1996 a year of unprecedented success
Paddy Ryan With the break in play due to the COVID-19 crisis we take a look back into the archives and 1996
ITH the coronavirus bringing the country to a stand still we take a look back to 1996 when unprecedented success came to the Avondhu division.
Five adult teams won county honours. Avondhu senior hurlers took County SHC title. There were a number of replays Newtownshandrum won the County IHC title, Buttevant were crowned County JBHC kingpins.
In football neighbours Kilshannig and Clyda Rovers won the County JAFC and County IFC titles respectively. Many more important titles and County titles were won by teams from the Division in that year.
Newtownshandrum, mainly a hurling club contested the County MBFL final in March where they were defeated by I-llen Rovers in Kilmurry by 2-5 to 2-3. Mannix College Charleville won their first ever Munster Senior Vocational Schools Hurling championship title when they defeated St. Brogan’s Bandon 2-9 to 0-7 at Páirc Uí Rinn.
St Colman’s Fermoy won the Dr Harty Cup beating Nenagh CBS in the final by 3-19 to 1-4. The Fermoy side were previous winners in 1977. It was the first year that both the Vocational School and
CBS Munster Hurling titles came to the division.
Mannix College were defeated by St Brigid’s Loughrea in the All Ireland semi final while St Colman’s were winners over St Raphael’s (Loughrea) in their semi-final at Nenagh by 1-15 to 2-7. In the All Ireland Senior A Colleges HC final St Colman’s lost out to St Kieran’s (Kilkenny) by 1-14 to 2- 6.
1996 saw Kilworth win their only Under 21 (A) FC title. They had quarter-final and semi-final wins over Mallow and Fermoy before accounting for Mitchelstown in the final by 1-8 to 0-4. That success for Kilworth was attributed to their underage structure. In 1986 the club won the County double in Under 12 Hurling and Football. Kilworth also won the JBFC (1) title, but lost out to Kilbrin in the County quarter final.
Ballyhea won the Divisional MAHC title beating Kilworth in the final at Kildorrery by 2-13 to 2-7. In September Ballyhea defeated Cloyne in the County MAHC semi final by 2-11 to 3- 7. In the County MAHC final Aghabullogue defeated Ballyhea 3-11 to 1-6.
Rathluirc Rovers won their first ever Avondhu MAFC title beating Glaworth in the final 0-11 to 0-8 in Churchtown. Mallow won the Divisional Under 16 A HC and reached the County final where they lost out to Carrigtwohill by 4-10 to 1- 9.
Buttevant who won the Divisional JBHC (title) defeating Harbour Rovers in the final by 2-14 to 2-9 advanced with a County quarter-final win over Carrignavar. Buttevant won the County JBHC title beating Doheny’s in the final 1-11 to 0-5 in Coachford. Buttevant also won the Divisional MBHC title. They reached the MBHC County final but were well beaten by St. Catherine’s on a scorline 7-13 to 0-8.
Newtownshandrum who enjoyed great success at Minor & Under 21 levels came with a very strong County IHC side.
They reached the County MAHC final in 1995 drawing with Bandon. They lost the replay by 0-9 to 0-6. Many of their players were members of the Avondhu senior panel. Newtown showed signs of success when they easily accounted for Ballincollig in the opening round in Kanturk by 3- 10 to 0-7.
They followed with a second round game against Delaney’s in Mallow. On this occasion Newtown emerged winners by 0-15 to 1 -8. Newtown were now in the county quarter-final where they faced Cloughduv in Banteer and emerged winners by 3-7 to 2-5.
In the county semi-final Newtownshandrum met Aghada in Fermoy. Following a very tough tussle Newtown held out for a 1-13 to 1- 9 victory. The winners led 1-5 to 0-3 at half time. Aghada did well on the resumption cutting the lead to a goal 1-8 to 0-8. Newtown finished well and had a four point win.
In the county final Newtown and Cloyne finished all square in Ballincollig 1-10 to 2-7. The replay in Páirc Uí Chaoimh was an absorbing contest. Newtown led at half-time 0-6 to 0-5. It was very close throughout the second half with Ben O’Connor getting a vital point for Newtown.
Newtown’s half-backs were very solid as Cloyne made some good attacks in the second half. It marked a fourth County IHC for Newtown on a 0-12 to 0-9 scoreline. It was their first since 1981.
The Avondhu senior hurlers easily accounted for Cork RTC and then followed with a single point win over Carbery. The North Cork Divisional side then had a win over St Catherine’s in the county quarter-final.
They drew with Glen Rovers 0-17 to 2-11 and won the replay by 4-14 to 2-12. Avondhu led 3-5 to 1-8 at half time. On the resumption early points by Ray O’Connell and Fergal McCormack opened up a five point lead. Glen Rovers battled back well but the Avondhu defence held firm.
Points by Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Killeen and Willie O’Donoghue sealed the win for Avondhu. The County final against Imokilly finished all square 1- 12 each. The replay on October 6 in Pairc Ui Chaoimh saw Avondhu take the title by 0-13 to 1-8.
In the Divisional JAFC there was a hold up in one side of championship. Deel Rovers defeated Mitchelstown in one semi final with Fermoy v Kilshannig replay being delayed. They had drawn 4-6 to 2-12. Deel Rovers were nominated to contest the County championship. They had three goals to spare over Ballinora at Glenville 3-8 to 0-8.
Deel Rovers on a roll overcame Kiskeam by 3-8 to 1-10 in the county semi-final. The second semi-final resulted in a win for Kilshannig over Fermoy at Killavullen by 0-12 to 0-7, the winners having led 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time. Donal Ring, Michael Geaney, Eamonn O’Sullivan, Niall Noonan, Patrick O’Connell and William O’Riordan excelled for Kilshannig.
The North Cork final was then played in Churchtown with the winner facing Youghal in the County final. Kilshannig defeated Deel Rovers in the final by 0-14 to 0-7 and they also overcame Youghal by 1-7 to 0-5 to take the County JAFC title.
It was hard luck on Deel Rovers who had won a County quarter and County semi-final. Deel Rovers got some compensation as they won the Division 1 FL title beating Glanworth in the final by 3-12 to 1-10.
Clyda Rovers who won four North Cork JAFC titles in a row in the late 80s finally came good at Intermediate level.
Over the previous 25 years this title only came to the Avondhu/Duhallow regions on five occasions. Glanworth won in 1976, Kildorrery followed in 1981 with Kilshannig in 1987.
One Duhallow team that was successful in this period was Rockchapel in 1989 and Mallow in 1993. Clyda Rovers were impressive all season. In the County semi final they defeated Millstreet and then accounted for Carrigaline in the county final.
Clyda Rovers led all through, they were ahead 0-3 to 0-0 after 15 minutes. At the break Clyda led 0-5 to 0-2. By the 38th minute they were 0-9 to 0-3 ahead. Rapid points by Robert Walsh and Tadhg O’Mullane opened up a seven point lead. Carrigaline had a late goal from a penalty. There was no denying Clyda Rovers their win on a scoreline 0-16 to 1- 5.
In the County Premier MHC Fermoy reached the final but lost out to Bandon 3-4 to 2-3.
In 1996 Dromina also tasted success at County level. They defeated St James (Ardfield) in the County MCHC final by 1-13 to 1-10. Dromina also made it a County double in 1996 as they defeated Ballygarvan in the County MCHL final by 5-6 to 1-5.
Ballygiblin won the Divisional Under 21 B HC title following their 1-3 to 0-4 win over Milford at Shanballymore.
Shanballymore Junior A hurlers won the Divisional JAHC title beating Dromina in the final by 4-6 to 1-11. Shanballymore had not won this title since 1951. They also reached the Junior A Hurling league final where they drew with Kilworth.
Shanballymore had a 2-8 to 1-5 win in the replay. To complete the treble they won the Autumn Hurling league title beating Liscarroll in the final 1-11 to 1-7.
Ballyhea retained their Avondhu Under 21 A HC success when they had a close win over Newtownshandrum in the final by 1-12 to 1-10.