Post-war years yielded phenomenal success for Castlemagner GAA club
glorious era in Castlemagner is fondly reminisced time and again where in a golden 15 year era up to 1961, the club lifted ten Duhallow divisional Junior Football and Hurling Championship titles. And Castlemagner caught the imagination further to add three county championships, that stunning run of success is essentially a credit to skilful sides that produced hugely focused and motivating displays.
Interest in Gaelic games within Castlemagner dates back to the founding of the GAA, common in those days, teams played in tournaments and there is evidence of Castlemagner enjoying success.
Long time clubman Ger O’Connell has fond memories of the successful times, rolling backs the years where family connections back-boned the side.
“There were the O’Connells, the Fitzgeralds too from Gortmore along with many other great players. And the arrival of Dick Harnedy provided Castlemagner with expertise and enthusiasm, key to the club becoming a major force in both division and county,” he said.
In the twilight of his career, Harnedy had served Dromtariffe and Cork so well, evident from his selection at midfield on the Cork Football Team of the Century and work commitments brought one of Cork football greats to reside in Castlemagner where he rendered terrific service on and off the field. Far from a one man show, talent surrounded Castlemagner GAA with Johnny O’Connell, Noel Fitzgerald and Mick O’Shea winning All Ireland Junior medals during the 1950s.
Hunger is a great sauce and so it proved, Castlemagner lifted their first Duhallow Junior Football title in 1947 by virtue of a worthy victory over Dromtariffe. Their hunt for further honours continued impressively on wins over Canovee and Mitchelstown to reach a county final against Collins.
“We were five points down against Canovee but came back in the second half. Excitement mounted for the final, Collins were the favourites given their Army background and featuring Cork players Jim Cronin and Eamon Young but we trained well in Archdeacons Inch and barn,” said Ger.
An icy wind descended on the Ballyclough venue yet Castle’ supporters arrived in their droves and their heroes demonstrated true grit on a freezing day where Michael O’Leary, Denny
Fitzgerald and team captain Harnedy landed telling points for a 0-6 to 0-3 victory.
The Castlemagner team lined out as Christy Fitzgerald, Owen Twomey, Mike O’Shea, Johnny O’Connell, Seamus O’Connell, John White, Denny Fitzgerald, Tadgh Twomey, Mick O’Shea, Michael O’Leary, Dick Harnedy, John Reid, Noel Fitzgerald, Billy Kelleher, Seán McCarthy, John Joe Fitzgerald, Dermot Coakley, Seán McCarthy, Mick Archdeacon.
“The celebrations continued long into the night, the win was the making of the club and
Gaelic games became ever so popular thanks to so many people, particularly Denny Ryan, club chairman and Secretary along with Ballyhass National School teacher Jack Walsh on promoting football and hurling,” says Ger O’Connell.
“Training involved road running, skipping to press ups with plenty of enthusiasm at Archdeacons or in later years in Sherlock’s Field. As a gesture of thanks for the ground made available, the club supplied John Sherlock with a daily edition of the Cork Examiner for the season,” he said.
Further success followed with divisional titles won prior to a second county football collected from 1952. Its fair to say, Castle ‘ threw down the gauntlet in the opening half against Newmarket in the divisional decider, registering their full compliment of scores for the game, 1-7 clocked up and nothing conceded. And though Castlemagner failed to sustain the momentum upon the restart, they guarded possession by standing firm to land a third Duhallow title.
New ambitions lay on the horizon, Castle’ blasted out an ominous warning of their well-being to emerge good value for wins over Na Piarsaigh and Donoughmore. That set up a highly appealing clash against Bandon in the Co. Final at the Cork Athletic Grounds, the pairing didn’t disappoint as the intensity and tension rose as the game aged.
Again Castlemagner availed of a productive opening, backed by a strong breeze, a long range free from Paddy Smith saw the ball thread a path to the net for a 1-4 to 0-0 advantage at the break. No surprise that Bandon increased the tempo on the change of ends to narrow the
deficit to the minimum.
That left Castle’ facing a massive test of resolve and to their credit, the response was emphatically positive through the heroic play of Jack and Noel Fitzgerald in defence. Bandon’s desperate efforts to save the day were met by stoic Castlemagner resistance and points from Seamus O’Connell and Mick O’Shea rubber-stamped victory for Noel Fitzgerald lead his team to county honours.
Buoyed by a fervent following, every challenge, every catch and every clearance was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm with unbridled scenes of elation showing how much a county title meant to the club.
“After the War years, times were tough but the Mallow Sugar factory gave local people employment, that allowed success for Castlemagner in football and the strides grew in hurling. To play in county finals added to the interest, supporters made it to the Athletic Grounds by bus, lorry and the odd Model T Car,” recalled Ger O’Connell.
On duty for Castlemagner in the 1952 County Final were Jack Fitzgerald, John Fitzgerald, Noel Fitzgerald, Dick Fitzgerald, Johnny O’Connell, Denny Fitzgerald, Denis Linehan, Paddy Smith, Mattie McAulliffe, Seamus O’Connell, Mick O’Shea, Mick Archdeacon, Christy O’Connell, Dick Harnedy,
Billy Barrett, Christy Fitzgerald, John Joe Fitzgerald, Paddy Twohig, George Murphy, Tim Archdeacon, John O’Brien, Danny Linehan, Barry Taylor.
To win two county Junior Football titles was a major achievement and convinced those involved that further targets were attainable. Castlemagner had written a new name on the Duhallow Junior Hurling Championship roll of honour in 1951 and added a second two years later.
Hopes of advancement in the county ended on a defeat by Ballyhea and a feeling of unfinished business permeated the camp. That ensured plenty of optimism for 1954 and Castlemagner
duly obliged for Christy O’Connell to captain a side that bettered Kanturk in a Duhallow Final played in waterlogged conditions.
“’Twas great to see Christy captain the team, football and hurling was always strong in the house, at breakfast, there would be many a discussion and argument on a game,” says brother Ger.
Into the county, Castle’ put together consistent performances to fend off Aghabullogue and Courcey Rovers to advance to a county final against Ballinhassig. Favourable weather greeted the Athletic Grounds staging in November where from a high scoring opening half, Castlemagner
trailed 3-4 to 3-2 at the interval.
With no addition to the scoring during the third quarter, Castlemagner offered admirable resolve and determination to gain the upperhand with Billy Barrett and Mattie McAulliffe delivering all important points to land a narrow 3-8 to 4-4 victory.
Were it not for a series of magnificent saves by Castle’ keeper Christy Sherlock, the outcome might well had been different yet Castlemagner prevailed to allow team captain Christy O’Connell accept the silverware.
The Castlemagner teamed lined out as Christy Sherlock, Tim Aherne, Dan McAulliffe, Dan Casey, Jack Fitzgerald, Mick
O’Shea, Paddy Twohig, Johnny O’Connell, Christy O’Connell, Seamus O’Connell, Mattie McAulliffe, Mick Fitzgerald, Billy Barrett, Dan McCarthy, Dave Barry, Barry Taylor, Jack Walsh, John Fitzgerald, Jack Manning, Ned Barrett, Sean Curran.
Subsequently Castlemagner emerged the only club within the division to win all four titles in same season, the Junior A Football and Hurling Championships and the Junior A Football and Hurling Leagues, the season in question, 1960, a record that one would imagine will remain intact for some time.