford played senior with Louth. While Tom Bermingham was centre back on the Avondhu senior football winning side of 1961.
Some of the officers of the club who served during this historic period included: Dave Bermingham, Billy O’Connor, Paul Barry, Dave Bermingham, John Roche, Dave Walsh, Christy Roche, Billy McCarthy, Jimmy Kirby, Ned Hanrahan, Michael Bermingham, Dan Hanrahan, John B Roche, Walter Bermingham and John Gowen.