Image sent in by Maribeth E. Nolan c.2010
- A Tribute to Barney Hennessy R.I.P.
- The Co. Carlow Football Club (Rugby)
Barney also played rugby football for Co.Carlow Football Club at Oak
Park. He was one of the most colourful players of this era 1909, he came
to the rugby code from the Gaelic football field. He was a player of
massive size and endowed with exceptional speed. However, the greatest
attribute of this gifted player was his safe hands and his prodigious
length of kick either from punt or place which made him part of local
legend even in his time. Barney always played at full back, but in the
1912 final he played on the wing, while in the 1913 final he was in the
forwards.
Such was his performance in the 1913 cup matches that he came under
the eye of the international selectors and was widely tipped to gain an
Irish final trial. Unfortunately the First World War intervened, the
trial teams were never picked, and so an oppurtunity for a Carlow player
to gain an International cap for the club was lost. Barney is reputed to
have scored with the longest kick ever struck in Lansdowne Road.
- Barney played for Carlow
- 1905 - Carlow's First Final
(The picture above was taken 3 years after this
game)
Carlow reach the inaugural Leinster Junior Final at the third
attempt. Carlow played Wicklow on three occassions to reach the final.
As was the norm in that era the championship ran behind time and all
games were played in 1906. March 18, 1906, saw Carlow gain their first
inter-county 'result' when by scoring 2-2 in the second-half against
Wicklow in Jones Road they forced a 2-3 to 9 points draw.
The replay in Enniscorthy also ended level, Carlow scoring 2-5 to
Wicklow's 1-8. It was back to Jones Road on May 20 where a first half
performance laid the foundations for their first ever inter-county
victory by building a 1-8 to 0-2 half-time lead. The end secured
Carlow’s place in the final on a 1-13 to 0-4 score line.
The final took place in Jones Road on July 22 where Westmeath emerged
narrow and controversial, 1-4 to 1-3 victors.
To D. Haughney fell the honour of scoring Carlow's first point in a
Provincial final and by half-time Carlow led 0-3 to 0-1. On the
changeover Carlow launched a series of attacks, eventually breaking
through for a goal, this historic first 'major' being registered by
James Hennessy.
Westmeath rallied with a brace of points before striking for a
controversial goal. The leather went over the sideline but the linesman
did not raise his flag. A Westmeath player kicked from across the line
to his centre forward who scored a goal while the Carlow backs stood
waiting the referee’s decision.
Westmeath then procured the point, which put them ahead for the first
time and despite strong Carlow pressure held out to become the inaugural
Leinster No. 2 champions.
Carlow - P. Haughney (Captain), John Fennell (goal), D. Farrell, B.
Hennessy, William Mulhall, M. Murray, L. Nolan, P. Moran, John Hoare, M.
Haughney, M. Callanan, W. Ryan, J. Sleator, E. Webster, D. Haughney, M.
Byrne, James Hennessy.
You can read much more about Barney Hennessy
Memorial Golf Society website:
http://barneyhennessy.webs.com/
Page
2 - His Son Mr. P. Hennessy
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mjbrennan30@gmail.com
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information contained in these pages is provided solely for the
purpose of sharing with others researching their ancestors in
Ireland.
- © 2001 Ireland Genealogy Projects,
IGP TM
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