St Colums GAA Club

It’s a long time ago and naturally I remember very little of the event but there are a few details of which I have a very vivid recollection. If one asked some of the participants to pinpoint the year, never mind the month I am sure a dozen or more varying answers would be forthcoming. W hat has helped me to establish the timing of the game was that a few days later I left for Dublin to complete my final year in St. Patrick’s training college, Dromcondra. On the following Sunday I was in Croke Park to see Kerry overcome Armagh in the All-Ireland football final.

The year was 1953 and the month was September; of that I am one hundred per cent certain. However it won’t surprise me to hear contradiction as dates and ages always arouse some controversy.

Before I make an attempt to give an account of the actual contest it would be necessary to dwell on the lead up to the game. Road bowling was the main pastime in both localities but there was always an interest in Gaelic football particularly in the Kealkill area. I can recall a game played in the late forties between Kealkill and the Mealagh valley Ballylickey wasn’t without its heroes either as mention was often made of the Green Lane boys who earned some fame locally but that was before most of us saw the light of day.

For some reason that I cannot explain there was a resurgence of interest in Gaelic football in the Ballylickey locality in the early fifties.It wasn’t unusual to see twenty or so young men and youths on a Sunday afternoon giving it their best in Con Manning’s field in Lahern.

We paid no rent ,probably never even thanked the decent man for his fine gesture in allowing us onto his land. One of our most enthusiastic members though was his son Neilus and I am sure that he conveyed our appreciation.

The activities on the field consisted of a kick about and usually a game which lasted for anything up to two hours. Positions meant very little as we chased the leather in packs; we can justifiably claim to be the innovators of the modern game!

Nowadays we often hear of the hunger of contestants but in those far off days in Laharn “starvation” might have been a more appropriate descriptive term!

I am reluctant to name names as inevitably some will be omitted but I find it difficult not to mention Flor and Steve, Seamus from Leaca Diomhaoin, Johnny Gilhooly, Dan O’Leary, the McGrath brothers, the two Morts –one from Reendesert and the other of Regal Band fame, John Lynch veteran of many a fine game in our neighbours blue who was as enthusiastic as any young lad half his age. Tom from Ardnatrush joined us on occasions as did also my former schoolmate Mick from Coomhola who had donned the Glengarriff jersey on many occasions.

How the great contest came about I haven’t the slightest notion but it certainly generated some interest in the locality in the few weeks prior to the game. The main talking point centered on a handy young footballer who lived at Pearson’s Bridge. Equidistant from both camps he found it difficult to declare his allegiance. Rumours and counter rumours abounded and it wasn’t at all clear until the teams took the field what his intentions were. After much deliberation and soul-searching he decided to throw in his lot with Kealkill which was a rational decision considering that he had attended school there with the vast majority of his team-mates. Reasonable though the decision was it did have repercussions as we shall learn later.

The day was fine, neither wet nor windy. Travel arrangements presented no problem as Cronin’s lorry had been called into service to transport us to the venue at Carriganass

Of the game itself I remember very little but I have a clear recollection of our opening score. Mort (Reendesert) having evaded his opponent kicked a ball skywards that twisted, turned and twirled, then hung in the air for a brief second before finally dropping over the bar —–I mean the rope! At least we wouldn’t be whitewashed. .

My only other memory is one of a slightly unsavoury incident. The lad from Pearson’s Bridge chased a ball close to the sideline followed in hot pursuit by the other Coomhola man. When the pursuer came within reach he delivered what ba well known Kerry trainer has referred to as “a shlap”to his opponent’s cheekbone.

The victim’s only “crime” was that he had made a “wrong” decision when he opted to play for Kealkill.Whether the “shlap”had anything to do with that we’ll never know but I have my suspicions. Johnny (small in stature but big of heart) wasted no time in seeking retribution. Obviously he was incensed and was in like a flash tussling and grappling with the culprit. Both fell to the ground and rolled about terrier-like until eventually peace broke out. The contest (the football match I mean!) resumed in a sporting manner and I am happy to say that Johnny, the victim and the offender all rolled out for Kealkill when they entered a team the following year in the West Cork championship.

Thankfully, Johnny is still with us as cheerful and plucky as ever. The other two lads emigrated to England and were called to another and better place at a comparatively early age. I would like to think that they regularly form a good centerfield partnership under a tangerine flag in Pairc Na n-Aingeal.

As for the outcome of the game; of course we won —–I think!

The Kealkill lads; Matt, Johnny, Cornie, Denis, Dannie, John, Ted, Jimmy ,Barry and Mick would have something to say about that and might even accuse me of being biased —-which I am!!!

EDDIE BRACKEN.